"ugh," i groan. my mascara gets on my under eyes for, like, the 5th time. i grab a makeup wipe from my vanity and try to clean it up.
tonight, corey is taking me to the carnival. we've been dating for a couple of weeks now and he just asked me if i wanted to go yesterday. and obviously i wouldn't pass up the opportunity to go on a date with the most dreamy boy at my school. corey first asked me out during 2nd semester, i was studying for finals and stressing over my grades so much that we could barely spend any time together. but now that it was summer we have all the time imaginable.
i stand up and look at myself in the mirror. my hair is in a half up half down and straightened. i decided to wear light jean shorts and a nice red button up t-shirt, knotted at the bottom. i take a deep breath, you look good i tell myself, i just hope corey likes how i look. i gather my purse and lip gloss then hurry downstairs. he should be here soon and i don't want to waste any time with him.
"hi mama," i smile as i hop into the kitchen, trying to get my left ked on.
"hi baby," she replies, looking up from her book and glass of iced tea. "you look so pretty, is corey gonna be here soon?"
"uh, yeah, i think so," i tell her.
"when do you think you'll be home?" she asks me as i quickly bend down to tie my keds.
"10:00 or 11:00 is that okay?" i ask her.
"yeah, that's okay." she nods and refocuses back on her book, adjusting her reading glasses a bit.
the doorbell rings just as i finish tying my shoelace. i take a deep breath, act natural, just be yourself . i glance back at my mom who peers up at me expectantly.
"i guess i'll get that," i trail, slowly walking to the front door. just be normal and you'll be fine. i smooth my hair down and open the door. before me is corey, wearing a light blue cloth collared t-shirt and nice jeans. he looks so cute. we lock eyes for a second before saying anything. "hi corey," i smile.
"mama, i'm gonna go now, okay?" i check with her.
"okay, you two have fun," she nods, smiling.
"thank you mrs. y/l/n," corey says just before i shut the door behind us. "hey, how are you?" he asks me as i follow him down my driveway to his car.
"i'm good, what about you?" i respond, looking at his fluffy blonde curls.
"i'm great," corey opens the passenger door for me and waits for me to sit down to close it. "you look really pretty tonight," he turns to face me once he gets in the car.
"thank you, you look good too," i blush.
"thanks," he plants a kiss on my cheek then starts pulling out of the driveway.
———
once we get to the carnival we decide to go on the merry go round and get funnel cakes. corey even wins me a stuffed bear.
"hey, wanna go on the ferris wheel?" corey asks as we get close to it. "there's no line,"
"yeah, sure," i nod, gazing up the bright and colorful lights attached to it.
"this one looks like fun, maybe we'll be able to see the whole fair from up there." he blabbers on, filling the silence. that's what he always does, he never stops talking, really, and i don't mind it either. i like listening to him.
once we get on the ferris wheel and coreys silent, we both admire the view.
"it's really pretty when it's all lit up at night." i sigh, gazing at the ground below us, all light up, and all of the different rides and the excited chatter.
"yeah, it sure is. it's so weird being this high up." corey replies. "this is what being a bird would be like, imagine being a bird."
"i'd like being a bird, you'd get to go wherever you want and you don't need to rely on anyone else." i state, looking up at the stars.
"id like being a bird, i'd feel free." he nods his head, his curls bouncing up and down. his hair is so cute, it looks like an angels hair. there's something so beautiful about it.
"i really like your hair," i blurt, out of nowhere. why would i say such a weird thing like that? just when we were starting to have a normal conversation. i don't know if talking about being a bird is a normal conversation.
"yeah?" his hand reaches up to touch his blonde hair.
"mhm." i nod, so eternally grateful that its too dark for him to see my tomato colored face.
"well, thank you." he smiles sheepishly. i start examining his face. his bright blue eyes, and cute little button nose. my eyes wander down to his pink, plump lips. they look so soft, so nice to just— "you can just ask to kiss me ya know. if you want to of course. but i bet it'd be a lot better than just staring at my lips." i look up to see corey watching me with such a softness i've never see before.
"oh, i- uh, no i" i stutter, so embarrassed to be caught by him.
"it's okay, i was just teasing." he smiles softly. "but, can i kiss you?"
"yes," i breathe, leaning forward towards him. our lips press together and i feel like i'm flying, i feel weightless.
after we pull away, corey looks at me again. so softly. and he smiles, the happiest smile i've seen.
"what?" i ask, confused as to why he's looking at me weird.
"you're just so beautiful, has anyone ever told you that?" he sighs, gazing into my eyes.
"i- uh, no." i shake my head, feeling so admired by him. it makes my heart warm and staticky.
"well, you need to hear it more often." he tells me, grabbing a hold of my hand.
"thank you, corey." i smile at him appreciatively.
