Nora's POV
"So what are you doing now?" Shawn asks. We've spent the whole afternoon together, enjoying the music, eating snacks, and talking. It seems like we've talked about almost everything. Well, not everything, but a lot of things. Talking with him is easy, and it's something that seems to come natural. If we have silence, it's not something that needs to be filled, it's not needy.
"Um, I don't know." I start putting my things together, and packing things up. We played a rousing game of UNO, where I won easily. It helps that apparently he's never played it before. I start to pick up the blanket we were sitting on. I actually took a nap for about a half hour before Shawn woke me up, telling me I was starting to turn a little pink. I usually don't burn because my skin tone makes for a natural tan, but I don't spend a lot of my day in the sunshine when I'm working. I flick the blanket in the air a few times, making sure the grass clippings are fully gone and Shawn grabs the other end, helping me fold. "Thank you." I smile at him. It's odd but I feel like we've known each other for longer than a week.
He slips his backpack on and takes the blankets from me. We don't have that far to walk until we're out of the park, but I'm sure he's just being a gentleman.
"Oh! Dip 'n' Dots!" My eyes wide, since I haven't had any of these in forever.
"What?" Shawn asks as I break away from our stride and get in line.
"You don't know what Dip 'n' Dots are?" I'm surprised, I had just assumed with all their travels. When he shakes his head no I reach my arm out and pull him in line next to me. "Oh my, they've only been the ice cream of the future for the last twenty years." I clasp my hands, excited to have some. When Nonno would take me to Yankee's games, he would always treat me to Dip 'n' Dots. Like a little memory lane trip.
I'm anxiously rocking on my heels, waiting for my turn to get circle ice cream when Shawn starts laughing.
"Are you this excited?" He asks.
"Yes, you have to have some." I order my usual of cookies and cream and Shawn takes his time looking at all the options before selecting the exact same thing as me. When he starts pulling his wallet I push his hand away. "No, your first time having some, it has to be my treat." He turns his head at me. "I insist." I tell him, slightly laughing because I'm using the same line he used on me earlier this week.
I wait just a few steps down the path, waiting for him to have a bite as I've literally eaten mine so fast I'm almost already done. The only thing I'll eat quickly, is junk food.
"So?" I ask, side stepping and walking in front of him.
"It's good." He nods and scoops another spoonful.
"Just good? Shawn. They're amazing." I'm still walking backwards when my heel sticks on a crack and I start to fall backwards when Shawn grabs my arm to steady me.
"I told you when you walk backwards it makes me nervous." He smiles as he lets go of my arm and continues to walk.
I shovel one of the last spoonfuls of my ice cream and flip the spoon backwards in my mouth. "Life is boring walking forward." I smile. It wouldn't be the first time I've tripped in public. I've done it so many times before it's second nature. A day without tripping is like a day without breathing for me. But I see that he's still concerned, and it's sweet, but unnecessary. We reach the end of the park and I just don't know what to think about today. It was fun, it was relaxing, and Shawn said he liked me but that doesn't really mean anything.
"Well, I'll be heading that way." I point towards the subway entrance.
"And I'll be heading that way." Shawn points straight ahead. I don't even know where he's staying, probably some hotel, and I'm sure he's mentioned it to me a million times but I've just never remembered it.
"So I'll see you around?" I ask, once again, not sure where to take this from here. I know that next Sunday I'm going to be helping him look at apartments but in between here and then, it's up in the air.
"I'll be in." He smiles at he, looking away, itching the back of his head quickly. He holds his hand out, I don't know whether to take it as a hug or a high five, I pause briefly, I know he's not going to kiss me, too soon for that. So I give him a high five.
"See you later!" I shout after myself, quickly walking away from that mess. Did I really just give him a high five? A high five? I rub my brow at my mistake. I have no idea what I was thinking, second guessing myself. I could have at least given him a hug or something. I turn and look over my shoulder. The crowd has already swallowed him up, and I have no idea where he is, so I decide no turning back to rush into his arms like a cheesy romance movie.
--------------------------------
"You gave Shawn Mendes a high five?" Shelby practically yells in my ear. I knew I shouldn't have come, this place is way too loud for my liking.
"I didn't know how to read the situation! Now I just feel awkward." I sip my X-Rated and 7 concoction, my favorite.
"I'm sure it's fine, you're just reading to far into it, thinking about it too much." Shelby reassures me. "Come on, lets go back to the table." She stands from the bar with her drink and our friend Anna's drink. They're mainly Shelby's friends from school, and she's just two years younger than I but still stays in close contact with all of her college friends. I have a few that I still chat with but they're all engaged, married, or expecting babies. Not for me at the moment.
I sit back and listen to their chatter, Anna, Nicole, Shelby, Natalie, and Elaina. All chatting back and forth. All fresh in their jobs, Shelby is getting her Masters so she's only working part time in the flower shop. Half listening Nicole and Anna are teachers, Natalie works at a mental hospital, and Elaina works for the tourism board. Their chatter is helping ease my mind. I'm always one of those people that just keeps playing situations over and over again in my mind.
"Stop thinking." Shelby elbows me from under the table. She knows my mind well. "Why don't you invite him out with us?" She asks.
"You think he would come?" I ask, already pulling my phone out, the little liquid courage I guess.
"It's worth a shot. Worst he can do is say no." She shrugs her shoulders and non-verbally encourages me. I unlock my phone and pull up our message conversation. My fingers finding confidence as I type furiously.
To Shawn: Friends and I are out at Ace Bar on E 5th, if you're free, feel free to join. :)
I just want it to be simple, nothing that's demanding or seemingly over anxious. I see that he's already read it and my stomach is in knots when I see those three little bubbles appear. It drops a little when the three little bubbles disappear. I wait just a minute, practically burning a hole in my phone, and let out a sign of relief to see the bubbles appear. At least he's answering. Even if it's a no, he at least responded.
From Shawn: Meet you there in half in hour?
I silently scream, tapping my feet in excitement.
"What is it?" Shelby looks over my shoulder and starts following my lead. "He's coming?" She's excited.
"Yes, and don't go all fangirl on me. It's creepy." I tell her as she rolls her eyes.
"I'll be fine. As long as he give me Andrews' number I won't bug him." She laughs, and I know she's joking but sometimes with Shelby and a few drinks, you never know what that girl can do.
From Shawn: Mind if I bring some friends?
I realize I haven't responded to his previous message so I begin to type right away.
To Shawn: Yeah, bring whoever you want, plenty of space.
"He's bringing friends!" I shout to Shelby over the music. I had no idea that he even knew anyone in the city, which is dumb because I'm sure he knows lots of people from all over the place but now I'm just buzzing. "I've got to use the restroom." I let the table know as I rush to the back and take my place along with the line of girls. This is when I hate being a female. I tap my foot feverishly, waiting for the line to move an inch.
I read our conversation over and over again, nervous as ever. I just want to see how things are going between us, and maybe I can even read him finally. Oh my God, what if we kiss tonight?
