Yours Truly

26. Stayin' Alive

It was awful.

Everything was going awful. Sera didn't know what to wear, her hair was extremely frizzy after her shower, and she tried to draw on eyeliner but her hands were trembling terribly.

She was on her third eyeliner attempt when the doorbell rang. She got up from the mini station she had created in front of her big mirror near the living room to open it hurriedly, leaving all of her makeup products a mess on the floor.

Rowan's pretty face greeted her once she opened it, his cologne spreading quickly to fill both her nostrils and the apartment. He was wearing a dress shirt, dress pants, topped with one of his long winter coats since it's getting really cold recently. He was always basic yet classy, she loved it. Their eyes met and she immediately felt the stomach flip that usually accompanied his presence.

"I'm so sorry, I'm kinda running late." She apologized and opened the door wider for him in a silent invitation. "It's just that..." She mumbled, going back to her spot on the ground in front of the mirror.

"My makeup looks awful, and I'm still not sure what I'm gonna wear. I got nervous, It's silly. I don't know." She tried to explain, busying herself with her makeup and avoiding looking at him.

"It's okay, take your time." Rowan felt comfortable enough to go to the kitchen and pour himself a glass of water, sip on it, and go back to sit at the couch right across from Sera's station. He looked at her, focused on her every move, taking her in.

"I can't really focus if you're looking at me like that." She said while looking at him through the mirror.

"Like what?"

She only smiled.

It was silent for a few more minutes as she put on her final touches. She got up while Rowan followed her with his eyes as she went into her bedroom. She came back out with light-washed jeans on, and a satin pink blouse with it. Her hair was unusually straightened and flowed around her shoulders, longer in length now that it's not curly. Her heels making her appear longer than she really is.

"Is this good?" She did a tiny cute twirl and he almost had a heart attack.

He couldn't stop himself as he found himself saying, "Aren't you gonna get cold with that big cut in the back?"

Sera pouted slightly but answered him anyway, "I have a jacket?" It came out as a question. Rowan immediately smiled, still unable to take his eyes away from her beauty.

"You're so beautiful, Sera." He said it with so much intensity, his eyes focused on hers. Sera's heart skipped a beat.

"Thank you." Her hands cutely intertwined together in front of her in an embarrassed way as her smile widened. "Um our dinners are not that formal actually, that's why I wore jeans. I'm kinda nervous because I haven't really visited in a long time." She said in one breath, clearly anxious.

"I mean they tried to force me to visit before but I never really relented. Only one time, he threatened that he would stop paying my tuition if I didn't go and so I went, but that was a year ago."

Rowan slowly got up and went to where she was standing, his hands going to cup her cheeks before she stopped him.

"I have foundation on." She smiled sheepishly. Rowan's smile only went deeper. His hands landing on her shoulders instead.

"Everything will be okay. I won't let anyone upset you, not in my presence." He muttered slowly. Her eyes were gazing up at him like a little kid, he wanted nothing more than to kiss her right then. Rowan didn't want to tell her but he was ready for actual war. His guard went up as soon as he left his house and he was set on not letting anything or anyone upset or belittle his fake girlfriend.

"I need you to relax and breathe, okay?" He instructed, removing her front hairs so he could see her better. "Can you do that for me?"

Sera nodded, closing her eyes for a minute as she breathed in deeply and then exhaled slowly.

"Better?" Sera only hummed, drunk on his presence.

"Let's go, we'll make up our dating story on the way." He said.

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They spent most of the two hours deciding on a good and believable story on how they met and how they started dating. After checking that they both have the answers to every question that might be asked, Sera started playing some music.

To Rowan's surprise, the first song she played was Stayin' Alive but Bee Gees. He looked at her briefly, confusion plastered on his face while he watched her sing along and dance in her seat. Once she noticed his expression, Sera smiled and said, "I have an anxiety playlist." She said as if that was any explanation.

Rowan blinked twice, still processing, and then smiled slowly.

"An anxiety playlist?" He asked, his brows still furrowed.

"You know, like a playlist for when you're anxious?" She mirrored his scrunched expression.

"I learn more from you everyday." He laughed.

Sera smiled upon hearing his laugh, something he rarely did around anyone else. She felt like he was giving her something special and exclusive only for her.

Maybe a few other selected people. But her too.

"I can make you one, if you want." She suggested, humor evident in her tone.

"Oh no, someone suggested I listen to ASMR once. It calms me down when I'm anxious now." He replied, his eyes on the road but a playful tone in his voice.

"Oh, really?" She laughed.

"Yeah, they even suggested I start my own channel." He continued.

Sera hummed, unable to wipe her smile from her face. "Must be a wise person."

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Making up scenarios to pictures i see on pinterest is one of my fav hobbies <3
Also pls tell me if u can see the picture at the top, i think there's smth wrong cuz it's there when i'm editing but it disappears when i publish