Page 25 of The List of Things

“Because Sienna convinced me.”

“You don’t strike me as someone who does things they don’t want to do.”

“Because I’m not. I do want to do this. I figured it would be fun. And if you were willing then I’d have sex with someone I find attractive... And it would be a good way to end the rest of the semester, because we’re friends, and we can have fun together,” I explain to him exactly what I’ve explained to myself a million times to ensure I wouldn’t back out.

“So you think I’m attractive?”

I roll my eyes and shove his chest.

“Do you have selective hearing?” I ask.

“Yes, I listen to what I want to hear that way I’m never disappointed,” He tells me, and I laugh.

“You know there are tattoos on the list too?” I raise my eyebrows, feeling like this is a challenge.There has got to be at least one thing he’s not going to complete.

“You know I’m the one who has the list, right? Meaning I know what’s on it... And either way, I have tattoos, I don’t care if I get another one. You’re the one without any,” He points out, and I get defensive instantly.

“You don’t know if I have tattoos.”

A low chuckle rumbles from his chest.

“Okay, do you have tattoos?” He entertains my statement and I sigh.

“No, but it doesn’t matter,” I tell him. “I’ve always wanted tattoos. I’ve just never really thought of anything I’d want on my body, you know?” I ask.

“I don’t know, but I do understand. So you’ve never had anything important enough to get tattooed, yet you’ll get one because of some list that you claim is stupid?”

Call me out, why don’t you…Geez.

“Tattoos are memories. They don’t have to be meaningful artwork as long as they have meaningful experiences behind them. I’ll always remember this, even if I never talk to you again after it's over,” I tell him, knowing we’ll probably continue as mutual friends after all of this is said and done.

At least a small part of my hopes for that.

“I’ve always wanted to make this into a full sleeve... And I’ve wanted hand tattoos for the longest time,” He tells me, and naturally, my eyes travel to his hands at the mention of them.

Which wasn’t the smartest move considering my stomach dropped at the sight. There’s something wrong with me… Bellamy is watching me, noticing how I notice him, and my eyes snap away from him.

“Good idea,” I add casually, swallowing the ball in my throat.

“Yeah,” The tone in his voice tells me he knows where my head is at, and there’s nothing I’m going to do about it. “You know I have to get to know you and all that right?” He asks.

“Real dating means you get to know someone. We’re not dating, meaning we don’t have to get to know each other.”

“Yeah, that’s not going to work with me. I’m not going to ask your deepest darkest secrets, I just want to know more about you. You’re favorite things... Small stuff. We’ve gotten this far, don’t let me down now Ryn.”

I feel his fingers on my skin, tracing small circles on my shoulder. It’s oddly comforting, chills settling on my skin. I’m not sure if it’s from the simple wind from the moving ferry boat or if it’s from his touch, but I choose to ignore all of it.

“Okay, fine. If we’re playing twenty questions on our first date like kids, you better not ask dumb questions. I mean it,” I tell him, and he smirks.

“Favorite romance movie? Romcom, or romance, or whatever… It doesn’t matter,” He tells me.

“I like comical ones the most... Like Easy A. That one is amazing. But out of the sentimental ones, I really love Stuck In Love and I love La La Land,” I tell him.

“Oh come on... La La Land is not... No. I’m sorry, that movie is horrible,” He sits up, the conversation serious now.

“Oh yeah? Why?” I shift toward him.

“Because the ending is god awful! That is a shitty way to end such a picturesque movie,” He speaks his truth, and it makes me smirk, showing exactly how wrong he was about me.

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