(This is a part two for Now is Later Right?)
Zoey's POV
Ashleigh:"Zoey your going to be fine. Breathe damn it. Don't want you passing out before he get's here."
Zoey:"Yeah but he is getting Mr Arsement to pick us up and drive home later."
Ashleigh:"What do you expect Landon is his cousin. Obviously he still needs a ride right?"
Zoey:"Yeah I know. I guess I'm just nervous."
Ashleigh:"Anyone would be in your situation. It's only 5:30. And I need to get home now anyway."
Zoey: "Oh yeah thanks for just up and leaving."
Ashleigh:"Love you too hun."
I watched her wave back towards me before exiting the front door. She was so casual about this. As if she had done it a thousand times. I couldn't help but keep nervously looking at my phone. Hoping to see a message come up from Landon. We had been talking non stop. The only time we weren't talking was when we were at school in different classes. I remember Mr Arsement put us together again in History. We still did all of our work and talked more about each other. I found out that the only reason he was allowed to even have a YouTube account was because Mr Arsement knew he would have to do is work while living with his cousin. That's something that surprised me actually. He lived with his cousin and Mr Barn. I wasn't sure who Mr Barn was as I had never been in his class. I think he taught Music and Vocals I wasn't sure. He might have been the Drama teacher. Note to self. Ask Ash about that guy.
Landon: "Hey Zoey. Just letting you know Preston and I are leaving now. Remember you don't have to wear anything too flashy or pretty. Just be comfortable ok?"
Zoey: "Ok. Have you got my address?"
Landon: "It's already locked into the GPS. We will be there in ten. I will uh. I'll talk to you soon ok?"
Zoey: "Ok. See you soon Landon."
Holy shit this was real. This was happening. I was about to go on a date with Landon. I started to panic. What if he doesn't actually like me or think I'm cute and it was just a dare from his friends? What if he is just doing this as a bet? What if he turns up and he is just going to laugh at what I'm wearing? I looked down at myself and felt the need to change. I was originally going to wear this really nice blue and pink faded skirt that fell to my feet and a nice white top. I felt so pretty and I know it was unique. Most girls now a days don't wear clothes like this. But I love the old era of fashion. The dresses that started from the hips and flowed naturally down the legs. It felt so free and I felt so pretty. But what if it wasn't enough? I mean I don't give a fuck about Make up. But what if he expects it? I know that society tells us we have to wear it but I look fine without it. What if he is one of those guys that would expect his date to look pretty, To keep him from looking at other girls? What if we get there and he does look at other girls? I mean would I blame him. I'm not the most beautiful person in the world but I have my own redeeming qualities. I'm intelligent at least. I hadn't realised I had been making myself feel like shit for so long until I heard a knock at my door. I walked over to it and opened it wide.Hoping it was Ash coming back to tell me I was just being stupid.That there was nothing wrong with me. But Landon stood in front of me. A pair of blue jeans and a black shirt. His jacket over his torso as he handed me a single Rose.
Zoey:"Traditional."
Landon:"You deserve the best."
I couldn't help but smile at him. He was really trying already. And we had barely left my apartment. Yeah yeah an 18 year old has her own apartment. Sue me. Actually don't do that. I wouldn't be able to payout. My head facing the floor. I felt embarrassed.
Landon:"You look beautiful."
Zoey:"No I don't. There would have to be something else I could do.Something that would make be pretty and maybe you would see me truthfully instead of little lies being told by someone who..."
I was rambling. I always do that when I'm nervous or scared. He grabbed my hand and held it in his own. I looked up at him and watched him smile at me. He seemed just as nervous as I was.
Landon:"I think you look beautiful, Stunning and pretty. Your gorgeous Zoey."
I faced the floor in between us again. This time out of affection for him. He held my hand and tightened his grip slightly. I stepped forward to close the door behind us. Making sure I had my bag that I had placed on the table next to the door so I don't forget. I had my purse. House keys. Everything I needed and whatever else was in there. I put it around my shoulder as he brought me closer. Slowly letting his hands drape around me. I moved towards him and let him hold me before picking my arms up and letting them fall around his neck. Over his shoulders.
Landon:"I mean it Zoey. You look stunning. You won't need anything else to make you any more beautiful. Your perfect the way you are. And Ashleigh told me about your panic attacks. I promise you. I won't let anything happen. Your safe with me. I promise."
I couldn't help but feel like Ashleigh kind of threw me under the bus.What if she didn't like me? If she wasn't my friend because she liked me but because she wanted to get in with the popular kids?
Landon:"Hey Zoey. Relax. I'm here for you ok? I'm not going anywhere. We are just going to go and watch a movie ok? I won't leave your side. I promise."
