By the Friday of the double date, my nose was supposedly healed, with just gross bruising to completely disappear. So I didn't sound like Elmer Fudd anymore, and Reagan winced slightly less at the sight of my face. But, if I was extremely careful, I could cover most of the bruising with foundation. 

Technically, this double date with Jaiden and Reagan would be Rey and I's first date out in public as a couple. Which made me more nervous than it should have. The date wasn't even to focus on us, but matching up Jaiden and Reagan.

"Hmm, decent I guess. I suppose Rey has faulty expectations, I mean, he is dating you. I guess he shouldn't expect so much from your wardrobe," Sheppard purses his lips at my outfit.

I roll my eyes and apply another layer of mascara. I know Jaiden didn't really care, so I was about to glam for my first official date with Rey. I fluff my hair with my hand, trying to ignore Sheppard behind me.

"I can't believe your first date is a double date with your boyfriend's sister," Sheppard must believe it and believe it funny because he cackles to himself.

I turn around and give him a nasty glare, "What are you even doing here? In my bathroom?"

"Oh, I came to tell you your boy toy is in the living room probably dying," He shrugs like it's nothing.

My eyes widen, and I dart out of the room and into the living room to see Rey with his usually emotionless face taking a full lecture from my Dad. Well, actually not a lecture.

"I don't understand. Why are you dating my son if you're not gay?" My father has narrowed eyes and arms crossed over his chest. My mother pulls at her knuckles in her lap, looking frantically nervous but also curious.

"Hi, hey, you look great, we should be going,"I grab Rey's arm and steer him out the door, throwing a goodbye over my shoulder to my parents, "Oh my god, I'm so sorry for that. My dad is totally questioning if gays an actual thing and not a faze, he totally would understand...your sexuality. I'm so sorry I didn't hear you come in."

Rey glances down at me and gives me a very quick smile before looking back up as we walk over to his car, where Reagan already sits in the backseat on her phone.

"It's fine, I got the impression he wasn't understanding from how you talked about him. I'm just glad we're getting our first official date. To be honest, if you hadn't asked when you did, I was going to the next day."

I giggle and round the car to get into the passenger seat, twisting to look at Reagan, "Hey girl you ready to fall in love?"

Reagan rolls her eyes and we begin the drive to Jaiden's, "I'm not going to fall in love. I don't know why I agreed to this."

I turn back around and shrug, "It's because I'm Cupid. Sorry, not Sorry."

Rey's cheek twitches and I smile evily. We're at Jaiden's house relatively fast. He looks like a bumbling mess as he shuts his front door and climbs into the backseat with Reagan.

Rey starts the journey to Applebee's, and I again turn around to smile at the awkward couple in the back, "Aww, loosen up, you guys are going to fall in love, not an awkward middle school dance. Chat, wink, hold hands, I don't care!"

They glance at each other with nervous eyes, and I roll my own and turn around. I fiddle with the stereo, glancing at Rey to see if he approves of my music choice. I put it on the worst country radio station I can find. I laugh when he shakes his head at my choice.

I listen carefully to the backseat and hear very slow conversation start in the back. I shoot Rey and evil grin and he just shakes his head again.

We pull up at the restaurant, and I bounce out, waiting for everyone else. We get a table for four, I sit next to Rey on one side of the both and Jaiden and Reagan sit on the other side. I order a strawberry lemonade and Rey's cheek twitches with a hidden smile. 

"Okay, I've never been on a double date. What do we talk about first?" I lean forward and sip my lemonade.

Reagan's jaw drops, "What? You're the whole reason we're here!"

I shrug, "Hey, I never said I'm a double date master. Jaiden, what's your favorite class?"

Jaiden looks a little nervous about the sudden spotlight, "Uh, I'm enjoying physics, I guess."

I gasp, "Really? Reagan sometimes struggles with that class. Maybe you can help her sometimes, yeah?"

Reagan blushes and Jaiden nods, "Yeah, sure. I'd love to help you. Who do you have for a teacher?"

And then the conversation gets going. It stayed on school for a little while, I had to directly ask Rey for his opinion to get him to talk which is alright. 

We order food and i get chicken tenders which make Rey smile for the first time in public all night.

