| 10 |

~ Banks Woods ~

We're at a small diner somewhere secluded from the city. I thought we would be going to some big fancy restaurant until Lance pulled an answer from my mouth.

"Since I don't know you that well, the dinner part isn't figured out yet. What do you like to eat?" He starts up his car, rolling it out of the parking spot.

"Anything is fine."

He gives me a look. Then nods. "Okay. So how do you feel about getting sushi?"

I wince. "Maybe except that."

"I know this restaurant that specializes in onions. Onions soups. Onion wraps. Onion fries."

My stomach turns queasy by the numerous times he said 'Onions'. "I'm not really a fan of onions."

"How about lobsters and crabs?"

I wince again, shaking my head.

A knowing smile forms on his lips as if he already knew what all my answers were going to be. "Let's try this again. What do you want to eat?"

I stare at his smug face and mentally give him a little swat to the back of his head.

"Burgers. I like the greasiest ones dripping with sauces."

"Greasy burgers it is then." His smile broadens.

So now here we are at the small diner with hot steaming plates of burgers and fries. The sight makes my mouth water, terribly.

Mom never allowed me junk food when I was little. She kept me on a strict diet, hell-bent on making me lose all my weight. Ben used to sneak me one sometimes—which made me like him more at that time. Burgers are something extremely rare that I've eaten in my life.

"No way!" Lance bursts out laughing. "You lied to Caleb saying you're vegetarian?"

I nod, chewing on a piece of french fries. "Do you know how expensive meat is?"

"And Caleb believed you?"

"He was little. He believed anything I said."

Lance laughs again. The sound so smooth and flowy as if just that alone can wrap you up in a warm embrace and make you forget about your worries.

"That reminds me of when my sister used to tell me lies too. I used to believe that if I didn't close the bathroom door after I was done using it, this demon was going to come out from there and haunt me in my sleep. She used to make fake noises sometimes to make her lie believable too."

I should've said that to Caleb too. The dumbass doesn't even pick up his underwear.

I hesitate, taking a sip of my milkshake. "Why do you use past tense whenever you talk about your sister?"

A small sad smile lines his lips. "She passed away two years ago."

"Oh."

It's silent for a while before I speak again. "Were you two close?"

"She was my best friend."

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright."

"How did she die? If you don't mind me asking." I take another sip.

"Brain tumour. She couldn't be saved in time."

I lose my appetite. I can't imagine how hard that must've been for him. I can't imagine my life without Caleb. Sure he's annoying but fuck, if something were to happen to him, I'd just stop existing.

The only person who stuck with me since I was little was Caleb. I've shared my whole life with him. He's shared his whole life with me. Half of me would simply die along with him if he were to be gone.

"That's horrible," I say in a small voice. It really is.

He shrugs. "Life is cruel. But you have to keep pushing forward, am I right?"

"Yeah."

"In a way, look at this. If I hadn't lost my sister, I would've never met Castle, Theo and Xander. I'm not saying that my sister's death gives me happiness in finding new friends. I'm just amazed by how life sometimes pulls strings to let you be involved in other people's lives. Who knew my sister's death would lead me to three best friends whom I can trust my whole life with?"

I nod, swallowing a huge bite of my burger. "Yeah."

"If Caleb hadn't decided to try to help me that night, we wouldn't have been sitting here right now."

That makes me pause. I've met Lance maybe a month back but it feels like I've somehow known him for longer.

"You enjoy talking about life and destiny a lot," I say.

He shrugs, smiling. "I'm just amazed. So?" He laces his fingers underneath his chin, giving me his full attention. It suddenly makes me look stupid for stuffing a huge burger into my mouth. "What's your daily routine like?"

I swallow a mouthful before shrugging. "Nothing much. I work in the morning, come home, drink my chocolate milk while watching some TV, then go to sleep."

I expect to see the tiniest amount of judgment in Lance's eyes. The way that look would hit me and make me feel even stupider for agreeing to a date with him.

But instead, he's smiling the same as ever. His eyes watch me with that relaxed look that slowly makes me feel comfortable under his gaze. His face is so angular and defined and simply perfect. I still can't believe I'm sitting in front of him, inside a cheap diner, on a fucking date.

"Did I ever tell you how pretty—" His words cut off and his eyes widen in panic "—that burger looks half-eaten?" He points at my plate.

My eyebrows scrunch together. "Uh...what?"

He nods. "That burger looks really pretty."

I look at my plate and my mouth waters again. This is probably one of the few times when I get to eat a burger this big and greasy. I pick it back up, taking a huge bite and savouring the flavour of sauces and the meat that melts in my mouth.

We finish our food and Lance pays for it.

On the drive back home, he gives me a hopeful look. "Are you sure you still don't want to see my cat?"

"No."

"Maybe once?"

"No."

"How about just a picture for now?"

"No."

He sighs, dramatically, slumping against his seat. "I really like my cat."

"I can tell."

The rest of the drive goes by in comfortable silence. Lance plays the radio but I'm too lost in my thoughts to actually pay attention to what song is playing. My attention is occasionally snatched by his fingers that tap on the steering wheel to the tune.

