Chapter 19: The Inside Scoop

Finn's POV

It had been a couple days ever since Oliver let the school know that we liked each other. And the response to it have been split in two. Some of the guys that were in the football team laid off of me and left me alone while the others actually supported me and would usually greet me whenever I'd pass by them. Some girls have been giving me dirty looks whenever I'd walk down the hall but most of them were supportive. Bella hasn't bothered me in the past few days which worried me more than it made me relieved. It just meant she had more shit up her sleeves and so that's why I'm overly cautious everywhere I go. 

But besides that. Things have gone great. Classes were much easier now since the end of the school year was nearing. Heather and I have been okay, we've gone back to how we once were and that was enough. Jason have been hanging out with us more and Oliver and I have been casual. I still didn't know what to label us, and Oliver hasn't brought it up. He would just occasionally hug me in public, pull me into him, kiss me on the head or on the cheek.

Oliver was taking me on a date that particular Friday night, and I was shaking my ass off. I have never been on a date. What do I wear? How should I look? Should I bring anything? 

I was pacing back and forth in front of my closet when a knock interrupted my little moment. I opened it and was met with a familiar face.

"Hi, mom." I greeted with an awkward smile.

"What are you doing? I heard thuds. You also look like you're in a panic attack. Do you need help?" 

I ran my hand through my hair. "Well... I'm going on a date with a guy." 

Her eyes widened before a smile appeared on her face. "Wow. My son is all grown up now. Going on dates. Well, do you need any help?"

"Kind of. I don't know what to wear. And he's coming to pick me up in an hour yet I'm still a mess. Should I just cancel?"

My mom laughed and gave me a one armed hug as her other hand riffled through the clothes that I had.

"Did he tell you where you two are going?" 

"No, he said it was a surprise."

She nodded in understanding before she pointed at a simple sky blue sweatshirt which I didn't even know existed.

"A sweatshirt? Are you sure?"

"Yes, it's appropriate for anything in my opinion." She said.

I took it out and I noticed that it actually had a little rainbow arch on the place where a breast pocket is supposed to go. It looked familiar and so I dug my brain for any kind of memory of where I got it when it hit me. I bought the sweatshirt with my mom back when I was just fourteen. I liked the sweatshirt so much and at the time, there weren't any available size for me so my mom just bought me the adult size and we said we'd wait till I was big enough to wear it.

"Oh my God, mom. This was that sweatshirt we bought when I was fourteen."

"See, it was meant to be chosen."

I looked at the sweatshirt again with adoring eyes before looking at my mom just to see her staring at me with a proud smile.

"What?" I asked through a smile.

"Nothing. I'm being too emotional again. You're growing up so fast. In just a year, you'd be an adult and you're eventually gonna move out-"

"Mom. That's still a year, at least I'm still here." I reassured and pat her back but instead, she just pulled me into an embrace.

"Let me be emotional." 

My mom and I have never had a close relationship. Sure, in family meetings, we'd be together. But on a regular basis. She works more than my dad does, and I never get to share meals with her unlike my dad. I never got to tell her about my school experiences. I never got to gossip with her about my crushes. And it felt like it was too late for all of that. 

"Hey mom, you know, I still have an hour before Oliver gets here. What if I tell you about him and all my current school happenings? I have a lot of piping tea." 

She laughed out loud before nodding. "I'm excited to know about your school piping tea." She joked before leading me out of my room and into the kitchen where my dad sat, typing away onto his computer.

The three of us hung out as I told them about the things that happened in the past year. All the shenanigans with Heather, Oliver and even Bella.

As my dad stood up to get himself a cup of coffee, the sound of the doorbell rang through the house, making my eyes widen in shock. "Shoot. I completely forgot about the date." I said in panic as I rushed towards the door but my dad stopped me.

"I can talk to Oliver. You go do your hair or whatever." He said before pushing me towards my room.

I huffed and continued to my room since I really haven't done my hair. As I was starting to apply a thin layer of hair wax on my hair, I caught a few snippets of their conversation.

"...what are you..."

"...not sure if..."

"...sure he's here by..." 

"...of course, it will never..."

