Page 186 of Collided

Marie whips around to me with a shocked expression. “When?”

“It was raining one day, and he dropped me off. Then there was a power outage, so he stayed with me for a while. It’s then I told him about the bracelet business.”

Marie groans. “I can’t believe he has one over me.”

I laugh a little as I shut the door behind me. “Is it a competition?”

“Not really,” she murmurs and sets her makeup supplies on my study table and all the other things she’s brought with her.

“So, what should I do first?” I ask, fidgeting with my hands.

Marie looks at my hair and sighs. “You’ll need to take a quick shower.”

“Frizzy hair?”

“Greasy hair.”

“Yucks.”

“Indeed, but don’t worry. I’ll make it better.” She gives me a confident thumb-up.

Taking a towel, I rush into the bathroom, turn the taps, and wait for the water temperature until it is warm. I have to wait for ten minutes because of the broken heating system, but it’s better than showering in cold water.

This is happening. I’m going on a date. My first date.

I’m getting all those pre-date sparks in my stomach and I’m nervous.

Elliot studies in another school that’s out of Bellmare. It’s a bit of travel, but it’s fine with him because his friends live here, and he also accompanies his father in dealings.

From the conversations we’ve had, he seems to be sweet and funny. We talk about studies and bond over movies. But he doesn’t make me feel sparks or butterflies like Heath does. With Elliot, it’s the comfortable kind of connection, the one I need. But with Heath, there’s fire beyond the comfortable connection, the one I want, but I won’t get. Because I don’t know how Heath feels about me.

I wash my hair and body. I don’t know why but I shave too, even though I know nothing of that sort is going to happen between us. I’m not yet ready for it.

When I come out in a T-shirt and shorts, I see Marie has laid dresses over my bed with shoes and accessories.

“Marie—”

“I should have brought more. Don’t worry I can call—”

“It’s enough. You didn’t have to. I’ve got something I can wear tonight.” I cast a nervous glance at everything that’s on my bed. Probably worth hundreds.

She grins. “It’s your first date and you should look the best.”

“We’re going to a local diner. Nothing fancy.”

“Still,you should look the best. We don’t know what might happen.”

“What do you mean—”

“We’re getting late!”

After what feels like an hour Marie is done with my face and is halfway through curling my hair at the ends. We don’t talk in between because Marie said that she can’t do makeup while talking.

“How was your first date, Marie?”

A deep blush covers her cheeks. Clearing her throat, she peeks at me with a smile. “Sebastian took me to laser tag first. It had just opened up. We had so much fun there. Afterward, we went to a diner and had pasta which was the best I’ve ever had. Then we sat on a roof and talked until sunrise. He kissed me a lot, too.”

“What were you like before Sebastian? How did he even meet you? I’ve always wondered but never asked you.”

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