Chapter 9

~

It's currently 5:58pm and I figured I'd go in at six.

I'm sitting in the parking lot in my car trying to keep cool. "You're good girl, you're good. Just check your make-up...." I told my myself.

I got out my compact mirror in my purse and checked my makeup and made sure none of the gloss was on my teeth, my face wasn't too shiny, my bun still tight, and no lint, hair, or fuzz was on my clothes.

I looked around the parking lot and I didn't see Asher anywhere and I was beginning to get nervous. To calm my nerves I had to do it....

5:58pm
'He's not here...' -me

I had to text Jake.

5:59pm
'Don't panic. He's on his way;) ' -Jake

5:59pm
'It's 5:59pm Jake.' me

6:00pm
'Just go inside and find a table. He said 6:05, not 6.' -Jake

I sighed getting out my car scanning the parking lot and right before I could open the door to Taco Bell, someone called to me,

"Hey? Isn't the guy suppose to open the door for the lady?" I turned to the guy talking to me.

"Asher!" I said looking up at him being a little bit too excited.

"Haha! Hey Dee...." he looked down at me...his eyes shinning. "Wow...you look-" I had to cut him off.

"Sorry, is this too much?" I looked down at myself.

"No, no," he said quickly. "You look....you look amazing..." I blushed smiling.

"Thanks..." that's all I could say. We kind of stared at each other for a brief second, but all that stopped when a lady walked out Taco Bell and she almost ran me into the door until Asher gently dragged me out the way by my arm.

"Oh, sorry," the lady apologized.

"It's okay," I said back sweetly. She walked away and I returned my look back up to Asher.

"I guess we better head in," Asher suggested.

"Hahaha, yeah," I blushed again. 'Don't freak out. Don't freak out,' I kept telling myself. I secretly got my phone and texted Jake,

6:02pm
'Three minutes to spare.' -me

We were in line and I felt Asher look down at me and I had just enough time to read his message,

6:02pm
'Told you so Kit-Kat;)' -Jake

I smiled putting my phone in my purse.
'No, emojis,' I thought to myself with a smile.

"So, what's been going on in Dee's life?" Asher asked as we were in line. It wasn't crowded in Taco Bell surprisingly which I liked, but when Jake and I went there, there was more people....so I guess that was okay.

"Nothing much," I said in a sigh. "Just writing...cheering....getting ready for SATs at the end of the month, but I feel I'm ready. I'm going to take it like any other test," I rolled my eyes. He chuckled at me.

"Haha, it ain't too bad." We moved up in line and I looked up at him. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I shrugged.

"A chef, and maybe an author. I have a passion for working with my hands." He nodded seeming intrude.

"Oh really? You like cooking? I didn't know that." I nodded.

"Yeah, most people don't expect it, but I love it. Especially sweets or Italian food. And hey? Maybe one day I could make you something when my parents are away," I suggested hiding my lips in my mouth. "Just to you know, have the kitchen to myself?" He grinned.

"Really? I hate to impose."

"No, no, it's fine. We could just sit and talk about physics while eating some type of pasta. Don't worry, if we get bored which I'm sure we will, I have some pretty cool recent action movies from the last three years in storage." He widen his eyes amazed as we moved up in line.

"You like action movies?" He asked me well-ended.

"I just HATE the ones with females. They make us look so weak and stupid and way the whole team down. They really need some gender equality these days," I said disappointedly. He laughed as we stepped up to the cashier. I smiled, able to make him laugh.

"Hahaha! Right! Oh sorry, you can order first," he told me clearing his throat. 'That must mean he's paying for me right?' I thought heating up. 'Or am I getting ahead of myself?'

"Oh okay. Hi," I told the cashier.

"Hi! What would you like?" She asked me. 'Nothing greasy, messy, leafy, or....wait what was it?? No condiments? Wait no....no seasoning yeah! Wait....no! Ugh! What was it!' I kept thinking.

"I'll just have your-no sauce!" It was quiet as the lady gave me a funny look and Asher looked at me too.

"Excuse me?" She asked me. 'Oh. Em. Gee....' I thought with wide eyes. 'I just said that out loud....'

