Catch Me [Teen Romance]

13

I decided to ask Grace and Ebony about coming out with myself and the rest of the gang tonight, and explained the situation with Ethan being there as briefly as I could.

"Oh, I can't sorry" Ebony bit her lip "I'm sort of...going on a date?!"

"What!?" Grace and I exclaimed together completely taken aback.

"Well I didn't want to say anything because I really like him and I didn't want to Jinx it, but yeah I'm on a date..."

"Ebony!" I shouted "Who the hell with?"

She looked at me suspiciously and then said "I... I don't really want to say Ava"

"You have got to be kidding me?"

"No, it's private. I want to see how it all goes first"

"I can't believe you Ebs" Grace butted in "this is so unlike you, you are usually the first to brag about a new date, what's so special about this guy?"

"Nothing, he's just a normal guy I swear, I just want to do things differently this time. Stop hounding me, we've cut Ava some slack, cut me some please"

"What do you mean you've cut me some slack?" I asked defensively whilst Grace shot her a nervous look.

"Oh Ava we aren't stupid, we know you're hiding something from us about Ethan, fair enough we believed it the other night because we were pretty drunk, but come on... we know you better than that. But like the good friends we are, we decided that if it was something you wanted to share with us then you would, you don't hide things from us, so if keeping it quiet was really important to you, then it is to us too"

"I er, don't really know what you are talking about but, thank you for the thought regardless. I'm sorry, Grace and I will keep our nose out of your business from now on too until you are ready to tell us"

"Thank you" she grinned sweetly "now, I'm gonna head off to the bus station, my last lessons been cancelled, and I want to catch some Z's before the big date. Have fun wherever you're chilling tonight you guys"

We waved goodbye and continued with the previous conversation,

"So how about you then Grace?" I asked hopefully "you fancy coming along tonight?"

"Sure why not?" she beamed, "Can't be letting Ebs have all of the fun eh? Besides, you'll need someone to have your back"

"Thanks" I smiled genuinely, "come round to mine for about half past six yeah?"

"Sure thing, it's a date" she winked, climbing out of her chair heading towards the door to her next lesson.

The rest of the day was pretty boring in all honesty so it was a relief to get home and go hang with my friends. Grace came round to my house for about quarter past 6 and we set off walking to the skate park, my mum offered us a lift but we said no, the walk down there was only 20 minutes.

"So, are you a bit nervous?" Grace asked.

"No" I lied, biting my lip.

"I hope it's not gonna be too awkward"

"Me too, I'm sure it won't be - Oliver's got my back and so have you, I'll just avoid Ethan, it'll be fine"

"OK" she sighed, clearly not convinced.

Twenty minutes later we'd arrived and I was surprised to see six people already there, Oliver came over and greeted us and chauffeured us to the rest of the gang. I recognised Hayley, Ryan, Carl, Lucas Morley and of course Ethan. One guy I didn't recognise though;