BUTTERFLIES | ✓

V

☆

the rest of victoria and tj's date went well. they're both really into each other. and they already have their second date planned: bowling.

as they returned home from dinner, victoria and becca talked about their bizarre encounter with one another, then ended the night watching forrest gump.

it's been three days, and tonight's the bowling date. victoria is getting ready, while becca is eating doritos in her room.

ding dong, ding dong!

victoria almost drops her mascara in the sink at the sound of the doorbell. tj isn't supposed to be here for another 25 minutes!

"hey, b?," victoria hollers, "can you get that?"

becca gets off her bed, replying, "yep," and heads toward the door.

an unfamiliar face stands, smiling.

"hi, can i help you?" becca asks.

"my name is charles, i'm a friend of tj's."

victoria heads toward the door, half of her eye makeup done. but she stops short when she realizes that it's not tj.

"hi?" she says, from the middle of the living room.

"hi, i'm charles. you must be victoria."

☆

twenty minutes had gone by, and charles explained to the girls that tj mentioned what room they lived in, so he wanted to come by and say hi for himself.

victoria had returned to her bathroom, while becca and charles chatted on the couch.

re-entering the room, "well it was nice to meet you, charles," victoria begins, "but i'm actually expecting tj momentarily. we're going out."

"oh, okay! i didn't realize. what're the odds i stop by as you guys are about to go out?" charles yaps, before adding, "so what're your plans?"

"bowling."

"oh! bowling sounds fun." charles replies, getting off the couch, "well have fun, lovebirds. bye, rebecca."

with that, he lets himself out of their apartment, whisking away into the evening.

"well he's a character." becca says.

ding dong!

victoria straightens up, smoothens out her romper, then heads to the door. she opens it to a smiling tj.

"hi."

"hey."

☆

the night slips away. turns out, tj rented a single lane in a VIP room of the alley, so they were secluded in a much more intimate setting. score!

they played, whilst chatting over food about their lives, school, their families, their passions, everything. victoria is incredible at bowling, winning every game.

as they finish their final game, "thank you so much for this evening... i had so much fun." victoria says.

"i did too." tj responds, smiling.

they hold eye contact for an electrifying few seconds, until the distance between them seems to shrink.

butterflies.

tj takes one step forward, wraps his arms around victoria's back, and gently kisses her.

she wraps her arms around his neck, kissing back.

butterflies.

☆

as she returns home, heart as full as can be, victoria heads to her bedroom and pulls her phone out of her pocket. but before she can do anything, she notices the date.

oh crap. school starts in three days.

☆

thank you for reading!