This Romantic Novel [√]

Chapter 21: Another Romantic

"So what are you going to wear?" James asked, leaning forward on the table.

"My general clothes," I answered, not wanting to hear it from him.

We arrived at the desert restaurant and are now waiting for our order to arrive.

"But it's a date. That's what Luke said," James said.

I scoffed, rolling my eyes, "Even though he said that it was a date, doesn't mean that it will be a date," I told him.

"Sooner or later, you will regret it," Lance foretold.

"Listen, Lance, James," I called their names, "I already regretted it, however, I need to move on and try not to catch even more feelings for-" "Then why did you ever agree to meet him in the movies?" James cut me off.

I paused and hesitated before answering. "Because it's just a friendly gesture," I defended.

"Okay then," James paused before, resting his head on his hands that were supported by his arms that were on the table, "What kind of friendly guy told you that their simple hangout to the movies was a date?" he asked.

"You" I simply answered, recalling a few times that he did that jokingly.

I smile lightly to see him not denying it.

"But you know me. What about Luke?" He changed the directory, "Luke Parker, a guy that has been in your class for the whole highschool year, went to the same college as you; both barely talked to each other letting you become like acquaintances (of sorts) until recently when he kissed you - and you allowed him to kiss you" he explained.

Hearing him say this made me lose for words. I knew what he was trying to say but, this was a chance to finally let him go for real - sure I would regret it but as I said before, his heart speaks louder to Amanda.

"So," James cut off my daydreaming.

I stare at James, waiting for him to continue.

"You can go to this 'date' and pretend that you guys never had feelings for each other. But the feelings are still there and feelings can grow too - not just disappear," James advised seriously.

And he was right. However, my stubborn self overpowered me more than his words - yet was planted deep in my brain to resurface once in a while. The tension between us rose while we both sat there in silence, forgetting Lance was ever there; seeing him not stare at us until cutting the tension off.

"Look, the food arrived," Lance said in a cheerful tone.

Both James and I turned towards Lance's direction, observing Lance in helping the waiter place our order down - we thanked the waiter that soon left.

~Saturday~

I stand in front of my apartment building, waiting for Luke (who still hasn't come yet) making me wait in silence awkwardly as I lean my back on the building wall. I gaze at my outfit once again, making sure that it didn't look weird on me as I wore a mid-thigh black denim skirt with a plain white shirt underneath a black jumper - holding white bolded words 'Love Me'. My hair was tied half up and half down while I wore black combat shoes. Continuing to overthink my outfit for a little bit, James's words came up in my head.

"You can go to this 'date' and pretend that you guys never had feelings for each other, but the feelings are still there and feelings can grow too - not just disappear,"

"Stop it," I shake my head, slapping my cheeks lightly to push it down, "It's not a date, just a friendly gesture," I thought before unconsciously fixing myself up a bit. All of a sudden, I feel my phone buzzing in my pocket.

Reaching in my pocket to grab my phone, I look at the I.D to see it was Luke, making me smile unconsciously as I press the green icon without thinking.

"Hey, where are you?"

"I'm almost there because I didn't bring the car"

"Why didn't you bring the car?"

"Because of the Manor Du Royale Centre being close by to your place"

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that"

I hear him chuckling on the other side - yet it seems that I can hear his chuckle, not through the phone.

"Are you close now? It seems I can hear you"

"That's because I'm here"

Was all he said before ending the call.

.

.

.

"Huh?" I looked at my phone confused before placing back in my pocket. I then turned around to see if he was here; however, I didn't see his figure anywhere. "He said that he was here and yet I don't see him," I mumbled, continuing to look for him.

"Over here," I hear him.

Shifting my body in the opposite direction I see Luke wearing jeans that fitted his figure with a yellow button up long sleeve shirt that was tucked in; as the sleeves were folded - either way, he looked like boyfriend material.

"Hey," He greets me with a smile.

I smiled back as I walked towards him - he then continued to walk towards me. "It's been a while," I said.

"Yeah, it has," Luke added before gesturing to us to stroll to the centre.

Agreeing with a nod, we start to venture in the direction where the Manor Du Royale centre is.

"So how's your novel going?" Luke asked.

"I have writer's block still," is what I thought of and wanted to say, however, I ignored it and answered differently. "It's going great," was what I replied, "What about you and your dance classes?"

"Oh it's good, Julian keeps on bugging me about us," Luke chuckled nervously while I laughed anxiously.

"It will take time but, his curiosity will soon vanish," I told him.

"Yeah, I figured," Luke added.

"So how's Amanda? You guys made up?" I questioned, already thinking that I overstepped my boundaries.

"It's going great, yeah," Luke said, not hearing much enthusiasm from his tone, making me curious.

"Is there something wrong? Did something happen again?" I asked him.

I turn my head to look at Luke who seemed to hesitate on how to answer my question.

"I..I...Guess, I don't know" Luke stuttered which made me look at him shocked.

"Don't tell me that you broke up again?" I started to assume.

This led him to quickly shake his head before staring at me. "We're still together and everything, but, for some reason, I feel like the connection that we once have is not the same," He explains.

Listening to his explanation I responded with my head, feeling my heart leaping - as if it was giving me joy that I still have a chance.

"Before, the connection was like I want to make her feel special, giving me urges to hug and kiss her when now - I don't feel that way at all," He continues to spill.