Have Hope

Our First Date (edited)

I glance at my alarm clock to check the time – 6:07 PM. That means I have approximately 53 minutes until Andrew is here to pick me up.

I did have an outfit planned out from my clothes to my hair and makeup. But then I put on the clothes, and I didn't like it.

So now I have less than an hour to figure out what to wear.

"Leah!" I groan, dramatically falling onto my back on my bed with my hands over my eyes.

Andrew and I ran into each other at the park just a few days ago, but after exchanging many texts and a few phone calls, he'd asked me to go on a date with him.

Andrew Matters asked me to go on a date with him. I still cannot believe it.

Considering he has been nothing but sweet to me, and he is obviously attractive, I found no reason to say no.

Bringing me to Friday night on August 25th with nothing to wear on a date with Andrew Matters.

"Help me," I plead into my hands.

I lower my hands from my face when I hear Leah sigh. She ventures over to my closet and takes a moment to skim through my clothes.

"Did he say what you guys are doing?"

"He said dress comfy." Boys never give enough information for dates.

Okay, I don't actually know that considering this is my second ever date, and the first was just to a movie. But I have heard that boys are not informative.

Leah clicks her tongue thoughtfully, moving to my dresser. She spends roughly 20 seconds looking before she pulls a pair of high-waisted jean shorts out and tosses them toward me. Following the shorts, a plain black cropped tank top comes soaring through the air.

"With your white converse."

I inspect the outfit. "Are you sure it's not too casual?"

"He said dress comfy," she reminds me.

"Good point," I agree. The clock tells me it's almost 6:30, so I quickly change out of my sweats and T-shirt into the outfit Leah picked out for me.

I take a minute to stand in front of the mirror on the back of my door to check myself out. As I am turning to try and view my backside, Leah chuckles. "You look hot, Helaina, don't worry."

Before I can argue (lie) and say I'm completely relaxed and not at all worried, there's a knock at my door, and it takes me by complete surprise – I jump back at least a foot away from the door. Leah cracks up.

While I recover from my near-heart attack, she opens the door for my brother. Brennan leans against the door frame once the door is open.

"Hey ladies. When is this boy coming over?" He raises his eyebrows at me.

"7," I tell him with a roll of my eyes. Despite being only two years older than me, Brennan likes to act like he is my father. Probably because our parents unofficially live in New York (business people, obviously), so my actual dad is never here to take on that role.

"I'll be ready." I glare as he smirks.

"Bren! I already told you I do not need you embarrassing me."

"She does that enough for herself," Leah jokes from where she lays on my bed on the opposite side of the room.

I toss her a look over my shoulder.