If you are referring to Zack, he’s just a friend. But if you’re referring to yourself, then you should know that I haven’t claimed you as my boyfriend yet.
I look up to find her already staring at me, with a look that tells me she figured out I saw her with the skinny guy in the hall. At least she hasn’t forgotten about our conversation at the bar on Friday. I write my response and pass it over.
Yet?
I have a smirk on my lips watching her read it. She blushes pink again, shaking her head but with a smile on her face, still staring at my writing. She folds up the note and places it on her desk without writing back—instead she keeps her eyes pointedly on the professor, suggesting we should pay attention to the lecture.
I didn’t even realize he had finally b egun.
When class is over, Scarlette and I make our way out, quietly walking side by side. My heart is marching faster with nerves, and considering the shallow breaths she keeps taking in, I can tell she must feel the same.
“Zack? Is that his name?” I blurt out, feeling a little out of line but I can’t hold back.
I can tell by the way he was watching her this morning that Scarlette is more than just a friend to him. She snaps her head towards me and lifts her eyeb rows.
“Yes, Zack is his name,” she replies as we continue wal king.
“Have you been friends for a long time?”
“Since Gra de 9.”
“And he’s liked you ever since?” I p ress.
Scarlette abruptly stops walking, which forces me to stop as well. She takes a few steps closer, lifts her head up to see my face, and stares deep into my eyes. There goes my heart a gain.
“What?” I ask innoce ntly.
“Nothing,” she says, after staring at me for a few seconds more, shaking her head and grinning to her self.
“I’m late for my next class, gott a go.”
She turns away and joins the rush of students making their way to class. The hall is suddenly filled with noise. The sounds of footsteps and chatter brings me back down to earth. As I watch Scarlette disappear down the hall, I feel frozen to the spot. I don’t want to be away from her. Soon I’m the only one standing in the empty university hall, while all the classrooms are full of students. I find myself standing still for some time, in the same place where she lef t me.
The rest of the day goes by slowly, and I’m constantly watching the time on my phone. I want school to end so I can put my original plan into action. With the way this morning went with Scarlette, it just might work.
My last class is dismissed a few minutes early, and I walk quickly to the parking lot and lean against Snow White to watch the other students walk out of the building. My eyes are only searching for one person. I finally catch Scarlette walking out of the doors with that tall, skinny guy again. That bothers me.
She notices me right away and sstops. Zack stops too. He doesn’t look impressed. I dismiss his long warning stare and focus only on Scarlette, beckoning her with my right hand, gesturing for her to come over to me. Zack turns quickly to her, telling her something, but I can’t read his lips. She replies, and he doesn’t seem satisfied with her response. I can see his lips forming into a hard line. What’s his problem? Scarlette ignores him as he goes to say something else. She’s already taking steps toward s me.
“Hi,” I say, pushing myself up from the car to greet her.
“Hi,” she says back with a pink tint to her ch eeks.
I can see Zack walking across the parking lot, staring at both of us intently with his dark -b rown eyes. I completely ignore his disapproval. With Scarlette standing in front of me, nothing right now can affect the way I feel. I walk over to the passenger door and open it for her. She tilts her head to the side and looks up at me with an inquisitive s tare.
“Get in?” I ask.
“What makes you think I’m going anywhere with you?” she asks with wide eyes.
“Scarlette, please, get in the car,” I suggest again in a firm but gentle v oice.
“You’re dreaming, Elvis. I don’t get in cars with stran gers.”
“If I’m dreaming, don’t wake me. Besides, you’re in luck. I’m no stranger—I’m almost your boyfriend, remember,” I say, with confidence this time.
She laughs and shakes her head, knowing I’m not going to give up.
This better work, I think, giving the back of my head a little scratch and smiling hopefully at her.
“Almost boyfriend, but not quite,” she says with a sigh of resignation, pointing her finger at me, and climbing into the L
exus.
“Almost is good enough for me,” I say.
I walk around the front of my car, and just as I open the driver side door, I see Liam, Philip, and Leanne walking across the parking lot with Madison catching up to them. They all stop in their tracks, and Madison quickly realizes that they’re looking our way. Oh boy, she doesn’t look impressed to see me leave with Scarlette. With a smirk on both of their faces, Liam and Philip wave goodbye, and I wave back, trying not to smirk myself. I climb into the driver seat and take a long look at Scarlette, who’s staring out the window a little nervously, before turning on the en gine.
As I pull out of the UBC parking lot, I see Liam in my rear -v iew mirror, still watching us leave with a smile on his face.
Scarlette keeps her eyes on the road, probably wondering where I could be taking her. She seems a little anxious, and I wish I knew how to help her relax—it would help me keep some of my nerves calm as well. I still can’t explain this to myself. I’ve never felt my nerves like this with any other girl. She shifts back on the seat, glancing my way, I can see she’s trying hard to loosen up. This is obviously a first for her.
“Am I that scary?” I ask with a grin.
Scarlette grips onto the edge of the seat with both hands and takes a shaky breath. Her heart must be racing too. Leaning against the headrest, she faces my way. “This is a first for me,”
she ad mits.
I can tell she’s not experienced with dating. She seems too anxious to enjoy her self.
“Is this your first date?” I ask, cur ious.
She looks instantly surprised, her grip tensing up a little more on the seat.
“We’re on a date?”
“Is that a bad t hing?”
“You didn’t ask me if I wanted to go on a date with you. What if I’m not interested in going on a date?” she asks, and I can’t tell if she’s genuinely angry or not.
“You’re right, I’m sorry,” I say, reaching for her hand and loosening her grip one finger at a time.
“Would you like to go on a date with me?” I ask, keeping one hand on the steering wheel while my other hand holds hers. A small smile emerges at the side of her m outh.
“I’m already here. I guess you have left me with no other ch oice.”
“Ouch,” I say. “That stung a li ttle.”
She lets out a laugh that makes my heart melt. Most girls would love to be in her position, but Scarlette seems like a challenge.
Right now, I don’t want to be with any other girl but her.
“So you’ve never been on a date before?” I ask a gain.
“No, I would have liked to go on dates. But I try to avoid them as much as I can. My father is a little strict,” she expl ains.