A Date For The Books

Part Six

"Who, being loved, is poor?" - Oscar Wilde

Last night after I went inside from our odd encounter, I made a list of rules and terms that I'd want. I wanted them to be fair but firm, so he isn't crossing any boundaries any time soon. I went to the notes app on my phone and laid it out on the table for him to see.

He leaned over twisting it to face his direction. His eyes scanned the screen and he nodded his head as he read them aloud.

"1. Space when not in public. 2. No kissing 3. No breaching the contract/taking back the deal. 4. No..."

Feelings. His voice trailed off as he read the last rule. Just because I agreed to this doesn't mean I forgot what could happen. That moment last night, before he asked me, made me realize the potential of..something occurring. And I'm not putting myself in the same situation again.

"Well, I don't think these will be a problem to follow," West fixed his posture and crossed his legs. "And if you're concerned about the last one--"

I cut him off before he got the chance to make a fool of himself. "I'm not concerned. I'm just letting you know where we stand. I want you aware that if you end up broken-hearted, it's not my fault. Just a lack of emotional control on your part."

I gave him a polite smile and took my phone off the table and stuffed it back into my purse.

A dark eyebrow slowly lifted while his jaw tightened. "Really?" He didn't show it, but I could tell he was scoffing inside his head.

I nodded as our waiter came to take our orders. I ordered a small blueberry tea and West asked for coffee with so many add-ons, I lost count. Living in the Big Apple changed his tastes. As the waiter walked away, West proposed his terms.

"Well since we went over your ground rules, I have a few of my own." So much for 'you can make the rules'. I got comfortable in my seat and waited for him to go on.

"We have to support one another in outside events so no questions are asked, as I said last night make it look believable, have a few dates, and don't get involved with other people."

"Don't get involved with other people? As in I can't see someone else instead of you?"

"Precisely. How do you think people would take it if you went on a date with me, and then was out hanging with another guy the next day?"

I knew what he meant and where he was coming from but I wanted to hear the rest. "But what if I really like him?"

He sighed and shrugged. "I suggest you wait."

He's serious. There wasn't a crack of humor on his face. I hope he can take his own advice.

"I suppose you'll do the same correct?" I thanked the waiter when he came back with our beverages and slowly sipped my tea. He twisted the white coffee cup around in his hands for a minute and shook his head yes.

After a while, we came up with a story of how we fell in love (we'd been doing long distance and finally made it official and when he came back it was a complete surprise), and caught up with each other's likes and dislikes.

If someone asked me what his favorite color was a year ago, I'd look like a fool. But now as his "girlfriend", his favorite food is sushi, he likes the color sea green, listens to blues and his "favorite" thing about me is my smile. How dear. The plan seemed all set.

As we finished our drinks, paid and headed into the cool breeze outside, I had one more question."When do we officially start this anyway?"

He cleared his throat and looked away.

"Tonight."

These past two days have felt like a whirlwind. I don't even feel like I'm Evie anymore. Like I'm blindly going with the flow and my anxiety is getting the better of me. What the hell did I do? Like actually?

The realization of what exactly I signed up for is settling in. A party. A literal party with West and I have to deal with him the whole damn night. I think we're missing a few chapters here. I was thinking maybe next week, a few days to prepare the act.

I tried my best to get out of this but West already asked my mom and told everyone I would be there. I think the only reason Mom agreed is just because it's West. On any other day, it probably would've been a no. 'I knew you would want to go.' is all he said for himself. By tomorrow, I expect to be at Yale's admissions office.

In the meantime, I called Nikki and Beck over to my place and tried explaining this to them the best I could as I promised. I couldn't tell them why since I knew how fast their mouths ran.

I practiced West and I's cover story and prayed that they bought it. As they sat on my periwinkle comforter, they were struggling to understand.

Nikkie was the first to speak up. "So you mean to tell me that you two had this fling, that you didn't tell us about by the way, and now you're together?" Her skinny eyebrows raised slowly as they finished.

"Somewhat. It's hard to explain, but when he came back, we really figured things out and talked about how we felt for each other, and our feelings got the better of us and we started 'talking'."

The lie felt so wrong and I was beating myself up on the inside for this. I've never lied to them before and having to is breaking every moral code I have, but putting education into perspective, they would have done the same.

"Girl like what, we're chopped liver? Why didn't you tell us about y'all talking?" Beck was a little offended and I could tell she was trying not to pout.

"To be fair, he asked me to not tell anyone because in all honesty, who knew if we were really going to be a thing," I sat in my desk chair and slowly spun myself around with my big toe. "It's just a shock to me as it is to you guys." Now that was actually true.

"I would never want to hurt you guys. Y'all are my ride or dies, you know that." I got up and hugged them both until they tapped out for air laughing.

I've known them since we were five, they know I would never intentionally hurt them. I just hope they always remember that. As their giggles died down, Beck sighed and then perked up.

"Do your parents know?"

"NO. And do. Not. Tell. Them." I grabbed Beck by the shoulders and stared her big green eyes down. She agreed not to and leaned back from my grasp. "I'll tell them eventually. I mean we all live in the same house, they're bound to know.

"Huh." Was all Nikki said and they both continued to stare at me in a bit of disbelief. I couldn't deal with their eyes boggling at me so I redirected the conversation.

"So you two going to help me find something to wear or what?" They both smiled and leaped to my closet rummaging through every new piece of clothing I bought earlier.

Normally, I'm a hard party girl if I do say so myself (when I have time to go to one that is), but compared to Nikki and Beck, I seemed like a homebody.

Vinny Adams was holding the party at his house and it was going to be wild. Nothing out of the ordinary. Nikki and Beck were regulars at his place.

Vinny was known for his parties. Being that he was the number one football star at school and voted most handsome and popular, it seemed to come to him naturally.

His house is gigantic. His parents are lawyers and don't really care about his ragers, as long as the house is in one piece by the time they get back and cleaned.

They were still stirring in my closet before they jumped out with a piece of an outfit in each hand. Nikkie held up a black fitted mini dress I bought and Beck clung onto my black heels I've never gotten to wear.

I couldn't help but smile. It's a fashion statement for sure. But that's what I love. "Extra" is my middle name. They know me so well. If my outfit wasn't loud, it was fun. It only took me a few minutes to slip into my dress and strap on the heels. I spun around and they squealed.

I can admit they worked their magic. The dress fits like a glove and the shoes are to die for. I don't know why I don't wear them as often. They came up behind me in the mirror and smiled.

"You look so good." I peered at myself and smiled, because tonight I plan to drop a few jaws.