“Have you ever dated somebody you were just friends with first?”
“Nah,” she answers. “I’m too impatient. I meet a guy, fall in love within a week, and it’s over within a month. Story of my life.”
I think about Brooks and wonder if I am moving too fast with him. We met and had some kind of crazy instant attraction thing, but do we even have anything in common? I guess I will find out Saturday.
Tomorrow.
Oh, my gosh.
Tomorrow is Saturday.
I’m hanging out with Brooks tomorrow.
I need to talk to somebody.
I’m just going to tell Teagan.
“You and Estaine will probably get married someday,” she says.
“I’m sixteen, so I doubt that,” I say.
“I didn’t mean soon. I meant, you’re the kind of girl who will probably meet her future husband in high school, go to college together and then get married,” she says.
“Maybe,” I say. “I kind of like somebody.”
“Somebody besides Estaine?” she asks.
I nod.
“Who?” she asks, her eyes wide. “Is it Jason? He does flirt with you a lot.”
“Not Jason,” I answer. “He doesn’t exactly go to our school.”
“Oh,” she says. “So, somebody from your old school or something?”
“No... um...” I let my voice trail off before continuing. “Somebody from West Raven.”
She gasps. “No way! Who?”
“Brooks Remington.”
“Brooks! Oh, my gosh! He is absolutely the hottest guy at West Raven Academy,” she says. “But don’t get your hopes up. Brooks Remington doesn’t date.”
“We’re going out tomorrow,” I say.
She lets out another excited squeal and I’m thinking that we’re about to get in trouble because of all the noise she’s making. “Seriously, Phoenix, you are so incredibly lucky. Brooks Remington is completely unattainable by girls at East and West Raven, and you’ve managed to get a date with the guy. This is insane!”
“I didn’t know all that.”
“You’re going to be the envy of every girl at East and West. Like, wow,” she says. “But, that being said, I still think you’re perfect for Estaine.”
“What about Brooks?” I ask. “Is he a good guy?”
She shrugs her shoulders. “I don’t know. He doesn’t really ever date anybody, like I said. I heard he was in love with some girl that he knows back home, but I’m not sure if that’s true. I think some girl might have made it up because he rejected her. But, I also know that Estaine and Brooks hate each other. Like, the only time I’ve ever seen Estaine lose his temper, it was over Brooks.”
“I wonder why.”
“I don’t know. But I’d be careful with Brooks,” she says. “I don’t think Estaine is quick to make an enemy. As you’ve probably already seen, he’s friends with everybody.”
“Yeah, I did notice.”
“How fair is it that you come here and get the attention of not one, but two hot guys?” Teagan says, shaking her head. “I’m pretty sure that every girl is going to hate you when they find out.”
“Well, then, I guess they don’t need to know about Brooks,” I say. “For now, anyway.”
Teagan suddenly stands up and points at me. “Oh, my gosh. You weren’t texting your cousin during the football game, were you?”
“It was Brooks,” I say.
“I knew it! You were smiling entirely too big for it to have been a text from your cousin,” she says.
“I like him a lot. And I’m so nervous, because we had this crazy attraction when we met,” I say. “And we’ve been texting and video chatting, but what if we hang out tomorrow and have nothing in common?”
“I doubt that,” she says. “I’ve had my fair share of awkward first dates, but never with a guy I’m really into. If you’ve been texting and talking to him, then I think everything will be fine. And if it’s not, then cheer up, ’cause you’ve still got Estaine.”
She starts laughing, so I throw my pillow at her, which only makes her laugh harder.
I think everything is going to be okay tomorrow.
At least, I hope so.
Saturday, August 26
I already like you, so...
I am a nervous wreck.
I’ve been staring at my closet for the past thirty minutes, and still haven’t made a move to pick out an outfit.
Dating is stressful. Nobody told me that dating was going to be like this. I pictured all the romance and the cute moments, but not the stress of having to pick out an outfit. I never imagined the stress of a first date.
My phone goes off, so I step away from my closet to check the message.
BROOKS: I get to see you today, and I am ridiculously excited.
I smile.
Ah, seriously. Could he be any more perfect?
ME: Would you think any less of me if I admitted that I’m super nervous?
BROOKS: Why are you nervous?
ME: First date. Remember? I’ve never had a boyfriend...
BROOKS: ...
BROOKS: Seriously? TODAY is your FIRST DATE? Like, ever???
ME: Yes. Seriously.
ME: I mean, if it’s a date. I’m not sure what you consider a date. We’re hanging out.
BROOKS: It’s a date. It’s definitely a date.
BROOKS: And don’t be nervous, because I already like you, so...
He.
Already.
Likes.