Please Say No

Chapter Seven: Date Day

June had woken up the next morning, content for the first time this week. Last night had given him the push he’d needed because that feeling of happiness he’d felt dancing with Aria while their friends surrounded them, was something he wanted to feel every day.

He smiled stupidly into his pillow, sighing happily as he checked his messages. Lo and behold, Jin and Jaehun had taken a picture of them dancing and had sent it to the group, captioning it ‘I ship it’.

He giggled, saving the photo to his gallery. He was thinking of making it his lockscreen, in the event that Aria would find it and blush at the cheesiness. Currently his lockscreen was the photo Jin had sent the other day, of them cuddling. It had made June’s heart flutter a little bit, seeing how snugly she fit into him.

Once replying to a few messages, he shuffled out of bed, still mostly asleep, to find something to eat in the kitchen.

As he munched down on a slice of toast, Ren ran passed, snatching a slice for himself while buttoning up his shirt.

“It’s like 10am, where are you going?” June asked curiously.

“Aria’s date is today and she’s really on edge and a little panicky, so she asked me to come over and help her get ready,” Ren explained offhandedly. And just like that, June’s mood had been ruined; the dejection he’d felt this entire week coming back in full force.

 He’d completely forgotten about the date, about Cedric and his attempts to flirt with Aria. Now that he was reminded of them, he wanted nothing more than to dig a hole and bury himself in it.

“Do you wanna come with?” Ren asked around a mouthful of toast. He warily glanced towards his friend, knowing June wouldn’t be happy about this. June thought for a moment, brows furrowing in contemplation.

“You said Aria is panicking?”

“Yeah, you know how she gets about these things. Social interaction like this scares her.”

June could picture her wild eyes, almost close to tears as she played with her sleeves, head ducked and shaking slightly. He’d seen her anxiety spike enough times to know what it looked like and how bad it could get.

“I’ll come with,” he sighed, knowing he wouldn’t be able to go through the day without worrying about whether or not she was okay.

He left the kitchen and strolled to his room, setting out clothes before getting into the shower. He’d picked one of his favourite hoodies, a simple black one that Aria liked. The sleeves were too long but she always cooed as the way it gave him sweater paws. God, when did he become so whipped for someone he wasn’t even with?

When they’d all gotten ready, Ren, June and Lucas set off for the car, Lucas and Ren sending him wary glances every now and then.

“I know you don’t like any of this, but I’m really glad you’re going because she sounded really panicked on the phone earlier,” Lucas said, smiling at June.

“For what it’s worth, I didn’t think it would get this far. I just wanted you to get jealous enough that you’d confess and I’d see two of my favourite people finally happy,” Ren sighed, shooting June a sad smile.

“I was an i***t,” June sighed, “I know how she is about relationships, and how she avoids anything confrontational. I should have told her how I felt when I had the chance.”

“You should have told her last night,”  Lucas rolled his eyes, “I can’t believe you didn’t kiss her, sometimes you make me so mad.”

“She was practically sobbing when I found her,  Lucas,”  June  sent him a glare, “I wasn’t going to take advantage of her yesterday after what you’d put her through.”

“I’m sorry,”  Lucas hung his head, “I wanted to help.”

“I know,” June  sighed, rolling his eyes before ruffling the younger boy’s hair, “I appreciate it.”

When they arrived at Aria’s, they found Jaehun’s and Hannah’s cars parked in the driveway.

“Obviously, she’s panicking a lot more than she let on,” Ren sighed, getting out of the car and walking to the door. Danielle opened it a moment later, sighing.

“She’s in the bathroom. Apparently she’s not going to come out for the rest of the day so she doesn’t have to go on this date.”

“Go bring her out,” Ren sighed, pushing June towards said room.

“Aria?” June asked hesitantly, knocking lightly.

“June?” Aria asked, and he could hear the confusion in her tone.

“Yeah it’s me. Open up.”

“No,” he could hear the pout in her voice as she’d said that, chuckling at her antics.

“You don’t have to let anyone else in, just let me in so we can talk.”