"Sorry. I want your quesadilla.....
with....no....sauce on the side....?" I HAD to add awkwardly. She chuckled typing it in.

"Oh alright....aannnnd is this together or separate?" She asked.

"Sep-" I was about to say, but Asher spoke up,

"Together...." He glanced at me smiling and I blushed at him looking away and while he began to order I turned around to where he couldn't see me and began pounding my forehead wishing I could go back in time and start over.

'Don't over think Dee. It's NOT a date,' I reassured myself. 'It's not!'

"Will that be all?" The cashier asked us. Asher looked over at me and I over-smiled at him to show I WASN'T just freaking out or anything-which I was- and he chuckled,

"Yeah that's it," he answered. He got out his wallet and paid full cash for our food. I never thought a guy would ever buy me food....EVER... Well until college....if I was lucky.

"I'll pay you back," I told Asher as he handed me my cup.

"Nah, I don't mind. Besides you didn't have to do this, it's my treat," he told me. I chuckled as we walked over to the soda fountains. 'This is so surreal...' I wanted to say aloud.

He offered me to get my ice first so I did and I stood there as I didn't know what to get.

"Hard choice?" He asked me grinning while he got his. I sighed.

"Well it's not easy. As a cheerleader, dark drinks aren't my SUPPOSE to be my thing. Lighter drinks like a Sprite are okay but I'm not feelin' it. Fruit Punch or Gaderade....." I titled my head staring at it. "Kinda don't want that either..." He laughed.

"I feel you. Couch hates us drinking anything with a fizz..." I looked at him. That reminded me of Jake asking for a Coke 'while Coach wasn't looking' at my house at the first session the other day..

"Me too..." We both squinted our eyes at each other.

"Buuut, since I'm with YOU," he commented. I blushed giggling. "There's a good excuse." He went over and got himself a Dr. Pepper. I smacked my lips and popped them.

"Well.... Since I'm with YOU....I'll make an exception...." I then got myself a Coke and chuckled. "Now if I experience cramps and pains by tomorrow at practice, I'll have to blame it on you," I raised an eyebrow at him.

"But it's not my fault you got a Coke. You choose that," he told me laughing. They called our names at the front by number as we placed a lid on our cups.

"But I made an exception because of YOU," I reminded him. He laughed.

"Alright, alright, fine. I'll take all the blame," he finally agreed.

"Thank you," I shrugged a shoulder at him. Suddenly my phone in my purse went off pretty loud, but it wasn't a text or a call so I checked it.

"What's up?" Asher asked me getting our tray. I sat us over by the high chairs like Jake and I did and as I checked my phone it was an email.

"Aw sweet!" I cheered. We sat in our seats.

"What is it?" Asher asked.

"Oh sorry. I pre-ordered a new DLC in the new Call of Duty and it finally came in. I can't WAIT to play it when I get home!" I mini-clapped. I looked up as Asher was just staring at me and I turned a bit pink. "Sorry...." I eased out getting my food on my side of the tray. "That was rude of-"

"No, no," Asher said quickly. "It wasn't rude at all...its just that... You play video-games?" He asked me. I chuckled nonchalantly scratching the tip of my nose.

"Uh, yeah. I-I do. I like shooters or platformers," I commented. "My rage of games aren't diverse." Asher looked up laughing.

"Aw man that's so cool though! Me too," he replied. I brighten. "I play Call of Duty all the time! I just didn't expect a pretty girl like you to play," he complimented taking a bit of his taco. I blushed really hard trying not to FREAK OUT that Asher. Just. Called. Me. Pretty. 

"Haha! Thanks but...yeah I do and I didn't know you played either! But which game is your favorite?" I asked him. He really thought about it as I bit into my quesadilla.

"Probably Black Ops, but that new one coming out at the end of October got me suspenseful. World War?" he nodded. I chuckled.

'Oh crap! Napkin in the lap girl! Napkin in the lap!' I shouted in my head. I took a napkin while he wasn't paying attention and I nodded for him to continue. "Yeah, I'm pretty excited."

"Well my birthday's coming up," I titled my right shoulder. "I asked my parents for it, and I think they might actually buy it for me." He chuckled lowly opening his taco wrapper.

