----------------------

Dedication: Clumsy_Girl8 for being a supporter of the story and posting one of the quotes from this story on her social media! Thank you! <3

Recap:

"Meet there at 7?" he asks eagerly.

"Okay, I'll be there," I promise him, returning his smile.

With one last squeeze, he lets me go.

I begin walking towards Samara, who is watching me, open mouthed.

Nerves plague my body as I rest my hand on my stomach, hoping that I haven't just made a terrible mistake.

---------------------

"You agreed to go on a date with him?" Samara exclaims in surprise.

"Yeah," I nod. "Is that bad?"

"No, I will always support your decision..." she trails off. "But, what about everything he has done?"

"I know, that's why I'm so hesitant about it. But he truly does seem like he wants to change." I tell her, chewing at my lip.

"What about Alec?"

I blow out a breath, taking a seat beside Samara. I lean my elbows onto my thighs, shaking my head, my dark hair spilling down my shoulders.

"I don't know. I love spending time with him, but I can't help thinking he will get bored and move on soon."

"And what do you think Miles wants from you? A relationship?"

"Seems like it."

"But will he actually follow through? The boy has never had a girlfriend, has he?" she frowns, tucking a piece of her red hair behind her ear.

"I've never had a boyfriend, so I can't say anything on that." I say softly. "Miles was the closest thing."

"You do realise, if you sleep with Miles, you're doing what Miles did to you, but to Alec." she points out.

I shake my head. "It's different."

"It's not."

"It is! Alec and I haven't said we love each other... it's nothing like how it was with Miles."

"You told Miles you loved him?" she asks in shock, her dark eyes widening, her cherry-red lips parting.

I'd never told anyone that, until now.

"Yeah, I did."

"Did he say it back?"

I let out a dry laugh. "No. That should have been a sign."

She wraps her pale, slender arm around me, drawing me to her side. She squeezes me firmly.

"I hope it's different this time."

"Yeah," I agree, my voice barely above a whisper. "Me too."

***

My hands grip the steering wheel tightly as I wait, the clock flashing 6:57. I tap relentlessly on the wheel, trying to distract my racing thoughts.

The roar of a motorbike cuts through the night harshly. I watch wearily as Miles pulls up beside my car. I wipe my palms on my skirt, focusing on breathing evenly.

I look down at my outfit. I'm wearing a straight, black skirt, paired with an electric blue top, with three-quarter sleeves. I have a black jacket over the top, for the cool temperature outside. My hair is straight, falling down my shoulders, somewhat neatly, my lips coated a dark red.

My door is opened for me and I look up, to see Miles wearing a collared shirt and beige pants, looking very smart. I blink a few times in shock, thinking he would be wearing his ripped jeans and leather jacket.

I place my hand in his as he helps me out of the car.

"Thanks for coming," he smiles, not letting go of my hand. "You look beautiful."

I swallow with slight unease, smiling at him, feeling my cheeks warm. "Thank you."

After locking my car, I feel my bare legs sting from the cold, as Miles rests his hand on the small of my back, guiding me towards the restaurant. I let myself indulge in his cologne, the smell bringing back memories of us together.

He opens the door for me and I grin at him. "Wow, Miles, you're trying hard."

"It comes naturally," he assures me with a wink.

We walk to the counter where a girl from school is standing, watching us, unable to mask her surprise. I attempt to hold in my grimace, hoping that she doesn't spread this gossip.

"Hi Amy," I smile at her.

"Isobel," she nods. "Hi Miles."

He gives her a polite smile. "Reservation for Carter."

"Of course, right this way," she says, leading us to a table near the back.

When Miles pulls the seat out for me, I can't help thinking back to the many times I envisioned us going on a proper date. He refused to be seen in public with me, in case anyone told Finn. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that he is acting polar opposite to how he used to be.

Is it all an act, or does he genuinely love me, like I loved him?

"Did you tell anyone you were coming tonight?" he asks, sitting down opposite to me.

"I told Samara, but my family thinks I'm having dinner at her place," I say with a quiet laugh. "You know I wouldn't be here, if Finn knew."

"I want to make things right with Finn. I really miss him." he admits, leaning onto his forearms, interlacing his long fingers together.

"You were best friends for a long time." I agree, wishing I'd asked for a table water when Amy showed us our table.

As if reading my mind, he gets to his feet. "I'll get us some drinks."

"Okay, thanks."

While he's away, I text Samara and give her the thumbs up, saying things are going smoothly so far.

