𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄(gxg)

Chapter 17

ROSE'S perspective

It felt weird.

Being on a date with your best friend was weird.

On most dates, you get to know the other person, talk about your interest or hobbies, share stories about where you grew up and how you got to this point in life.

With Erin I knew all of those things.

I knew she grew up in Michigan and moved here when she was eight because of her father's job. She's a writer, which essentially is how we met, in an English class our freshman year of university. I knew she had a scar that trailed from her knee to her ankle because she had major surgery. I knew she didn't eat pork unless it was bacon. I knew she hated playing sports but would lounge around all day watching them. I knew she had a strong relationship with her uncle because her dad wasn't around much. I knew who she was.

I just wish I knew who I was, especially at this moment.

And as I sat there, listing to Erin blabber about a story she's told me millions of times, I couldn't help but think about what the hell I was doing.

This was all moving too fast. I felt like I was just fucking Emelia yesterday and now I'm eating Mexican food (on a date) with my friend of six years.

And if I thought my life was messy before this, I completely thought wrong.

I took a sip of my drink, trying to stay engaged with every word that spilled from Erin's mouth but only ended up getting more distracted. She looked beautiful and unlike any other time I've seen her all dolled up.

She rarely wore makeup but tonight her face was painted. Not caked on like it was done sloppily, but in a way where it looked like every line, mark, and everything in between was intentional.

Her short blonde hair was curled in a messy, yet cute, 'just rolled out of bed way'. She wore light wash denim jeans and a white polo with the top three buttons undone. She wore minimal jewelry and everything about it was nice and fit her so well.

I just couldn't shake off the feeling that doing this was wrong.

I mean, I guess I liked her. She's been there through rough times, especially going through everything with Emelia.

It was easy being with her. The relationship was already there and dating would only be a slight change from our regular relationship.

However, I didn't want easy. Nothing in my life has ever been easy so I was used to chasing after hard things.

After all, it was more exciting.

"Earth to Rose!" She snapped, moving her hands in a wave-like motion in front of my face."Are you OK? Or did that tequila get to you already?" She chuckled as she dunked a tortilla chip in a pool of salsa.

I shook my head to try and wake myself up from my pressuring thoughts. It seems as if every chance I get, I zone out. "Sorry...I-I was just thinking..."

"Thinking? 'Bout what?" She paused, mumbling the next words that slipped from her lips. "Probably about that stupid bitch Emelia."

I perked up at the sound of her name. Though I still work with Emily, our interactions in the past week has been slim.

I see her in the mornings, nod my head as if to say hello and continue doing my work. Even if she requires me to be by her side she still never talked to me but more at me. The difference was small but there was obviously something off.

"No no no no. It's not at all about her... you know how I am. I have the attention span of a goldfish."

I could tell she took a pause before she leaned up on her elbows and stared at me. "Look Rosie if you're not interested let me know. I don't want to pressure you into something you don't want to do."

I mimicked her actions and leaned upon the table. "No. I want this. It's just a little awkward, y'know? We're best friends and now we're trying to date. I know you like me and the feeling is...mutual... but I still want us to be where we were before. Movies, junk food, gossip. I don't want you or our relationship to change because we have feelings for each other."

I watch a smile grow on her face once she reached across the table to grab my hand. "Ugh thank God! Let's head back to my place and we can order in from there." She winked, scooting back in her chair and rising to her feet, our hands never leaving the others.

We walked towards the door after leaving some cash on the table, moving on to a different conversation that could occupy our attention in the time being.

Unknowingly, a chime that was above the door sounded off and the customer who entered ran straight into me, causing me to release my hand and go sprawling out onto the floor.

I was almost positive that the way I landed was going to show up as a bruise tomorrow morning and I'd be spending the rest of my night humiliated that Erin (and the whole damn restaurant) saw me fall on my ass.

Immediately Erin reached for my arms and pulled me back up to stability. I dusted myself off and tried to imagine that everyone in the room wasn't staring at me, keeping my head down in the process.

"I'm sooo sorry! I'm a little clumsy." I let out with a small voice, noticing that the figure that bumped into me was still there.

"No problem." The voice announced, being all too familiar.

I snapped my head up from looking at the ground, coming into contact with Emelia, dressed in jeans and a basic tee.

She looked quite normal.

And beautiful.

Erin lunged forward and stepped to Emelia. If this were a cartoon, smoke would be coming from Erin's ears and a thermometer would reach its highest level and break.

"Are you following us or something? Is your life so pathetic you had to come and interrupt ours?" Erin growled.

Emelia rolled her eyes and folded her arms. She was unbothered by Erin's words and her face was cool as a cucumber. "Don't flatter yourself." She brushed her off and moved her attention back onto me.

I still played around with the end of my dress, not wanting to look up at Emelia simply because I was afraid of what I might see.

"You look good tonight." She brought her hand forward and brushed aside the length of my hair. She then moved her eyes back to Erin before muttering the words, "Rosie."

This sent Erin charging at the use of Emelia calling me by the nickname only she did. It was as if Emelia were to say a big fuck you to her.

She knew exactly what she was doing.

Luckily a team of waiters came over before Erin could lay a finger on her and was escorted out, leaving me and Emelia in the foyer.

"Look Rose I'm sor—"

I put my hand up. I didn't want to hear any excuse, lie, or apology she had to offer. "Just stop Emelia. I can't...I-I just can't." I shook my head, tears now running down my eyes when I headed outside to meet Erin.