Shauna

From previous chapter…

This was the first time in a long time that I was ending a date where I didn't want it to end.

I knew he could feel the tension and I hated myself for it. What was wrong with me? Dinner was great, conversation was awesome, and the date itself was unexpected and fresh. So why was I getting all nervous?

We knew exactly when this would end. We could schedule a reminder on our phones or have a countdown initiated. This wasn't anything serious. This was leading towards a breakup like all the other 'dates' that I had. The only thing was that now I had a bad feeling that I didn't want it to be like all the others and I only went on one date!

He reached over and took my hand just before we pulled down my street.

"I had a wonderful time," Zeke said.

"I did, too. It went quite well for a first date," I surprised myself by admitting that out loud.

His thumb ran circles on the back of my hand and I shivered at the thought of his fingers tracing my body. I pulled away quickly and tried to look back out the window.

I noticed his reflection in the window as he looked over at me with a small disappointing expression. I wanted to hold his hand, too. I wanted to feel his touch. But this isn't how things were supposed to go. The date was supposed to be bad, like they all were.

Briefly I was surprised that he wasn't all over me. Most guys would have been. Maybe that's why I was so nervous. He was doing things that were out of the ordinary. This definitely wasn't the typical first date scenario that I usually experienced and it scared me.

We pulled into the parking lot in front of my apartment building and he hopped out to open my door and walk me to my apartment.

"Did you like the restaurant?"

"Yes, the salsa was divine," I let out a small giggle. Again what was this guy doing to me?

He continued to follow me into the elevator.

"We can try the Italian or the Thai place sometime later on," he offered.

I knew that he was trying to set up the next date. We waited in silence as the lady on the second floor got off the elevator.

"Or if you want to do something else, we can," he said after I hadn't said anything. "Just let me know if I'm being too forward. I can back off if that's what you..."

"No," I replied quickly turning to him. "It's not that Zeke. It's just," I sighed. "This date went well," I smiled and looked down shyly. "It went better than I anticipated and I just don't," I let out a deep breath.

"You don't know where to go from here," he finished.

I nodded and turned away because I knew it was true.

We talked openly and everything was just right. And even though there were certain things that confused me, in my head I had been playing out all these other circumstances that would come up and that would end in me breaking another heart. But nothing like that occurred tonight and it was a surprisingly overwhelming feeling.

Zeke slowly traced my arm causing me to turn, and then he placed his finger under my chin to look up at him.

"We don't need to rush this, Shauna," he smiled reassuringly.

This is so odd. Every guy wants to rush. We were on a deadline anyway. What did he think he was doing? Was he trying to see if I was certain about this or was he really looking to be a gentleman? To test him I put another question before him as we stepped off the elevator and walked towards my door.

"Do you want to come in," I got my keys out and turned back to him.

Zeke

Do I? Definitely, I wanted to shout. I looked over her again from her heel strapped feet, up her long legs to that beautiful waist and knew I was going to regret walking away. Who wouldn't? Then I got to her eyes and saw her searching my own as if she was hoping that I would say 'yes'.

I let out a sigh. This date had gone so well and I knew that there would be so much more to come but right now I had to be cautious.

"Let's just enjoy tonight, Shauna," I touched her elbow and leaned down to kiss her cheek. "I'll call you tomorrow and we can plan our next date."

Shauna smiled and took a step back as if in total disbelief that I had just turned her down. Believe me; I don't know where that came from either.

"Thanks, Zeke. Tonight was fun and unexpected," she smiled, cupping my cheek and then leaned up to kiss the other side. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," I whispered as she pulled away and walked towards her door.

I walked back to my car and almost pounded my head on the steering wheel. What the hell is wrong with you Zeke? You just walked away from that, I thought looking back over at her apartment to see her glance out the window. She invited you in and you walked away. I let out another deep sigh and closed my eyes. Yes it sucked but like my grandma always said sometimes it's best to leave things baking in the oven just a little bit longer, and this thing with Shauna just needed a bit more time.

When I had finally gotten home, I had decided that during the course of the time we would be dating that I would prove to her that she didn't know everything about men.

I flicked on the lights to see Uriah staring at his cell phone on the kitchen counter.

"Waiting for a call," I asked going to the fridge and pulling out a bottle of water.

"Planning on making one," Uriah responded.

"Is this about that nurse?"

"Pediatrician," he corrected me.

"Well is it," I ignored his comment and questioned again. Uriah let out a sigh.

"It's been so long since I spoke to her, three years and," he shook his head and started to pace. "When we came back for grandma, I wanted to call her but then," he stopped and I saw the pain on his face.

