CHAPTER 8

  "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."
 -J.K Rowling  

"I love your smile, it's so beautiful." Eric's voice was soft, and he had his arm wrapped around my waist as we walked out of the diner. I'd been smiling like crazy for the whole day, my crush had asked me out on a date, which girl wouldn't be happy?  I've dreamed of this date for ages, so I also kept pinching myself all day expecting to wake up. 

"And I love your failed attempt of dancing." I giggled. After our meal, I urged Eric to dance a little to the small town band playing the diner. And let's just say, I've seen better dance moves by a dad who has fish legs.

"Please, don't bring that up, like ever. I told you I couldn't dance." He groaned.

"Don't worry, I thought it was adorable you tried for me." We reached his car, and I leaned against the side. He did the same. We talked a lot at the diner, and he said the nicest things, he pulled out my chair for me which was funny, overall he was a true gentleman, which proved Logan wrong who'd advised against going out with 'an egotistical caveman'. To be honest, I think he has an issue that Eric has potential to be captain of the soccer team after Logan.

"Well, would you do something for me in return?" He asked.

"Depends." I shrug.

"Well first, the party next week, the one where Zoey said she'd go hunting for guys, she's a little crazy. Anyways, I know you said you might not come, but I'm hoping you would change your mind... because I'd like you to come as my date."

Oh my goodness. He's asking me to come to a party as his date, which would make 'us' official. The rumours had already been going around that Eric Sanders was dating Logan Devereaux's sister, 'the one with the ugly bangs' (no one knew me, I mean I wasn't a freak or a loner but I wasn't special either). To be honest, I'd thought we'd hang once or twice and that'd be it. I mean what's so special about me? All I knew was that if we'd go to this party as a couple, my popularity meter would hit the sky. "And that would change my mind, why?" I played it cool, following Zoey's advice.

"Because you like me." He grinned.

"Do I? I'm not sure about that." 

"Whatever you say princess, but how about we determine that at the party?" He raked his hand through his hair, which by the way, up 'til now, looked like each strand had been carefully set in gel.

"I'll still have to think about the party, I think my parents might have something planned that weekend. What's the second thing?"

He straightened up and stepped in front of me. "This." He leaned in closer to my face and his eyes closed. And I, like the dork I am, went in to full analyzation mode of the situation. Listing off the first few things I'd thought of in that moment,

-is he trying to kiss me?
-do I kiss him back?
- isnt it way too early to kiss?
-or is it?
-his nose is rather weird now that I look closely.

I put my hand on Eric slightly stopping him from coming closer and he looked surprised, his eyes flashing something for a split second. Then he smiled. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that, too soon, eh?" 

"Yeah, sorry I just sort of-" 

"Hey it's okay, I get it, I just got caught it the moment, and you just look so beautiful." I just awkwardly tried to smile, failing miserably. He still smiled back and said, "C'mon let's get you home."

He walked me to my doorstep, and gave me one last look, which I know should've been romantic but it sort of came off as creepy and awkward which reminded me about the awkward almost kiss, but I brushed it off and politely said goodbye. 

"Thanks, I had a good time." 

"I did too beautiful, I can't wait to brag to the team that I found someone I can connect with. You're different, beautiful and smart. Consider the party?"

"Well you've given me a great reason for why I should come, so maybe I will. Goodnight Eric." He said goodbye, walked back to his car and climbed in.

I turned to my door and as I raised my hands, knuckles ready to knock, it swung open. "Gag, that was disgusting. It's a good thing he didn't try anything, he'd probably go home with a few broken bones." Logan stood there, in his Nike sweatpants, shirtless.

"You were spying on us? And put on a shirt you hobo, you'll get sick."

"Don't say it like that lil' sis, I wasn't spying, more like observing what sort of a guy Eric is. And I concluded the guy is a complete douchebag, what sort of cheesy shit was he barfing on our doorstep?"

"We get it Logan, you don't like him. I do. Get over it." I pushed past him and took off my shoes.

"Never. Did you ever get over Mindy grab hands?" He waved his hands around like an idiot.

I shuddered, "okay, that girl was actually crazy."