After a few seconds, he could hear her shuffle before turning the lock and opening the door. He pushed his way inside, before turning to find her still in her pajamas, hair sticking up in all directions because she’d obviously been running her hands through them.

“You look like crap,” he giggled, reaching out his hand and trying to comb through some of the clumps with his fingers.

“Thanks,” she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes at him.

“Girls are usually supposed to be happy on the day of their date, not hiding in the bathroom, refusing to come out.”

“Obviously this doesn’t apply to me because I can’t function like a normal human being,” she huffed.

June wanted to tell her to skip the date, that Cedric wasn’t the one for her and that she should just go on a date with him anyway because he’s seen her pre-date and he really wouldn’t care anyway, as long as they were together.

Instead he said, “Cedric’s a nice guy and you obviously like him a little bit if you’re trying to avoid it this much. Going on this date wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen.”

“Do I like him, though?” Aria sighed.

“You won’t know until you’ve gone on the date with him.”

“We’ve only known each other for a few days, this is crazy. I never date people I’ve just met, why didn’t anyone stop me?”

“Because you everyone wants you to be happy and because he’s cute?” June shrugged.

Aria sighed, burrowing her face into June’s chest, “Am I being childish?”

“A little bit,” June chuckled, stroking her hair. She felt so small against him, but so warm too. He wanted to hold her again, like last night, and not let her go on this date. He wanted to sit in this bathroom and talk and laugh until it was too late and Cedric was no longer a problem and it was just them being together.

He’d never make her worry about dates with him. They would be calm, informal, just them and pizza. And maybe Harry Potter or cheesy romcoms.

“Where’s he taking you?” June asked.

“Some fancy dinner place where you have to dress nicely and wear heels.”

“That sounds horrifying, why is he taking you there?”

“Maybe he thinks it’s a good date idea?” he felt her shrug, “I don’t know. Soran says he likes that kind of stuff, the dinner and the fancy clothes and walking your date home.”

“This is South Africa, walking your date home is dangerous as hell, please let someone pick you up after. I’ll pick you up after,” he then thought about actually having to go there after their date, to watch her with Cedric. What if she enjoyed the date? What if they kissed? June might actually run him over with the car if they kissed in front of him. He could feel the jealousy spike just thinking about it.

“Will you?” Aria asked hopefully, “it sounds a lot less scary if I get to see you afterwards.” And he knew he’d pick her up, regardless of how he felt.

“Of course.” June hugged her, “I’ll even be your getaway excuse if you need to leave early.”

“Okay,” she sighed, letting go and attempting to smile. She shook a little but she looked significantly less panicked than when he’d first seen her. He opened the bathroom door, letting her walk out and into her room. Jin had set about planning her outfit and Hannah had taken up the make-up roll.

“We’ll sort this end out,” Jin nodded, ushering everyone but Hannah and Aria out of her room.

“Wear black underwear,” Jaehun grinned and was rewarded with a slap over the head by Lucas.

“Aria’s an innocent flower, stop trying to corrupt her.”

“I mean, I’m like 90% sure Aria’s only got black underwear,” Ren grinned, earning him a smack from June.

“I don’t want to know how you know this,” Jaehun rolled his eyes, “you perv.”

Ren shot him a playful grin, eyebrows waggling playfully. Before someone else could hit him he laughed, “I would never. I’m too terrified that June would smother me in my sleep.”

“Soran would smother you in your sleep.  And Jin, too. They get super protective.”

The boys had set about making breakfast to pass the time, Aria’s mother watching worriedly as Jaehun tried to operate the stove.

“Go relax, Aunty Jan,” Ren grinned, “we’ll make sure Jaehun doesn’t burn down the kitchen.”

“Please watch them,” she said to June before leaving.

“I can’t believe Aria’s mom likes you,” Ren scoffed, “she never likes anyone.”

“June ’s an actual angel,” Jaehun shrugged, playing with the gas switch, “everyone loves him.”

“I can’t disagree there,” June  said, guiding Jaehun away from the stove and to the tray of vegetables that needed to be sliced. They played music while they set to work, singing softly.