I owed him one thing. The benefit of the doubt. Even if he doesn't like me.It's just a bet. I was going to enjoy myself. That's all I needed to do right?
Landon:"Come on. I can feel Preston wanting to turn the car off and come and get us. Making sure nothing stupid is happening."
Zoey:"Something stupid?"
Landon:"You know what teenagers are like these days. I don't want him to worry as well. Plus we have to put up with him in school as well."
Zoey:"Ok. Let's go then."
He walked with me back down the stairs out the front. I noticed Mr Arsement sitting in his car. It was still running as well. Landon grabbed my hand and opened the door for me which I thought was adorable. After I had taken my seat and he closed the door. Buckling myself in. He got into the seat next to me on the opposite side before just smiling at me.
Mr Arsement: "Good evening Zoey. How are you today?"
Zoey:"Good sir. How are you?"
Mr Arsement: "I'm good. But you don't need to be formal outside of school. I'm just a regular person outside of school."
Zoey:"With all due respect sir. Yourself and our other teachers are far from regular people with your YouTube channels having circulated through the school."
Preston:"That's true. But aside from all that. I'm just a normal person living life and looking after this little brat."
Landon:"Hey I'm not a brat."
I couldn't help but join in with their laughter. They seemed like they got along really well. Like they were great friends even though they were family.
Preston:"I've been told to drop you two off at the cinema. And then leave.As to not embarrass Landon here."
Zoey:"Embarrass Landon. No way I didn't think that could be possible.He's the popular kid. They don't get embarrassed."
Landon:"Oh no."
Preston:"No he can be sheltered as well. Like when he let his sister do his make up."
I couldn't help but laugh at him slightly. He let his head fall as he seemed to retreat in on himself. I leaned over and put my hand on top of his. He looked up at me and smiled.
Preston:"I'm glad he got the balls to ask you out. I thought he would never do it."
Zoey:"Oh really?"
Preston:"Oh yeah. He never shuts up about you. Always begging me to sit him next to you in class. Always wanting to talk to you. I caved in after a while and put him next to you. I'm glad I did."
So Landon was the reason why the seat next to me had been taken in History. He wanted to sit next to me. He wanted to get to know me.Maybe he isn't doing it for a joke.
Landon:"I think your special Zoey. And I wanted to get to know you more."
Zoey:"Well first thing about me. Don't talk during the movie."
Preston started to laugh from the front seat.
Preston:"If he starts talking. Just remember I'm going to be grabbing a bit of shopping and having dinner with Vikk, Lachlan and Rob at the restaurant across the road. If you need to get out then by all means come and join us. If he annoys you that is."
Landon just laughed nervously to himself. I guess that was a fear he was having. Trying to convince himself to be the one to stand up for me when we get there. I smoothed out a crease I had forgotten in my dress as we drove. It was strangely quiet. But it was a nice silence.It wasn't awkward and it wasn't forced. So that was always good. As we finally pulled into the car park. We got out of the car and started walking towards the entrance. I was really nervous. I hadn't ever gone out with someone before. This was new territory for me. And I think it might have been new to him as well.
Landon:"So what do you want to see?"
Zoey:"I'm actually fine with anything on right now. You choose. I'm happy to watch anything."
Landon:"Really?"
Zoey:"Well I'm happy to be here with a guy I think is really cute. Aside from that. I'm happy with whatever movie you want to watch. I'm not going to be the traditional girl and say hey I want to watch a Rom-Com. But at the same time I'm still a girl in the sense of that.I'm open to anything. I'll give it all a chance."
I could see his eyes widen at me. I mean I am a pretty open person. I don't have any specific tastes in music, Movies, And I guess video games as well considering I like to play every now and again. Not as often as I'd like. Living alone does mean that life has to come first. I guess Landon and Preston would have games come first. How cool would that be.
Landon:"Ok. Well then how about I surprise you?"
Zoey:"Yeah ok. That sounds good."
He walked over and got our tickets before coming back to us. We walked over and got ourselves the usual snacks and a drink. A large box of popcorn for us to share. He was adorable. While we sat and waited for us to be let into the cinema. We both took a seat next to each other and were talking lightly about many things. He was telling me about his channel and how he had grown since Preston let him work with him and his friends. It might seem boring to anyone else but. Listening to the guy you like talk so passionately about something he loves to do. It was great. Even though the stigma around video games was that you could never make a solid life from it. I actually started to believe him when he said that Preston and the others became teachers to help students and do teaching on the side. While YouTube was the main focus. It was interesting. I would just sit at home and write stories about random. Fantasy worlds. Bringing my imagination to life as my pen flowed across the pages. It was therapeutic. When I started talking about myself and the writing. He seemed to be genuinely interested. Asking me if I ever thought about publishing, Or asking if I ever thought about what it would be like to have my book available in stores and people actually buying it. It astounded me that even this small. Insignificant part of my life. Was something he found so interesting.