As he sits down again, placing a glass in front of me, I can't help but check him out. He looks so handsome, even more than I thought he would. Wearing smart clothes makes him even hotter.

"You scrub up nicely," I tell him. "I like the shirt."

"You do?" he replies with a grin.

I nod, before taking a sip of drink. "So, tell me. What's going on in the life of Miles Carter?"

"Everything has changed since I used to live here," he explains with a deep sigh. "Literally everything."

"Tell me about the change," I encourage.

"Well, I've changed. I've grown up a lot, I think," he tells me cautiously, almost waiting for me to argue his point. I take another sip of my drink and stay silent. "My family has changed and people have changed. Nothing is how it used to be."

"Is it a good change?" I question.

"Everything was better back then. I was naïve, having fun and I had good friends. I know I treated you wrong, but life was much easier, then. Now it's all shit."

"How is it?"

"What about you?" he asks abruptly, not answering me.

"Me? Uh..." I trail off with a shrug. "Life is good, I guess. Things were hard for a long time, but my family is doing good. Finn is going great with football. If he keeps it up, he has a good chance of getting a scholarship."

"That's great. Finn was always naturally gifted," he says and I can see the glimmer of jealousy on his face at the mention of a scholarship.

A different girl comes to get our order. I panic, not having even looked at the menu, being too caught up with talking to Miles. I end up ordering something random, and a large fried rice to share.

"Shouldn't be too long," she smiles, taking the menus from us.

"Is your mum seeing anyone? Or has she, since?" he carefully asks.

"No, she hasn't. Her and my dad were together since they were 15. He was the love of her life, she probably won't ever move on." As the words left my lips, I realise that was the age it really started between Miles and I.

I never knew my mum and dad's story, would be so relatable to my life.

He nods. "My dad is dating someone new."

"Really?" I ask, already knowing this as Finn told me he saw them once. "Is that a good thing?"

"Not really," he admits with a sigh. "She doesn't want me around. She has kids of her own and thinks I'm a bad influence on them."

"There's terrible!" I exclaim with genuine sadness. "I'm sorry."

He shrugs, appearing emotionless although it's obvious it's affecting him. "Yeah, that's life."

I'm thankful when the food is placed down in front of us.

"That was quick," I say as the scent of the Chinese food wafts towards me.

"I get dinner here a lot, they always cook really fast."

I begin to pile food onto my plate, welcoming the distraction with open arms. Miles and I aren't the type to sit at a table and eat food together in a restaurant. We're the sneak-around-in-the-dark-making-out-in-my-bed, type. It is really refreshing to see him make the effort.

"What are you thinking about?" he asks me.

"Just how everything is so different. You were never like this, before you left."

"I had to lose everything, before I appreciated what I had," he tells me sadly, his eyes heavy as they meet mine.

I avert my eyes and inhale quickly, a little taken back by his words.

"Sorry, I don't mean to dump all this on you. I just know what I want now, and it's you. I was too young, and naïve to realise it before. I fucked everything up. I know it's all my fault. I'm just so glad you're here, letting me explain." he breathlessly explains, giving me his rare, genuine smile. "I only have eyes for you, Isobel. I want to prove it."

I blink away the water in my eyes. "You said you wouldn't wait for me, forever. What did you mean by that?"

"I didn't mean I was going to start dating other girls," he explains quickly, noticing my hurt expression. "I mean, I am going to move and leave this town. For good. I won't come back again, if I do."

I feel out of breath as I meet his eyes. "You'd leave because of me? Again?"

"Of course. I can't live here and not be in yours or Finn's life." he whispers and in this moment, it feels like we are the only two people in the restaurant.

I lean onto the table, closer to him, as if he is magnetically drawing me in.

"You don't have to say anything," he says after a few moments of silence, his brilliantly blue eyes boring into mine with unwavering intensity. "I just want you to hear my side of things."

"Okay," I murmur, absently picking at my food, my eyes never leaving his as those words whirl around my mind restlessly.

The heavy conversations ebbs away as we eat. He tells me about some of his good times he had on the Gold Coast, when he lived with his mum. I love his smile - it lights up his handsome face. He doesn't smile enough.

We finish dinner and stay anyway. He is doing most of the talking, as we share funny memories of him and Finn. His eyes are shiny and bright as he reminisces. It makes me almost cry, at how happy he looks, talking about my brother.

"I'm sorry to interrupt," the girl who served us awkwardly intervenes. "We have this table booked for another couple at 8:30."

I flinch at the word couple.

"Oh, of course, we'll go," Miles tells her.

I get to my feet, my cheeks a scarlet red. He walks me to the counter and I notice Amy staring at us as he pays.

