Dedicated to this special girl who has been my side since my youtube days.

Chapter Eleven

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Lillian asked me for the umpteenth time as we pulled up at an Italian restaurant.

“Yeah,” I made an attempt to reassure her, but my voice broke.

I’m not okay, I never will be until Drew and I come to terms once again.

It was Saturday night and this date was the only reason why I wasn’t cooped up inside my room, watching corny chick flicks just to pass the time.

With a guilty frown gracing one of my best friends’ lips, she got out of the car and I followed the suit. She looped her arm with mine and together we entered the restaurant. I was quite glad she was holding me for support because I had no energy whatsoever.

I haven’t been eating properly, I barely got any sleep and I’m an overall mess.

Wow, I’m acting like one of those girls after a breakup.

Lillian started dragging me to a table where there were two guys seated.

“Celeste, this is Charlie and his brother Mark,” My friend introduced. The one named Charlie was wearing a blue dress shirt and he smiled politely at me, whereas Mark was leaning back lazily against his chair wearing an oversized hoodie, a baseball cap worn backwards while sporting some food stain on his red shirt.

Oh you just gotta love double dates.

Even though I was purely disgusted with Mark, I was praying it was Charlie that Lillian had a crush on. I could endure Mark for a night but I could not take it if Lillian would be gaga over him.

We both sat down and picked up the menus already placed in front of us.

“Please tell me you like Charlie,” I whispered pleadingly and she nodded much to my relief.

I hoped this was the last time I ever saw Mark in my whole life.

Or maybe this will end up like those stories online where this disgusting guy suddenly becomes hot and he’ll remember the date you once went to together.

“So how do you girls know each other?” Charlie started out. Oh great, that’s one of the most used conversation starters during a double date.

“We’ve been best friends since the third grade,” Lillian answered with a smile on her face.

Charlie seems older than us, maybe in college. Lillian always had a thing for older guys and I have no objection over this… unless the guy’s married or something.

The dinner was filled with small talk which mostly came from Charlie and Lillian. Mark and I stayed silent as both of us seemed like we’re obligated to stay here.

“How did you get stuck with this date?” Mark suddenly asked me. This was the first time he actually spoke all night.

“Lillian asked me and I couldn’t refuse,” I explained with a shrug and he nodded, “How about you?”

“My brother thinks that I should stop being a slacker and get a girlfriend,” he snorted and I actually cracked a smile.

“If you don’t mind asking, how old are you?”

“Sixteen,” he told me, shoving a forkful of pasta into his mouth.

How attractive… not.

So I was actually older than this guy. I crossed my legs under the table before nodding in recognition to his statement. I twirled the pasta on my fork and ate it.

Lillian’s giggle caught our attention and I looked at her with confusion. She seemed to be in a deep stare-down with Charlie when I felt shuffling from under the table.

Being blunt as ever, Mark slightly lifted the table cloth and took a peek of what was happening before cringing in disgust, “Gross, just go to a hotel if you’re going to do what I think you’re going to do.”

Lillian started blushing at his statement and I rolled my eyes. Charlie scolded his brother but I could feel his mouth twitching up into a smirk.

Silence was backed into a table but there was still movement from under the table. After a long while, Charlie finally stood up and offered a hand to Lillian, “If you two don’t mind, we’ll be going now.”

Mark and I shared a look. For the first time, we came into a mutual understanding; these two lovebirds were going to get it on.

Charlie took out his wallet and handed Mark a wad of cash. Lillian fished her car keys into her purse and threw it to me which I caught with no problem.

“I’ll call you later, Cel,” she smiled, “Or tomorrow morning, I don’t know if I’ll be sore so...”

“Just go,” I demanded and they didn’t need to be asked again. They were already speeding out to the door and I could see them get into a car through the glass window.

“Well…” I trailed off feeling extremely awkward.

“We could just get the bill, pay for our food and leave,” he said and I frowned. His glum face was all I needed to know that he wasn’t enjoying this night at all.

“It’s alright,” I reassured him, “Why don’t you tell me about yourself?”

“I’m a lazy bum or that’s how my brother describes me,” he sighed, finally starting to eat properly, “Well sorry if I plan to travel the world when I graduate instead of studying to become a lawyer just like how our dad wanted.”

It was plain as day, he has been living under his brother’s shadow.

He was actually good looking if you looked at him closely. He had a slight dimple on his left cheek that was prominent whenever he smiled, and he had those puppy dog brown eyes. Through his rebel look, he was just craving for the attention that his brother was stealing from him.

We started off a light conversation and he finally showed some manners. He even told it to me straight that he was putting up the lazy act in front of his brother just to piss him off.

