"I have never seen you actually fret over what to wear since as long as I can remember it." Evan says from my bed and I roll my eyes.

"Should've called Breanna instead." I mutter under my breath, because truthfully, this guy isn't helping.

"You knew she couldn't come, that's why you yelled over the window for me." He smirks as he continues to type something on my laptop and then he finally looks up, "Just wear the damn dress, An."

I pout, looking back at the dress hanging by my dresser. It's kind of a bohemian white dress that reaches somewhere midthigh with umbrella sleeves and I bought it because it looked super cute at that time, but haven't worn it since, which was like six months back. A small embroidery design covers the neck and the elastic of the sleeves where it opens up.

"But, I don't wear dresses." I point out and he rolls his eyes.

"Fine, An, wear jeans then. Anything that you are comfortable in, because you'll look beautiful either way." He says and my head immediately snaps to him.

Shit, did he just call me beautiful?

I am not used to compliments, especially when they are coming from Evan so I flush red but immediately turn around so he cannot see my face heat up. I feel guilty for blushing at his comment especially when I am just about to go on a date with Chris, but I still cannot help it. Clearing my throat, I rummage through my closet and come up with nothing, so I sigh.

"I don't want him to think that I dolled up for him." I tell him, and he finally keeps my laptop aside before standing up and walking towards me.

I am standing in robe around my body since I just took a shower and because I couldn't decide what to wear earlier, Evan suggested I should go take a shower and not waste time. I know it's bothering him that I am going on a date with Chris, but he's actually playing a good best friend role right now and I couldn't be more thankful.

"An, stop overthinking, alright? Do you know where he's taking you?" He asks and I shake my head.

"He didn't say where, but he gave some hint that it might a long drive."

Evan frowns, probably trying to think where Chris is taking me but when I snap my fingers in front of him, he gets out of his thoughts and looks at me. "If it's a long drive then probably it's not some fancy restaurant, but I do expect that kind of thing from Chris. However, you should play safe and wear something that would pass either way." He tells me, looking in my wardrobe again.

"Oh, Evan the stylist." I grin and he shoots me a look, so I immediately shut up but I can't help the smile on my face.

I haven't been on a date since an year, so it feels like forever ago. And I would admit, I am a little nervous because I really want to have a good time with Chris on this date. But, the nerves are more like excited jitters so I am not letting them get to me.

"Go with that white dress, An. It's like your safest option." He says and I frown.

"Again with the dress?" I ask and he huffs.

He pulls out a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and then a crop top with halter neck, it's black in colour with a dotted pattern on it mostly with white. It's one of those tops that's really pretty so you save it for a special occasion and then never wear it. I smile at his choice, because I actually approve of this.

"I am going to be downstairs, and you have like ten minutes to get ready. Put this on." He shoves the clothes to me and I smile.

As soon as he leaves my bedroom, I change into those clothes and turn to face myself in the mirror. I almost tie my hair up before letting them fall loose and my natural waves meet the middle of my back. I simply put a coat of liner and lip gloss, and just as I am about to collect my phone and sling wallet, the doorbell rings.

"Shit." I curse under my breath because Evan opening the door when Chris comes is the last thing I want.

I immediately rush downstairs after collecting my things but to my surprise, Evan is standing by the stairs, his eyes fixed on the front door where Dad is moving to open it. Evan must have heard me getting downstairs because he turns around, and as soon as his eyes land on me, they widen.

"You look.." His eyes move up and down my body, making me clear my throat as I try to get his attention, "You look good, An. I knew that would be the perfect outfit." He says and I smile at him.

Before I can even thank him, Dad calls out, "An, your date's here."

Evan's eyes snap to the front door and before I can stop him, he's already going to the front with me taking fast steps behind him. Dad has an amused look on his face as he looks between the two of us and I glare at him, asking him to help out.

Chris is standing on the other side of the door wearing his leather jacket and black jeans. I immediately relax a little because it definitely isn't a formal dinner. His eyes land on me and then his eyes shift to my father, which tells me that the reason his eyes are fixed just on my face is because Dad is standing there. That actually makes me snicker and Chris raises an eyebrow at me but there's a small smile playing on his lips.

"So.." Evan starts, looking between the two of us, "Where are you taking her?"

Chris looks surprised as he looks at Evan, but he immediately composes his demeanour, "She's not supposed to know." He answers calmly and I give him a thankful smile, because I know that he answered that only because I asked him to bear with Evan for a while, I am sure his protectiveness will wear off soon.

"Okay, An, go to the kitchen then." Evan says, without looking at me which immediately makes me groan.

"Oh, for the love of God! Stop being overdramatic. We're leaving now, bye." I say, moving to step out but Evan immediately steps in front of me, a challenging look on his face. So I turn to Dad, "You gonna say anything to him?" I ask but Dad looks like he's having the time of his life.

"He's just making my job easier, I don't mind." He shrugs and I shoot Evan a look.

"You listen to me, Cyp, if you want me to start calling you from your middle name now onwards, which I promise you I will do unless you stop this stupid act." I warn him, taking a threatening step towards him and he immediately narrows his eyes at me.

