persia.
It had been almost a week since I had run into Van. I'd only been back in Cardiff about two weeks, and I only came back because I wanted to see my sister. I was planning to go off again, somewhere new again.
Funny how I stayed stuck for so long, but as soon as I cut myself loose, I was able to just wake up in the morning and decide I wanted to go somewhere new. And I had the confidence to pack a bag and just go. Something really fresh about having that sense of freedom.
He crossed my mind because I had gotten a message from him this morning, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about him before that. He was the kind of person who got stuck in your brain, and made you mad thinking about whether he liked you or not.
He asked me to meet up. So I texted him back to ask where. It was the morning, so it was too early for the pub.
"Morning sis." My sister came into the room.
"Morning." I say back, a bit hoarse.
"I actually have to go up to Mum today, she wants me to help her paint the living room. You can come with if you'd like?"
"I would rather cut off my arm than paint our living room." I say, painting walls was the last thing I wanted to do. It seemed like a massive waste of time. And I had already been to see mum and dad when I had gotten back anyway.
"Fair enough." Kya replies. "I'm leaving in ten minutes, tell me if you change your mind before then, cause I'm not coming back and you'll be stuck on your own for the day." She says, matter-of-factly, as she always does.
"Excuse me! I have other friends you know!" I yell, jolting up in my bed, and crossing my arms to show how angry I was.
"Alright." She says, leaving the room and laughing.
I grumble and get out of bed. I check my phone again. No reply. Fuck. It was going to drive me mad if he didn't reply soon.
I decide to pass the time by taking a shower, to take my mind off the situation at hand. I felt nervous for some unknown reason. Well, I knew why, but I didn't want to admit it.
I hear the door slam as Kya leaves, but I'm already in the shower so I don't shout goodbye. I take the longest shower of my life, hoping by the time I get out he will have replied.
I get out and brush out my wet hair, and I hear my phone make a noise, indicating I have a message.
I run over and check. It's him.
"I'll pick you up. Text me the address."
Hm. A surprise. I didn't really like surprises. The last surprise I was the recipient of left me single and crying.
I text him my address and go to dry my hair. Butterflies swarm madly in my stomach and I try to ignore them.
I'm in the middle of putting on lipstick and the doorbell rings. I rush out to the hall to answer it. I check the peephole to make sure it's him. It is.
I open up.
"Hi lass." He says, smiling.
"Hi." I say and step back to let him in.
"Nice lipstick" he laughs.
I only had lipstick on my bottom lip and so I looked odd enough so I laughed too.
"Thanks I'm experimenting. Shall we go then?" I say, joking.
He laughs a little more and says "yeah sure." And I grab my phone and he makes for the door, pretending to be unbothered by it.
I don't follow him and he pauses at the door. "You not coming?" He asks, smiling cheekily.
I laugh and turn around to go to my room to finish my lipstick.
He shouts from the hall "I actually really liked it!" And laughs again.
I put the rest of my lipstick on and head back out.
"Stunning." He says, looking me in the eye. I blush bright red and look down as I walk up to him.
"Need the loo before we go?" I ask.
"Nope." He replies.
We head out. To god knows where.
We reach my buildings' car park and get into his car.
"So where are we going?" I ask.
"You'll know when we get there." He says.
I squirm uncomfortably. "Fair enough." I sigh, sitting back into my seat.
"Have we to go far?" I ask again.
"As far as it takes to get there. But if you need the loo, go now." He laughs, pulling out and into the road.
"We're already driving?" I say, but it comes out as a question.
"Well then I guess you're too late." He says back and we both laugh.
I feel my stomach twisting nervously but I'm surprisingly comfortable with it being just him and I in the car.
I hope we go somewhere nice.
