“Oh, I adore him!” she says and I give her a tight smile because those words make my guts twist in an unpleasant way. Her eyes sparkle with delight and her smile is wide and honest. I’ve tried to make it a joke but what if she actually likes Archie best? What if she thinks he’s more interesting, not so dramatic like me? What if she prefers someone who wouldn’t make her go around for a whole day on her own and just spend it with her?

“Really?” I ask trying to put at ease my worries. She says she’s grateful for the day I planned for her, I don’t have to worry about that. And I won’t think about her maybe liking Archie better, preferring to spend time with him. I tell myself Archie has Steph so I have nothing to worry about.

“He’s really nice and polite. Plus, the whole restaurant was amazing. The food was exquisite and the company made it best. We talked a lot and it was great to meet him,” she continues and my guts keep twisting.

Until now I didn’t think I was this insecure, that I could be jealous of my best mate. For a split of second I regret making her have lunch with him, but then I scold myself internally because I’m just being childish. Even if she likes Archie that much, Maca and I have a different connection, a story she can’t share with him and he is crazy for Steph!

God, I didn’t imagine I could be like this.

“He told me you asked about him mostly,” I add and my voice sounds strangled. I pray that she won’t notice but she furrows her brow and I want to slap myself mentally for not controlling my emotions better.

“Yeah. I decided it was better to ask you the questions I wanted to know. Plus, by getting to know him better I could also understand you. We pick our friends so the way they are can tell a lot about ourselves. I wanted to know the type of person that you would pick as a best mate.” I blink, processing her words and trying to convince my guts that I don’t have a reason to be jealous.

Why do I feel so insecure regarding Maca?

“Archie is the kind of guy I would befriend,” Maca continues. “And so would Mila, Moni and Havi. Although Moni would probably tease him eternally, especially about Steph. She preys on people like him. Sometimes I do feel like hurting her.” I laugh at her words but she has a serious expression and I wonder how much does Moni tease Maca. Could she be something like Grace?

“Just in case, let’s not allow Moni and my sister meet. I have a bad feeling about that,” I tell her and she laughs this time.

I relax when I see her laughing like that, looking so sweet and happy, like shining and my heart tugs in my chest, making me want to reach her and pull her closer. “But I’m sure that Moni would’ve made him ask Steph out by now. Archie would’ve done something just to get her to stop teasing him.”

“Ah!” I exclaim, remembering Archie’s texts today. “You noticed he fancies her, too.”

“It was so obvious!” is her response, as loud as mine, her voice tinted with excitement. “And she is head over heels over him, too. The way they look at each other was so evident. I think everyone could see it.” She giggles and I bite my lower lip, getting too caught up staring her.

Seeing her getting excited over Archie and Steph not only eases my jealousy but also makes my heart race because she looks so pretty when she gets excited. My smile gets wider not just because of what we’re talking about but because she’s in front of me and right now I can think of anything else I would rather do but watch her.

“Well, Archie is safe from your friend then because he asked Steph out today,” I inform her and her eyes widen in delight and surprise. “Whatever you told him really worked out. He didn’t need to be teased, he just needed you to tell him not to make her wait anymore.”

She bites her lower lip, fighting her smile. She even covers her mouth with her hands, maybe keeping the giggles inside.

“I’m so happy for them,” she tells me and I sigh.

I don’t know why I was so jealous before or so nervous. I knew she even encouraged Archie and Steph and it’s not like she’s shown any romantic interest in me, although mine for her is more than evident. I just want her to like me back in the same way I do like her. In my own insecurity I guess I just panicked at the first possibility that she might not feel the same way, even if I rationally know it’s not like that. I want her to want me, even a sparkle of interest, that’s all I want from her right now.

“Can you imagine how it happened? Do you think he got on his knee?” I question out loud and she chuckles.

I decide right there that Maca looks the most beautiful when she’s laughing, showing off her dimples and her eyes lighting up with amusement so I make a vow right there that I’ll do my best to always keep her laughing, for as long as she wants me in her life.

So I start right there. I put everything aside and stand up in one dramatic motion and her eyes follow me. “Oh Steph… My sweet, lovely Steph,” I speak up, imitating Archie the best I can and Maca giggles. I decide to use this chance to get a hold of her hand. “I know everyone has told me to grow some balls and ask you out,” I continue, holding her right hand with both mine. Maca is fighting the giggles. “But you know, it’s so hard for me when you’re so cool and I’m just nerdy me.”

“You’re not nerdy, I think you’re cute,” Maca replies, trying to sound like Steph. Steph has a really thick cockney accent and Maca is nailing it.

“Oh you’re so kind,” I dramatise, even taking the back on my hand to my forehead. If Archie knew I’m doing this he would kill me. Probably push me off the roof. “I don’t deserve you.”

“Don’t say that!” Maca continues impersonating Steph, getting into the scene so I pull her closer.

“Would you… would you do me the honour of going out with me, Steph?” I ask next and she makes her most shocked and delighted expression, almost like a Miss Something accepting the crowd, that kind of shock you know it’s rehearsed because you’ve waited for this to happen for way too long.

