never be the same; william nylander [✔️]

eight; me?

Rowan was sitting in front of her vanity, doing her makeup. She was going to dinner with Carter for his mom's birthday. Normally, if it was just the two of them she would barely even be able to get out of her pajamas. And although she knew his family, she still didn't feel comfortable wearing pajamas to his mom's 50th birthday dinner.

Music was playing through Rowan's small apartment as Carter sat on her bed behind her, watching her put on makeup that he didn't know the name of. He never understood makeup, or why she needed it. He thought she was beautiful without it.

"Me?" Rowan asked, blushing. Carter was confused. "Huh?" "You said, you look beautiful without makeup. I didn't know who you were talking to." She said and he blushed. "Oh ya, I was talking to you. I was apparently thinking out loud." He chuckled and she smiled.

Carter really was the perfect guy, when she got to thinking about it. Funny, sweet, outgoing but also a little shy, knows all the right things to say, a slight nerd, he was everything a girl didn't know she needed. But Rowan would never break his heart like that.

She never had feelings for him, and she still doesn't. She only sees Carter as her best friend. If only she saw how he felt.

When she was ready to go, they left her apartment and went to Carter's car to go to the nice restaurant that was just a few blocks from Rowan's apartment. But it was cold, so she didn't want to walk. Truth be told, neither did Carter.

They arrived at the restaurant and got to their table. Carter sat next to Rowan at the long table full of Carters family. She had only met his parents. He had no siblings, so she had never met any of them. Both sets of grandparents and his mom's two sisters were there as well. Rowan didn't know why, but she felt stressed out.

Carter sensed her distress and put his hand on her thigh. "It's just my family. They're pretty easy people." He smiled at her and she nodded, smiling. Carter and Rowan turned their attention to their menus when Carter's aunt Delilah spoke.

"So, Carter. Your mom tells us that you and Rowan are dating?"

Rowan almost spit her water out.

"What?" He asked. "Your mom said that you guys are dating." She repeated herself and Carter shook his head. "Oh, umm, no. We're just friends." He said painfully and she nodded. "Ya, I'm not a big relationship girl. I'm really just here for school." She said and Aunt Delilah shook her head.

"It's a damn shame, because you guys would be a perfect pair." She said and Rowan smiled. She had never seen them as being a couple. But what she didn't know is how desperately Carter wanted that.

The rest of the dinner went smoothly. His family was really great. Rowan and Carter were on their way home. The Ways by Khalid played through his car when Carter turned it down. "Hey." Rowan whined, it was one of her favorites. "I have something to tell you." He blurted out nervously as he pulled in front of Rowan's apartment building.

"Okay, what's up?" She said and she took a deep breath and exhaled. "I love you, Rowan." He said and she smiled. "I love you too Carter, you know that." She said he shook his head.

"Not the best friend love. Like, I love you so much and I would be lost in this world without you and I want to date you, kind of love." He said and she was shocked. He had never come off that way. "Carter, I don't know what to say." She said, speechless. "Forget it, Rowan. Forget I said anything. I should have known. Please, just go." He said and she shook her head.

"No, I don't want to leave. I'm really sorry I just don't feel that way about you. I don't want you to be mad at me." She said and he shook his head. "Maybe you would see it if you weren't so damn scared to be in love. Forget it, Rowan. Please just leave." He raised his voice and she flinched. "Okay, thank you for tonight." She whispered out. She got out of his car and walked into her apartment, tears falling down her face.

She got into her apartment and pulled out her phone. She needed to talk to someone. She called Elise, who didn't answer. She groaned and called Amelia, who also didn't answer. She couldn't think of anyone else. But when her finger rolled over his contact, she pressed it out of instinct. He was the only person who could help her right now. He was the only person she wanted to help her.

She hit call and it rang when his sleepy voice rang through her ears. She forgot it was late.

"Rowan?"

"William."