I stared at myself in the mirror, ensuring I looked good in what I was wearing. I  wore a plain white t-shirt and jeans with my beat-up sneakers. I sighed and started to prepare for my night with Caleb mentally. We have been talking about it for the whole week, and we agreed that he would get me around 6:30, and then we would get the snacks and then head there. I'm glad that I won't be alone. I told Tia about the movie and what Caleb said, and Tia said that she would come and bring Mason along, so it doesn't feel awkward. I'd asked her about where she and Mason stood. She only shrugged her shoulder and said they were figuring it out, and for some reason, I didn't believe that. My phone went off, and I looked at it, and it was Caleb telling me that he was outside. I smiled and looked at myself one last time before grabbing my bag and walking out of my room. I walked down the stairs only to be stopped by my mom standing by the door, looking out the window.

 

"Who is that?" My mom asked, looking over at me.

 

"Oh, that is Caleb. We are going to a movie," I said, walking over to the closet and grabbing my sweater.

 

"That boy the was here in your room alone?" My mom said, crossing her arms.

 

"Mom, I told you a million times I was just teaching him how to play the guitar," I said.

 

"Well, I don't like it," My mom said.

 

"Well, you have nothing to worry about. He is just a friend. Now can I go, please?" I asked.

 

"Did you pick out the school from my list?" My mom said, and I groaned.

 

"Mom, I don't want to go to those schools," I said.

 

"Steven, it doesn't matter what you want. You must attend a good school and get a well-paying job. It is time for you to grow up and get over this music nonsense," My mom said.

 

"You know what? I don't want to have this conversation now," I said, walking to the door, but my mom blocked me.

 

"I am not going to let you go out with that boy," My mom said. So I pushed down my anger before it got worst. Thankfully, Nina stepped in at the right time.

 

"Steven, are you ready?" Nina said, walking down the stairs.

 

"What," My mom said.

 

"Mom, I told you this me and Steven are going to the drive-in with our friends," Nina said.

 

"And that boy is picking you guys up?" My mom said.

 

"Yeah, he offered since his truck is big enough for us to sit in," Nina said, smiling at my mom.

 

"Fine, go, but I want you back at 10," My mom said.

 

"Mom, the movie starts at 9, and it is a marvel movie, so you know it is not an hour," I said.

 

"Steven," My mom started.

 

"No, he is actually right beside you don't have to worry. I will be with Steven, and Tia and Gwen will be there, so you don't have to worry." Nina linked arms with me. "Now we have to go. We don't want to miss our spot," Nina said, and my mom stepped to the side, letting us go.

 

Once we were outside, Nina didn't let go of my arm and got her eyes fixed on the truck.

 

"Nina," I said.

 

"Wait until we get into the car," Nina said.

 

We reached the car, and I climbed into the passenger seat. Nina climbed into the back, and I looked at Caleb, who was just as shocked and confused as I was. I looked back at Nina. She was pulling the phone up to her ear to answer the call.

 

"Hey, we just got into the car, so I will see you in a minute," Nina said, ending the call and looking at Caleb and me.

 

"So what is going on?" Caleb asked, and Nina smiled at him.

 

"Start driving because if we don't leave now, our mother will come outside, and this date will be over," Nina said. So I started to blush, and Caleb fell silent. 

Caleb slowly turned, put the truck in drive, and pulled out of the driveway. Once we were on the road, Nina gave him directions. So we pulled up into a convenience store parking lot, and Caleb put it in park, his hands still gripping the steering wheel.

 

"Nina, why are we here?" I asked, and then there was a knock on my window. I turned and saw that it was Gwen with her hair down and her makeup looking fantastic. I looked at her outfit; she wore a red body con dress. Why would she wear that to a drive-in movie? So I lowered the window, and a bag was thrown into my lap.

 

"Is that everything you like?" Gwen asked. I looked into the bag and saw it was all my favorite snacks and drinks.

 

"Uh yeah. What is going on?" I asked.

 

"Whelp, my job is done. I'm out," Nina said, opening the door and hopping out, giving Gwen a quick hug before looking at me.