"And why would you have so much confidence?" He had to ask me. I giggled.

"Well my dad recently called me and asked me what was the name of the game again, and I told him and he was like oh yeah.... You still want that?" -I was using hand gestures while Asher was laughing at me eating his taco- "And I was like ummm sure, and he was like oh okay, and you're not getting anything for your birthday by the way just to let you know and I just laughed and said okay Dad. Okay." Asher laughed as I laughed by his laugh and I added, "I'm serious!" He held his stomach.

"That's cool though. You're dad MIGHT be buying you the game."

"I know.... Maybe if the physics movie secessions work out we can have video game secessions," I shimmied my shoulders. He perked up. "But you know, with 'physics'," I use my fingers as quotation marks. He chuckled.

"I'd like that. We'd have to have private death match battles together before then," he suggested. I smiled. "So I can see your 'skills'." I chuckled.

"Hehehee, suuuure. Just get ready to get sniped. I do have record head shots and counting. I'll be happy to add to that," I smiled.

"Hmph, okay." He shrugged. I smiled.

"Okay...so now, tell me how's it like to swim in 60 degree weather and resisting the deliciousness of ice cream and any drink with fizz?" I asked him chuckling. He breathe in through his teeth and I laughed with sparks in my eyes as he started and that's basically how the rest of our night went.

Asher and I endlessly laughing while eating tacos and sinfully drinking dark fizzy sodas.

We even got refills.

~

That whole date made my night and when I made it home an hour later, I jumped on my bed after telling my mother every requested detail and while I was still jittery from it all, Jake texted me,

7:11pm
'How'd it go Kit-Kat? I'd assume it's over by now;)' -Jake

I smiled shaking my head.

7:12pm
'No emojis. And yes, it was amazing! We found out we had lot in common!! 8D' -me

7:13pm
'Like what:)' Jake.

7:15pm
'A lot! I'd have to tell you later! I'm just so happy right now I can barely process it!!' -me

Before Jake answered back there was a pause and within that pause I got a text from Asher and I nearly died when I saw it was him.

7:17pm
'Had fun today. Taco Tuesday was A1;)' -Asher

Do you see why I nearly died?

7:20pm
'Me too! Now back to BUM physics & crappy data analysis 2morrow:/' -me

Jake texted back within the same time Asher answered me, but I opened Asher's first.

7:21pm
'Ikr but at least it'll be w/ you:)' -Asher

Oh my god.

7:23pm
'Omg saaaame.... I mean...with you of course.....not me. Ugh...nvm:)' -me

Look at me. I can't even text.

7:24pm
'Awesome. See you bright & early Dee;)' -Asher

I literally squealed with puffy checks and tight closed eyes.

7:24pm
'See you later :)' -me

Before answering Jake, I had to flip over on my back up to ceiling still stoked about everything and I finally read his message,

7:21pm
'That's good Dee. Kinda apprehensive to know:) P.S, I think chapter four of Bubble Gum and Cigarettes is my best and yet saddest chapter I've read so far....I literally stopped reading it cause I was so upset.' -Jake

I chuckled shaking my head.

7:26pm
''It's okay Kit-Kat it's just a book;)'' -me

I emphasized what he use to say to me every time something traumatic happened in a book I was reading and I told him about it. I imagine him smiling or laughing.

7:27pm
'Well now I see how it really feels;)' -Jake

I chuckled shaking my head and I replied,

7:28pm
'Haha! I'm going to get ready for bed dummy. We have school tomorrow and I still have homework I need to do. Bye:) -me

It didn't take him long to reply.

7:29pm
'Sigh, such a goodie-goodie. Night Kit-Kat;)' -me

7:29pm
'Stfu.' -me

7:30pm
'Hahahaa jk:) Byyyye' -Jake

7:31pm
'No EMOJIS' -me

7:31pm
'I'll try not to;)' Jake

I sighed tossing my phone beside me and looked up at my fan thinking of Asher and how we had sooo much in common and him texting me first even after I just saw him. I closed my eyes smiling,

"Yup..." I whispered. "Lotte's gonna flip when she hears this tomorrow..."

~