[ CHAPTER FIVE ]

• • •

ELLE FOUND HERSELF in an almost trembling-like state, her fingers shaking when she handed some parents at the field their change.

She kept nervously eyeing her phone on the other end of the counter. Nothing.

She could feel her cheeks growing hotter and hotter the more she stopped to think what the hell just happened. She'd really only ever had one boyfriend, and she was dared by some of her middle school friends to ask the kid out. He had been in the choir, and they had held hands during their seventh grade music field trip.

She felt like she had been watching the conversation from the outside, hearing herself loudly cackle, seeing her eyes grow twice as big when he asked for her number, watching herself write the number in wobbly handwriting.

The buzzer finally signaled the end of the game and Elle halfheartedly began to clean up the mess of napkins and paper plates strewn over the pebbles. She kept glancing over the corner of her eye for his unkempt muddy-colored hair through the midst of the blondes and the buzz cuts and the afros.

Linda, the mom that helped with the concession stand and the surrounding stands wandered over once the exit died down and began to collect the cash.

"Thank you again, Elizabeth, all your help is very much appreciated," she acknowledged, and Elle gave her a close-lipped smile.

"Of course, anytime," she responded. Elle paused. "Actually, do you know if we're playing Pasadena again anytime soon?"

Linda tapped her nail on the counter. "Well, let me see . . . I think so.  Maybe in February if I'm correct."

Elle's heart stuttered. "Oh, great, alright. Thanks again, for everything."

She gathered her phone and her mini purse and started her trek home. 

• • •

Jordan and Michael (taunted by the ship name Michael Jordan for years) had gone through elementary school together, whereas Elle met the pair in middle school.  They were the two kids that always landed the "most likely to be a couple" joke of a superlative during band, and even though they weren't dating, somehow Elle was still the third wheel.

Jordan: and he just talked to you?

Elle: Yes, he just sat down and ate while I talked about those camps I did for bio, and then he stood across from the counter until halftime

Michael: i still can't believe you're gonna get with a kid from PHS

Jordan: yeah, what a traitor

Elle:  I'm not "getting with" him, we just talked

Jordan: you gave him your number!

Michael: did you really ask if he was seeing anyone?

Elle: Shut up, I didn't know what I was doing, I'm not used to this sort of thing

Michael: oh really? we couldn't tell from your smooth moves, like how you straight up asked "are you in a relationship?" after just meeting the guy

Jordan: was he at least cute?

Elle: I'm not texting anymore

She fell onto her bed in a starfish fashion, squinting shut her eyes. It was only like ten-something o'clock, but she still felt herself drifting off. Her fingertips buzzed, and suddenly she found herself shoot upright, resting her back against the wall covered in chipped paint and pinned-up photographs.

Unknown Number: I'm sorry this is so late, but I just wanted to say hey before you forgot about me -Leo, the guy from the football game this afternoon

Elle felt her throat constrict, in awe at the number before her. It had been real.

Elle: Don't worry about it at all!

She erased that.

Elle: I'm up!

She erased that too.

Elle: How could I forget! -Elle, the girl you met at that same football game

Sent.

She instantly regretted it. God, why did she sign her name like that? It was too corny, too cheesy, too—

Buzz.

Leo: I'm glad you didn't forget. I also didn't forget that you asked me if I was single

Her joints froze up. Elle's eyes bulged out of their sockets and she had to do a lap around her room before she replied.

Elle: You're jumping right into that, aren't you?

Leo: Well, I just enjoyed our conversation so much, I think it may be nice to bring it to another setting

Elle: So, are you asking me on a date?

Leo: I guess I am.  Just to be sure... Do you wanna go on a real date with me?

The minute Elle received the message, she screenshotted galore and sent them to Jordan and Michael.

Elle: WHAT DO I DO WHAT DO I DO WHAT DO I DO????

Jordan: omg YES. is that even a question?

Michael: i am floored. what a traitor, getting with the PHS guy.

Elle: I only just met him today. I've never really gone on a date before, and never with a stranger. I don't even know what my parents would do to me.

Michael: you would be dumb not to go. even if nothing happens because of it, you'll probably eat food.

Jordan: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? GO ON THE DATE

Elle cautiously replied to Leo.

Elle: I would love to! Do you have anything planned?

There was a lull in the conversation. Elle found herself chewing on her lip, rereading their few texts back and forth.

Leo: I don't, and I don't think I'm going to.

Elle: What do you mean?

Leo: It'll be a surprise for the two of us

• • •

It was on the early side for Elle when he texted her that he was outside her house. In all honesty, she was pretty nervous. She wasn't sure what to wear, if she should pull her hair up or leave it down, if he was going to murder her . . .

Elle had slipped on her comfortable mom jeans and the only nice tshirt she had and ate a quick bowl of cereal before texting her parents that she was headed out and would be back later. Even she didn't know what "later" meant, so she didn't elaborate.

He was leaning against the passenger door to his polished-looking car, arms crossed. His hazel eyes were wandering around, on the colorful birds in the tree, the telephone pole, the red front door to her apartment, her ratty sneakers, her freckled nose, her eyes.

