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011

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PART ELEVEN

"you look fine," ethan said, standing behind me in the full length mirror. i wore the pink and white striped bart simpson shirt, black ripped jeans and black converse.

"fine? is that it?" i said, turning to my twin.
"you're my brother, what am i supposed to say 'you look hot?'" he protested, making me snigger.
"i was kidding, assclown," i replied and he walked out my room, rolling his eyes.

i laughed quietly at his behaviour before picking my phone from my bed. i checked to see if there was any messages from zoe or anyone before slipping it in my pocket as well as my keys.

"have fun!" was the last thing i heard before i closed the door to our house from ethan.

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imessage
zoe 🙃

hey i'm at
the restaurant
now

are you
almost here?

yes sorry
i'm 10 mins
away running
a bit late

i haven't
stood you up
i promise

it's all good
read

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"thanks," i said to the waiter who served my drink. i took a sip, my eyes glued to the entrance, nervously. then as if on cue, she walked through the door, looking around curiously.

zoe wore a long sleeved grey shirt and a black denim skirt, revealing her soft-looking, olive legs as she wore classic black vans on her feet. her chestnut brown hair was down, ending in small curls.

to say the least, she looked gorgeous. incredibly gorgeous. effortlessly gorgeous.

when she drew nearer, i swallowed the lump in my throat and stood up to greet her. she had a small smile perked on her lips, a coat of lip gloss on them.

"you look beautiful," i complimented zoe, making her smile turn wider.
"thank you, you look handsome," she returned, blushing slightly.

i put my arms around her waist, hugging her, her hair with a scent of strawberries and vanilla. it made her smell irresistible.

we both sat down, smiling at each other across from the booth.

────

"so, grayson," zoe started, once our food had arrived at the table, "if that is your real name."

she let out a soft giggle which made me instantly grin bigger.
"what do you wanna know?" i asked, sensing her tone, "i feel like i'm getting interviewed."

"you basically are. anyway, grayson," she repeated my name.
"zoe," i said her name in the same way as i took a sip from my drink, not taking my eyes off her.
"how did you get to where you are now?"

"right, i guess it all started when my twin brother and i moved to LA when we were fifteen and—"
"wait, fifteen? are you kidding?" zoe interrupted me.

"yep, we moved over here and just started making these crazy ass videos like challenges and pranks on each other and putting them on youtube. and 4 years later, we are still doing it," i explained and she nodded along. she was a great listener.
"wow, that's crazy," she gasped.
"i know, but enough about me, what about you?" i chuckled but she argued back.

"no! i wanna know more! do you have any hobbies?" zoe asked me, putting a forkful of food in her mouth.
"hmm," i hummed, thinking carefully, "i mean i like to work out, play fortnite, which sounds really bad, my brother forces me to play it with him half the time."

zoe chuckled cutely, taking a drink, "he's called ethan, right?"
"yep," i replied as she told me to tell me more.
"well, he's annoying most the time but i do love him. he actually says hi to you," i said, giving her a toothy grin.
"aww, tell him i said hi back," she returned and i nodded, an idea popping into my head.

"he also really wants to meet you, do you wanna come back and i'll introduce you?" i asked zoe nicely and a happy expression was shown on her face.
"sure, he sounds great."

────

"what's this?" zoe asked me, picking up a fried pickle from a small tray.
"it's a fried pickle, do you not have them in england?" i answered.
"i don't think so, i've never tried one before."

i saw her try one for the first time and watched her facial expressions.
"yeah, it's so good," she lied, trying not to choke.
"no, do you not like it?" i laughed, as she spat it out in her napkin. i think you answered the question for yourself there, grayson. idiot.

"no, do you?" she giggled. i could literally listen to it all day and wouldn't get bored.
"yeah, they're delicious!"

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"were you nervous for this date?" she questioned and i swallowed my food quickly.
"i'm not gonna lie, i was, especially after what we talked about and stuff. i thought it would've been awkward but it's not really at all," i replied.

"no, it's not. and i wanna apologise for freaking out over something that wasn't a huge deal," zoe cleared up, resting her head in her hands as her elbows were propped up on the table.

"it's fine, i understand, it was for a reason—"
"and i wanna tell you this reason," she started. i nodded, clearing my throat and drawing all attention to her.

"basically, my last boyfriend cheated on me for several months and i didn't even know. he would tell me all the time he was at the gym, or going to his mother's house, or working late and i always believed him. but he wasn't anywhere he said he was, he was at this girl's house who was 4 years younger than me. of course, that made me so self-conscious and i broke up with him as soon as i found out. since then i've hated it with passion when people have lied to me and i always struggled with trusting new people," she explained and i listened to her every word.
"i totally understand where you are coming from, i would feel a little self-conscious too," i confessed and she gave me a small smile.

"thank you for trusting me to tell me that," i grinned.
"thank you for listening."

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