Chapter forty-four | Googling Date Ideas

I stared up at the bland ceiling as a permanent smile rested on my face. I was acting crazy, but I didn't mind one bit.

Leaning up from my bed, I turned my eyes towards his window. The curtains drawn together, hide my view from his room.

Now I want to know what he is doing? Is that creepy? Heck yes!

I pouted and picked up my phone. A sigh slipped past my lips as the time displayed read quarter past five.

My dress for the date and everything else was ready. With the date scheduled at seven, I had plenty of time on my hands.

My nerves were going wild with anticipation as the expectations and thoughts of the very first date filled my mind.

Yes, Cynthia Crimson, the school head cheerleader with many male admirers (not being conceit), had never been on a date. I had fooled around with many boys in the past, but they never deemed me special enough to go out on a date.

Hang out with friends. Yes. An actual proper date. Never.

I crashed back on the soft mattress as thoughts swirled my mind. The events from the day today at school filled my thoughts, making a grin brighten my face.

I giggled like a middle schooler who just had her first kiss.

A sharp gasp escaped me as my room door flew open. With eyes wide, I quickly got up from my bed as my sister stomped into the room.

"What the fuck is this?" she hissed as she threw her phone towards me.

I grasped the phone just in time to save it from a dangerous fate. My sister was too angry to care about her phone at the moment. I brought the screen closer and focused on the screenshot of an  Instagram post.

Someone had tagged my sister on the picture of Eli and me kissing in the school parking lot. The caption read 'Crimson, your sister is fucking a nerd. Such low standards'.

I cringed at first and then scowled. Who the fuck this girl was? How could she call Eli low standard? Rage bubbled through me wildly.

"You were his so-called friend. I was fine. But now it is after my fucking reputation. You are ruining it!" she hissed, making me roll my eyes.

Of course, it was just a reputation for her. The only thing that my sister loved the most was reputation.

"Who the fuck I date doesn't harm your reputation, Lea. I will date Eli, and that's final." My words were bitter, but that is how it was between us.

She took a menacing step towards me. "Yes, it matters. You are supposed to follow the rules, or I will ruin your fucking high school life."

Her threat was nothing new for me, making anger seep my pores. "I am not following your fucking rules. If you want to, ruin my school life. I don't care!" I bellowed, matching her heated gaze. "I fucking stopped caring when you started bullying me for something I didn't play any part in. Mom's depression wasn't my fault!"

My words were suspended in the air, turning it more and more suffocating with every second.

The truth of my bitterness haunted her once again as a loss of words enclosed her. Huffing, she rolled her eyes and stomped away from me.

As the door slammed shut, I collapsed on the floor with tears streaming from my eyes. 

A heavyweight previously resting on my chest lightened, making me sigh in relief a few minutes later.

Finally, getting those words out was relieving.

I wiped my face with the back of my palm and checked the time. With digits near six in the evening, I decided to get ready.

Precisely at seven, a bell echoed through the house. With a broad smile on my face, I rushed to open the door.

As the door moved, a very nervous Eli made an appearance. He was fidgeting in his spot as he wiped his hands on his jeans. With the pale blue button-up matching his eyes, they looked more electrified.

His eyes met mine as his lips parted in shock. The reaction was the boost of confidence I needed, making me smile brighter.

Eli's eyes admired my form in the white loose dress that dropped just above my knees.

I snapped my fingers in front of his gaining his attention and stopping his silent admiration. He cleared his throat with an awkward blush on his cheeks and gave me a small smile.

"You look gorge-gorgeous," he stuttered out, making me chuckle. The blush on his cheeks deepened with humiliation.

I leaned closer to him as his scent wrapped around me. Placing my hands on his chest, I stood on my tip-toes. After multiple tries on my part, I failed to close the height gap between us.

He gave a small laugh and leaned closer to my face, placing his hands on my waist.

"You clean up nice too," I whispered as my breath fanned his lips.

He slanted his lips over mine as his touch electrified me. Just like our other kisses, a wild feeling of euphoria rushed through my veins.

My hand cupped his cheeks as the languid pace of our kiss made my heart race. My fingers ran over his cheekbones as his hands tightened around my waist.

Even with no tongue involved, we pulled back breathless. Eli's eyes darkened to a shade of indigo, making a shiver run down my spine.

"Let's go for the date," I said and stepped away from him.

He nodded and grabbed my hand, leading me towards the car. As the engine roared to life, his house door flew open.

His mother, who had a cheeky smile on her face, cupped her mouth and shouted her words.

"Car back seats are uncomfortable but still better than open. Remember to use condoms!"

Her words mortified both Eli and me. He quickly pulled out of the driveway before she could say anything else.

