Crash and Burn

22. The First Date

We spent the day watching movies, just like the old times but made indefinitely better with the small pecks that we stole and the wide grins that eased on our faces whenever Mel complained about how we were PDAing too much. Even when Demi was standing at the door, bidding goodbye before she left, I couldn't wipe the look of glee on my face. "I had a great time." I lightly chuckled at her words. "We used to do this all the time, D." She ran her hands up the front of my hoodie and slung her arm over my shoulder. "But this time it was so different and I loved it. Besides, I always have fun hanging out with the both of you." My heart warmed and I leaned in for a long kiss. When we pulled away, a thought came into my mind and I didn't make any effort to shoot it down.

I want to do this right.

"What are you up to tomorrow?" The smile on Demi's face widened before she replied. "Nothing. Why?" She was giving me a teasing smile and my own smile grew wider. If I was smiling this wide under any other circumstance, my cheeks would be hurting but never with Demi. I don't think I'll ever be hurt around her. "I'm taking you out on a date." She raised an eyebrow. "Who said I agreed on going on a date with you?" My heart dropped and I immediately backtracked. Was this not what she wanted? "Oh. I-I'm sorry I just thought-" I started stuttering but her loud and usually infectious laughter cut me off. I'd laugh with her, but confusion and hurt rose up high. "I'd love to go on a date with you. Text me about it?" I rolled my eyes but nodded, the smile making way back onto my face.

I laid in bed that night, smiling wide at the ceiling. "What's got you smiling so wide?" I looked over at the doorway and saw Mel leaning against the doorframe, a smile on her face too. "I'm really happy you two worked things out." I patted the spot next to me and she came over. "I'm really happy, too. I thought I wasn't ready to face her but I guess I was just being a pussy." Mel let out a loud laugh but managed to squeeze a sentence in between. "You are what you eat, you know." My eyes widened and I shoved her off the bed. Her laughter was replaced by a loud groan and her head popped up into my eyeline. "So how are you guys going to do this? She goes back on tour soon and you both obviously have things to work through." I squinted at her. "Were you eavesdropping?" She scoffed as she pulled herself up. "No. It's just really obvious." I sucked my lips into my mouth and gave it a thought. Was I the only one blind to Demi struggling? Shaking the head out of my thoughts, I just shrugged at Mel. Things are going better now. "I'm taking her out on a date tomorrow so I guess we'll see? We're taking a step at a time." Mel smirked at me. "A date, huh? If you guys are gonna do it, put a sock on the door or text me ahead of time so I can get earplugs." I shoved Mel off the bed again and this time her laughter continued on as she rolled on the floor, shaking with laughter.

Morning rolled around and I woke up feeling happy, something that I haven't had the pleasure of having for a long time. I checked my phone and a smile grew on my face when I saw that I had a text from Demi.

'Good morning gorgeous! I hope you slept well. I woke up smiling today because of you. I've had a light breakfast like you told me to and I can't wait to see you later. One thing that you haven't told me is what the fuck I'm supposed to wear so I'm freaking out rn. No big, just tell me whenever ;) x'

I let out a light laugh while I felt my heart warm at her words. I quickly typed out a reply and got out of bed. After getting ready and drinking my usual protein shake for breakfast, it was already close to 10am and Mel was just coming down the stairs, rubbing at her tired eyes. "Morning, bug. I'm just leaving to get Demi and I'll see you later." She gave me a hug and had a teasing smile on her face when we pulled away. "Go get some." I rolled my eyes, flipping her off as I got my keys and drove to the florist.

I knocked on the door at 10.30 sharp, holding the bouquet of flowers I had for her behind my back. The door opened a few seconds later and there she stood in her beautiful glory. "For m'lady." I showed her the flowers and the small smile that was there widened into a grin. "They're beautiful, thank you. Come in for a sec, I have to put these in some water." I walked into her house and followed her. "You know some say that yellow tulips symbolize happiness, cheerfulness and hope," I stated and I could tell she was smiling even though her back was turned to be as she filled the vase with water. "You can't get any more perfect even if you tried, Al." I leaned in for a kiss which she happily gave and pulled away with a dazed smile on my face. "Do I look okay?" She gestured to her outfit and gave me a nervous look. She was wearing a black tank top that didn't do much to cover the pink sports bra underneath, pink and black leggings that ended halfway down her shin to match the outfit and black sports shoes. "You don't have to worry about how you look with me, Demi. You look beautiful always." She turned away to grab her things but I didn't miss the blush that crept on her cheeks.

