Nineteen

Chapter Seventy-One

After I finish my plate of chicken nachos, I glance at my phone to see the time. It's around six now, and I managed to spent all this time walking campus and eating at my favorite food truck.
I start walking back to the dorm when I remember my date. Is it a date? I'm not sure. I'm still not sure what I'm suppose to wear to this event. He said a sparkly outfit. I don't wear a lot of sparkles.
It's ridiculously hot today, and I can feel my body sweating through my clothes. The sight of my dorm building has never looked so good than it does right now.
Right as I open the door and welcome the cool air conditioning, my phone rings from my back pocket.
"Hello?"
"What's up, Em?" Clark booms through the speaker.
"I went out to eat. What are you doing?" I dig in my purse to find my room key.
"Inviting you to a party tonight."
I laugh out loud. "I'm not going to another party for a while."
My door clicks as I unlock it over the sound of him talking. "It's a costume party tonight. We can go as Bonnie and Clyde."
As cool as that sounds, I actually consider it.
"I have plans already, but that sounds awesome."
I flop on my bed and kick my shoes off. I only have 45 minutes to get completely ready.
"What could be better than this?" He says as I shift him to speaker phone.
"I can name quite a few things off the top of my head." I scan my closet for the sparkly outfit I'm suppose to own.
"Clark, do I own anything so sparkly, that you remember it right off the top of your head?"
He takes a moment to think. "You have a black cocktail dress you wore for a party when we first got here, I think."
I try to think. I don't remember wearing one, but sure enough there's one in the back of my closet.
"I guess you're right," I say.
"Like always."
I slip it over my head and zip the side. It's super snug on me.
"Where are you going, anyway?" He finally asks.
"None of your business," I say as I pin my hair back to put some curls in it.
"What the hell, Em? You're hiding something."
I grin at his "big brother" vibe he's giving off. I like to aggravate him.
"You're right. So now I have to go so I can get ready." Before he can respond, I yell I love you and hang up the phone.

After I'm ready I look at myself in the mirror. My black heels are already uncomfortable, but they look great with this dress and makeup.
Right on time, someone knocks at my door at seven sharp. I get butterflies at the sound.
When I open it, Collin is standing with his hands full of flowers. His hair is styled with gel and it almost distracts me from what he's wearing.
A dress shirt with dress pants. He has on a pair of flat bottom tennis shoes, of course, because it would be too different to get him in dress shoes.
I smile at him and I'm genuinely impressed with his effort.
"Hi," he says.
"Hi." My face is starting to hurt from smiling at him. He's grinning, but I can tell he's nervous.
"I got these for you," he says when he reaches the flowers to me.
"Thank you. They're pretty," I say. He grins a half smile as he shoves his hands in his pockets. I lay the flowers on my desk as I grab my purse.
"So, where are we going?" I ask.
He waves his hand in front of himself, gesturing for me to walk down the hallway. Of course I do as I'm asked, and he follows me as we walk through the building.
"I was thinking we'd see a dinner show far into Miami," he says when we get outside.
I love dinner shows. I've only been to one before.
"Yeah, that sounds great." I say.
When we get into the parking lot, I see his truck is spotless. He's spent today cleaning it and making it presentable. I can feel my cheeks getting warm at the thought.
He notices me looking, and he half grins while his cheeks turn pink as well. This is a whole different person than I've come to know.