Ren had lost interest a few minutes in, opening the door to play with the family dog. She had bounded onto him, nuzzling into his hand as he continued to pat her but once she’d seen June, she’d forgotten Ren, trotting up to him and butting her head against his leg.

“Sorry girl, my hands are busy,” June smiled down at her. She continued to hover around him as he cooked the bacon, eventually lying over his feet.

“It’s unfair that you’re her favourite. I give her more treats,” Ren pouted.

“I told you,” Jaehun grinned, “Everyone loves June.

As they were laying out the food in the table in the lounge, the door to Aria’s room opened, Jin walking out with a proud smile.

“If any of you say that Aria doesn’t look good, I will personally burn your eyes out with her hair straightener.”

“You’re making such a big deal out of this, the date isn’t even for another three hours,” Aria  huffed, walking out of her room and rolling her eyes at Jin. June wanted to cry.

Because she looked amazing, she always looked amazing, but now she looked exactly how you would expect her to look when going on a date, a fancy, important, really great date.

And it wasn’t with June. It wasn’t even that she’d looked too extravagant. She wore a simple black dress (did she own any other colour) and her make-up had been done delicately, only the minimal amount, with small heels to top it off. She looked really pretty and really delicate.

And suddenly June hated Cedric. Because she’d done this for him, and it was petty and stupid but he couldn’t stop himself from feeling that way. He wanted to be the one to walk through the door and have his breath catch because she looked even prettier than she usually did, and to hold doors open and maybe hold her hand as they walked and every other cheesy scenario he’d ever pictured them in.

“You look amazing,” he smiled softly, grabbing her hand and helping her sit down on the table.

“Thank you,” she blushed, dropping her head and smiling.

“My baby always looks amazing, but today she looks heart-stopping,” Jin grinned.

“Definitely stopped my heart,” Jaehun smirked, “I’ll have to tell that Cedric guy to keeps his hands to himself or I’ll run him over with my car.”

June left them, under the pretense of getting water. He went into the back yard, sitting down on one of the steps, head in his hands. This was the worst idea. Coming here, seeing her like that didn’t help anything. The dog trotted up to him, nuzzling his head with her own and licking his ear.

“Your mom’s gonna break my heart one day,” June sighed, “When I have to watch her be happy with someone else.” The pup looked at him, head tilted and eyes soft, as though she knew what he was saying.

She licked his cheek before sitting down on his feet and laying her head in his lap. A few minutes passed by when June heard the padding of feet on the kitchen tiles. He looked up to find Aria leaning out the doorway, smiling down at him.

“You’re supposed to be giving me supportive pets and cuddles, not stealing the love of my dog,” she chuckled; walking around them to sit on June’s other side.

“You’ll get your dress dirty,” June  chided, “and it’s cold, don’t stay outside with bare feet.”

“Stop momming me,” she rolled her eyes, “It’s not even that cold.” She shuffled closer, hand reaching out to scratch behind the dog’s ears. They sat like that for a few minutes in silence, listening to the others eat.

“You don’t seem very excited about this date,” June  noted the frown on her face.

“It just doesn’t sit right. My gut feeling is off. And I can’t tell whether I genuinely like him or if I just like that he’s giving me attention.” June couldn’t stop the flutter of hope at hearing that.

“It wouldn’t hurt to try. Maybe you’ll actually have fun tonight.”

When it came time for Cedric to pick her up, Aria was found pacing in the lounge, hair falling in her face as she ran her hands through it over and over again.

“Sit down and stop worrying,” Jin sighed, “You’ll ruin your night if you worry.”

The sound of the car pulling into the driveway could be heard, and everyone in the room stopped, looking towards the entrance. Kiara, who had been sat in June’s lap, lifted her ears, head tilting curiously. The doorbell rang a few minutes later and Ren opened the door for Cedric, who stood in the entrance, bouquet of pink roses in hand as he bashfully stared at the floor.

He chose the wrong flowers. Aria likes daisies, she hates roses, June thought spitefully but watched as she took the flowers in Cedric’s hand with a light smile on her cheeks.