"...good, I expect..."

I finished after a few more seconds and then I got out just to see that my mom and dad were on the door, interrogating Oliver.

"...You know what will happen." My dad finished speaking before he noticed me standing behind him. He cleared his throat and stepped out of the way. 

My eyes met those beautiful, familiar hazel ones. I looked at him up and down and realized that he was wearing one of the clothes I bought him back then. He looked pleasant, and not the usual suave or cool look he always wore. He looked like he belonged in a flower garden... That's a compliment on him, by the way.

"Hi." I shyly greeted as I got closer to him. 

He smiled at me, his eyes sparkling from the light reflecting on them.

"Finn, you better be back before midnight, alright." My dad reminded sternly.

I nodded as I joined Oliver outside, his hand immediately lacing with mine. 

"I will... try." I said as a mischievous smile spread across my lips before turning around and walking with Oliver.

As we were walking along the gravel path of my house, Oliver looked at me.

"Can I just say that your dad terrifies me?"

I chuckled as I gave him a nudge. "What did he say?"

"Well, he asked what I was to you and I said I wasn't sure. And then he just said the usual parent stuff, 'make sure he's here by midnight' but he's more terrifying if you get what I mean?" 

My smile faded as that one question bothered my mind again, and so I blurted it out. "What am I to you, though?" 

He went silent and I was about to act like I didn't say anything when he looked at me, a serious look on his face. 

"I'm not sure... but that's something we're gonna explore together... hand in hand."

I smiled and nudged him again. "You're corny as hell, you know?"

He just laughed as we reached his car finally. He opened it for me to which I smiled gratefully before he closed it, went around the car and opened his side of the door. 

Once we were on the road. I opened the radio and a familiar song got on. 

'I wanna love me. The way that you love me.'

I looked at Oliver and just as expected, saw him smiling at me mischievously. I rolled my eyes as I looked out the window.

"You know, you made me listen to Ariana Grande." 

I turned to him, the annoyance in my system immediately drained. "Really?"

"Uhuh. It's like when I hear her voice, I remember you." 

I wanted to hit him for being incredibly sappy and corny but I would be lying if I said that didn't make me blush. So I just looked out the window so he wouldn't notice as everything blurred by us.

After a few minutes. Oliver pulled over in front of a familiar shop. 

"Oh God. This shop again?"

I looked out at the sign at the front of the store that was lined with pink LED lights.

'The Inside Scoop'

"What? It's a special place." He said as he opened my door for me. I didn't even realize that he had gone out the car already.

I rolled my eyes before we got into the shop. The familiar girl that was there the last time we were here was still the one who was in the counter.

The moment she saw the two of us, her cheeks turned red before she cleared her throat.

"Hello. Welcome to The Inside Scoop. What can I get you two?"

"I'll have whatever he's having." I said.

Oliver ruffled my bangs which I was obviously annoyed by as he looked through the glass. 

"We'll have the cookies and cream. Thank you." He said with a thin and humorless smile before leading me to the same table we sat in almost a year ago. 

"Hm. Think it's obvious we're actually together now?" I teased him to which he just laughed.

"Hopefully. I want everyone to know that."

I stared at him as my chin met my palm, he looked out the window where there were people walking by and cars driving around. It was around seven in the evening so the streets are very busy, but despite that, the moonlight was still clear, same with the stars that dusted the sky. My eyes landed on Oliver. How he would occasionally brush his hand through his perfectly styled blond hair, it made him more attractive. The way that the cool light from the outside reflected on his face. Everything about him was just perfect.

"Hey. I might melt if you keep staring at me like that."

I woke out of my trance as I realized that Oliver had been staring at me too. My face started to heat up from embarrassment

"Uh. I'm just... looking out the window and you happen to be in the way." 

He smiled at me then suddenly reached for my hand across the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. 

"Hey. It's fine. I stare at you all the time too. Especially in class." 

He didn't look fazed by his confession because if that would've been me, I would've been a hot mess.

"Oh... T-Thank you, I guess?" 

The lady called the two of us for our ice creams and I managed to race Oliver to doing it. I approached the lady and got our ice cream but before I could walk away, she spoke.