After paying for the bill, we walked out of the restaurant after he offered me his arm with a teasing accent.

“So,” he paused when I was just about to enter Lillian’s car.

I looked up to him and tilted my head to the side in question, “Yes?”

“C-can we hang out again some other day?” he stammered which I found adorably cute but not in the way that people think. I look at him like a little brother.

“I’m sorry, Mark. You’re a great guy and there’s some lucky girl waiting for you but that girl isn’t me.”

A frown broke on his face which made me feel a stab of guilt.

“Get in, I’ll drive you to your house,” I tried to smile at him but his face was still set on a frown.

“Nah, I was actually planning this part when my brother forced me on this date so maybe I could still have some party fun tonight,” he told me, trying to be cheerful.

I nodded and waited for him to walk away before sliding inside the car and blowing a sigh of frustration.

I really needed some girl time.

I drove to Jessica’s house and prayed that she wasn’t having some sex with a random guy again. I walked to her porch and rang the doorbell then, not more than a minute, Jessica’s beautiful mother appeared in front of me.

“Celeste,” she squealed before pulling me into a hug, “It’s been so long since I last saw you.”

By far, Mrs. Oliver was a beauty. She was once a pageant girl when she was young and it seemed that her beauty and charm never faded away while she aged. It was plain as day where Jessica got her looks.

“Hey Mrs. Oliver, is Jessica here?” I asked.

“I’m afraid not,” she frowned, “She went to the movies with Annabelle.”

Well, that crossed out my other best friend. I gave her a closed mouth smile, “Thank you, I think I’m going to go now.”

Mrs. Oliver nodded, the smile that showed her perfectly straight teeth never faltering, “Alright, come visit again.”

I nodded and turned my heel as I heard the front door close. As I walked down the steps, I saw a figure hunched back at the front door of the neighbor.

I squinted my eyes and gasped when I realized it Lucas once again. He was battered and bruised while he kept knocking on the door but nobody was answering. Every light inside the Smith home was off so there was a possibility there was nobody to open the door for him.

Now I may hate the guy but I’m not heartless enough to leave him outside in the cold at his condition.

I raced to him, careful enough so I wouldn’t slip on the slippery cement.

“Lucas,” I called out softly. He looked up and groaned, running a hand through his blonde hair.

I helped him to stand properly, “What happened to you?” I asked before reaching up to check on the bruise on his face but he winced once my finger made contact with his skin.

“Nothing,” he waved off, but I raised a brow in response to his lie. I lead him to Lillian’s car and dumped him at the passenger seat before going around to get into the driver’s side.

The drive to my apartment was silent except for Lucas who was occasionally groan due to the pain he was experiencing.

While making our way to the elevator, people sent some not-so-subtle looks to our direction but thankfully, they didn’t comment on Lucas’ form.

“You know you have to tell me eventually,” I muttered when we were alone inside the elevator that was heading up to the top floor.

He stayed quiet and this time, I didn’t push any further. When the metal doors opened, I escorted him to one of the couches in the living room.

“Jazzy, get the first aid kit,” I commanded and soon enough, Jazzy was racing with a white box in her hands. She gasped for a second at Lucas’ condition before finally composing herself and handing me the box.

“Thank you,” I nodded at her and she scampered away.

I took out some antiseptic and started to wet a cotton ball with it, “This might sting,” I warned Lucas but he only grunted in response. When I dabbed the cotton ball into one of his bruises, he muttered a curse under his breath.

I covered each bruise with a bandage and smiled at my work.

“Good as new,” I stated proudly before placing all the things back into the white box.

“You want some tea, hot chocolate, or coffee?” I offered.

“Why are you being so civil to me?”

I shrugged before skipping to where Jazzy was and ordered the both of us two steaming mugs of hot chocolate – with lots of marshmallows of course.

Lucas eyed me curiously when I entered the room once again. Yeah, this is extremely awkward if I do say so myself.

“Are you going to tell me why you look like you’ve been beaten up by the whole football team?” I snapped.

Jazzy came to us with a tray of hot chocolates and cookies. She left after that as she felt the thick air surrounding us.

“How about this,” Lucas started off, grabbing a mug and taking one long sip, “I tell you why I’m like this if you answer my question.”

“Fair enough,” I agreed, taking my own mug.

“So here it goes,” he said, taking a deep breath. I started drinking my beverage when he questioned, “Will you go to the winter formal with me?”

Needless to say, I spat out my drink.

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Don't kill me, I'm not in my own mind with this. I've been extremely busy and guess what... I've joined my school newspaper. Meh, my editor's going to college so I don't know what I'm going to do now!

Anyways... comment, vote and follow!