His eyes lit up, and he stumbled in the act of opening the side door for her. She saw in slow-motion, him miscalculating and accidentally stepping on his own shoelace, all the while gripping the door handle, and slamming his nose into the rear-view mirror. She clutched onto her bag that was draped over her shoulder and ran out to see him clutching his nose, kneeling on the pavement.

"Jesus, oh God," she sputtered out, seeing blood spill over his fingers. "Good Lord, okay, follow me up, I've got you."

Elle hoisted him up, fumbling with her keys, getting blood all over her mom jeans.  She led him to the door and jammed the key in the slot.

"I'm sorry, this is not what I had in mind at all," Leo started, his voice muffled behind his hand.  "I'm fine, really."

She dragged him to the kitchen where she soaked a napkin in warm water, holding it out in his direction.  "It looked pretty bad. I mean, there was blood all over the sidewalk. It looked like a hit and run or something happened over there."

This was not going well already.  She did not like starting off a date with blood on her hands.  To have his blood on her hands was even worse, somehow. She felt awkward, looking at all of the magnets she'd brought home from different vacations resting on the side of the fridge, her eyes drifting towards the ceiling, not really sure how to initiate interaction.

"Have I ruined this date already?" he asked, bloodied shirt and all.  "Damnit, I was really going to pull all of the stops, too."

She hopped onto the kitchen counter. "What stops could you be implying about?"

She saw the hint of a smile behind the red-soaked pile of napkins. "I mean, I was thinking we could head down towards where that diner that Guy Fieri went to, for starters."

"Okay, alright, you've got me intrigued," she said with a grin.  "Anything else possibly on this agenda?"

He threw away the bloodied napkins and she handed him another napkin to use.  "Well, I was also looking into what movies were playing at that drive-in movie theater near the diner. I think they're playing that Disney movie that came out a few months ago, Coco."

She raised her eyebrows. "I wouldn't be opposed to that."

"Really?" he exclaimed, sounding a little apprehensive.  Leo used his un-bloodied hand to help her off of the counter.  Her hand was all sweaty and moist and it fit snugly on top of his. She felt a little tingle run to her toes.

She thought he would let go but his surprisingly soft fingers gripped hers a little stronger and he ran to his small car still parked in the front yard.  The little patch of blood was still drying in the hot sun on the pavement.

They were back in the car. He had one hand on the steering wheel and one hand holding the napkin to his nose.  She glanced at the bare trees and the cloudy skies, her eyes growing bigger and bigger as they drove further and further deep into California.   He was fairly silent, except for a little humming to the radio.  

It was like a Tinder date, without the social interaction beforehand.  Minus the few texts sent back and forth and the chat at the football game, she really was with a stranger.  She knew he was from Pasadena High School.  He was also a senior.  He had a sister.  He was pretty cute, as well.  She kept racking her brain for conversational topics to share with him, but every time she went to speak, her voice had left her body as if Ursula had made her a deal.

He pulled into the fairly empty parking lot to a small diner nearly fifteen minutes away, smoothly sliding between the white lines.  She hopped out and he stuffed the bloodied napkin into the glove compartment among a few papers, one in cursive, another in chicken scratch.  She wondered what his handwriting looked like.  

She stepped out of the car and waited for him to hop around.  There were missing letters on the sign outside the restaurant, saying "FRE H FOO , KAR OKE ON TU SDAYS".  Elle gave him a close-lipped smile when he met her by the passenger seat.  A "seat yourself" sign had Elle lead them to a small booth in the corner by the window.

As she swallowed down her pancakes, she tried not to awkwardly stare at Leo too much as he shoveled down bacon and eggs.  His hair flopped in his face whenever he moved, and he kept ruffling his fingers through it.  His eyes were very warm, and they reminded her of the feel of autumn.  The crisp, golden leaves, the slight chill of wind, hot chocolate topped with whipped cream.  That feeling, the feeling of calm. She knew she was being obvious, but she couldn't help it.  His face was pointed and had high cheekbones, and he looked very much unlike many of the guys at her school.   His voice didn't match his scrawny frame, a gravelly sound coming out.  She still hadn't fully gotten used to it.  When he smiled or laughed, his lips curled back and his pearly whites shined.  His laugh was like autumn as well, that same warm feeling, sounding like birds chirping and the crunch of leaves.  The brunch-turned-linner blurred in her mind, the sounds of silverware and plates clashing and light, airy conversations between them, and she felt as if she'd been eating those pancakes for weeks.

Elle tried to pay but he snapped the receipt away, thanking the waitress and they headed out.  She rolled down her window as the drove endlessly, her hair whipping against her cheeks and sneaking over her lips.  She was laughing into the wind when he began to emotionally sing his own cover of "Pocketful of Sunshine".  She lost track of time and was even a little disappointed when the car puttered into the drive-in theater and he turned down the radio a few notches.  She began to dig in her purse and pulled out a twenty and when Leo rolled down his window to pay, Elle leaned across the cupholder and over his lap to hand the lady at the ticket booth the money. 