"By the way. I'm so sorry for being so unprofessional. I know you remember the thing that happened last year. Thank you and enjoy your ice creams." She said with a friendly smile.

"Oh! Uh, thank you, and everything's fine, no worries." I reassured before returning to our table. 

I noticed that our cups finally had the same amount of Oreos which made me laugh a little.

Oliver peaked over at me before smirking. "Stop laughing, Finn. You're too cute." 

I rolled my eyes at him. "Shut up." I said as I continued on my ice cream.

"So... I hope you don't mind me asking, but how has it been with your family? I saw your mom earlier." 

I absentmindedly smiled as I played with the spoon. "Well. They're fine now, thankfully. They resolved it. I couldn't handle seeing the two of them fight and hurting each other."

He gripped my hand tighter. "I'm glad they're fine, I couldn't handle seeing you hurt either." 

I gave him a look of disbelief, more of like a 'dafuq' look to which he just merely laughed.

"What? I'm saying the truth. Seriously though, I understand what you went through. When I was a kid, my mom and my dad had an argument to the point they had to move away from each other for weeks."

"Damn. Sorry that happened. I hope you're fine now." I said to sympathize with him without sounding patronizing.

"No, don't worry about me. I'm just saying that it's common for parents to be like that. You aren't alone." He said, a kind twinkle in his eyes.

He was right. Of course he was.

I didn't want to admit it but I was falling slowly for him, all the kind words he would say, things just to make sure I'm okay, teasing me so I'd blush... He was perfect. But at the same time, despite the relationship and the connection we've built in those months, I couldn't help but still be a little skeptical. What if he was only dared to do everything he's done? What if he was just messing with me? What if he was gonna leave me once he was bored?

The thought made my hand cold which made me pull away from him.

"Are you okay, Finn?" He asked and I immediately regretted that decision when I saw his worried face.

"Y-Yeah... I-"

The sound of my phone going off interrupted the moment. I dug into my pocket and opened my phone just to see a text from Heather. 

'How's the date? I'm literally dying to know. Really hope everything's fine! No Bella or Chad.'

The air around me warmed a little from her text, it made me chuckle so I decided to respond.

'it's fine. no over-tanned Oompa Loompa in sight, promise.'   

I tucked my phone back into my pocket just as I looked up at Oliver. "I really hope that you're not texting other guys while we're on a date." He joked but I stupidly took it too seriously.

"N-No! That was just Heather." 

"Relax, Finn. I'm just teasing you. I trust you with my life." He reassured.

I noticed the hidden message behind his statement. "Huh, that's a nice way to say no one would ever like me besides you." I joked back.

He laughed out loud. "That's not what I meant... You don't even know how rare you are. But at least that's good, good for me." 

I just rolled my eyes but I couldn't help the smile on my face.

"By the way, this isn't the only thing I have planned this evening, so hopefully you don't mind that." He said just as he finished eating.

"Is that even a question? It's totally fine, you've been too gracious." I reassured.

He stared at me with a smirk on his face. 

"What?" I asked innocently as I took another spoonful of the ice cream in my mouth.

"You're adorable, you know? I don't know how you do it." He said, resting his chin on his palm.

My brows furrowed in confusion at his statement. "Why do you say so?" 

He was about to answer when his eyebrows raised in amusement. "Uh, I think you got a little something on your face." He said, stifling a laugh in.

"What? Oh my God, I'm a mess." I said, reaching for the napkin on the table but then he beat me to it.

"I'll take care of it." He said before gently gripping my chin and wiping the corner of my mouth. After, he pulled away and I was lost for a moment, still looking into his eyes before eventually coming back to earth and smiling at him gratefully.

"Uh. Thank you, you didn't need to do that." I said. 

He took my hand in his, warmth returning to my palms. "I didn't need to but I wanted to, make sure to smear more ice cream." He joked.

Hiding a smile from him, I looked out the window.

Damn this guy.

What was this guy doing to me?

***

Oh btw, if it still wasn't obvious, I'm completely obsessed with Ariana Grande. Expect more of her songs. LOL.