Chapter 18:

Monday Night

I unraveled my hair, shook it out. My hands were sweaty. I shouldn't be nervous. It's Justin. Justin. Just in. Just in time. Just in case. I shook my hair again. The strands hit my face. No, let me wear it up. I might lose this scrunchie. I unraveled it again. I tucked some strands behind one ear, standing in front of my mirror. I wiped my sweaty hands off my pants. A date on a Monday night. I don't have class tomorrow, it'll be cool. But I had a project to work on with Damien.

The last time I went on a date was in 10th grade, a blind date by one of my friend's boyfriend so I wouldn't be a third wheel. One of his 'single friends', he told me. He was barely into it; he texted the entire time, did not make eye contact. By the end of the night, he called me Missy. I wasn't expecting a love connection but damn.

 One of the moments I got impulsive again and I got a date. A mutual date. With one of my best friends. 

A hard knock came on the door, I straightened my blouse, pulled it down to my hips, I stretched it off my shoulders. Okay, let's do this. I exhaled, and opened the door. It was Penny, with Isaac. "Oh. Hey." I shut the door.

"Who were you expecting?" Penny asked, throwing herself on the bed. Isaac followed, lying next to her.

"A friend," I answered, taking one of my jackets. "Where's your key?"

"Getting it now." She swiped it off her nightstand, jingling in her hand, "going out?"

"Yeah." I nodded.

"A date?" She pointed out my outfit.

"More or less."

"More more or more less?" she questioned.

"More more," I confirmed.

She gasped. "With Damien?"

"No, with someone else."

"Ooo, you player!" She hit my jacket lightly. I rolled my eyes with a grin. Another knock came from the door, it's probably him. Or our RA. I checked the time on my phone, 7:01. Not bad.

"How do I look? Is it too casual? Too fancy?" I gestured to my blue jeans, black blouse and black flats.

"You look cute," Isaac answered.

"Very. He won't keep his hands off you." Penny wiggled her eyebrows up and down.

"Let's not think that far." I opened the door.

"Olivia," Justin spoke. With a grin, he said,"hi."

"Hi," I replied.

"You look great." he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Thank you. You clean up nice," I complimented. His dark blue jeans jacket made his shoulders broader. His hair was curlier.

"Hello, there," Penny spoke up, "I'm your date's lovely roommate, Penny." Penny held out her hand for a greeting.

"Hey," he took her hand, "Justin."

"Justin, wow. Strong grip there. You must work out," she said the words slowly.

"Penny, what are you doing?" I asked, stifling a chuckle.

"Hmm, nothing. This is Isaac, my boo," she introduced.

"What's up?" Isaac met up, they shook hands.

"Ok, we should start going right?" I suggested.

"Yeah, you ready?" He asked, opening the door.

"Yes," I told him, matching his steps.

"Have fun, you two." She winked. I nudged her in a playful way, exiting the room. "But not too much. And have protection, always!" She yelled out of the hallway before shutting it. I closed my eyes tightly, licking my lips.

"Sorry about that," I told him with an uneasy laugh.

"It's cool. Your roommate is funny," he chuckled.

"She is. Um, is this still considered a date?" I adjusted the strap of my purse on my shoulder.

"I mean, do you want it to be?" Justin questioned, putting his arm around my shoulder.

"At least I'm not a third wheel this time," I said jokingly, waiting for his reaction.

"Oh," he spoke, tightening his lips. I folded my arms over my chest. Shuffling my feet against the carpeted floor. I smiled, tucking a strand behind my hair.

"So, where are we going?" I asked, bundling my sleeves in my palms.

"There's a pool hall on campus. We can play and eat," he answered, striding closer to my side. He pressed the alarm button to unlock his car. We entered at the same time.

"Sounds good." He turned his engine on. Swerving into the road, it was cold in his car. I shivered, rubbing my hands together. As he drove, he turned on the heater, guess he heard my teeth chattering.