“I’d love to,” she replies, her other hand wrapping around mine that keep her right prisoner. Then she gives me the most beautiful smile in this whole universe and for a second I forget we’re pretending to be Archie and Steph and I think she’s smiling like that at me.

“And now we dance because that totally happened,” I whisper and she gasps but can’t say anything further because I’m swirling and dancing around the roof with her.

She laughs and that sounds so lovely, better than any song. I make her waltz around, keeping her close with one of my arms around her waist and the other hand holding hers tightly. I let her go to make her swirl but it’s rather awkward and a bit clumsy as this is not rehearsed and neither of us is dancing to a song or anything.

I bet we look like a poorly coordinated and lame Troy and Gabriella in High School Musical 3 when dancing Can I Have This Dance? But hey, the thought is what counts.

We separate and then I make a gesture with my hand to indicate her that she has to swirl back at me, letting herself be wrapped in our linked arms. She stops when she’s pressed to my body, her shoulder to mine. Our chest don’t touch but she turns to face me, so close and our breathings are a bit laboured due to all the dancing and goofing around. I place my free hand on her waist to keep her close, so she can’t swirl away.

Her laughter fades when she notices how close we are and I know my heart is racing not because or the sudden exercise —I’m not the sport type of guy— but because she’s so close, because we’re looking at each other in the eyes and she’s in my arms. Her hand is on my chest and I’m sure she can feel the strong heartbeats. She surely does because she blushes.

If I lean in and kiss her now, would I ruin things? Would it be too soon? Oh yeah, it’s too soon. I mean, we’ve been here what? A bit over an hour. I know it feels like I’ve known her for so long but in reality we’ve just met a little while ago and even if I know my feelings, it must be weird if I just kiss her and confess when I never saw her before today.

I raise the hand I kept on her waist and I cup face, dying to actually kiss her but refraining myself because I don’t want her to believe I’m just some horny bloke trying to make a move on a girl I’ve just met. I mean, our date hasn’t even ended.

So no, I don’t kiss her but I put our foreheads together and breathe in deeply. I think I feel her shiver in my arms and I wonder if she’s cold.

“I’m sure this is how it happened,” I say in a low voice. “Maybe he even kissed her but I don’t think you’re up to acting that part.”

Maca doesn’t reply. She doesn’t say yes but she doesn’t say no either and that makes my inside twist. I pull back just a little bit to look her in the eyes, my throat feeling suddenly dry due to anxiety. She’s completely blushed but I don’t see rejection in her expression. The idea doesn’t repulse her and I almost lose control over myself. But then I feel her trembling in my arms, too nervous and I realise I’m pushing it too far. Maybe she’s not against the idea and she wouldn’t hate me if I kiss her now, but I don’t want to make her anxious. If I have to wait for her to feel more comfortable with my proximity or for her to get used to me being around, then I’ll wait. I’ll wait until she wants me to kiss her so badly that it overpowers her anxiety.

So instead of kissing her, I lean in again and press my lips against her forehead. She tenses, I can feel it, but then she relaxes and I hear her sigh. Next I pull back, smiling at her and make her swirl away but without letting go of her hand.

“Don’t you dare telling Archie we did this. He’d kill me,” I tell her and she laughs again.

“It’ll be our secret,” she agrees and I smile radiantly at her.

We walk together, hand in hand, to the swing and she picks the picture again to show in it the three of them, Archie in the middle and Steph by his other side. They do make a great couple, even if they look so different.

“They look so cute together,” Maca comments and I nod.

“You look absolutely cute, too,” I blurt out and she looks down, a soft giggle escapes her lips and I notice the shade of pink in her cheeks.

“Thank you,” she whispers and I just smile.

“Wanna get something to eat? Or something to drink? I don’t know about you, but all that dancing made me hungry,” I say next in a lighter tone.

“That sounds good,” she agrees.

“Great. And in the meantime you tell me how it went with Coni.”

She nods and puts the picture in her hand inside the journal. I notice she has a bit of trouble working with just one hand, but never she tries to let go of my hand and that makes me smile. So I decide to help her to put the picture inside and then grab her journal before leading her to the blanket I’ve prepared. I notice is even colder so when she sits I go for the extra blankets I have and put one over her shoulders.

“It’s getting chillier,” I explain when she looks at me surprised. Then I sit next to her and grab the basket with all the things I’ve prepared. She gets cosy inside the blanket and I just smile at how cute she looks before I reach for a sandwich for her. “I’m just making sure but do you want soda or do you prefer something else like wine? I have, in case you want, I’d just have to go for it. Or maybe tea,” I ask next, rather awkwardly because I remember Grace teasing me about wine and getting Maca drunk.

“Soda is fine,” she laughs and I nod, grabbing a can for her.

“So, tell me how it went in the Street of Art,” I request to keep the conversation flowing.

-:-:-

Wasn't this cute? I was trying to write a chapter to make Maca cry but this happened. I failed. Anyhow, I hope you enjoyed it!

Remember best comment gets dedication!

Bel, xx