"Where are we going?" She couldn't hide the excitement in her voice as we walked to my car. I opened the door for her and answered her before quickly closing it after she got in. "The gym." She turned to look at me as I got in the driver's side, giving me a questioning look. "Promise me you won't get mad?" I gave her a sheepish look and she nodded with squinted eyes. "You told me yesterday that your team has been running you to the ground to look a certain way and because of that, you've lost the love you had for working out; which also led to your problems with eating. I thought that today, we could do some BJJ just for fun. You know, to get your love back for it. I know how much it sucks to fall out of love with something that you previously loved doing. Besides, we did have that playful banter about this when we worked out in my guest house slash gym." I took my eyes off the road to glance at her, afraid of her reaction but I was surprised when I saw her looking at me dreamily with a smile on her face. "I was wrong when I said that you can't get any more perfect because you just did." A smile broke out on my face and I let out a sigh of relief as I took her hand in mine and laced our fingers together.

"You ready to spend the next two hours choking each other and beating each other's asses?" Demi's eyes widened and she burst out laughing. Confusion hit me for a split second before I felt my face flush at the innuendo that my words had. "T-that's not what I m-meant." Tears of laughter beaded down Demi's cheek as she held her stomach. I rolled my eyes in faux annoyance and got out of the car. "Ugh, come on bitch."

Three hours later, we laid on the mats, spent. "Told you I could beat you." I smirked at Demi and a pout formed on her face. "No fair, you had more training than me." I chuckled and leaned over to kiss her. "You look beautiful." I couldn't tell if she was blushing from the compliment because her face was red from the workout but she gave me a bashful smile. "Oh please. I'm a sweaty sack right now. I look anything but beautiful." I frowned and took her hand in mine, giving a squeeze so she would turn over to look at me. "I was serious when I said that you didn't have to worry about looks with me. You look beautiful, sweaty sack or glammed up, 120lbs or 150lbs and I'll spend every day reminding you of that even after you realize that yourself." Tears welled up in her eyes and my heart broke. "I'm so sorry Demi. I didn't mean to make you upset." I sat up with her and took her face in my hands, my thumbs moving like windshield wipers to brush off her tears. She shook her head and launched herself into my arms. She took a deep breath and cleared her throat before speaking. "You didn't make me upset, Alex. I needed to hear that and I needed the session that we just had. Thank you so much." I pulled back from the hug and brushed away the last few tears that rolled down her cheeks. I got up and held my hand out for Demi grab, pulling her to her feet. "Go get changed and we're going for lunch. I know a small health food café not too far from here and they serve the best post workout meals ever. Literally almost everything on the menu helps you replenish whatever you need."

I opened the car door for Demi again and shifted uncomfortably in my seat when I got in. We just had lunch and Demi was very happy with the place I picked. She was so happy that she moaned with every bite and it definitely sent the wrong thoughts in my head. "I didn't know health foods can be that good and that green juice was fucking perfect." Glad you enjoyed it, but I was the one that had to sit across you while you were still slightly sweaty, gulping and moaning through the damn meal. "Where we headed?" I looked over at Demi as she broke me out of my thought process. "We're going for a hike at Griffith Park." Demi nodded at me and laced our fingers together, turning the radio station as we drove and singing her lungs out.

"I've been here a lot of times but I never get tired of this view." We were walking along the trails hand in hand. Demi wrapped an arm around my waist and kept her eyes on the breathtaking view. I smiled and looked at her, finding my view to be really breathtaking too. I put my arm around her and lightly tugged her shoulder so she would turn around and face me. She smiled at me and slung her arms loosely around my shoulder. "I've seen your breathtakingly gorgeous face a lot of times too but I'll never get tired of it." She stood on her tip toes and leaned in to give me a deep kiss. When she pulled away, she spoke softly but also sincerely.

"You're really amazing, Alex. I'm falling so hard for you."

AN: Vote, share, comment, follow if you like this story and want to support it. Thank you all for reading and buy Fabletics because it's bomb af.