I take a peek. His side profile is even more gorgeous. He has a sharp pointed nose with an even sharper jawline. His cheekbones are high and proud. His blonde hair curls onto his temples, giving him a cute look.

"I can't focus on the road when you stare at me like that."

My cheeks instantly flame and I quickly look away, grumbling. "I wasn't staring at you."

From the corner of my eye, I can see him smiling amusedly.

When we reach my old dusty apartment, Lance doesn't let me just walk out of his car and bid me farewell. He parks it, then gets out and opens my door.

For a moment, I'm caught off guard by this gentleman behaviour. It's more like I'm caught off guard by this behaviour towards me.

Let's face it, when you're ugly and fat, you rarely have people being nice to you. And when they are nice to you, it's just to prove themselves and others that 'Look at me. I'm not being rude to an ugly fat person. This makes me a really nice guy.'

So basically, I'm not used to this behaviour directed towards me. Which makes me a little sad because I really don't want to think that Lance is being a gentleman to me just because I lost weight and look better than before.

Biting my lip from the inside, I get out of the car, letting Lance close the door for me. He doesn't just do that. He follows me to the elevator, getting inside with me and walking me to my door.

He waits as I pull out my keys. He isn't even saying anything. I can feel the heat from his body reaching toward me along with his woodsy cologne. My fingers freeze when I realize something.

Is he waiting for a kiss?

I've barely been on dates so I have no idea what people usually do after a first date. Do they kiss?

I've only kissed a single person in my life. I'm definitely not that experienced. What am I supposed to do if Lance suddenly leaned forward to kiss me? The thought makes my face burn up. Shit. Fuck. I need Kaylee.

"Are you alright?"

I startle. The keys jingle between my fingers.

"Uh, yeah. Yeah, I'm alright." I turn around to look at him and pause when I'm met with blue so clear and deep. His eyes have a whole other personality to themselves.

"Why do you look as if you've seen a ghost?" He chuckles even though he sounds a bit serious. When I take my time thinking for a response, Lance must have come to his own answer because his smile slips a bit. "Wait. Do you want me to kiss you?"

My whole system stops working. I panic, thinking he somehow read my mind or maybe I accidentally blurted out something. The nerves in my brain seem to go haywire.

"Come near me and I'll knee your balls." I blurt.

Shit.

Shit. Shit. I did not mean to say that. That came out purely in defence.

He raises an eyebrow.

I expect him to look hurt, but instead, there's a smirk lifting the side of his lips. Confusion envelopes me before he slowly leans forward, his mouth nearing my ear.

"Do you think I didn't notice the way you rubbed your thighs when I got on my bike?"

My breathing shortens and my eyes widen.

He...noticed?

"Or the way you clenched those legs, then subconsciously rubbed yourself against me?" He leans even closer that I have to crane my neck up to meet his eyes.

Oh. My. God.

My face is flaming right now. Flaming. I stare up at him with wide, unblinking eyes, not sure what to say.

I didn't think Lance was the type to say such...words. God. Something squeezes in my stomach and it takes me a moment to realize the tiniest bit of slickness forming between my legs.

"Goodnight." He smiles before leaning back, taking away all his warmth and woodsy scent, leaving me flustered and cold.

He motions towards the door. "Aren't you gonna go inside?"

It takes me a moment to collect myself. My fingers tremble as I lift up my keys and slide them in, turning the lock. I open the door and look back at Lance.

He lifts up a hand in a wave.

I give a small wave back before closing the door. A huge gush of air leaves my mouth the moment I'm cut off from him, leaving me breathless and slightly shaky. What the hell is happening to me?

Why the hell would he say those words with that...that tone, and that smirk?

Why do I wanna open the door again to catch another glimpse of him?

I turn around and stop when I see Kaylee sitting on the couch, peering at me with a wide grin and awaiting eyes.

"Fuck." I place a hand on my heart which was already racing. "You scared the shit out of me." I forgot she was here. The TV is on but it's on mute. "You're paying three hours of my electricity bill."

"Forget about that!" She throws her hands up, before marching towards me and yanking me towards the couch. "I want every detail and information, and you better not leave anything out."

My stomach flutters with something as if I'm on crack. I peek at Kaylee's wide excited face and can't help the small giggle that escapes my mouth as if I'm still in high school, talking about my crush with other girls.

For a moment, I forget all my worries, all my tensions, and stress. Right now, I'm relaying everything that happened to Kaylee who squeals or grabs my arm excitedly. I forgot how this felt. The feeling of giggling and joking around with your girl-friend, while trying your hardest not to blush.

At this moment, for the first time, I feel elevated. Free. Peaceful. All because of a certain blond, and my shamelessly open friend.

✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

Sorry for the short chapter. I was doing math all day and have the biggest headache right now.

I wish I had someone to gush and blush with my besties about. ToT

Are you guys vegetarian or non-vegetarian?

Words: 2,100

Date of publishing: 1st June 2024