Getting ready for my date was a long process. I lightly curled my hair so it was more like waves, and redid my makeup so it looked perfect. I got dressed in my new summer dress and cardigan and heels. By the time I was finished, it was 5:45. I walked downstairs to see my dad in the living room watching the game with Matt.
"Hey guys." I said coming into the living room.
"Hey." They both mumbled, engrossed in the game. I sighed. Typical guys.
"Hey, I'm going out tonight so I'll be home late." I said grabbing my jacket out of the closet.
"Going out with who? Leah?" My dad asked.
"No. Paul." I said. I knew they would stir a little because it was my second night home and I was already going out with a guy but at least they knew him.
"Paul?" Matt asked. I nodded leaning against the door frame of the living room. They both seemed at a loss for words.
"Okay... well be careful. Have fun." My dad said warily. I nodded then heard a knock at the door. He was early, I liked that. I answered the door and I saw Paul standing there in black jeans and a white button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He smiled when he saw me.
"Hey Paul." I said happily.
"Hey Reyan, you ready to go?" He asked. I nodded and went to grab my jacket.
"Hey Paul!" I heard my dad yell from the living room. Paul came through the doorway and waved at my dad.
"Mr. Collins." He said.
"You kids have fun." He said. I'm 24 and my dad still calls me a kid. Great.
"We will." Paul said. I smiled putting my jacket on.
"Ready." I said. He smiled and walked to the door.
"Bye dad." I said.
"Bye." He said back. Once out the door, we walked to the his truck.
"So, whats on board for tonight?" I asked slipping my hands in the pockets of my jacket. He did the same in his pants pockets.
"Well, I thought we could go to dinner in Port Angeles, then we could go to the beach for a little while. Sound good?" He said. I laughed a little.
"Sounds great." I said as we approached the truck. He helped me in the passenger side and went around to his side. As we started driving, I thought I'd start the conversation.
"So, how do you know the Clearwater's?" I asked him. He sighed.
"Well, just living on the reservation kind of brings us all together. You know?" He said. I nodded.
"Yeah, it is kind of like a little community. How long have you lived there?" I asked him.
"All my life." He said.
"Really? It's weird that we never met. I spent a lot of time on the reservation over the years." I said. He shrugged.
"Well I am a few years behind you and Leah. Never really hung out with her." He said.
"Really? I thought you were as old as we were." I said.
"No. I'm 21." He said.
"Oh." I said. "So your close with Leah now then?" I asked. He shrugged.
"You could say that. We're... good friends I guess." He said.
"You guess?" I asked. It seemed weird that he wasn't sure what to call her. If someone is a good friend, you know it.
"Yeah. Well, I mean you know, it's a community. I'm close with Sam, and so is Leah. Therefore, good friends." My eyes went wide with shock.
"Leah's close with Sam?" I asked. He shrugged again.
"Well, they live approximately 50 yards from each other. They're bound to be friends." He said.
"Well, it's just weird. I thought that she would've mentioned that they were friends now." I said. We didn't speak for the rest of the ride. I felt kind of out of the loop because Leah didn't tell me she was friends with Sam. I mean, the whole ordeal did happen six years ago, but still. We tell each other everything. Or at least, I thought we did.
Once we pulled up to the restaurant, Paul parked the car, then got out to help me out my side. We walked into the restaurant and he held the door for me. I liked that he was a gentleman.
"Thank you." I said smiling and walked past him. He came up beside me and we walked up to the hostess.
"Table for two please." Paul said politely. The hostess smiled at us.
"This way." She said. She led us to the back of the restaurant and set down our menus on a table with two chairs. Paul pulled out a chair for me and I sat down. He sat down next to me instead of across the table.
"Wow, I've never been to this restaurant. It's really nice." I said.
"Yeah, I've never been here either. Sam suggested it." He said. So Sam knew about our date. Good. I could talk with him about it later. A chipper young guy came up to our table.
"Hi, I'm Mark, and I'll be your waiter this evening." He said smiling at me. He was good looking, I'd give him that. But something told me that there wasn't many brains in that head of his. "Can I get you drink orders?" He asked looking at me again.
"Diet Coke please." I said giving a polite smile and looking down at the table. I saw Paul's hand shaking beneath the table.
"Same." He said. Mark wrote it down and walked away. Paul's hand was still shaking. I put my hand on his to stop it.
"Hey, you okay?" I asked concerned. He seemed to relax at my touch. Though his arm was very still. Like he was afraid if he moved, it would scare me.
"Uh, yeah. I just think he likes you." He said glaring after the waiter. I laughed.
"Well, you know, we don't know that. He could like you and just be nervous." I said taking my hand back and putting it on the table. Thankfully, Paul laughed.
"Well he does like one of us, and I hope it's not me." He said smiling. I laughed as well. He turned to me.
"So, you grew up here?" He asked. Okay, starting right off then. I nodded.
"Yeah. My brothers and I moved here to live with our dad when I was four." I said. He nodded. Then it looked like a thought crossed his mind.
"So you must look like your mother then. Because your dad and brothers look... well... more... like me I guess I'd say." He said. It was true. My dad and brothers had dark tan skin and practically black hair. Though all were military men and had their hair cut short. My dad being a retired Marine.
"Well actually, no. I'm adopted." I said. It wasn't like it was painful to talk about it. I'm not ashamed of it. Though I wish they were my real family, I love them so much.
"Really?" He asked surprised. I nodded.
"Yes. When I was a newborn, my parents both died in a car accident. I had no other family that could be found, so I was adopted. My mother wanted a girl after her two boys, and thought adoption was the best way to do that. And for me, it was." I said. He nodded.
"Do you know anything about you biological family?" He asked gently. I nodded.
