'I cant believe this is actually happening. Any minute now, I'm going to wake up and realize its all a dream.' I thought to myself as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
Maybe not.
I stared at myself further. I didn't even feel like the same person. I never got nervous like this, and especially not for this reason. But here I was, staring at myself like I had been for the past...................who knows how long.
I promised myself I wouldn't go overboard. Nothing too extreme, or too fancy. I wouldn't want anyone to think I was actually as nervous as I am.
The sound of my bedroom door opening pulled my attention from my reflection.
"Hey." JC smiled at me as he entered my room. Didn't he ever knock? Being roomates didn't automatically allow you to just walk in to a girls room!
"Hey." I squeaked back. I turned my attention back to my reflection, and began to adjust the straps on my dress. Nervous habit.
"You're nervous" he stated. Smiling, he walked up behind me, placing his hands over mine on my shoulders. "Relax. Its just a date"
"Yeah, but......" I was about to protest further, but I didn't really know what to say. Yeah it was just a date. Ive been on a million dates. But never with someone like this.
JC could only smile at me before pulling back to sit on the edge of my bed. He flopped back lazily, staring at the ceiling. His eyes were focused on the ceiling above him, giving me a chance to get a good look at him. He was dressed in black slacks, with a blue dress shirt. Rather casual, but with just a touch of class. I could smell his cologne from my place at the mirror. I had to admit that he looked really good.
He started laughing. "I cant believe your nervous." He laughed harder, making it difficult for him to continue. "That is so cute."
"Shut up." I muttered back. I could feel my face turning red, so I look down at my shoes. Don't ask me why.
Sitting up, he smiled at me again. I could see him through my mirror, but wouldn't allow myself to meet his gaze.
"Listen, you've been on a lot of dates. This is just another one." I knew he was trying to make me feel better, but it wasn't really working. Didn't he realize just how much I adored this guy? I mean, no one treated me the way he did.
"Yeah." I wasn't able to make full sentences yet. I was surprised I was able to speak at all.
"I guess you really like him, huh?" I looked up at him through my mirror, greeted by his antagonizing eyes. I gave him a 'dont start' glance. He knew how much this guy meant to me, the smartass. He was just trying to make me say it.
"Okay, seriously, I'm going to offer you up a little wisdom here." He stood from my bed, walking over and standing by my side at the mirror. He turned me to face him, and surprisingly, I met his eyes. He had always been way too good at reading me, so I promised myself not to look directly at him. Damn, I sucked.
"When you're nervous, just remember to breathe. You always hold your breath then you get all flustered, so just concentrate on your breathing, and it will make everything a lot easier. You wont feel as nervous, and you'll have something else to focus on besides how much you wanna jump his fine ass."
He was actually doing good before the 'fine ass' comment. I smacked him on his arm before turning away. "If you're not going to be helpful, just shut up." I whined. He only laughed at me again.
We stood in silence for a moment.
"Wanna know something?" he asked in a quiet voice.
"Hmmm?"
"I'm nervous about my date, too."
That surprised me. A lot. He never got nervous about anything, so the thought of him being nervous about a date shocked the hell out of me.
"I really like the girl." He smiled a little, looking down at his hands which were fumbling with each other. "So I just want to make sure tonight goes well. Its our first real date and all, so I know how you feel."
That actually made me feel better. If he was nervous about something like this, then maybe I wasn't such a flake for being nervous, too.
"Thanks" I whispered.
Looking back up from his hands, he smiled at me. "For what?"
"For actually making me feel better."
His smile widened before he pulled me into a hug. I buried my face in his neck, thankful that he was there. I wasn't sure I wanted to see him before this big date, because he had a tendency to make me nervous. But I was thankful he had come in. Even if he did laugh at me.
"Well, I better go." he said, pulling back slightly. "I don't want to keep my date waiting."
"You think shes ready yet?" I asked playfully.
"Oh probably not. She's kind of high maintenance." he laughed.
I had to laugh at him. He was seriously too much sometimes.
"Well, you better go then." I said, ushering him out my bedroom door.
"Good luck on your date tonight." he offered as I escorted him to the front door.
"Thanks. You too." I laughed.
When he finally left, I headed into the kitchen for a drink. I couldn't get over how damn nervous I was. 'Just breathe' I told myself. 'Just keep breathing, and everything will be fine' I filled a glass with cold water, and drank the whole thing in whole breath. Okay, maybe I wasnt going to do so well at the breathing thing.
I tried to think of anything other than the date, in an attempt to calm my nerves.
I thought of when I had told Lynn that I was actually going on the date. She was shocked at first, but really happy for me. When I told her the specifics, of how he was going to pick me up and everything, she laughed. I had thought it was kind of funny when he had suggested it, but it was a fun idea, so I went along with it. It was a rather interesting way to start a date.
I was glad I was going on this date. At first, I wasn't sure it was such a good idea. Considering our history, I thought that maybe it wasn't the best thing. But I couldn't deny how I felt, so I went along with it. JC had been very encouraging. Stupid ass knew I could never resist it when he whined, so I agreed that maybe it wouldnt be so bad going out with the guy.
Just then, the doorbell rang. I immediately felt my stomach flip as I turned towards the noise.
"This is it" I told myself. "Just breathe"
I walked cautiously towards the door, stopping with my hand on the knob.
Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes, and opened the door.
He looked amazing. He was just standing on the doorstep, flowers in his hand, and the biggest, goofiest damn smile on his face. Only he could look that silly, and still look that irresistible.
"Hey" he smiled. He extended the flowers towards me.
"Hey to you, too" I answered, reaching out to take the flowers from him. "Thank you. This is so sweet." I felt myself smile uncontrollably.
"Well, I just thought they would be a nice touch." he said, nonchalantly.
I smiled more as I headed to the kitchen again to put the flowers in water. I could hear him follow me inside, and the door close behind him.
"I'm surprised you're not late." I said, breaking the silence.
"And I'm surprised your actually ready." he joked.
I gave him a warning smile before placing the flowers, which were now safely in a vase, on the counter.
Turning to face him, I could only stare. He looked so amazingly beautiful standing there. His hands in his pockets, a small, slightly nervous smile on his face. I was amazed that he actually looked nervous. Almost as nervous as me.
"Ready to go?" he asked, extending a hand to me.
"Ready as Ill ever be." I placed my hand in his, which he placed on his bent arm.
I grabbed by purse at the door, as we stepped out into the warm night air. There was a soft breeze blowing through the trees, cooling the air around us.
As we approached his car, he stopped and opened the door for me. I smiled at his gesture, and the fact that he held my hand as I leaned in to sit in the car. He was certainly a gentleman.
Closing the door gently after me, he headed around to the drivers side, giving me a chance to try and calm my nerves a little. God I was so nervous. I had never been this nervous before, but I also had never been on an actual date with him before.
I heard him hop into the car, the door closing behind him.
I closed my eyes, and thought back to what JC had told me.
Just then, I realized I had been holding my breathe.
I turned and looked at him.
He noticed me staring, and returned my gaze. He smiled at me, placing a hand on my leg.
"Just remember what I said," he whispered. "Just breathe"
I smiled at JC, before turning to look out the windshield of his car.
Then I did it. I closed my eyes, and I exhaled.
