Rest In Peace (sequel to After They Died)

20- Chloe

He looks nervous, looking anywhere apart from directly in my eyes. His eyes are jewels, green orbs of light flashing in the sunlight and his tousled curls of brown hair look perfect. Flashing me an awkward grin, he says hi.

"Hey." I reply nervously. The awkward silence rings deafening in my ears.
"I'm sorry, but what did Jessie say to you?" I can't stop myself from asking him, the curiosity was burning deep in the pit of my stomach.
"Umm. That well, that you like me?" He says it like a question, as if I'm meant to correct him and tell him it's a lie.
"Oh ok." I stare at the grass beneath my feet, certain that he doesn't feel the same way. After an eternity of painful silence, he blurts out, "I agree."
"You agree that I like you?"
"No. Uh...damn, can I um start over?" He laughs nervously, "I um really like you too."
"You don't have to take pity on me, you know?"
"I'm not." His face splits into one of his cheesy grins.
"Really?"
"Obviously, who wouldn't want to go out with you?"
"Aww! That's so sweet, I just. Wow!" I gush.
"No guarantee that I'm not going to mess this up by the way, I'm a right idiot. And—" He stops himself abruptly. "What is it?"
"This is my first you know, relationship."
"It's mine too, I guess we can have each other as our firsts."
"Yeah, I'd like that."
"I guess I'll see you around tomorrow?"
"Or we could meet at brekkie?"
"Sure, see you later alligator!"
"In a while crocodile!" He chuckles. At first I'd been a nervous mess, but conversation came easily then and I have a warm fuzzy feeling when I think about him. My cheeks burn as I struggle to suppress a sappy smile from my mouth. He's perfect isn't he? He likes me, he really likes me. A male human thinks that I, Chloe Stevenson aka the most unattractive girl ever, am girlfriend material. Agh!! My mind is whirring at a million miles per hour and if people could read my mind, they would see my last brain cells giggling and shrieking excitedly. I have a boyfriend. Toby really likes me, and the feeling is mutual!

I practically prance into my room and Jessie screams when she sees my reaction. "I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT!" She shouts, "YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND CHLOE!" Jessie races around the room singing with pure joy, reflecting my exact emotions right now. "Details now." Jessie is suddenly solemn, but still squirming eagerly.
"Well, we saw each other and I asked what you said, he told me then said he feels the same but he'd probably mess it all up as I'm his first girlfriend and then we arranged to meet at brekkie tomorrow."
"You're his first?! Damn Chlo, he must have high expectations, the first is the best love by far."
"How would you know?"
"I've done my research." She flushes.
"You wouldn't need to, I bet you know from experience! Omg what aren't you telling me! Spill!"
"It was nothing, I'll tell you another time, today is about you my friend. So, meeting for brekkie, ey? It's official then!"
"I guess. But what do I wear?"
"Um, uniform, duh."
"It's Saturday tomorrow..."
"Omg! We have to plan! Agh, code red! Big emergency!" Jessie darts around our room, scattering my clothes haphazardly across the already messy floor. "Clothes um. Which ones? Skirt? Leggings? Jeans? Jessieeee! Help me!" Chucking garments of clothes everywhere she rummages through my cupboard. "This skirt looks cute, maybe with um... this t-shirt and some jumper?" "Ok, shoes?" She picks out my grey converse and hands them to me, "Sorted now?"
"Yeah, thanks."

A sudden wave of nerves crashes down on me. What if he changes his mind? What if it's awkward? What if I do or say something wrong? I really hope it'll be ok, it's only brekkie anyway. Just one quick meal. What if I spill juice down me? Or worse, over him? Stop, Chloe, I tell myself. Breathe, it'll be fine, absolutely fine. Worrying about it just puts you through the stress twice which is unnecessary. It's going to be ok, and Jessie will be here for me if not. Not that I'll need her: I'm independent, sometimes.

We walk down to brekkie, nervous butterflies flitting around in my tummy leaving no room for an appetite. He's already there at a smaller table, waiting for me. "Hey, you ok?"
"Yeah I'm great thanks, you?"
"Good thanks, should we go get some brekkie then?"

Toby gets two slices of toast thickly slathered in oozing strawberry jam and a banana to go with it. I grab a pot of cherry yogurt and a small bowl of berries with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. We sit down alone at a small table in the corner and murmurs of gossip fill the hall. Only his close friends and Jessie know currently, but it won't take long for the rumours to be spread, it runs like wildfire here.