t w e n t y n i n e


TO BE HONEST, I was just slightly nervous for my date with Luke. Okay, fuck that understatement of the damn year. I was an anxious, nervous wreck. I didn't even bother with eyeliner my hands were that shaky. 


I don't really know why I was nervous. Maybe because I know I'll mess up and probably end up vomitting in his lap or something and he'll never talk to me again. My ninth grade self would say that's a true story. 


I was smoothing down my dress for the billionth time when I heard a soft knock at my door. I stand from my desk chair, grabbing Vera's leather jacket, because it's the fanciest thing I own, and my black wool coat because it's really fucking cold outside. 


I crack open the door, seeing a smiling Luke standing there, looking very dapper in a navy blue button up and black slacks. He held two small sunflowers in his hand and I glance at them suspiciously. 


"Did you get those from the garden at Arlington?" I question as I open the door wider. 


"Yup," Luke nods as he glances down at the flowers, "I also had to out run three screaming girls but it was worth it." 


He hands them to me, the two stalks wrapped in a red ribbon and I softly take them, "Thanks."


I quickly run back inside and place them in the half empty water bottle sitting on my desk.


"Is Chase not here?" Luke questions and I turn back to see him standing in the door way, his head almost touching the top of the frame, and he was staring at Chase's side of the room. 


"No. I haven't seen him all day either." I shrug as I walk out into the hall. I close the door behind me and struggle to lock it once more. After a swift kick, it finally works and I smile up at Luke awkwardly, "Shall we go?" 


"We shall." Luke bows, gesturing his arm to the side.


"Dork." I laugh at him jokingly as he chuckles alongside me. 


We make small talk on the way to the student parking lot. I always felt so comfortable talking to Luke, like I could literally talk about puppies eating rainbow sherbet and he'd listen and talk back like it was the most interesting topic on the planet. 


Luke's car was a vivid red Ford Focus and he opens the door foor me as we near it. I jump in and soon we were on our way to a cute little Italian restaurant called Bella Mia. 


The weather had calmed down after the rainstorm this morning and the clouds were starting to clear. We sit outside by the fireplace to watch the beautiful sunset. Luke pulls my seat out for me and I started wondering if he's taken ettiqute classes for this. 


"I absoloutely love Italian." I mutter as I open the food menu. I glance over the top at Luke, "I haven't eaten since breakfast to build up an apetite." 


"For a girl that visits the dining hall so much that she basically lives there, that must've been hard." Luke jokes as I tilt my head back and laugh because it was so damn true, "Thank you for your sacrifice, Hayden." 


I lean back and dramatically place a hand ot my forehead like I was about to faint, "It was a struggle but I had to do it for the good of the country." 


We laugh with each other before discussing interesting dinner meals on the menu. Everything was interesting to me and if I wasn't broke as fuck, I would've ordered everything. 


♤♤♤♤


After we ordered, we started talking about the upcoming swim meet we have with other schools from the area. Then Luke was telling me all about the past swim meets and the shit that went down. Such as student skinny dipping, setting a hotel room on fire and so much more. 


I choked on the wine Luke had gotten us with his fake ID. Our meal finally comes and I couldn't keep my hands still. 


"Thanks." I smile up at the waiter but something behind him grabs my attention. You've got to be fucking kidding me. At the other side of the patio, near the bushes, sat a couple. Except they weren't a couple and both wore matching curly, black wigs and large sungalsses. The rest of their faces were covered with open menus. 


Both duck their heads when I glance at them. 


"I, uh, I gotta go wash my hands first." I mumble, taking my napkin off my lap and placing it on the table. I stand and smile at Luke, "I'll be back in a second." 


"You're not going to climb out of the bathroom window, are you?" Luke jokes with a small smirk. 


I shake my head, "And miss out on all this food? I wasn't planning to do that until after dessert." 


He laughs at me as I quickly walk inside and follow the signs to the bathroom at the back of the restaurant. A lady was exiting the small room and I give her a tight lipped smile before rushing in and I leave the door unlock. I rest back on the vanity, folding my arms as I glance around the decorated bathroom. 


The door flies open a few seconds later, as expected, and in walks the guy wearing the curly wig. 