"Yes. I know a lot actually. They were great people. I look a lot like my biological father. He had the same blond hair I have. My mother had brown hair. I have photos and family trees too." I said. Then Mark came by with our drinks. He was smiling at me still. He made sure to brush my hand while putting the drinks down. Paul started to shake again so I put my hand on his again. He calmed down instantly. But this time, he took my hand in his, then he got back to our conversation.
"Really? So you know their last name?" He asked. I nodded.
"Yeah. Whitlock. It's really... old fashioned. I like it." I said. I saw Paul freeze. His hand had gone rigid.
"Did you say... Whitlock?" He asked. I nodded.
"Yes. Why?" I asked. Did he know someone with that last name? He seemed to come out of his shock and loosened up. But it was forced.
"No reason. I like that name too." He said taking his hand from mine and laying it on the table. I took mine back as well, though feeling hurt by that action. Mark came back to the table.
"What can I get for you folks?" He asked looking in my direction.
"Uh," I said looking down at my menu. "Chicken Penne please." I said. He nodded and reluctantly looked at Paul.
"Same please." He said sitting back. Mark nodded and walked away. As the silence grew, I was getting more confused. Why did the name suddenly make him upset? I had no idea what was even happening.
"Paul? Are you okay?" I asked. He looked at me like he was realizing for the first time where he was.
"Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Just... I don't know. That name sounds familiar I guess." He said. I nodded.
"Okay." I said. He put on a smile and took my hand.
"Sorry. I just feel weird tonight." He said. I smiled as well and nodded.
"It's okay. Let's just... change the subject. Do you have any siblings?" I asked. He shook his head.
"Nope. Just me. My parents died a few years back." He said sadly. I grasped his hand tighter.
"Oh, I'm so sorry Paul." I said. He shook his head.
"Oh it's okay. Your parents died too. You've gone through it too" He said.
"Yeah but I didn't even know my real parents. I have parents who I love. If you don't mind me asking, how'd they die?" I asked gently. I figured it wouldn't be too much to ask considering how much I've shared tonight.
"Same way yours did, car accident." He said sadly. I nodded.
"That must have been horrible." I said. He nodded.
"It was. But you know, life goes on. They're in a better place." He said. I took his hand and put it in my lap and placed my other hand on his arm, to try and comfort him. He leaned against me, both of us being more relaxed as the night wore on. After we ate and Paul paid the bill, we left the restaurant holding hands. We walked to his truck and he drove us to First Beach. When we got there, we just walked along the beach holding our shoes. He held my hand the whole time and we talked lightly, about nothing at all really. How beautiful the water was, how many crazy memories we had here, or just things that popped into our heads. But to my dismay, it came time to head home. It was after one in the morning and I was getting really tired. So Paul brought me home. He even walked me to my door.
"Thanks for taking me out tonight. It was really fun." I said when we reached the door.
"Oh it was my pleasure. I had a good time." He said. I nodded. "Wanna go out again tomorrow?" He asked nervously. I laughed a little. Why he was nervous, I had no idea.
"Sure. That'd be great." I said. And before I could change my mind, I put my hand behind his neck and kissed him. He kissed me back gently. Like he was afraid to kiss me anymore than he already was.
The moment our lips met, I felt a spark between us. I know that in all the fairy tales and corny novels that girls always say they feel a spark when they kiss a boy but I really felt this. I really felt something ignite in me that told me, he is exactly right for you.
When I pulled back, his eyes were still closed and they slowly opened.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" I asked. He smiled and nodded.
"See you tomorrow." He said. I let go of his hand and opened the door.
"Good night Paul." I said.
"Good night Reyan." He said smiling while backing off the porch, not taking his eyes off me.
I went inside and closed the door. I had to call Leah! I, quietly, ran upstairs and pulled out my cell phone. Even though it was late, I knew she'd want to hear about it. We always called each other after one of us had a date. To talk about all the little things that happened while they were still fresh in our memories. I dialed her number and she picked up on the second ring.
"How'd it go?" She asked warily.
"Amazing!" I squeled into the phone. I heard her let out a breath she'd been holding in.
"Good. I'm glad." She said relieved.
"Really? You are okay with me seeing your friend right?" I asked taking off my heels.
"Friend? Why would you think he was my friend?" She asked.
"Because he said he was. Well actually he said he was your 'good friend'." I said. Taking off my cardigan. She laughed.
"Uh yeah. I guess we're friends. Not good friends, but more like, forced friends. We kind of have to be friends." She said.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because we're both-" She started but then it seemed like she caught herself. "Well, we both live here on the reservation. After his parents died my mom kind of took him under her wing. You know how she is." She said. I took that.
"Yeah I do. Well he said good friends. And he also said you were good friends with Sam. What's happening with that?" I asked laying on my bed. I heard her sigh. And not in a good way.
"Well, that Paul really does have a big mouth doesn't he?" She said. I laughed.
"Oh come on, be nice. Are you and Sam friends?" I asked again. I heard her sigh more gently.
"Again, forced friends type of situation. They live... really close." She said sadly.
"Oh." I said regretting even asking the question.
"We don't talk unless we have too. And as for Emily, I can't even look at her these days." Se said.
"Well, you know, you two weren't made for each other. You need to find your perfect someone." I told her. I really wish she would see what I was saying and take it to heart, but I knew it was hard for her.
"I know. But hey, we're getting off topic. What about you and Paul? Where'd you guys end up going?" She asked.
"Well, we went to dinner in Port Angeles, the we walked on the beach for a while." I said smiling flipping on my stomach.
"Ooohhh, romantic." She said laughing a little. I laughed along with her.
"It really was. We talked about our past, and talked about you guys. Everything really. It was... amazing. I just have never had a date like that." I said smiling until my face hurt.
"Really? Well maybe you found your perfect someone." She said.
"I think you might be right, my friend." I said happily.