"Well Mr. Jock Douchebaggery isn't any better. What's this about a party?"

"It's a nunnayobusiness party." I stuck my tongue out at him. 

"Now Scarlie, that was rude, thus you shall get none of the delicious cookies I just baked." 

I feigned hurt, "you wouldn't feed your only sister?" 

"Nope."

"Oh, but you will brother." And before Logan fully processed my words, I ran off to the kitchen to steal cookies, then got tackled by the guy.

♡♡♡

I got in trouble in my social studies class for not completing any of the classwork and I crashed in to 2, almost 3, people today, who'd given me dirty looks. The entire day I'd been thinking about what happened in the dream, thinking about what they'd said to me. I thought about the truth of it, the reality in it, and the pain of it was horrible. 

Out of this terrible day though, I remembered that the good part was that today would be my last detention. Last day of scrubbing lockers, cleaning paint and being stuck in one room with Evans.

Putting on a bright smile, I walked in to Ms.Harten's room and saw Blake sitting in the seat next to where I usually sit, and Evans, in his model clothes and pose, leaning sideways against the desk with one leg outstretched on another, sat in his usual seat in the back as usual. I waved to Blake walking in and he smiled up at me. But what really amused me was Evans, who waved back at me with two fingers up, it was between like a I-acknowledge-you-in-my-popular-universe sort of wave and hi-I'm-glad-to-see-you-wave. People tell me I over-analyze sometimes.

I held back my laugh as Blake sent a little wave of his own. "How is my favourite inmate doing?"

"Good, considering this is the end of my time here." I sneaked a look back at Evans and he'd put his hand down and looked sort of embarrassed. But literally the next second he looked straight and me and smirked. Putting a hand over his heart he made a hurt expression. That boy will never change.

I laughed a little. 

"Mmmm, you two should really get a room darling." Blake sang.

"Shut up Blake, we don't like each other, in fact I'm pretty sure we hated each other's guts 'til yesterday."

"There's a thin line between-"

"Love and hate, yeah yeah. Well this isn't a chick flick, so not gonna happen."

"Yeah and I'm a dull person who's as straight as a french fry."

Soon Ms. Hartens addressed two new students, and assigned us to our tasks. 

♡♡♡

At 4.30, we walked of the detention room at the same time, heading in the same direction, in silence. I considered stopping and pretending to fix my shoes or something to get out of the awkward situation. I'd do anything to get out of an awkward situation. 

Evans finally looked over to me and said something, I'm pretty sure I heard it wrong because the books I'd been holding were on the floor and my mouth fell open.

Evans looked at me like he was expecting me to say something.

"What did you just say?" I asked looking dumb.

"Uh, would you like to go out for lunch with me tomorrow. I mean as a friend of course, like I'd probably bring a friend, you should bring Zayma-"

"Zoey." 

"Yeah, uh Zoey and uh you know like just to catch up and hang out since uh we're friends... Now?" I should've known I heard wrong, or at least interpreted it wrongly, he just wanted to hang as friends. I felt relieved, that could've gone so wrong.

"You and I, friends?" I almost scoffed, teasingly.

"Why, you want to be more than that?" He asked smirking, his voice low. "I mean I totally understand if you want to go fast, I didn't peg you for that type of girl Dev."

"uh- what? No that's not what I meant, I just-" I was totally flustered, my sentence wasn't even forming properly.

"Oh my gosh, Dev." He cracked up, "shouldve- seen- your face." he said between laughs. "Gets you every time." 

"Ugh you're obnoxious. We are so not friends." I shove him lightly.

"Well, what d'you say?"

"I'll consider lunch if Zoey comes, meet me at the gates tomorrow for my answer."

"As you say my queen." 

And at that moment, I realized I hadn't smiled all day, until detention. Maybe I will miss detention a little.

♡♡♡

A/N OH SCARLETT WHY DON'T YOU JUST SAY YOU'LL MISS ALEX AND HIS CUTENESS! GAH, I SHIP MY OWN SHIP! 

My update schedule is leaning towards Tuesdays and Fridays, I seem to upload most on the two days. 

Hope y'all are enjoying! CHIMICHANGAS!