Was I Dreaming or Just Blind?

Chapter 7: New Beginnings

I slept through my alarms! Shit! I thought... wait I switched shifts I don't have to work today. I completely forgot, well a mini heart attack is one way to start the day. I walked into the kitchen to make coffee and put on American Horror Story, then, knock, knock. Who's here? It's still early. I walked up to open the door and Hayes was standing there looking marvelous even if he was in a t-shirt and shorts.

"What's up?" I asked, "Oh um you never answered my question, would you like to go on another date?"
"Oh.. umm well.. ya that would be great," I responded.
"Okay so I have some things to take care of but umm how about Friday, dinner at the Chinese place down the road, 7?" "I think we can make that happen," I said smiling.
"Perfect, see you then?" He asked. "Sounds good to me!"
I shut the door and my heart filled with happiness, another date with Hayes, before I went back to the couch I heard the door knock again. "What did you forget?" I said looking at Hayes, "This," and with that, he took me in for a kiss, but this time hungrier and deeper, we stumbled into the apartment, and led me to the couch. He started moving his hands around my body, and eventually leading underneath my shirt and cupping my breasts. "I want you so bad Michelle," he breathed through our kisses. He started moving his hand to my zipper but I stopped him. 

Because at the end of the day, I am a virgin. 

"What?" he looked confused, and a little hurt, but plain and simple I wasn't ready even after one date. Here's the part where he ghosts me. "I'm a virgin and I'm just not ready," he sat a moment contemplation reading all over his face. "That's okay, we can wait," I was shocked, "Are you sure?" I said looking down, he tilted my chin up and I looked at him, "Yes, I don't want to do anything you're not comfortable with," he gave me another kiss before getting up and leaving. Well, that gave me some clarity.

 The week flew by and I couldn't be more thrilled to see Hayes again, I was even thrilled at how understanding he was about me being a virgin. It's not like I didn't want to it's just more important and call me silly but for the right one. It was now Friday, 10 minutes past 7 but he still hadn't knocked.
"I thought you would've left by now?" Becca asked coming into the kitchen while I was sitting on the couch, hair pulled into a pony, tight jeans and a crop top that showed a little bit of cleavage,
"Ya.. well, maybe I'm supposed to meet him there and he just forgot to tell me." I replied with uncertainty.
"Well... okay if you need anything just text me, ok?" She sounded worried, but I mean I'm sure everything's fine.
I walked the block to the Chinese restaurant still no sight of Hayes, not outside, or inside. Maybe he's running late? I thought to myself so I got a table for two. The minutes dragged on, and soon enough it was 7:45, great, I thought, I knew this was too good to be true, but why? Why not call or text? He didn't want to date a virgin. The voice in the back of my head said, not true. He doesn't have my number and couldn't get ahold of me I decided. I stuck around until 8 just in case, ordered some food to go and walked the long one block back to my apartment.

"What happened?" Becca asked as I walked in the door, "Well umm... it was fine ya know besides the whole him not showing up part..."
"He didn't show up?" She yelled, and was clearly mad, which is funny because I thought I would be more angry.
"It's whatever honestly... I mean... we went on one date it's not like we were... "together" together." I try to play it off but she's not buying it,
"I mean he asked you out again and then just... left you STRANDED?! Oh when I see him again I'm going to—" "Nothing!" I cut her off, "You're going to say and do nothing, it's fine, you know I was too busy anyways with work, and it's not like it's a big deal, I'm over it now, seriously." I say it, but I slightly meant it. "Ok... well if you need anything just—" knock. She starts walking towards the door, "Becca!" I half whispered, half yelled, "if it's him let me talk to him ok? Ugh just let me open the door!"
I opened the door and well, it's him.
"Hey! I am so sorry I'm late I got caught up in some things that I couldn't get out of." I just stared blankly unsure of what to say, I mean talking to him is usually easy but now not so much.
"And what exactly did you "couldn't get out of?"" I asked a little annoyed because frankly, who wouldn't be?
"Well... I umm.. I can't tell you." He looked nervous even though he sounded genuine, he's still hiding something, I mean for one he was a no show for over an hour and then says he can't give me an explanation as to why.
"You know what don't worry about it." I said nonchalantly, "Really?" He asked dumbfounded, "Yes, it's obvious you're busy with whatever or whoever you were doing. And I'm busy... filling my life with work and Netflix, so... it's cool, we're cool."
"But Michelle, that's not what I—"
"Well if you can't be honest about standing me up, then I don't need to hear anymore explanations that aren't honest, goodnight Hayes." And with that I shut the door.