"You wouldn't."

"I will, and then explain it to everyone why you got that middle name in the first place." I smile at him and his face falls.

"I hate you." He grumbles.

"Good boy," I pat his head and he gives me a look, "I'll call out for you when I come back, alright?" I say and he nods, finally stepping away from my way.

Dad chuckles, "Chris, get her home safe, okay?" He says and Chris nods in return.

"Do I have a curfew?" I ask because Dad has never mentioned that ever.

"Just don't sneak in at four in the morning." He says, making me smile.

I wave at Evan and him before turning to Chris who's already looking at me. He offers me his hand so I immediately take it, smiling at him as we walk down to the driveway, and he opens the car door for me. I mutter a quick thank you to him and he closes the door, before he slides in the driver's seat.

"So, where are you taking me?" I ask as he starts driving and he gives me a look.

"Hi to you too, Claire. How are you doing?" He remarks sarcastically and I laugh.

"Hey Jay, so again, where you taking me?" I ask, obviously curious.

He shakes his head at me, "Not telling you, quit it." He says and I pout, "And as tempting as it is to kiss you right now while you pout like that, not happening."

I immediately blush at his comment, causing him to smirk. But he just takes my hand in his, a comfortable silence falling between us. I reach forward to turn on the radio and some random songs come out but I hum along it anyway.

After half an hour, I finally turn to him, "Where the hell are you taking me, Jones? You have been driving for thirty minutes now." I whine and he gives me a look before focusing his eyes back on the road.

"Just fifteen minutes more, I promise." He says and I stomp my foot, before crossing my arms and looking out of the window, "And stop being a baby, it's not going to help us get there faster."

"So, fun question, Jay – Where is there?" I give him an innocent smile, turning to look at him.

"Fifteen minutes, I promise." He says, his voice promising so I nod, and actually stop being a baby because it must be annoying the shit out of him.

Much to his promise, fifteen minutes later, the car comes to a halt and I look out, seeing a trail going behind the trees. He turns to look at me before pulling out a backpack and turning to me. I give him a questioning look but he just shrugs.

"Come on, let's go." He says before getting out of the car.

Rather than arguing like I normally would have, I just get out of the car and he offers me his hand, which I join with mine, a small smile on my face.  The warmth of his skin immediately radiates off to me, making me smile a little more and he nudges for me to start walking.

Like I guessed, we follow the trail behind the tree and walk in the silence as I observe the green surrounding everywhere. It looks absolutely amazing to be honest, and it's so fucking peaceful. Chris's backpack makes me smile a little, because he actually put a thought in this date.

He could have easily taken me to any restaurant but he brought to this secluded place that I have no idea where it leads but I know it's safe, otherwise he wouldn't have brought me here.

"My feet hurt." I say after fifteen minutes of silent walk and he smirks.

"I was wondering when you'd say that."

I notice that as we keep walking, the greenery around us just starts getting lesser and lesser, and more rocky and sandy ground comes into the view, deserted land with no trees whatsoever.

After just two minutes, Chris stops walking and then turns to me, "And there it is." He says and I look ahead, a kind of cliff in the front, but that is definitely not what catches my attention.

It's the small map like places adorning the scene in front me, looking like a big missing puzzle, yet beautiful at the same time. It's the view of the whole Highland Park. A smile immediately takes over my features as I observe it and notice Chris's hand coming to set on my back.

"Come, we'll sit." He says and I nod.

He pulls out a rug from his backpack and settles it down on the ground before motioning for me to sit down, so I immediately do, a comfortable silence is etched between us, none of us saying much ever since he picked me up. But, I am not surprised – he doesn't talk much, so I am kind of used to being like this in his presence.

"So, what do you think?" He asks, coming to sit down beside me.

I look at him, a smile still there on my features, "Definitely the best first date ever." I tell him.

"Does it top the park date you had with Evan?" He asks, arching an eyebrow and my eyes snap to him, a little widened. "You two aren't very subtle about things, you know? I was watching you when you asked him to look away after you described your best date ever." He rolls his eyes, his voice on the edge.

I gulp. Alright, so note to the future self : Just because Chris doesn't talk much, doesn't mean he's an idiot. In fact, he's a really good observer. He shakes his head as if to snap out of his thoughts and I scoot a little closer to him, a wind blowing off my face. I should have tied my fucking hair.

"I.." I trial off, because I have nothing to offer him.

The day I had with Evan wasn't a date to begin with, it was just another day where a girl had her first kiss. But here, Chris actually put effort and planned this, I can tell that by the little lantern that's lightening our side, making this whole thing even more romantic as the sun starts to set in.

But, if I tell him that is the best I have ever had, which it truly is, he'll think I am just trying to make him feel better. And I don't want that, when I tell him that this is the most someone has put an effort into a date with me, I want him to actually accept it.

"Forget about it, I didn't really mean to bring it up. Habit, I guess." He shrugs and I nod, looking at me. "By the way, I really wanted to get you that drink from that coffee shop you like, but it would have just turned bad on the drive."