"Really?" I question, staring at him as the door closes behind him and he locks it, "What the fuck, Everett?" 


Chase pulls the wig and glasses of his head and grins at me, "So, how are you enjoying your date so far?" 


"I was enjoying it just fine until I look over and see you and Vera in those fucking stupid wigs." I gesture angrily at the wig in his hand, "How'd you get Vera to come? You know what, nevermind. She probably helped you plan it."


"Why do you think I'm wearing this fucking Chanel or whatever the fuck they are glasses." Chase says as he lifts the glasses. I can't help but laugh at the cat eye glasses. I mean, they did accentuate his cheekbones. "Anyway, I thought you weren't going to go on a date with that dickface." 


"We weren't but then he asked me again so I said yes." I explain before back tracking real quick, "Wait, why am I explaining myself to you. I can make my own decisions, Everett." 


"Sure." He nods before stepping closer and bending down slightly, "But we both know you'd rather have me sitting across from you than him." 


"Don't say things like that, Everett." I turn around, facing the mirror and stare down at the sink, biting my lip nervously. How can he just say things like that with out thinking. 


"Why?" 


My face turns to him instantly and I snap,"Because we're friends. Just friends." 


Chase chuckles as he glances down at his shoes, as if thinking and shakes his head. He then glances back up at me with a cocky smirk, "Enjoy your date, Jones." 


He then turns, unlocks the bathroom door and leaves without another word. I stare at myself in the mirror and take a deep breath. Why the fuck does my bodily functions don't know how to work when Chase is in such close proximity. My damn respiratory system is a traitorous bitch and somehow I forget it breath. 


I shake my head, clearing my thoughts as I run my hands through my blonde hair, smoothing them down before quickly washing my hands and leaving the bathroom. 


When I walk back outside into the chilly evening, I glance across the patio at the now empty table. Vera and Chase had left. I ignore it and walk back to my table, smoothly slipping into my seat. 


"Are you okay?" Luke questions and I nod, giving him a small smile as I place the napkin on my lap. 


Everett can just fuck off. I'm going to thoroughly enjoy my dinner with an extremely handsome boy in front of me and he can't stop me. 


♤♤♤♤


"No wonder the waitress was staring at me weirdly!" I exclaim, laughing along with Luke as we walk across the student parking lot. "I had basil stuck between my teeth and you didn't tell me!" 


"You looked cute!" Luke defended happily, his blue eyes shining under the golden hue of the antique street lamps lining the small path. It was almost nine and the sun had gone down eons ago. 


I huffed and mumbled under my breath, "No one looks cute with fucking basil between their teeth. 


"You totally pulled it off, Hay." Luke smirked at me while I playfully shoved him, "The waitress was just jealous."


I open my mouth to respond, but I hear the annoying laughter I know all to well. I glance across the quad at the benches on the other-side. Two were occupied by large groups, but one a few away had a couple seated on it. I roll my eyes at the pair.


And of course, the bench was directly next to the path that lead to Elwood and we had to walk past them no matter what. 


"Hey, Jones. How was your date?" Chase questions as he sits relaxed on the bench, a cigarette pinched between two fingers as he takes a long drag of the smoking stick. Lea giggles as she takes the cigarette from his fingers and takes a puff. 


"It was great, wasn't it?" I question, glancing up at Luke who nods, a cocky smirk on his face as he puts an arm over my shoulder and hugs me into the side of his body. 


"Best damn night of my life." Luke answers, not even glancing at Chase and Lea, and only gazing at me. 


I nod, trying to seem confident and turn my attention back to the couple, "Well, you two kiddos have fun...you know....getting cancer and stuff." 


I then wrap my arm around Luke's waist and turn the both around. I walk away, not looking back because I know how fucking much it would be killing Chase. He didn't get a reaction out of me, the one thing that really irks him. 


Luke swoops down and whispers, "That was super fucking awkward."


"I know." I laugh, a little too forcefully and a little too loudly so Chase could hear it. If he wants to play, then I'll play. But there's no fucking way in hell I'd ever loose to Everett. 



i know i haven't updated since i've been updating every day so sorry if you were waiting. 


but it's because i have a paper due and that takes top priority. 


i managed to find a little time to write this author's note and post.


but i am literally dying. 

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