"Two tickets for Coco, please," Elle said, out of breath.  The woman looked confused, but handed her the tickets nonetheless.  She sat breathlessly back in her seat and glanced at Leo when she noticed the car wasn't moving.  "What?"

He laughed.  "Nothing.  You're cute."

He stepped on the gas again and Elle was even more out of breath, and he searched for a parking spot.  He called her cute, holy shit.  It was already six o'clock?  Oh my gosh.

Leo found a spot somewhat in the back, away from the other SUVs and minivans and trucks.  He let his foot off of the gas and put the car in park.  It was silent.

The Disney castle appeared on the screen, and Elle found herself resting her left hand next to the cupholder.  Hoping, maybe, for something to come out of it.  Her focus was on a balance, between the movie and her date.  A date . . . this was a date.  She had kind of forgotten, since the bloody nose to the diner to this.  Her eyes just grew wider and wider until they felt like they were made of glass, unblinking.  The balance dipped in favor of the movie, until she felt the warm autumn perfectly slip into her hand from over the cupholder.  Her eyes of glass nearly popped out.  Focus on the movie, focus on the movie. 

Nearing the end, the recurring song appeared again and she felt hot, wet tears slip out.  She wiped her tears with her unheld hand and thanked God it was dark so she could stealthily cry.  The credits started to roll, and she froze.  Her hand was still limply in his, and she just looked straight ahead, waiting for him, again, to make the move and remove his hand to drive.  She quite enjoyed it.

Elle waited for it, but it never came.  He drove out with one hand on the wheel, the other in her hand.  She was going to tell him "ten and two", one of the only things she knew about driving,  but determined she liked the hand-holding more than the safety aspect.

The car petered to a stop next to the blood spot again, and she was hesitant to step out.  

"I think my bloody nose was worth it," Leo commented, facing her.  

"I still feel bad about that," Elle admitted, brushing one of the loose strands of hair behind her ear.  "How is it?"

"It's doing fine.  Throbbing has subsided," he half-joked, and she laughed.  A feeling settled back into her stomach, and her laughter died down.  She gulped.

"I really did have a good day," she whispered, looking up into his warm eyes.  Her cheeks hurt from smiling.  "Thank you."

She could hear birds in the background.  The sky had been dimmed and she was shaking.  Hopefully it wasn't obvious.  It was like a class presentation, her shaky legs when she talked about her history project and such.  His autumn eyes grew closer and closer until his floppy brown hair was a nearly brushing her forehead.  He was leaning over the cupholder, his hand still in hers.  

"Can I kiss you?" he asked in a whisper.  It was his turn to have the glass eyes. 

Elle leaned over the cupholder and let go of his hand, reaching up for his pointed face and feeling his high cheekbones. She pressed her lips to his and he was hot, his lips burning and his cheeks on fire.  She rearranged herself in the passenger seat and tilted her face, tentatively feeling his floppy hair.  It was just as soft and thick as it looked.  She heard him yelp, and she quickly jumped away from him, feeling like she'd just stepped in a volcano, raising her eyebrows as to what the noise was.

He was holding his fingers to his nose again, and she let out a gasp.  "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to—"

"No, no, it's alright." He grinned behind his hands.  "I did like that, though."

Elle tried to hide her smile.  "I think I'd like to do this again.  Maybe give your nose time to heal."

"Are you trying to get rid of me already?" They both lightly chuckled.

"No, no, gosh.  Really, no, I loved this a lot."

"We'll keep in touch, how about that?" Leo murmured, placing one hand back on the steering wheel.  

She let out a deep breath.  "I'd really like that."

Elle floated back to her house and, again, fumbled for her keys.  Her hands were shaking and it took her a minute before she could fit it in the slot.  She turned back around to see his car still there.  He rolled down the window and gave her a little wave.  She gave him a shy wave back, before scurrying back into her room and immediately flipping through her journal.  She couldn't even think of what to write, it was like he'd wiped her mind.

She fell asleep with her phone in her hand, a smile on her face after seeing the latest message received.

Leo: Goodnight, Elle.  -Leo, your date this afternoon (and maybe in the future)

a/n

here. it. is.  finally. sorry this is so late :/

it is currently 2:26 AM where i have finished writing this. i was so busy this weekend with my junior prom (!!!!!) and everything. i feel really good about this chapter and i hope you do too! what do you think of this new relationship, huh? what's gonna happen with it? what's gonna happen in the future?  thoughts on jordan and michael & their friendship with elle? thoughtso n leo and elle's date? hmmmmmmmmm? 

i saw infinity war on friday and boy oh boy did i cry. iv'e been watching interviews all day. honestly, it is probably my favorite marvel movie, which is saying a lot. i need to rewatch it. 

share, vote, and comment! 

simplyreadingstories says: "And Sophie does it again. I'm hooked." and therefore wins the dedication for this chapter! thank youuu!

thanks again for reading this. i really do appreciate it. i really love seeing all the comments and votes and theories and i really am excited for when this story starts to pick up.

until next sunday!

goals: 
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