Returning Home

Chapter 11

He stood in front of me wearing a grey button up shirt with the top button undone, and skinny jeans molded to his legs. His sandy blonde hair was still pushed up into his never falling quiff, and his eyes sparkled just like the sea. 

He reminded me a lot of the sea actually. His hair, his eyes, his tanned skin. Maybe it was because he spent so much time there. Or maybe it was because I loved the sea so much and I could pick up on how close the colour of his eyes where compared to the ocean just in front of me. 

This is the first time I've actually seen Dylan in proper clothes. I've only ever seen him at the beach, in his boardies and his bare chest supporting his well toned torso, which strangely I missed seeing and our school uniform. 

I couldn't help feel under dressed compared to the what he wore but my negative thoughts on what I looked liked quickly slipped away after the words that left his mouth. 

"You look lovely." He complimented. 

"You look nice too." 

I turned to shut the door as I felt the blood boil to my cheeks probably turning them a horrible shade of red. 

"So where are we going?" I asked after we'd left the drive way, walking through our street in the direction of the mall. I still didn't know to may places around here so I really had no idea. 

"Well, I thought we could go to the arcade? It's just by the mall, but if you don't want to that's fine. We could do something else?" 

"No, the arcade sounds awesome. The last time I went was with..." 

I paused. I hadn't mentioned Harry to anyone yet, not because I didn't want to but because I missed him. 

Dylan looked at me questioningly. "With?" 

"With my friend, Harry." I finished my sentence. 

"Oh, so um, was Harry just a friend or?" He trailed off. It took me a second to understand what he was implying but then I burst into a fit of giggles. 

"No no, Harry was definitely just a friend. In fact he was a brother. We've known each other since day one, literally. We practically lived together." 

What seems like relief washes over his face. I couldn't help but let out another set of giggles. Was he jealous? 

"Would it matter if he had been my boyfriend?" I tease. A new wave of confidence has seemed to wash over me. 

"Well, um no. I guess not." He glances at the floor quickly before smiling at me again. 

After walking for about 10 minutes we reached the arcade. It wasn't like any of the ones I've been to before. All the ones back at home are tiny, and most of the time they were at fairs. This one however, was huge. Every where there were machines containing money, or cuddly toys. There was some car racing games and even ice hockey tables.

Dylan looked across at me with bright eyes smiling. "What first?"

We made our way over to the ice hockey table first. For the first two games Dylan whipped my arse. But I was pretty determined third time.

"I'm so going to beat you this time!" I teased Dylan as I scored my first goal and then quickly blocked his attempt. 

"Oh feisty, just how I like them." A huge grin crossed his face. 

All I could do at his flirty statement is laugh. Did he just say that he liked me? 

A couple minutes after his cheeky comment I through my arms around his neck, suprising myself. 

"I told you I would win!" I chuckle at him, gently fist bumping his arm. 

"I let you this time, because I'm a nice person and that." He laughed along with me before grabbing my hand and pulling me over to a money matching. "I love these things." 

... ... ... ... 

After spending over an hour in the arcade, Dylan decided to drag me away from the cuddly toy machine. I had spent about 15 minutes trying to get this one brown cuddly bear but failed every time. Dylan just stood watching whilst laughing over how frustrated I was getting with the machine. Eventually he managed to pull me away and go and get an ice cream before I ended up putting a hole through it with my foot.

I grabbed my money out to pay for my ice cream seeing as Dylan had paid for all the arcade games, but he insisted on paying for this as well. Reminding me it was a date and he was a "gentlemen" for fourth time already. 

We walked back home together, laughing over silly things which had happened during our time in the arcade, like me losing at practically everything and how frustrated I get which then makes me sulky and pouty for a whole 2 seconds. 

As we reached my house I was disappointed that my "date" with Dylan came to an end. I enjoyed every second of it, I couldn't help but hope that it was going to happen again. He was such an easy person to be around. He was always happy and smiling, laughing over one thing or another. I loved being with him. 

Once we got to my house Dylan went all sheepishly shy again. Just like before he was about to ask me out. 

"I really enjoyed this evening." He flashed award winning smile at me and my stomach fluttered. 

"So did I, thank you so much!" 

"I would love to do it again some time?" 

Was that him asking me out again? 

"Yeah, so would I." A smile had lit across my face, I can't believe he was wanting to go on another date. 

"I also got you this." He pulls something out of his back pocket and then hands it to me looking at the ground again to hide his red cheeks. 

The teddy! 

"Oh my God, Dylan!" I let out a laugh. "Thank you." 

"I just knew how frustrated you got." He chuckles again. 

"I love it!" I reach out and put my arms around my neck as he wraps his arms around my waist holding me in a tight embrace. Fire works exploded inside of me as he murmured another thank you into my ear. 

I'd never experienced such a feeling before. Something inside off me just lit up. Having his arms around me made me feel safe and secure, which is odd because I haven't even known him that long. His hugs reminded me a lot of Harry. But this was different.

When hugging Harry it felt just like a friendly gesture, like a loving, confiding hug you would share between a family member. But with Dylan it was more. I felt the same warmth as I did with Harry, but something in my stomach told me different. It told me I wanted more. As I looked up at his face, his slightly parted, pink, plump lips caught my attention. Oh, how I want to kiss him so bad right now. 

Before my thoughts could develop any further, Dylan pulled away. I couldn't help but feel disappointed but I pushed it to the back of my mind reminding myself that it was only our first date. 

"Could I walk to school with you tomorrow?" Dylan asked, catching me off guard. 

"Yeah of course." 

"I'll drop past at quarter past-ish then. Thank again for this evening. I did really enjoy it." 

"Ok, yeah same, thank you for taking me." 

My heart swelled as Dylan walked down the rode towards his house, away from me, leaving me with my thoughts and a silly smile plastered across my face. Did I really just admit to wanting to kiss him?