Play Pretend

14: The Date

14: The Date

Eleanor Kings

My heart hadn't stopped thudding even as I descended down the stairs. I thought it was going to explode from all the hammering, and I thought I was going to pass out.

Honestly, I had a pretty good idea what was going on the second I knew Cole was heading for the rooftop. A lot of romance novels set the confession scene on rooftops, so it wasn't quite a surprise. But still, my heart went wild when the actual words fell from his lips.

"And may I ask where were you?" Erik asked coldly, waiting by the front of the school. I immediately wiped the smile off my face and ducked my head down.

"Nothing. Just... Happy that my dance club is becoming quite a success," I excused.

Erik was silent, as we walked along to his car. Then he said, "There's a competition coming up right?"

I frowned at him; he was never interested in these kinds of stuff, "Yeah...?"

"It's a contemporary dance?"

"Yeah."

"Who's your partner?" I panicked when the question came from his mouth. I was planning to ask Cole to be my partner, and Erik seemed to have a pretty good idea who would be the candidate too. But if I were to tell the truth, he was bound to do something irrational to Cole.

Like shooting him in the temple.

It wasn't the first time I'd seen him kill; Erik could kill anything without a blink of a thought. That was how I was forced into dating him actually – He killed my original boyfriend.

“I haven’t decided yet,” I finally said, going for the safest answer, “I mean, there’re so many talented dancers in the club.”

Erik nodded, as though he was satisfied with my answer. Then he said something I never knew he could say, “You’ll do great. I promise.”

I gulped, stayed silent and nodded a thanks.

There was another thing about Erik – He could be so bipolar. Sometimes he’d be whipping out his handgun and shooting without a thought, but sometimes, he could also act like a decent human being. It frustrated me, honestly.

“Oh, and by the way,” I casted a side glance at him, “I won’t be free on Sundays. Boss needs me.”

“Oh,” I murmured, trying my best not to sound overjoyed, “okay then.”

That means I can go on the date with Cole without another interruptions!

I couldn’t sleep at all.

I had been rolling around in bed, thinking about all sorts of things that might happen tomorrow during the date. Where we might go. How Cole would dress.

Polo shirt?

Hoodie?

Buttons-up?

Never mind that, Eleanor, I reminded myself, think about what you should wear?

The morning sunlight seeped through my room, and I already knew for a fact that I would resemble a zombie. My skin was pale, and there were dark circles under my eyes from the lack of sleep. My hair was a net of mess, and my spots seemed to look more obvious than ever.

“Mommy!” I yelled through the house, and my mom came to my door in a flash, “I need help.

“I don’t know what to wear,” I moaned, as my mom inspected the pile of clothes on the floor, “I really want to impress Cole, but… Argh!”