Smile - CrankGameplays

47. Live

Reese smiled, eyes closed as she hummed into her phone. A soft exhale of relief, of gratitude.

"You can take me on that date whenever you want." She giggled sweetly, leaning into her door frame as she watched her roommate grin at her from afar.

"How does tomorrow sound?"

"I would really like that," she stated, heart warm and fuzzy. "What time?"

"I'll pick you up at seven," his voice only a faint whisper, "How does that sound?"

"Sounds great."

"Okay," Ethan chuckled, clearing his throat into the phone, "But I got to get to bed!"

She stuck her lips out in a full pout, "Do you?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty tired. But goodnight, sweetheart."

She removed the phone from her ear and placed it on her chest, throwing her head back and containing the smallest squeal of delight, "Goodnight, Ethan."

Sofia glanced towards her before rushing over, "Look at you! Blushing for him when he's not even here."

Reese made sure the call had ended before speaking up, "I got to admit, this is so different. He's so different."

Her roommate winked, "Seriously, I don't think I've ever seen you this happy about a boy."

She shrugged, "I know... I guess there's a first for everything."

Sofia playfully slapped her shoulder, "Well! What did he say?"

"We have that date tomorrow," she flashed a wide grin, "Can you believe that? We're pretty much doing this whole relationship backward."

"I mean, it's working. Maybe I've been going about relationships all wrong my whole life."

Reese narrowed her eyes, "No, never. I'm just glad things are finally falling into place... and they will for you too!"

"I'm so happy for you but are you going to tell him?"

She lowered her eyes to the ground before lifting up her phone, "No, I don't think so. We're in too good of a place right now for me to bring this up."

"Are you sure?" Sofia asked with uncertainty, "He might appreciate the honesty."

"Yeah, he would." Reese sucked on her bottom lip, "But the last time Tucker was around we ended up not talking for a whole month."

"Why is that douchebag even trying to talk to you again?"

"It probably didn't work out with the other girl, I could really care less. I'm not letting him and his stupid advances ruin whatever relationship I have with Ethan though. Not this time."

Sofia nodded, "Okay, well what are you going to do about all those messages he sent you?"

"I'm not replying to him," Reese smirked, "And he can try all he wants but I'm not letting him do this again."

She simply tilted her head, not understanding Reese's logic for keeping Ethan in the dark about Tucker reaching out again.

Reese wasn't sure why he was back, why did he want to come back all of a sudden? The recent messages from him were ambiguous, asking to meet up to talk, or to hang out, but she wasn't going to take that chance. A part of her was curious, for someone she had known for so long, she found it hard to read him.

What did he want?

She wasn't sure and she wanted to know, but not like this. If that meant ignoring him for the rest of the year, then she would happily comply.