Zoey:"You seem to be finding everything I say so interesting. I don't get it. I'm just a boring. Normal teenager just getting through life the only way I can."
Landon:"You might be boring to some. And a normal teenager to others. But to me. Your special. And I love hearing you talk about what you love to do. You think your just a teenager getting through life. I see a beautiful angel with broken wings trying to find her way back home.The most beautiful sight I could ever lay my eyes on. But at the same time. Someone that I feel compelled to hold. To talk to. And to hear you laugh makes me happy. Your beautiful Zoey. I like you. A lot. And I'm just scared of everything I say or do. That one wrong move and I could lose my chance to tell you how amazing you are. You always sit by yourself or your always with Ashleigh. You never really give anyone else the time of day. You think your always in the shadows.Staying out of the light. But I always see you. I always notice you.I have since I transferred here. Girls would try and get with me.Hell even the guys would try to be my friend just to use my status in Social media and online entertainment. But I don't care about them.Hell even my friend Harry made a move on me. That was a real eyeopener."
I couldn't help but roar out with laughter. Everyone in the school knew Harry was gay. He was bullied a little bit but after talking to Latsky and Power about it all. I heard he had a lot more confidence in being himself. I heard he idolises the two teachers. Wanting to grow up and be happy like they were. Most people wanted to make the most money out of a career. Or others just wanted to study and learn all that they could. Harry just wanted to be happy with the man he loves.
Zoey:"I bet you would have felt strange at first."
Landon:"It was pretty funny actually. Once he realised I was straight he started apologising so much. He almost never spoke to me again until I confronted him about it last week. I pulled him in and hugged him and told him that I didn't care. I think you would really like him.He's like you. Just wanting to stay in the shadows and not attract attention. I feel bad being who I am. I love YouTube and all that.But. The sense of Authority that people think I have just because I'm on par with our teachers for social status. It sucks at times. I don't even have to ask for a pen if mine runs out of ink because one is already on the table in front of me before I even realise something is going on. That's another reason why I like you. I get to be a normal kid again. I'm only 18. I shouldn't be like that. I should still be living life. Having fun. And I get to be that with you. That's just another reason as to why I feel like I'm falling for you. Your special and unique and so beautiful. But your also normal.And I don't know if you can see how fucking incredible that makes you. Everyone wants to be special. And they can be. But with you. I just want to hold your hand and treat you like the princess you are."
I could tell he was getting emotional. It was like he was letting out all the words he had been keeping inside of him. Like he had been holding back and just wanted to be himself. But I guess when thousands of people know you are. And millions know your cousin who is also your teacher. I don't think you would be allowed to be a"normal" person. I looked up and saw him looking at me nervously.He saw me and I watched his smile widen.
Zoey:"You don't hear it often enough for men. But you look beautiful when you smile Landon. Don't ever let that fall."
Landon:"Ha. You don't hear that often for a guy. We need to be masculine and protect woman all the time."
Zoey:"Well then stop thinking like that. I can handle myself. And I'm going to tell you how pretty and beautiful you look. And considering you look really comfortable tonight. I'd say your enjoying yourself."
I watched him reach over and grab my hand. Holding it tight in his own.He lifted my hand up and kissed the top of my hand. I couldn't help but giggle a little at him. He was so scared and nervous. I guess when your too busy focusing on the person in front of you. You don't really pay attention to anything else around you. I could feel a surge of confidence run through me. As I took my hand out of his. He looked up at me a little shocked before I leaned in. Slowly and softly letting my lips meet his. It was only quick. Barely a second before I pulled back and looked down. Wringing my hands together.
Zoey:"Sorry."
I heard him get up until I saw him standing in front of me. His handout. I grabbed it hesitantly as he pulled me up. Pulling me into his embrace. He held me there gently before slowly leaning in. I met him half way. Our lips colliding and it was beautiful. My first real kiss at 18. And it just so happen to be with the sweetest boy I could meet. I'm kind of glad now that he moved to our school. I probably never would have met him. Once we had pulled apart. Our hands swaying gently at our sides. His in mine. We were ushered into the cinema and we found our seats. He chose one that was relatively in the middle yet far enough up the back that we weren't craning our neck skyward just to see the screen. He was so sweet and gentle. As if calculating every move he made.
Zoey:"Hey."
Landon:"Hi."
He started to softly and slowly play with my hair. Stroking the length of my hair to my shoulders.
Zoey:"Your beautiful Landon."
Landon:"And your precious. I hope your enjoying yourself."
Zoey:"Yeah. I am. Thank you."