The Date Planner

1.14. Talk

I don't remember how long we were there kissing in the parking lot. It was like the world had faded in the background and it was only him. His scent, his touch, everything just made me forget where I was or anything else.

My work least of my worries. Nothing. Just me and him. I drowned myself in him, like he was a d**g.

Though his kisses had turned even more softer and tender after a while as he peppered them down my throat, nipping at the pleasure point between the juncture of my neck and shoulder, eliciting a gasp from me.

Making me tighten my fingers around his hair and tug at it gently, wanting him even closer.

Breathing harder, pressing closer and nothing but ourselves to tether us to the ground...

Then I blink back to myself as my train of thoughts are interrupted by none other than the source of them.

Clinton.

We had long departured from the McDonald's driveway and to be very honest, my head was still in that parking lot.

And I won't deny it, I'm still kind of hot and bothered.

But anyhow, Clinton suggested to head to the beach, retracing our steps back to our first not-a-date-yet-a-date.

Now here we're, sitting in the sand, a little too much close to the shoreline, gazing out at the night sky, lost in our own heads waiting yet again for the other to speak.

My phone starts ringing all of a sudden, breaking the silence.

Harley Jenkins

Flashes on the screen and I just sigh to myself.

"A client?", Clinton asks, looking at the screen.

"Yup", I say with a pop to the 'p' in the end.

"Why don't you just shut them off? It's past working hours. Way past it. Shouldn't they know that already?"

I give him a look as I recall him calling me at midnight one time asking about the arrangements for his date.

"You're the one to talk?"

He furrows his brows at me for a second before the realization dawns on him.

He clears his throat up, rolling his sleeves further up his arms, not meeting my eyes.

"Sorry", he mutters sheepishly.

Long gone was his coat jacket and instead were his sleeves rolled up as I looked at him, thinking over his statement curiously.

Then a thought hit me and before something could change my mind, I did it.

I stood up from my place, took a few steps forward into the water and threw my phone with as much as strength as possible into the endless sea, in the wake of Clinton's calling.

I heard him catch up to me, pulling me back gently away from water.

"What the f**k was that about?", he demanded.

I couldn't help but smile.

"I took your advice", I simply shrugged, enjoying the gentle breeze in my hair.

"What?", now it was his turn to smile.

I rolled my eyes at him.

"I shut them off, once and for all", I said, trying to hide the giddy laugh that was trying to burst out of my throat.

He looked at me for a second, eyes smiling.

"Feels amazing, doesn't it?", his eyes searching mine.

And all I could do was release that laugh in my throat as a liberating feeling came all over my body, making me the happiest I had felt in days.

And he joined into my laughter before pulling me into his arms.

Hands around my waist and mine around his neck.

He gently swayed us from side to side, to the song of the sea, it's wind and breeze hitting our faces and I wanted to laugh again at our sillyness.

We simply gazed at each other, swaying slowly, smiling like probable goons.

And then suddenly, it hit me.

I wanted him.

I've always wanted him. I just never realized it until now when the thought of this night ending came to me and I realized I didn't want it too.

I just wanted to stay happy.

In this very moment.

I know I sounded like I was already in love but maybe it was.

I just kept denying it.

I just couldn't see past the idea.

My hands came down to fiddle with his collar as I took a deep breath to tell him something I've been dreading to tell him all night.

My eyes instantly averted to my hands and I tried to even my breathing.

"Jason...is more than my best friend to me, Clinton. I-I've loved him for a really long time and realized that he could never see me past his best friend and that is all it will ever be with him. I'm sorry if I was reluctant at first but I see it now", I stop as a shaky breath leaves my lips and my eyes turn red with unshed tears that I'm holding back.

"I understand if you still don't like me. It's okay. I'm still after all the best friend to your business rival. It's probably not a good idea to get-", he cuts me off by pulling at my chin and making me look at him, his grip very firm on me.

"I could never. Ever since the day you told me to f**k off, I can't. So don't you dare mention it, I didn't waste so much money on those dates for nothing", every word that left his lips so determined, I couldn't help but let out those tears.

God, when did I turn into sucha sob story?!

And without a word he pulls me into him, letting me cry for a boy who was his rival and for a part of me that could never be fixed.

"Its okay. It's going to be alright", his hands run through my hair and I sob even harder because of the comfort he provides.

I'm just an i***t.

I think to myself.

Here's this perfect guy, ready to give me everything I could ever ask for and I tell him I'm in love with Jason. To be very honest, I did think about this. I've thought about what I would say to Clinton. Jason is never going to see me in a different light and I'm just waiting for something that will never happen so it's better if I just leave him be. And when I think of it, how long was I going to stay... unhappy?

He shushes me, holding me tighter as if protecting me and I melt into him. Giving into the pain, I've been hiding for so long.

After a while I calm down enough but Clinton still keeps me in his arms, not letting go.

"Look, if you're worried about Jason. I don't care about him", he says and I pull back a little to get a look of his face.

"What?", I exclaim in surprise-shock.

He completely ignores it and moves on.

"Although it does pain me to know you love him but anyways...", he shrugged trying to lighten the mood with a joke.

"What?", I say again, dragging the word a little too much, perplexed myself.

He sighs.

"Justine, I like you a lot. And I know it sounds a little messed up but the day I met you, I never meant for this to happen. Until you walked into that first date you arranged for me to receive your paycheck. I-", he breaths out, stuttering a little.

And I wait.

"The moment I saw you, I felt something I've never felt before. It was like a-", I cut him off.

"-thread, a connection binding us together and pulling at it", I whisper out, remembering it all.

I feel his eyes on me and I look up to meet his eyes.

"Exactly, that", he drags out slowly as if not sure what to say.

We stay silent for a few seconds, taking in each other's features before...

"So...", he starts awkwardly and I play along.

"I'm just waiting when you'll ask me to be your girlfriend, no pressure", I shrug at the end nonchalantly, trying to lighten up the mood.

And he just laughs it off, clearly surprised by my comment before asking me the said thing.

And what do you know, next morning I wake up in his bed.