Sprinkling Fling ✓

11.

Friday afternoon has arrived.

I've been stressing out over this dinner thing I am supposed to go to with the guys, and I guess the party after it as well. However, my nerves for the following day are much higher.

The highly anticipated day is coming Saturday.

I will go to the first game and be going to whatever party will be thrown for them afterward. I don't think it will be anything like the other party I went to last week. This party will be a victory party—that is if they win. If they lose, I don't know what will happen. I guess it will become a pity party then.

I've just done my makeup, and I think Del is supposed to be here in a few. I gave him my room number over text because he insisted on picking me up at my place, even though meeting in front of the elevator is pretty much the same thing.

This is going to be the first night I am testing the waters with Del as Chase told me to.

Today is the first night we will be hanging out for real. I was a little scared he would act differently after our last conversation. Since I pretty much turned him down, but yesterday at practice, Del was back to his normal old flirty self. Plus, he offered to drive me there, which I accepted. So I got to spend some extra time with him, but that was only in the car.

I am thankful to go with Del to this thing. I'm not very fond of arriving at places by myself. With Del with me—a person I somewhat trust—I feel more confident entering a room than if I were all by myself.

I have no more time to overthink as I hear knocking on the front door. He is here. I quickly hurry toward the door. Before opening it, I straighten my outfit out once more to make sure I look alright, and then I open the door.

He has a big smile on his face as I open the door. We make eye contact for a little before his gaze diverts and scans my body, but how can I blame him for that if I am pretty much doing the same thing.

"Ki, you look... good" he then adds, "...really good."

I look down, feeling flattered by his words. I know I put effort into my appearance today, but his recognition for it makes me blush, and I get this wholesome feeling from it. I've never been the best at taking compliments. But every time he does—I don't seem to mind it that much.

"Thank you, I really like your crewneck," I say as I walk out.

I catch him trying to peer into my apartment before I can close the door behind me.

"Oh, thank you, I've had it for ages." He tells me as we walk in the direction of the elevator.

He is wearing an azure blue crewneck, and I have the sense it's a bit older, but it makes him look very handsome. He has an intriguing clothing style; it's mostly older brands, so I wonder if he ever goes thrifting.

We get to his car, and he lets me in by opening the door for me.

During the ride, he is mostly silent. I do see he really wants to talk, but he probably senses that I need some silence to calm my nerves.

This is not just me at hockey practice and observing from the sidelines. This will be me having to interact with the actual team. This is me having to be social with some of the most popular people in the university.

The guys that have dozens of puck bunnies following their every move.

Or maybe, Del isn't talking because he doesn't know what to say. He hasn't made any advances towards me. He might be scared of rejection after I made it pretty clear there was another guy in play.

I might need to explain to him that there is no one else—at least for now.

If it comes to that, I need to make myself clear it isn't going to work out between the two of us before I do something with Chase.