"Thank you." We were on the road in silence until we arrived. It wasn't far off from campus. He parked his car out front, the place was called the Break Room. I felt nauseous, so I cleared my throat and stood up straight. Then a tremor came through my chest. I breathed in and out silently. What the hell?

"Do you know how to play?" he asked, opening the door for me.

I laughed, "Thanks. I see it a lot on tv. I hit the white ball, right?" I point at the green felt table. Felt like an old carpet we had when I was younger, soft and scratchy.

"Yeah, you want stripes or solids?" he pointed at the array of balls spread on the table. He grabbed the triangle object to gather the balls together.

My mouth was scratchy and dry, pulse was racing again, my chest was caving in. "Bathroom, be right back."

I rushed out before he could respond. A girl just finished washing her hands in front of the sink. Ducking into one of the stalls, I laid my hand on the door to do my breathing exercises. Come on, it's ok. Mind over pain. I shook my hands out, puttering my lips. I exited the stall, washed my hands, splashed my face with some cold water. I redid my makeup, and met Justin again.

"You ok?" He wondered, wiping his hands on his pants.

"Yeah. Full bladder. Sorry, I'll be stripes." He handed me a pool stick, I held the stick against my side.

"Cool." He sharpened the end of the stick with that cube thing.

I smiled, this was nice. I watched as he hit his ball with the white one.

"It has been awhile since we hung out like this." He rested his elbows on the table, hitting his target, the ball didn't go in the hole. I bit my bottom lip, nodding in agreement while tapping my foot against the pool table.

"College is not like high school. Set schedules and that shrill bell." I laid my stick on the table, remembering the characters on tv doing this. I stuck my tongue out for concentration, the white ball hit the multicolored one to the rim. "Hmm."

"At least I see you more than last year."

"You were attached to the hip with your girlfriend. Ex girlfriend, sorry." I shook my head. It's probably still sore to talk about Louise.

"It's fine," he said with a small grin. I assumed he would be broken up about it, he seemed cool.

"Are you sure?" I leaned against the stick.

"Yeah, I'm dating around. Met plenty of lovely ladies." he wiggled his eyebrows.

"That's good to hear. It's good that you're moving on from her."

"More like trying to get over her."

"Was the break up that bad?" I asked, carefully using my words.

"She can move on, why can't I?" He has a point. I angled the stick again, putting it behind my back and laughed when the white ball hit my target. "I saw it on a show once."

"Drake and Josh?" He asked.

"Yeah," I shook my head. I'm random. "Loved that show."

"Me too. What about you, dating around?"

"Um, well considering this is my first date, I haven't done much of it." I watched as he hit the black ball.

"Then, let's make it memorable. I'm gonna order some food for us at the bar. What do you like?"

"Fries," I told him.

"Coming right up." He laid the stick on the table, I puffed out my cheeks.

"Drink?" He asked.

"Yes, water," I told him. I lean against the wall, recognizing some classmates. I waved when they noticed me. I noticed Damien coming in with some of his friends, he seemed uninterested in what the girl with colorful braids on his elbow was talking about. I looked away before he saw me. I tapped the bottom of the pole on the floor repeatedly while I waited for Justin.

"Olivia!" I frowned when someone called my name, looking over as he walked. I dropped my jaw. The last time I saw him, his hair was in cornrows. He cut it to a fade. He still looks good.

"Hey!" My smile went wider, he gave me a half hug. "Patrick, it's been too long!" My cheeks were warm, he squeezed my shoulder. He still smelled like cinnamon.

"Yeah, what are you doing here on a monday night?" He asked, brushing down his waves. "Are you here alone?" He leaned next to me.

"No," I said quickly. "I'm with someone."

"Oh, a date," he stated.

"Yes," I clarified, standing taller. "He went to get us some refreshment."

"Hmm." his eyes went up and down. "Nice outfit. You look good."

I looked down, "Thank you. You too. Are you sticking around?" I tugged my hair behind my ear, what am I doing? I shook it off.

"No, I'm with a buddy of mine." He pointed to the door, where Damien was standing.

"Oh, you know Damien?"

