My Apple's Smile

August 7, 2016

It's okay, it's just a date. Just a date, that's all. A date. With a boy. Who's been my best friend since I moved in. Who happens to be a gentleman. Who also happens to be terribly attractive and hilarious and sweet and oh god I was gonna blow it all. I was gonna screw up and he was going to hate me, be repulsed by me, never talk to me again, and it would all be my fault.

Well, if I was going to screw this up I was going to look damn good doing it. I checked the mirror again. My brown hair was pinned up in the back, my dress had just enough color to highlight the blue in my eyes, and my freckles were all accounted for. Good.

I smiled at my reflection, an attempt at a self-esteem boost or a practice grin for the date, I wasn't really sure. I liked to smile, but it made my nose all wrinkly, and if it was a really big smile, my eyes squinted.

I dropped the smile.

Then I brought it back. If he didn't like my smile, then he sure as hell wouldn't like the rest of me. His loss.

Someone knocked on the front door. Oh my god. He was here. I hoped he liked my smile. I really, really, hoped he would.

I ran down the steps, then paused for a second to take a breath. It was okay, it was all gonna be alright.

I opened the door.

My heart did jumping jacks.

"Hey, Jackie!" Carson was smiling at me on my front porch with a bundle of flowers in his arms.

"Hi, Carson!" I stepped outside and closed the door behind me. I was shaking like a leaf, my heart was leaping out of my chest. But I smiled. I couldn't have helped it, even if I had wanted to. "Are those for me?"

He handed me the bouquet. I could see his hand shaking as he gave it to me. Cutie. "Of course! It's your 16th birthday. Every girl with a beautiful smile gets flowers on her birthday!"

What was I thinking? Carson was my Apple.

Of course he loved my smile.