He reluctantly admitted that Cedric looked good in his black blazer and button down. They looked good together, and that pissed June off to no end. The only solace he found was that Kiara didn’t seem to like them either, pushing her way in between Aria and Cedric and butting Aria’s head for attention. She’d growled when Cedric tried to pet her, and June had to hide the smirk that formed.

They’d left a few minutes later, after Jaehun and Jin had stared Cedric down and told him to treat her right. June would be the first one have at him, should he make her uncomfortable in any way.

 When they’d left, everyone sent him sad, pitying eyes and he looked down. Aria’s father had seen the ordeal, not commenting but watching from afar with a glare on his face.

“I could always just shoot him, if you want,” he offered.

“As tempting as that sounds, Aria wouldn’t be happy,” Hannah answered for June, who couldn’t find it in himself to answer.

“I was always rooting for you, son,” Aria’s father said, patting June on the back. Apparently the only person who hadn’t been rooting for June had been June.

__

The date with Cedric has been going well but Aria couldn’t shake off this weird feeling that everything about this was wrong.

Despite her adversity to fancy dates and dressing up, the food had been good and they’d ordered milkshakes and ice-cream. Cedric, to her relief, had been as nervous as she had and when they’d finally gotten over their awkward meeting, they’d dissolved into easy chatter. He was fun to talk to, funny and charming but a bit snarky when the situation presented itself.

 They enjoyed many of the same things, the same music, the same books, the same movies. It would have been an amazing date, had this feeling left her. But it didn’t. It continued to pick at her, sitting heavy in her stomach and making her want to run away. When the date had finally ended, she’d sent June a message to come pick her up.

“I had fun,” Cedric smiled down at her, as they waited outside the restaurant.”

“Me too,” Aria smiled distractedly. A few minutes passed by in silence.

“You know, I’ve never felt like a third wheel on a date with another person before,” Cedric chuckled.

“What do you mean?”

“You obviously don’t like me the way I like you,” Cedric chuckled, rubbing his neck, “You didn’t react to me the way a girl who liked me would.”

“I’m sorry,” she sighed.

“It’s really okay,” Cedric grinned, “I still want to be friends though, because I’ve never met someone who’s simultaneously the coolest person ever but also the lamest person ever.”

Aria grinned at that, elbowing his side playfully.

June’s car had pulled up then and Cedric leaned in to hug her, “You should probably tell him how you feel,” Cedric said, shooting a glance at June, “I’m pretty sure he’s a little bit in love with you, too.”

Aria’s eyes widened at that, wanting to say something but nothing getting the chance as he opened the door to the passenger side.

“Hey, June,” he greeted.

“Hey.”

Aria smiled at Cedric again before getting into the car and clicking her seatbelt on as June drove off.

“Good date?” June asked curiously.

“Uh, yeah.”

Silence descended again, June not wanting to talk about her date and Aria trying to process Cedric’s words.

“Do you want to come inside for coffee?” she asked when they got to her house.

“Uh, sure,” June smiled, worry now creasing his features.

Aria changed out of her formal wear, putting on the nearest clothing article she could reach (which just so happened to be June’s hoodie) and a pair of pajama bottoms, while June made their coffee. They sat drinking it in her room, on the carpet, like they always did.

“You don’t look like you had that much fun,” June commented, shooting her a glance.

“I did,” Aria sighed, “I just don’t think things will work out with him.”

“Why not?” June asked.

“Because apparently I’m a lot blinder than some stranger who only started hanging around us this week,” Aria rolled her head back, letting it rest on the wall.

June was silent for a few moments, fidgeting with the sleeve of his hoodie before inhaling a shaking breath, “I have something to tell you.”

Aria looked at him, eyes wide. No. His head was tilted down, fringe shielding his eyes as he continued to play with his sleeve. His hand came forward slowly, sneaking its way into hers where he played with her fingers. No.

“I, um, I like you. Uh, like like you. You know, the ‘butterflies in your heart’ kind of like. And seeing you with Cedric made this the worst week ever and I don’t ever want to feel like that again, so I’m manning up and I’m confessing to you in the hope that you feel the same way and I’ll never have to see you with him ever again because you’ll be mine.”