"So, where are we going?" I asked, feeling curious. "Don't give me that surprise bullshit. That thing better belongs to young adult novels only. I am too impatient for that."

An amused chuckle followed my words, filling the closed car space. He gave me a momentary glance at the corner of his eyes.

"We are going out for dinner first and then ice-cream at the park. Stargazing," he recited as if he had remembered the words.

"Sounds beautiful, Eli. Did you google date ideas?" I teased. A chuckle escaped me as he nodded, embarrassed with the fact.

"I know it is not amazing or original. You can suggest something else if you want to." His words were laced with nervousness as his grip tightened on the steering wheel.

I vigorously shook my head no, making my perfected curls fly around. "It is great, Eli. I like it a lot." I eased his worries, making tension leave his body.

A soft exhale of relief ended our conversation for the moment.

We stopped in front of a well known (in our town) Thai restaurant. My smile brightened as one of our conversations from the past month slipped in my mind.

"So, what is your favorite food?" I asked as Eli played the video-game. He looked away from the screen and focused his eyes on me.

"Why? Are you giving me a treat?" he asked jokingly.

I rolled my eyes and leaned back on the couch, giving him a look as he sat on the carpet floor. "Just answer it."

He thought for a moment. "Will it be weird to say, I love meat pies?"

I shook my head no.

"Then I love meat pies, especially the ones my aunt makes. They are awesome. What about you?"

"I like Italian food, but I want to try Thai sometime," I said with a thoughtful look. I turned my eyes towards him, to find him focused on the game. With a playful smile, I swatted the back of his head.

"You remembered?" I asked in awe.

He scratched the back of his head and looked down at his feet. It was enough to touch my heart.

"Gosh, you are so cute!" I screeched like a banshee and flung my arms around him, pulling him in for a hug. His arms reciprocate the gesture and tightened around me.

Our lips connected for a brief moment, making sparks erupt everywhere. We pulled back quickly, knowing it could get a bit out of hand.

I had a spring attached under my feet as we walked towards the main entrance.

We settled on the seats and ordered our food. By the odd look, the server was giving us. I was sure we were pronouncing them wrong.

A comfortable silence settled between us as my eyes roamed throughout the calm surroundings of the restaurant. I jolted in my seat as a hand wrapped around mine.

Turning my attention towards Eli, I found his eyes focused on our hands. His huge hand slowly traced my small chubby-ish fingers with significant interest.

My heart clenched, and I had a sudden urge to stare into his cerulean eyes.

"What are you doing?" I asked, trying to gain his attention.

His fingers paused for a second and then resumed their movements.

A slight ticklish feeling pulsed over my skin as his eyes met mine. He shrugged nonchalantly and spoke his next words with ease. "Just observing how tiny you are."

I glared at him playfully, making his shoulders shake with laughter. "It is not my fault. You are just too big."

At my words, Eli's laughter rocked his body. Calming from his hysterics, he gave me a cheeky look. "You do realize that your words sounded suggestive, right?"

As realization drew in, crimson colored my cheeks. I snatched my hand from his and playfully swatted his arm with a small scowl.

"Pervert," I muttered as he once again shook with laughter.

Our conversation from then was a calm flow, like water in a small brook. Lively but peaceful. After the Thai restaurant, he drove us to an ice-cream parlor as promised.

With my vanilla ice-cream in my hand, I walked with him towards the same park we came before. He was happily munching into his cookie-dough when we sank into the swings in the park.

There were rarely any people present, with the arctic wind brushing along my skin. The slight screech of metal followed every movement I made. A sigh escaped my lips as the sweetness of vanilla melted on my tongue.

"Do you see that star up there," Eli spoke out of the blue, pointing towards the inky blue sky. "That star is part of the Pegasus constellation."

My eyes followed his movements along the sky, trying to connect the lines between the various stars. My eyebrows drew together as a box with three legs.

"Constellations are weird. That constellation doesn't even have four legs," I muttered, making Eli snort.

"I agree," he muttered as his eyes searched the skies. His blue eyes glowed with stars casting a beautiful reflection in his orbs.

"Did you search about constellations, Eli?" I asked, feeling my curiosity bubbling.

He turned towards me, looking startled by my question. Slowly, he nodded and waited for my reaction.

A bright smile lit my face as I leaned and placed a soft kiss on his lips.

"You are such a dork, Eli," I whispered as I pulled back.

"Thank you?" he asked, wringing his fingers together.

The night was calm as we left the park. I felt closer to him than ever before as he wrapped a hand around my waist. Words weren't exchanged between us as we basked in each other's presence.

I turned towards him as I stepped out of the car door. He held the door as he stared deep into my eyes. He licked his lips lightly and tilted his head.

"Will you be my girlfriend, Cynthia?"