I smile at his effort to change the topic. There's this hot chocolate that a small coffee shop near the shopping arena makes, and it tastes like absolute bliss. I always have it whenever I can, and I have mentioned it to him a lot of times when I thought I was just rambling and he wasn't listening.

"That's okay, this is great." I tell him and he smiles.

"I got you burger though," He says before turning towards his backpack and pulling out two packed burgers, "It's meat, since you prefer that." He says, nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

I can't hold it any longer so I just place my hand on his collar before pulling him to myself and kissing him. He responds almost immediately, his lips parting as he lets me deepen the kiss, my body igniting with the same rush that is so new to me, yet has become my favourite feeling. His hands go around my waist as he tugs me closer and I try to move but our knees just bump into each other, making me laugh.

He parts away with a smile on his face and I take the support of my knees as I move in between his legs and his lips brush against mine but he doesn't kisses me, his lips trailing down on my neck and almost in a quick motion, he turns me around, my back falling against his chest with a gasp escaping my lips.

"I didn't want to say it in front of your dad because it would have been awkward, but you look beautiful." He says as his head comes to set in the crook of my neck, and my heartbeat increases as his lips moves closer to my skin and he presses a kiss right below my neck. "But this top of yours is not giving me enough access to your neck."

What is he talking about? I know I am wearing halter neck which closing around my neck but the way his lips are moving, I don't know how much more access he needs. My thoughts get clouded as soon as his tongue darts out to meet my skin, making me arch my back but his arm tightens the hold on my stomach.

Holy fuck.

My eyes shut close as I feel him kissing and licking my neck, my thoughts going all mushy as I feel his touch till the very core. No one has ever touched me that way, or made me feel this way – ever.

"Jay.." I moan but I feel him shake his head.

"Wrong name, Claire." He mutters before attaching his lips to my neck again.

"Shit, Chris.. stop." I manage to say and his lips immediately lift off my skin, making me regret my words.

"Did I do something wrong?" He asks and I shake my head.

The problem is, he's doing it too right, but I don't want to get carried away. I have learned in the past few days that making out with Chris is the best feeling, and it really is, but this is the first time we are officially on a date and I want to take things slow, and I know somewhere or the other, so does he.

"No.. Just.." I feel so at loss of words but he just nods, tugging me closer as he sighs behinds me.

"Sorry, shouldn't have gotten carried away." He mumbles and I nod. "Look." He says, pointing to the sun setting behind the trees and houses.

"Wow." I say, as the darkness of the night starts to loom over us. "It's so beautiful." I look at him and he nods, his eyes coming to meet mine as he rests his hand on my belly.

I lean to the side and pass him his chicken burger and he pulls out his Bluetooth speaker before turning on a very familiar songs which makes me turn around to look at him in absolute awe and he offers me a sheepish smile.

"What?" He asks and I laugh, shaking my head.

"You looked it up, didn't you?" I ask.

He shakes his head, "Breanna helped, but I knew you would have cried like a baby while watching it and the song must have meant something to you." He says.

The song Hunger by Ross Copperman plays in the background, just like it did when Elena and Damon said goodbye to each other in The Vampire Diaries for about next six decades. He's right though, I did cry like a baby but this song tops my favourite list.

When I look in front of me, it's so hard to not gasp as the town brightens up. It's the view, of all the blinking lights that look so little but beautiful at the same time, as if someone has lit a lot of fairy lights in front of me.

"Thank you Jay, this is perfect." I tell him, meaning it and he smiles at me. "By the way, when are you going to explain it to me why the hell were you being a jerk about that whole touching thing." I say, mentally patting myself on the back for remembering it.

His face pales as he stares at me but I give him a questioning look, waiting for him to speak up, "You jinxed it when you said that it's perfect." He says but I just continue to frown.

"What are you talking about?" I ask, trying to make some sense.

"I don't respond to skin contact well when it comes from a stranger or while I am angry." He says, and I try to understand what he's saying. I want to ask him why, but I don't want him to feel like I am prying.

"Um.. Okay." I say, nodding and telling myself to let it go.

He sighs, running a hand through his hair as he takes my hand in his, tracing the outline of by the other hand. I look up at him and he looks like he's here, but there's a far off look on his face, as if he's somewhere else mentally.

"Jay?" I start and he closes his eyes momentarily before taking a deep breath.

"Remember when I said I didn't hit the best luck either in the mother department?" He asks, and I immediately grow nervous, not knowing what he's about to say, but I know that it's difficult for him to talk about it, or even have this conversation.

"You don't have to." I tell him honestly, because I'd rather not know than see that vulnerability in his eyes that is laced with so much pain.

"No, I want to." He nods, as if talking to himself.

I give his hand a reassuring squeeze, looking up in his eyes, my back still to him as I study his face that is morphed in displeasure as he looks down at the town lights, not meeting my gaze.

I move to turn around but he moves his hand on my belly, his skin meeting mine because of the crop top and he traces a small pattern  on my bare skin, as if asking me to just be in this position.

"What is it, Chris?" I ask, nervousness lacing my tone.

"She abused me as a kid, physically and sexually."

•••

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