"Well, I didn't have a terrible evening," I tease as he walks me to my car. "Thanks for asking me. It was really nice catching up."

"Thank you for coming," he says, digging his hands into his pockets.

"Thanks for paying. You didn't need to do that," I tell him softly.

"Buying you dinner is nowhere near enough to make up for what I've done, but it's something." he replies with a sad smile.

I avert my eyes as I shrug my jacket back on, due to the cold wind. When we get to Miles' motorbike, he does the same. I grin when I see the leather jacket. I knew he would wear it tonight.

I place my bag into the car and shut the door. As I spin back around, Miles pushes me against the driver side door. I let out a startled gasp.

"Miles, this is too fast," I struggle to whisper as I stare at his lips, knowing that my entire body is aching to have him kiss me again.

"We were always like this," he breathes, before slamming his lips to mine.

He cups my face in his palms, tilting my head back. I allow him entrance immediately, desperate for this kiss. I softly moan against him as he kisses me hard, fast and deeply. His muscled-body is firmly pressed against mine as we continue to make out against my car. I snake my arms around his neck, begging for more as the kiss deepens.

My knees knock together as I breathlessly struggle to inhale.

Miles steps back, a wicked grin on his face. "Fuck, Isobel. You're driving me crazy."

My fingers raise to my lips. They pulse underneath my fingertips as I lightly trace across them. My heart is hammering inside my chest as I breathlessly exchange a lust-filled look with Miles, both of us desperately fighting the urge to kiss each other again.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he murmurs, before swinging his leg over his motorbike.

I can't string a sentence together, right now. I weakly nod, practically falling into my car. My hands shake as I hear his motorbike roar to life. He takes off, the wheels spinning and I feel faint, thinking back to the intense kiss we just shared.

I drive home in a daze, hardly paying attention to anything around me. My stomach clenches when I see Alec's car in my driveway.

Walking inside quietly, I slip off my shoes, noticing that mum is asleep on the lounge, one of her renovation shows on the TV. I pad over to the lounge and pull the blanket that's at her feet, over her body. She stirs quietly, but doesn't wake as she shifts into a more comfortable position.

I creep up the hall, to hear three male voices talking. I pause outside Finn's door and begin eavesdropping.

"What's up with you, bro?" Finn asks. "You haven't gotten with anyone for a while. This is the longest I've ever seen you go without."

Jai is noticeably quiet as Finn waits for Alec's response.

"You seeing someone?" Finn probes as Alec doesn't reply.

"Not really."

"So there is someone?" he presses.

"Yeah, kind of. I guess." Alec grunts back, making me twist my fingers painfully.

"Who?"

"Too early to tell you," he mumbles.

"That's a first. You usually name and shame pretty quick." Finn says with an amused expression on his face.

Alec laughs but the sound is forced. "Yeah."

"Tell me, man. I won't judge."

"No one important. It isn't going anywhere, so just drop it," he snaps back and I feel myself deflate considerably.

Is he saying that, to get Finn off his back, or does he really mean that?

I can't tell what I am even feeling. It's obvious I am overwhelmingly attracted to Miles, but I still feel so uncertain about Alec.

"Alright, fuck," Finn replies. "What about you, big man?"

"Hmm?" Jai asks.

"What's happening with you?"

"I'm kind of into Samara," he admits, being honest like always. It's obvious when he tries to lie. "But she's a fuck girl."

"She is the female version of one of us," Finn agrees. "She's hot as hell though. You should go for it."

"I don't think she's into it," he shrugs. "I tried to hint at it the other day and she shut me down."

"Ouch," Alec mutters.

I raise my eyebrows. Samara didn't tell me that.

"Oh. Well, there's plenty of others out there." Finn says in a surprisingly gentle tone.

"Yeah," Jai agrees flatly. "What's going on with Becca?"

He shakes his head, looking like he wants to laugh. "I really didn't want to like her."

"It just happens." Jai sighs sadly.

"I guess you can say we're dating. Not like boyfriend and girlfriend, but dating. Just seein' how it goes." he informs his friends and I'm surprised that they're all so open and honest with each other. Well, minus Alec.

"True."

"Can I have a go yet?" Alec asks, referring to the Xbox.

I take that as my cue to silently slip away, mulling over the newly learnt information in my mind.

Firstly, I need to deal with Samara and Jai.

Secondly, I need to deal with myself and my own feelings, although I know, that is going to be a much more difficult task, than the first.

----------------

Did you guys like the date?

What do you think about what Alec said?