Help a girl out.

Chapter Nine.

Jessie's POV.

Today is Friday, also known as the day I have my first date. Ever! To be honest, I’m kind of freaking out! What am I going to wear? I can’t really go on a date in a hoodie like I usually wear! Also, I have no idea where we are going. How the hell do you dress for the unknown!? Ugh! This is really frustrating. I’ve tried to call Lily. Yes, she would definitely know what to do in this situation, but sadly she’s not picking up.. what am I going to do? I could cancel.. but no! I want to go on this date. I like Julian. He’s sweet and funny, not to mention that he doesn’t exactly hurt on eyes either! Why don’t I have more friends? If I had more friends I would have more options for help or maybe I should have read more girly magazines or something.. Guess I just have to figure this out on my own. Oh wait, I know. I can maybe go ask Marc for some advice, he’s a guy and I know he’s been on more than a couple of dates. The least he can do is help his sister out.. 

Having made the decision to ask for Marc’s help, I walk across the hall to his apartment. I knock and wait for him to open, but it’s not Marc opening the door. “Hey Peanut, what’s up?” Liam asks opening the door in jeans and no shirt! Why is he opening the door without a shirt on? My eyes wander from his firm jaw to his broad shoulders and chest, and further down to his rock-hard solid abs, making me swallow the lump that’s forming in my throat. “Cat got your tongue?” He chuckles, obviously he caught me staring, not that I did anything to hide it. I can feel my cheeks burning. I must be bright red in the face by now. I cough a little to clear my throat and force my eyes to look up at his face. “I.. I.Um. Is Marc here?” Nice Jessie, real nice. I struggle not to roll my eyes at my own attempt to.. to, I don’t even know?! There’s no point in trying to deny I was staring, he caught me red-handed, so I might as well just get to the point. “No, sorry, he’s not here.. He probably won’t be back for a while, he’s out with Lily,” he states. Well, that explains why I can’t reach her. Sh*t! I have about four hours before my date, and I already feel defeated and useless. This is going to be a f*ucking disaster! I think somehow Liam senses my feeling of defeat.. “Hey peanut, are you alright?” He asks in a soothing way. “Is there something I can do?” He continues. “No, thanks though.. I just needed Marc’s help with something. It doesn’t matter.” I start to walk away, my head hanging low. Liam stops me by grabbing my shoulder. I turn half around to look at him. “Wait, hold up.. I’m sure I can help with whatever you needed Marc for.. You are my best friend’s little sister after all. And I’m pretty sure he would bust my balls if I didn’t do everything I could to help you, no matter what it is..” he smiles kindly at me, like you would to a scared kid, trying to ooze out some kind of easiness. Asking Marc for help felt hard enough. I can’t even imagine telling Liam about my worries, and my freaked out brain. On the other hand, I don’t really have any other options right now. I let out a big breath. I didn’t even realize I was holding in. “Okay. I mean, okay maybe you can help me.. but you have to promise not to make fun of me, I feel nervous enough as it is..” I say, looking at the floor, my insecurities on high alert. “Jeeze, now you’re making me nervous. Is everything alright? You’re not sick or anything are you?” I can hear the panic in his voice as he asks the last part. The foolishness I’m feeling about this whole situation makes me laugh. “No, no I’m not sick or anything.” My laugh and answer seems to make Liam relax. “Phew! Okay, good! And I promise I won’t make fun of you.. You can tell me anything.” I see the sincerity in his eyes. Can I ask Liam about all this date stuff? Wouldn’t it be weird? I don’t know why it feels harder to talk to Liam about this than I think it would with my brother. “Okay, maybe you can help.. So, do you remember I told you that I was going out with that guy, Julian? Well, the date is tonight and I’m kind of freaking out about it.” I say. “Why? If you don’t feel comfortable or he’s making you something you don’t want to do, then you shouldn’t do it!” He says with a stern look on his face. “No it’s not that..” the embarrassment of this conversation is making me wrap my arms around myself “He’s not making me do anything, but this is.. um.. my.. um first date.” again my eyes fall to the floor I don’t dare to look in his eyes and see the mockery. “You mean.. like the first-first? like this is the first date you are going on, ever?” I can hear the shock in his voice, and I can only bring myself to nod to his question. It’s quiet for a moment before Liam clears his throat. “Wow, I’m sorry if I sounded shocked.” Suddenly I’m very annoyed, and I turn towards my apartment. “Forget I said anything, I’ll figure it out on my own.” I stomp to my apartment without looking back at him, I enter and try slam the door shut, but it’s stopped by Liam’s hand. “Look, I’m sorry. But you can blame me for being a little shocked by the fact that you haven’t been on a date before.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I turn to face him. I don’t know why he’s shocked. I mean we went to the same high school, and the school wasn’t that big. I mean if I would have dated anyone, there’s no way he and Marc wouldn’t have known about it. As if he could read my mind and sensing my sudden rise in anger, he says “When I think about it, I don’t remember you going out on dates.. But it’s like my brain hasn't thought of it before, you and dating I mean.. And I can’t for the life of me understand why nobody would ask out a beautiful girl like yourself before now.” Beautiful? Did Liam just call me beautiful? Me? Beautiful? My anger subsiding, it’s not his fault anyway, and I can’t really justify being angry at him. He’s just trying to be sweet to his best friend’s little sister. “I’m sorry, it’s not your fault, I’m just really stressed out about this, and I tried to get a hold on Lily for help, but as you can imagine, that didn’t work out.. And I have no idea where we are going, what to wear or even what to say..” I ramble on. Liam stops me by putting his hands on my shoulders, he leans down so we are at eye level with each other. “Calm down, and breathe.. It’s going to be fine. You are kind and funny, and if he doesn’t see that, then he’s an idiot.” He smiles “Now let’s get you ready for your date!” “Wha..what? You’re gonna help me?” I ask surprised. “Yes, you’re in luck, I’m a guy after all, and who better to help you out with this! Plus, I can’t let you go crazy, Marc would kill me, and I also have nothing better to do. So let’s go.” He turns me around and pushes me further into my apartment, walking right behind me…