"Wow, it's kind of weird seeing Rey smile," I think maybe Jaiden didn't mean to say it out loud but he does and Reagan and I laugh.

I feel bad for Jaiden blushing in embarrassment and Rey rolling his eyes, but I smile and nudge his shoulder with mine, "I know, isn't it? i feel like I'm winning the Olympics when I can get him to smile in public. Well, to get him to show any emotion in public."

Reagan nods along, "But you're really good at it. I bet my parents would pay you money to get him to smile."

I grin and lay my head on Rey's shoulder in a teasing manner, "It's because I'm cute."

Rey smile again and the two across from us look at each other. 

"You guys are a total gag, I shouldn't have agreed to make this a double date, ew," Jaiden laughs at Reagan and I can't help but purse my lips. They are totes obvious to their emotions.

"Hey, you're ew. Drink your Pepsi and leave my total goal of a life alone. You're jealous Rey gets me not you," I swat the air, "It's fine, I know you're in love with me. But you're here with Jaiden. Jaiden control your girl."

Reagan slides me a middle finger and we -even Rey weirdly enough- snickers at her. The food comes and we all eat, still chatting about kind of random things. 

By eight I begin to worry that Rey won't get enough sleep before his shift tonight so I make an excuse that my parents want me home. Rey insists on paying, and of course, we all fought him on it but he's nearly more stubborn than me.

"So, are you two going to admit I'm the best cupid ever and this was an amazing ide and I'm basically a god," I buckle myself in and roll my hand to gesture for them to say it, "Come on, let's hear it."

Reagan sighs, "You're still a shitty Cupid but I guess this wasn't your worse idea."

I hoot and turn to Rey, holding up a hand, "I did it! You're dating a genuis, high-five!"

Rey's cut to me and back to the road, weakly lifting a hand and I high-five it fast. I grin all the way to Jaiden's house. I feel like my face may break as Reagan walks Jaiden to his house. Rey shakes his head at my excitement.

"I'm not sure how I feel with you interfering with my sister's dating life," We look at the two smiling like idiots as they say goodbye.

"I'm not interfering if there was nothing to interfere. Plus, aren't you glad it's me? You know I always have their best interest in mind. And, we finally had our first day," I lean across the center console and press a kiss to Rey's lips.

"Ew," We split apart as Reagan opens the car door and slides inside, "Stop making out in front of me please."

Rey's lip tugs up ever so lightly its hard to see, " Don't be jealous 'gan. I'm sure lover boy wishes he had balls to kiss you."

Reagan scuffs, "I think Barkley is toxic in your life, Rey. I don't appreciate the sass."

I blow her a kiss and 'hum's as she looks out the window. I turn back to the front and watch the house pass us. Am I bad for Rey? Was there some truth and Reagan's words. 

I shudder.

~~~

"So, how'd it go?" Sheppard wandered into my bathroom as I gently wipe the makeup off my bruised nose. 

I wish I could just smile and tell him how it went, but Reagan's mocking words echo in my head. 'I think Barkley's toxic in your life, Rey'. 

I turn around and face Sheppard, a frown present on my face, "Do think I'm good for Rey?"

Sheppard blinks, obviously taken back from my questions, "Well, I..uh...I don't know, Barkley, why?"

I wring the makeup cloth in my hands, "I don't know. It just seems like I'm always causing more problems, you know? And I wouldn't want to drag Rey into that, he's so...perfect, you know? I'm so not."

Sheppard tilts his head, a frown like mine now on his face too, "Barkley, you're not a problem. I think Rey knew what he was signing up for, and you being not perfect id\s part of the appeal. He's not perfect either, okay?"

I nod, unconvinced, "But, what if I'm like stunting him, you know? Like, if he wasn't dating me, could he have gone out with someone better? Someone who won't make people give him weird looks in the hallway. Someone who isn't so emotionally mature as he should be?"

"Bark, you're not emotionally unmature. You're fine. Everything happens for a reason, right?"

I nod because he is using my own words against me. I've told him time and time again that everything happens for a reason. I hate it when he says it back to me.

"If you're feeling unsure, you real should talk to Rey about it, okay? I'm sure he's the best person to lay your worries to rest."

I nod again and let him leave as i wipe the last of my makeup away and try to wipe the worries away too.