I wasn't going to let one date affect my life, I'm not sure if it was rude or harsh but honestly, I figured it wouldn't last. He would find someone prettier and more in his league, and someone that wants to sleep with him after the first date, but seriously if he knew he was going to be late he could've walked next door and said something about it. Whatever, as Becca and I sat on the couch I decided to ask,
"How's Matt, by the way, I haven't heard much since the musical festival." She hesitated, which she hardly does, "Well he hasn't been responding to my text messages, but I'm sure he'll get back to me soon."
"Well meeting his parents went well didn't it?" I asked, concerning, "Ya... no everything went fine! I think he's busy with work."
"Ya, been hearing that a lot these days..." I whispered, "What was that?"
"Oh nothing, It's nothing I promise haha." We fell into silence and pulled up Netflix.

The next few days I went back into my usual routine wake up, shower, work, binge-watch TV shows, and work. I didn't leave the apartment much, because I don't really have a reason.

"Alright get up." Becca says, "What do you mean?" I asked back. "Well my friend, we are going shopping, because you and I need to spend our guilty pleasure money, I mean seriously you only go to work and home, plus I'll even buy dinner!"
"I don't know..." I replied, "Oh please, please pleaaase! I need this so badly and you do too." She's on her knees literally begging, "Alright! Alright! Give me 20 minutes to get ready." I threw my hands up in surrender.
"Eeeek! Yay okay we are so going to have fun!" She screeches in my ear.
"Yayyyy..." I say back very unenthusiastic.

We get to mall, and we went into literally every shop and bought something at least from every other store, from shoes, shirts, jeans, skirts, bags, everything. When the night started drawing in we decided to plop down at one of the restaurants nearby.
"Well," Becca started, "I think that was a very productive day for our health."
"I don't know if I can say the same about the health of my bank account." I sarcastically say back.
"Well that is true, but worth it don't you say?", she asked.
"Yes, very worth."

"So are you going to see Hayes again?" She asked.
"I don't know honestly, it was fun while it lasted but I'm big on punctuality, let alone being stood up for over an hour. I mean he didn't even giving an explanation."
"That's true, maybe 10-15 minutes is fine, but damn a whole hour?"
All of a sudden I hear a commotion of girls screaming like somebody had murdered a cat, they're all in a huddle surrounding something.
"Ooooo another famous person on the sidewalk, want to look?" Becca asks, pointing her eyes in the direction, "I'm good honestly more hungry than curious."
"Alright." The commotion was getting louder and closer to our table, and then, it was Hayes, standing at our table, in the center of the commotion. I might have mentioned this earlier but I get claustrophobic in small spaces, especially around large groups.
"Hey.. Michelle."
"Hello," I say looking through my menu so I don't die of embarrassment. He pulled out roses, "I came to apologize, and was hoping you'd give me a second chance." I was confused on how he actually found me in the first place.
"How did you know where I was?" I asked, he was a little too calm for that question, "Well... a little birdy might've mentioned it..." motioning over to Becca.
"Becca what did you do?"
"I just thought everyone deserves a second chance that's all, please don't be mad," I turned back to Hayes and looked at all the girls surrounding him, and thought of the cliche scenario, He picked me out of all of these girls here. But of course I say the opposite of that, "Well, Hayes as you can see, you have multiple girls here to choose from for an original first chance." And again, they all shrieked, okay that is really getting annoying.
"But I just thought—" he starts to say, "Well you know where I live, and you could've made this A LOT more subtle than this chaotic mess." I half whispered, half yelled.
"I'm sorry I thought you would like it." He responds with that? How would I like this, I mean it would be okay if he was by himself, not with a dozen girls, ugh the flowers are a nice gesture, but maybe Becca's right... everybody does deserve a second chance. Plus if I go on another date with him, I might get some real answers...
"Okay fine, I will give you the benefit out the doubt and will give you another chance, but please don't make me regret it." I grabbed his shirt and pulled him down to my level, "And for heaven's sake please get rid of these shrieking girls, I don't know where you found them, but you must've paid them some money to come down here and annoy me."
"Honestly, they're my fans.." he replied, "I didn't know you were that famous." I shot back, "Well I'm not, I promise, but will I see you later?" He asked with his bright blue eyes, damn those eyes, they get me every time.
"We'll see."