I'm Not Her

Chapter 26: I'm Not The Best With Dates

"No, I'd beg you to let me help you get ready for this date because you've got to look perfect. I'm going to make you look like a model and you're going to be drop dead gorgeous and-"

"Did I even say yes yet?"

"Penelope," Kylie complained, "just tell me. Tell me tell me tell me tell me tell me tell me- This is tiring -tell me tell me tell me-"

"I did say yes okay? And before you start ranting again, yes you can help me get ready. Believe it or not, I really do need your help. I'm hopeless when it comes to dates and if you don't help me, I'll walk out of my apartment wearing clown shoes."

"It can't be that bad..."

"When I was fifteen, this one boy actually took a slight interest me and the next day, I walked out of the house going to school with red lipstick, raccoon eyes, and hot pink clothes. He never talked to me again. I need help."

Kylie started laughing hysterically to the point where her eyes started watering and she clutched her stomach because she laughed so hard. "You-you," she started laughing again, "I'm sorry. I'm just trying to imagine you when you were fifteen years old doing all that. Pen, that's absolutely ridiculous as well as hilarious. Okay, I'll help you."

"Thank you," I sighed, "Kylie! Stop laughing!"

***

"Isn't this a bit much? He's just taking me to dinner at a French restaurant. Are you sure this isn't too short?" I tugged the hem down a little more. 

The dress was a nice lavendar color. I remembered going shopping with Kylie and buying it. She remembered it when I forgot and she dug through my whole entire closet to find it. The dress had spaghetti straps and the skirt was loose and flowy.

Kylie went all out and twisted my hair into an extravagent bun that I'd never be able to do, mostly because I was horrible at anything that related to hair. Around my neck, I wore a gold anchor necklace. To finish it off, I found a pair of gold heels to wear. They were at the very back of my closet, behind all my pairs of converses, flats, and boots. 

"The dress isn't too short," Kylie slapped my hand away from tugging the skirt down a bit more. "You look great. If your ex boyfriend here, which you haven't told me about by the way, he'd be wishing that he never broke your heart."

"I'll tell you one day," I told Kylie, "but don't remind me about him when I'm going on a date with another guy, an attractive guy at that."

Kylie swooned. "Attractive doesn't even cover Carter Ridgewood. Maybe he was a really hot older brother like Liam Hemsworth has a hot older brother."

"So how bout Niall Horan?"

"I let you have Carter, the least you can do is leave me to fangirl over Niall Horan. Oh my god, look what you've done! I can't stop thinking about him now. Urgh."

"Sorry I even brought it up!"

The doorbell rang and Kylie sprinted out my bedroom before I could stop her. She stood at the front door conversing with Carter, who was dressed in a nice forest green polo and khakis. He had an easy smile on his face, shifting from foot to foot.

"Hey Carter," I waved. 

He turned his eyes from Kylie over to me and his green eyes widened, making me slightly uncomfortable and blush. 

"Doesn't she look great?" Kylie said and nudged Carter. He nodded and held out his hand towards me.

"Ready?"

"Yup," I said. "Bye Kylie! Lock up behind you now won't you?"

"No problem. Maybe I'll just crash here though...because maybe I just want to know how it went. Carter Ridgewood, I swear if she comes back crying, you'll regret the minute you were born."

"Noted," Carter said.

"Bye kids! Have fun!"

Kylie pushed me out the door and slammed the door behind her. She was a special best friend...and maybe she was a bit weird, but I loved her like that. I loved having her as a best friend rather than any normal person. Yes, I preferred Kylie. She was weird, but a good kind of weird. 

"It only took me two weeks to convince you to go out on a date with me," Carter grinned, "I knew you'd finally fall for my manly charms."

"Says the guy that's greatest fear is the dark," I chuckled, "manly indeed."

"The dark is scary alright? You never know what can creep up on you. And all those things that you can run into in the dark. Thank you, but I prefer when there's light."

"So that's why you sleep with a nightlight?" 

"It's just a small light that I have in my room so I won't run into anything!"

"Nightlight," I corrected.

Carter opened the door to his silver sports car for me and I slid in, inhaling the scent of new car. Carter came in on the other side and started up the engine. It was weird being on the other side of the car since in England, the driver's seat was on the opposite side. It was new and weird for me. 

We arrived at the French restaurant, only two minutes later for Carter's reservation due to the fact that he needed to pump more gas into his car. 

The lighting was dim inside and the waiter led us through the restaurant, where I managed to trip once or twice only to have Carter steady me. After those two failed attempts at walking in the dim lighting, I held on to Carter's muscular arm for the sake of me, him, and everyone else inside. 

We sat down and scanned the choices on our menus. Carter looked good, wearing his polo well. It was a bit tight, which was great since I had a nice view of his biceps. 

"What are you getting?" Carter asked, setting down his menu,

"I'm thinking the lamb," I replied, "but I don't know if I can finish."

"How bout we split?"

We did end up splitting the lamb as well as ordering an appetizer for the both of us. Overall, the meal was really good. Between the two of us, we finished everything we ordered.

Dessert came and I ordered the chocolate cake, which I didn't split. Carter ordered the creme brulee, making me look like the fatty, but the cake was really worth it.

The bill came and Carter and I both looked at it. "Do you want to pay?" Carter questioned.

"Well yes," I said, "but I assume that you won't let me?"

"You got that right," Carter said and snatched up the bill before I could, "I'm already afraid of the dark. I don't need to lose any more masculinity than I already have."

After Carter paid, we headed out of the restaurant and walked to his car. He hesitantly slid his hand into mine as we walked, but I was strangely okay with it. We now stood next to his car, looking at each other. 

"I had a great time," I said. 

"That's good," Carter said.

"You look a bit weird. Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Forget this-" 

Carter pressed his lips to mine, making me stagger a step back, almost falling, but he pulled me back up towards him with his hand snaked around my waist. My arms found their way around his broad shoulders and then tangled in his shaggy blonde hair.

Maybe, just maybe, I wouldn't end up being an old cat lady.

~~~

Penelope's outfit is on the side ----> I hope you somewhat enjoyed that chapter... Anyways, HI ANGELA! That's my friend who's reading this btw. She's awesome :) So this chapter is dedicated to her because she's a great friend of mine!! Vote and comment on this chapter (if you feel like it) but...byeeee.

-Adriana... <3