"You know him?" He curled an eyebrow.

"He's-"

"Hey, who's this?" Justin came, holding two baskets of food and drinks.

"This is Patrick. Patrick, Justin," I introduced. He placed the food near the pool table. I took some of my fries and chewed slowly.

"Nice to meet you." Justin held out his hand. Patrick met him halfway.

"You too, man," Patrick slapped his hand in a handshake.

"How do you know each other?" Justin asked.

"He was my Algebra tutor. He was a senior at our school," I clarified.

"Oh. Oh! Was this the guy you told me-"

"No, stop." I shushed, shutting my eyes tight.

"What?" Patrick smirked.

"Nothing. Nothing." I felt my cheeks heat up, I'm back in 9th grade. "A crush, no big deal." Oh my god, I closed my mouth with my hand.  I just exposed myself. It was bad enough that I couldn't talk or look him in the eye, now I'm rambling.

"Olivia. Really?" He wrapped his arm over my shoulder again. "You should have said something."

"She talked about you a lot," Justin said. "His eyes are like magnets," he reiterated in my voice.

"I did not say that. I said magnetic." Shit. "You know what, it doesn't matter. Had. Past tense." He ruffled my hair while chuckling. I wince, moving his hand. He's attractive, yes. Still attractive. He's older, still gives me butterflies when he smiles.

"Same old Olivia. I gotta go. It was good seeing you." He kissed my forehead. I watched him walk away, he bumped Damien on the back with his shoulder. Damien took the girl's hand without looking back as they exited.

I waved. That was awkward. I slapped my hand onto my face and groaned. Justin held his snickers, stepping to the side. "Shut up."

***

The rest of our night, we spent laughing, him trying to teach me the game. I'm still bad at it.

He walked me to my dorm. I kicked a pebble in front of me, he held the front door open and I thanked him. I tucked my hands in my pockets. My back hit the wall.

"Magnetic, huh?" he questioned in an interesting tone. He moved around, leaning over.

"Yes," I admitted with a groan.

"So what about mine?" he asked, staring into my own eyes. Pursing my lips to the side. His eyes gleamed from the moon. Brighter and bigger. It made it look more green than his usual brown.

"I would say... engaging." They do say the eyes are the window to the soul. I have a habit of looking down when I'm nervous. Justin doesn't make me nervous but his stare sends a chill up my spine.

"Hmm. You have a way with words." I pushed his chest, he kept his feet in his place.

"I call 'em like I see 'em," I retorted with a grin.

"Your eyes are pretty amazing." I held my cheeks to hide my blush.

Height difference engaged as he moved in close. Oh. here we go. I giggled silently. He removed my hands, our eyes locked.  

I licked mine when he leaned in, his fingers gripping the back of neck. I breathed in when our lips touched. He gently moved his mouth in a sweet rhythm. The last time we kissed was a dare, now it felt weird. He pressed on, hands roamed to the small lower area of my back. I moaned, not in a good way. Roaming hands on my hips, he attempts to pull me into his pelvis. I stopped his kisses, making a scrunched face.

"Too much?" he asked in a concerned tone.

"Um, no. I don't know. It feels weird," I said.

"Really?" he frowned, jerking his head back.

"Yeah." I cleared my throat, brushing down my shirt, "Last time, it was hot. And you have great lips. I mean, maybe it's because we're friends. Now I..."

"Don't want to do it again," he finished.

"Sorry." I looked down, nibbling the skin on my lip.

"I get it. It does feel off." I'm glad he agrees. "I like you, Olivia."

"I like you too. I miss hanging out with you."

"Not a love connection, I guess." he sighed, laying his forehead on mine. Nudging it, he sighed.

"Nope." I pouted. It's mutual, which sucks. It's for the best.

"But we should do this again." He rubbed my shoulder.

I nodded. "definitely."

"Good night." He kissed my cheek.

"Night." I waved to his back as he walked away. I groaned again. The night was great: fun venue? Check. Awkward kiss? Check. Friendzone? Check.