-Caleb-
Heartbreakingly spooky beautiful. These would be the words I would use to describe Arie as she slowly makes her way down the stairs.
To be honest I thought we would just casually hang out. But the moment I saw her I suddenly wish I dressed better and got flowers.
Someone so gorgeous deserves flowers.
My throat is suddenly dry. What in the entire fuck is wrong with me? I never get nervous.
But I'm struck. My heart is racing in my chest and...Am I sweating?
The fuck?
Fuck, I wish I brought something. A pre-date gift or a bouquet or something. Cause this is not a hang-out.
That's what I expected up until the moment Arie took the first step down the stairs. Now it's a date. Our first date.
"Hi." She says sweetly as she takes the last step and my heart feels like it's actually shaking.
"Hi. You look...so unbelievably beautiful."
Aries face instantly starts to blush.
"Thank you." She says and I immediately want to touch her.
Fuck!
Didn't I warn you, Arie?
How can I let you out like that?
I desperately want to kiss her. So freaking gorgeous.
Bryce clears his throat and I hesitantly take my gaze from Arie.
"Treat her right, open every door you see. Don't let Arie touch a thing including her seat. If you fuck up I'll tase you." He warns with a dry smile.
"It's Georgia I'll treat her like a queen."
"You better. I'll tase you in the dick if you don't." He says with the same smile.
"Got it."
He drops the smile and hits me with a firm look that plainly tells me if I fuck up I'm getting fucked up.
Then he looks to Arie. He reaches over and adjusts a curl.
"Have fun. I'll wait up for you."
Arie nods and Bryce turns to open the door for us.
I signal for Arie to step out first. She steps out carefully and I follow.
As we near my Mustang I rush ahead and pull the passenger door for her to get in silently giving myself an attaboy for taking my car to the car wash and getting it detailed this morning.
"Thank you." She says as she steps inside to take her seat.
I close the door and walk around the car taking deep breaths to calm my heart.
It is the quietest most awkward car ride I have ever been subjected to for like ten minutes.
"Where are we going?" She asks finally and I literally sigh in relief.
"The fair. It's the last day."
"I thought we were having dinner."
"We are. At the fair. The food is always the best on the last day for some reason. I probably should have warned you. Are you ok to walk around in those shoes?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine. It's just that doesn't basically the whole town go to the last day of the fair?" I look over at her and for the first time, I notice how worried she looks.
"What's wrong are you scared to be seen with me?"
"It isn't that more like I'm scared to be seen. I don't want anyone to give you a hard time."
"Why would they?"
Arie gestures to her body.
"No one with sense will give me a hard time. And only someone with a death wish would give you a hard time while I'm around. Don't worry about the small-minded townie. I want to show off my date. Is that alright?"
"Show off?"
"Yeah, I'm proud to have you on my arm. I don't give a shit about anything else."
Arie curls her hands in her lap as she contemplates my words.
"Are you sure?" She asks finally.
I place my hand on her knee and squeeze it to comfort her.
"I'm sure."
I notice her arms and legs prickle with goosebumps.
"Are you cold? Your arms have goosebumps."
Arie slowly shakes her head.
"I'm not cold." She says with a cute smirk and I just about melt.
Lord, please help me not pounce.
-Arie-
My heart drops the moment Caleb turns into the packed parking lot. The whole town is here.
I shouldn't have agreed to this. I silently pray that none of the jerks from my old high school recognize me. Maybe they won't. It's been more than a year.
Caleb takes a while to find a parking spot but the moment he spots a ratty old pickup truck backing out he quickly snatches the spot to the chagrin of a few cars coming in from the opposite direction.
Great, people hate us already. I again pray I don't know anyone in those cars.
Caleb gets out of the car and I take a moment to check my face in the overhead mirror.
He opens my door and offers me his hand.
I slip my hand into his and step out of the car.
"Thank you," I say again and he chuckles.
"Don't thank me darling it's just good ol country manners." He says turning up his country boy drawl.
I giggle, why do I love that?
He closes the door behind me and leads me by the hand.
I soon realize that it's a task in itself navigating through the many bodies in the lot. If it's bad out here it can't be any better inside.
Caleb halts and I nearly run into him. He turns to look at me.
"Walk behind me and hold my shirt. I don't want to lose you." He instructs.
The lot is not that crowded but I do it snatching up the opportunity to hide behind him.
I hold the back of his shirt as he navigates us toward the entrance.
I peek around him and notice the long ass line and frown. I almost groan aloud.
I ready myself for the wait but Caleb takes my hand and leads me to the front of the line.
I'm surprised when he pulls two tickets from his pocket and hands them to the attendant.
He leads me through the entrance and I'm relieved to see it's a lot less crowded inside.