 

"Where are you going?" I asked.

 

"Oh, did you think I would go and be a third wheel? Not gonna happen. Gwen and I were invited to a party by this guy in my business class," Nina said.

 

"So why didn't you tell mom that your guys would be there?" I asked.

 

"Because if I did, she wouldn't let you go, and I am not going to let you miss out on having a life and hanging out with your friends because mom is stubborn," Nina said.

 

"Thank sis," I said, giving her a warm smile.

 

"No problem, now we got a party to go to later," Nina said.

 

"Remember protection," Gwen called out as she walked to the car with Nina. I rolled up the window and felt my cheeks burn. I looked over and Caleb, and he was staring ahead, biting his lower lip.

 

"Ready to go?" I asked, and Caleb only nodded and started the car, and we drove off.

The drive was quiet. I tried to ask Caleb if everything was alright, but his response was a slight nod, gripping the steering wheel even tighter. I swear I thought that it was going to break by the way he was gripping it. Once we got to the drive-in, the place was packed, and the line was out onto the road. So I looked around the lot and spotted the guy I needed to talk to about our spots.

 

"Hey, pull up over there," I said, and Caleb nodded and pulled over a tall bald man with a beer gut direction traffic. We pulled up next to him, and Caleb rolled his window down.

 

"Hey man, the line is over there," he said, pointing behind us. I  poked my head out, and the man's frown turned into a bright smile.

 

"Hey Tony, am I late?" I asked.

 

"Steven! Of course not, head-on in. Tia and her friend showed up already," Tony said.

 

"Thanks, Tony," I said, and he nodded, and we droved deeper into the lot. We pulled up to the middle of the lot, and Tia was already out of her car stretching. She had her hair down, and she was wearing an oversized black hoodie and some leggings with red slides.

 

"It is about time you guys showed up," Tia said, awe pulled up.

 

"Sorry, we had to drop Nina off. She is heading to a party," I said.

 

"Oh, so that is what she meant," Tia said, rubbing her chin.

 

"What?" I asked, and Tia waved me off.

 

"Nothing. I just wanted to make you made it here, and your spot wasn't taken. So now I am going back into my car," Tia said.

 

"With your boyfriend?" I said, giving her a wink.

 

"Why yes. Yes, I am," Tia said, and my jaw dropped.

 

"Wait, Tia, is Mason your boyfriend now?" I asked.

 

"Enjoy the movie, Stevie," Tia said as she climbed back into her car. That girl has a lot of explaining to do. So I looked back at Caleb, and he was looking at me with a blank look on his face.

 

"Uh, we should go park," I said, and Caleb nodded and parked his truck to where the back that facing the screen. So I  unbuckled and looked at him as he parked the truck.

 

"I'll meet you back there. I am going to switch the radio to the station," Caleb said to me, and I nodded, grabbing my bags and heading to the back.

 

I looked at the trunk and bit my lip because I didn't know what I was doing. Like, how do you open this? As soon as I touched the door handle, Caleb walked beside me. I looked at him and gave him an awkward grin, and he began to open the back. Once it was open, he grabbed my bag and gestured for me to climb on. Once I was on, Caleb handed me my bag and climbed inside. I opened my bag, pulled out a large blanket, and slid toward the back until my back was pressed against the wall. Once I was settled, Caleb followed suit, and we sat staring at the screen together. I glanced over to Caleb, and he was focused on the screen.

 

"Can you hear everything?" Caleb asked, looking at me.

 

"Uh yeah," I said, and Caleb hummed and looked back at the screen. We sat there in silence until they announced that the movie was about to begin. So I wrapped my blanket around me and heard Caleb sigh, leaning down at me.

 

"I know this isn't the right time, but can we talk after the movie?" Caleb asked.

 

"S- sure," I said, and Caleb fell silent, lifting his leg and resting his arm on it, focusing on the movie.

 

I stared at the screen, but I wish I could tell you I focused on the movie because my mind was going a mile a minute about the boy next to me. So what does he want to talk about, and why was he so quiet the entire time? God, I wish that I could get this through this movie.