When You Least Expect It

7

I have to admit, I'm nervous. I've been on what, six or seven dates since high school? It just didn't seem worth it in the end. They all expected to be wined and dined. I was broke. I didn't have a car. I didn't even have a place to take them back to. So I never pictured myself pacing back and forth waiting on time for my date with one of the most popular girls here. She's hot and she's interested in me. We've had a lot of fun in group settings so I'm really hoping it goes well with just the two of us. Not that I have a whole lot more to offer now, but...

It's finally time. I throw my jacket on and head out to get Whitney. The night is already buzzing with people. My stomach flip flops as I get closer to her building, I still can't believe she agreed go out with me tonight. But Ash made me promise that I'd put myself out there and let go a little. She promised me she would do the same, we have to have a little fun. She says she sees my potential and I see hers but we have a hard time seeing it in ourselves I guess. We're both stubborn as hell but we're pushing each other.

One of the other girls, one I'm not familiar with, answers the door and grins. I offer a hand for her to shake but she just looks at it before turning and hollering at Whitney up the stairs.

Whitney looks good as she bounces down the stairs, this place smells sweet. It's so... girly and.. clean. I wipe my sweaty hands on my jeans before she reaches the bottom step. When she gets to me I wrap my arm around her shoulder to give her a little squeeze. "You look great Whitney. You ready to head out?"

"Yeah, just let me tell the girls." She basically floats down the hall. For a moment I'm lost in the sway of her hips. "Don't wait up girls! I'm headed out for my date with Derek tonight. Wish me luck!" I suppress a grin as I here the girls cheer her on.

We decide to catch a movie. Whitney picks a horror flick, she asks if I'll hold her if she gets scared, I like that idea. We share a slushy drink and some candy before it starts. Halfway through when the creepy music starts to build, she wraps my arm around her and holds my hand over her eyes. I lean in, pull her to me before I whisper in her ear, "Don't worry. I got you."

Afterwards we decide to hang out a little more, maybe catch a party or something. We're waiting on Jason to text back, sitting on a bench outside the movie theater. The breeze is cool. Whitney shivers in her little pink skirt and thin cotton shirt. "You want my jacket?" I ask her shrugging it off.

"Yes please. You are such a gentleman Derek." She slips into my jacket, it swallows her. She looks adorable.

She lays her head on my shoulder and scoots in closer to me. "Just doing the right thing. I can't sit over here all warm while you shiver. That would make me an asshole."

My phone rings. "Finally, man. Where are you?"

Jason: "My bad D! We're over here at the house behind the coffee shop."

"I think I know which one you're talking about. Ya'll care if me and Whitney drop by for a bit?"

Jason: "Nah man. The more the merrier! There's a couple of her girls here already. Y'all come on." He starts cheering about something and ends the call.

"Well, you want to go over there? It sounds like they're all buzzing already. At the very least it'd be entertaining to watch."

She threads her fingers into mine. "I don't know. It kinda sounds like your place is mostly empty. Maybe we should just go back there and watch another scary movie..."

All the blood in my brain is suddenly rushing south. I don't want to be a jerk or take advantage of the situation, but at the same time do I really pass on this opportunity? I mean, we could literally just go back to the house, order a pizza, watch a movie. All innocent ideas, then I can walk her home. We'll just see how it goes.