I lean into him. "How did you already have tickets?"
He chuckles as he peers down at me. "I know a guy."
I scrunch my nose. "Ewww. Corny."
He laughs aloud then and I can't help but admire how white his teeth are. The man has a beautiful smile. He pulls my hand towards the concession.
"So what're you up for my gorgeous date? Do you want to do the rides, the games, or do you want to food surf?" He asks me.
But I'm stalled at "gorgeous date" once again he breaks me out in goosebumps.
Caleb smiles as he releases my hand for the first time and runs both his palms up and down my arms.
He peers down at me and in a moment I'm snared by his intense chocolate eyes.
"Are you cold Arie?" He asks again and my legs threaten to turn jelly from how he says my name.
I shake by head slowly.
"Will you tell me if you are?"
I nod.
His hands drop away from my arms.
"So what do you want to do first?" He asks again.
I consider it. "Rides first, games next, food last."
"Great strategy." He says with a smile as he turns to the concession stand.
He leans forward to the attendant.
"We would like two unlimited ride and game passes."
"That will be 80."
I watch as Caleb pays the attendant feeling a little awkward realizing I know nothing about date etiquette.
"I have money," I tell him awkwardly and he turns to me with a lifted eyebrow.
He chuckles, "That's nice. Keep it in your purse."
"Are you sure?" I ask him as he slips the cards in his pocket.
"I'm sure baby." He says as he takes my hand and pulls me along.
-Tee-
I'm really sick of being here. All the noise and lights are starting to give me a headache.
"Are you alright babe?" Bree asks me.
"Just a headache. Are you ready to go?"
"Aww, but we haven't gotten our picture taken and you promised to win me more prizes."
I take a deep breath and try not to be annoyed at how vapid she can be sometimes.
She sighs, "Ok. Can we have funnel cake before we leave?" She asks with an annoying pout and I wonder to myself why it's so cute when Arie does it.
"Yeah."
"Oh, Caleb's here," Nickie announces and we all turn in the direction she is looking.
"Whose that girl with him?" Cassie asks and Nickie's eyes immediately bulge as her mouth drops open.
She grabs my sleeve. "Is that Arie?!"
"Caleb!" Cassie calls and Caleb immediately stops and looks our way.
He smiles brightly when he sees it's us and starts to walk in our direction leading Arie by the hand.
Aries eyes go big and doey when he sees us and squeezes a plushy purple elephant against his chest.
"Hey-
Caleb isn't even able to finish his greeting before Nickie squeals and pulls Arie into a hug.
"You look so pretty."
"Yeah right, you look so lean and toned." Arie says as he pulls back.
Nickie giggles, "The college cheerleading team is no joke it totally makes our high schools team look like trash. I really didn't expect it they have been kicking my ass."
Arie rolls his eyes, "You look amazing for someone getting their ass kicked."
"Literally like the only benefit. I'm exhausted but my ass has never looked better."
Nickie turns to look at Cassie, "Right babe?"
Cassie laughs, "You always had a nice ass."
Nickie rolls her eyes.
"Cassie this is Arie. Arie this is Cassie, my girlfriend."
Cassie smiles, "It's nice to finally meet you, Arie."
"Likewise. Nickie just gushes about you every time we talk." Arie says as my eyes drift down to notice he is still holding hands with Caleb.
What the fuck? They just met yesterday.
"Same, she forwards me every single one of your posts. You should model like professionally."
Arie looks stunned by Cassie's statement. "That is too kind I'm way amateur."
"Everyone starts as an amateur. Trust me I know, I work with plenty of models just starting out. If you're ever interested I would love to shoot you."
Aries eyes go big.
"Really?"
Nickie places her hands on her hips. "Trust me she means it. Cassie never kids and the moment I showed her pictures of you she made her mind up. You might as-well just agree she won't stop hassling you until you do it."
Cassie pushes her glasses up, "Pretty much."
"She is obsessed with the androgyny esthetic. She went Gaga over your pictures. I was jealous." Nickie pouts and Arie shoves her playfully.
"Babe, I thought Arie was a boy." Bree says and everyone turns to look at her.
I sigh. I don't know what to say.
Arie smiles, "You're Bree right?"
Bree smiles and wraps her arm around mine. "Yup. Did Tee tell you about me?"
Arie smiles, "Yup, nothing but good things. It's nice to meet you."
"Thanks."
Bree turns to me, "Babe funnel cake." She pouts.
"Bree you're being rude." I scold her for things like this literally every day.
Bree's eyebrows furrow, "When?"
"Now."
"I'm sorry. I just want funnel cake."
I take a deep breath. "I'll get it go wait by the tables."
"Ok, baby." She smiles and I quickly turn towards the concession.
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