Second Shot (Bastille)

6: Not-so-double double date

*Dan's POV*

I didn't know what to expect when Kyle rang me a couple of weeks later. It was late morning and I had treated myself to a lie in so when my phone began to vibrate loudly against my bedside table, I was still hidden under the thick duvet that was keeping the spring chill away from me.

"Hello?" I mumbled, putting the phone against my ear.

"Cancel any plans you have tonight. You're coming for dinner with me and Sam" Kyle announced cheerfully. 

"Thanks but-"

"No buts Dan, come on!" Kyle whined. I sighed. A defeated silence fell over the line. "Freddie will be there." Kyle added temptingly. Rolling my eyes, I sat up and rested my head against the backboard of the bed.

"I've said it before and I'll say it again Kyle, I'm not letting you-"

"Your not letting me set you up yada-yada yeah I get it, but I'm not setting you up. You're setting you up okay? You're the one charming her, not me. You need to get over Liv and, if I'm being honest, this is the best way to do it." I nodded to myself. Kyle had a point. Moping about Liv for 6 months wasn't helping anyone, it was time to move on.

"Okay fine, what time and where?" I surrendered to Kyle's persuasion and agreed to go to the meal.

*Freddie's POV*

"Freddie! Wash your hair, shave your pits and find something nice to wear. You're coming to dinner tonight." Sam commanded, waltzing excitedly into my room without even knocking.

"With you and Kyle?"

"And Dan." She flopped onto the bed and grinned cheekily. I rolled my eyes. "Please Fred, I'm begging you. You need this. The longer you wait to move on, the longer you're letting Rowan win." Her tone was serious and coated with concern, her eyes had darkened slightly and her mouth was tugged into a sombre smile. "Dan's a good guy, give him a chance." She continued to plead, by now she was sat next to me with her hands in mine.

"Fiiiiine. You win, happy?" Sam squealed and dove on top of me, flinging her arms around my shoulders and squeezing tightly.

*Dan's POV*

I walked into the restaurant- a little earlier than what Kyle had said- and waited until a waitress took the reservation and showed me to the table. Looking round I took in the aesthetic of the restaurant; black chairs stood like soldiers against the grey brick walls. Bulbs in jars hung above the tables, casting pools of homely light below. Pulling out my phone, I text Kyle to ask him how long he would be, which is when he decided to tell me that Sam had got delayed so they would be late. Great. After buying a drink from the bar, I dropped back into my seat and text Freddie, politely wondering if she was nearly here.

I'm just coming up the road, where abouts are you sat?

I quickly typed a reply, telling her I'd meet her at the door. Getting to my feet, I brushed down my jeans and straightened my shirt before heading towards the door. It wasn't long before Freddie appeared in the doorway and suddenly, I felt a flustered wave overcome me. With clammy palms, I brushed my hair out of my face and checked my breath. She stepped through the door and I grinned pleasantly, cautiously leaning in to kiss her cheek and awkwardly lingering as I felt her return the favour. Once I showed her to our table, I bought her a drink and we continued to wait for Kyle and Sam. 

We waited.
And we waited.
We waited for half an hour. 

"I'm gonna call Sam" Freddie said, taking her phone out of her handbag. I also retrieved my phone and text Kyle once again. "Hey Sam, where are you?" My phone buzzed. 

Sorry mate, don't think we'll make it, have fun with Freddie :) 

Then I caught on. Sam and Kyle had never planned on making it in the first place. "Screw you Sam" Freddie said under her breath, a smirk crept onto her face despite her efforts to hold it back. She shook her head as she hung up and turned back to face me. 

"I think we just got stood up" I chuckled softly. 

"More like set up" Freddie corrected before pausing and sighing quietly "Well, we may as well make the most of the evening. Cheers." She held up her wine glass and gently tapped it against mine before taking a small sip and looking down at the menu. 

*Freddie's POV* 

"Hey Sam, where are you" I asked naively, turning away from Dan slightly who was once again, dressed sweetly in a grey shirt and freshly ironed jeans. 

"We're still a Kyle's sorry hun. Listen I don't think we'll make it, why don't you two go ahead and-" Sam began to snigger on the other end of the line and a weight of realisation lowered itself onto my shoulders. 

"You weren't coming in the first place were you?" I checked. Sam cackled mischievously. "I hate you. I hate you so much you scheming-"

"Now now Fred, be nice. You and Dan need a nice dinner together; some fancy wine, good food, maybe a little sexual tension. Have fun, love you byeee" 

"Screw you Sam-" I was cut off by Sam hanging up abruptly, leaving me in an awkward silence. Okay Freddie, you have a handsome, charming young man sat across from you, make the most of it- take that second shot. 

*Dan's POV* 

We ate dinner whilst surrounded by a pretty odd atmosphere, trying to ignore the elephant in the room as we tucked into our dessert. We split the bill and left the restaurant, stepping out into the streets that had been swallowed into darkness. Dark clouds smudged against the violet sky and hid the dot-to-dot patterns created by the stars and taxis full of party-goers sped past us, splashing small waves of rain water up on to the pavement. 

"Have you been up to the roof yet?" She asked, pointing to a set of stairs to my left as we reached the hallway between our apartments.

"I have not no, wanna give me an unofficial tour?" Freddie made her way to the stairs and I followed closely behind. We soon came face to face with a big, metallic fire door, Freddie pushed down on the lever and it slowly swung open. Stepping out onto the roof, I looked out at the skyline and watched as lights in buildings flickered off and listened to the lazy rumble of cars as they trundled down the roads. Freddie wandered over to a group of battered sofas and armchairs and dropped onto one of the sofas. She leant over and flicked a switch so a line a fairy lights lit up. I stared delightedly at the set up as I joined Freddie, sitting on the seat next to her. "This is pretty cool" I said glancing around at the mismatched cushions and small lights that hung above my head.

"Yeah, some kids did it for a party and it kinda became a go-to place." Freddie explained, pulling out a handful of hair grips and letting her brunette waves tumble down her shoulders. "It's a good place to work, quiet, nice view. I find myself up here quite a bit."

"I can see why" We went quiet and listened to the busy commotion below "Can I be honest with you?" Freddie nodded curiously "I'm um, really into you- wow that was blunt sorry- um, let me try again. I like you. You're down to earth and unbelievably kind and generous, basically exactly the kind of person I need after my ex, so I don't know why it took so much convincing from Kyle to get me on this not-so-double double date. Sooo, what I'm trying to say is, I wouldn't mind going out with you; just us, no set ups, nothing- I mean, if that's okay with you, I don't want to make things more difficult between you and Rowan" 

"Believe me, things with me and Rowan went past difficult a long time ago" Freddie laughed uncertainly before sighing and looking up at me, a small smile wavering onto her face "Sure. I'll give it a go." 

-X- 

"So, lunch, Tuesday yeah?" I double checked, unlocking the apartment door and loitering in the doorway. 

"Tuesday, meet here 12:30" Freddie confirmed before stepping towards me and placing her lips against my cheek then moving slowly to graze my lips in the lightest touch imaginable.