"You're thinking about the night that we saw her at the Pit," I pointed towards him. Uriah nodded in response. "That dude was probably just a douche, not a boyfriend," I added. "And besides you were the one who took off and..."

"I know what I did, you don't need to remind me," he huffed and then went to walk out of the kitchen. "Where did you go tonight, anyways?"

"Out with Tobias," I answered.

"Try again," he crossed his arms across his chest.

I didn't really want to tell Uriah about Shauna and me, especially since the whole thing would be ending by the time I got back to Erudite. I tried again to persuade him as to my whereabouts.

"What makes you think I wasn't with him?"

"For one, I was with Tris, Edward and Myra. Tobias joined us after he was done working late," Uriah eyed me out. "Second, you took the car and not the jeep. You always take the jeep with Tobias because you always talk him into doing something crazy. You took the car meaning that someone else was with you. And third," he walked over to me, "you smell like a woman."

I sniffed my collar and caught a small trace of Shauna's coconut shampoo.

"How do you know that I didn't change..."

"Come on Zeke," Uriah chuckled and then titled his head expectantly.

"Alright, I met a girl."

"And..."

"And we went to dinner," I shrugged walking out of the kitchen and hurrying up the stairs of our grandmother's house.

"There's more to the story here," he called after me.

"Well, I don't feel like sharing," I yelled back just as I reached the top and turned down a hall.

The next morning found Uriah and me on the outside patio with Eric, Will and their girlfriends. We began talking about mine and Uriah's plans over bacon, ham and cheese omelets, papaya and fresh apple juice from Ana. Seriously, where did Eric find her? She was too sweet. Of course I had to add in my grandma's famous Boston crème pie donuts that Ana somehow talked me into giving her the recipe. Christina wanted it too but Uriah said she couldn't have it.

"Really Will you don't remember Christina from Tris' wedding," asked my cousin.

"I do," Eric chuckled as his girlfriend nudged him in his side.

"Of course you do," Christina sneered. "Your piece of the wedding cake ended up in my hair!"

"Yeah, well you called me a..." Eric got cut off again by Ana lightly slapping his arm. "What," he turned to her.

Ana leaned up and gave him a small kiss. "Play nice."

"Where were you three years ago," asked Christina, "like the time Eric let his dog chew up my new Louis Vuitton!"

"Oh my God that was you," smiled Will. His girlfriend narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm just saying that I heard about it," he shrugged.

"I give you props Will," Uriah drank his orange juice. "I told Tris it was going to be impossible to get her dating someone."

Christina was about to open her mouth until I whacked Uriah in the back of his head.

"Really Zeke?"

"Yes, really," I eyed him up. "Don't mind him Christina. We're all glad that you and Will are dating. I'm sure the only reason why you were a snob is because we were idiots," I looked at Eric and Uriah who only rolled their eyes.

"But now they'll try harder to be nice, right," Ana turned in Eric's lap to look at him.

"Whipped," Uriah and Will muttered as Eric wrapped his hand tighter around his girl and kissed her nose.

I remember when Edward first brought Myra over to Tris and Tobias' house. She fit in nicely with the guys and even became close friends with Tris. According to Tobias, Ana had been a nice addition to the group too. Apparently Tris did not like any of Ana's sisters-in-laws (two of which were Tobias' ex-girlfriends from high school) and therefore they immediately bonded over that.

Tris was already friends with Lauren's husband from their childhood days and Tobias was a little uncomfortable with that. Christina though, I paused to look over at her. To us she was Tris' witchy friend. But she made Will happy. And like Ana said we had to try, especially for Will's sake. All of that made me think about Shauna.

"Excuse me, I need to make a phone call," I said standing up.

The phone rang and just as I thought it was going to go to voicemail, she picked up. "Hello?"

"Shauna, its Zeke. How are you doing this morning?"

"I'm good," she said and I swear I heard the smile in her voice. "How are things with you?"

"I have a meeting to attend to this morning," I looked outside, "I think it's about to wrap up but later on, I was wondering if you wanted to get a burger or something for lunch?"

There was a pause.

"I understand if you don't want to, I mean we did just see each other last night and..."

Shauna

"I'd love to," I replied.

I wanted to tell him that I had been waiting almost all morning for his phone call. I wanted to say that I was surprised that he didn't call me to wish me good night last night after he left. Of course I refused to do any of that because I didn't want to admit that I was really enjoying spending time with him. He didn't force anything. He was laid back and relaxed. He was interested in family. He was just everything I wasn't expecting.

"Why don't we..."

I looked down at my phone as it started to beep. Of course Cara would be calling me now. She had all morning but she had to do it now, when I finally got Zeke on the line.

"Shauna?"

"I have another phone call but let's meet up at the Park," I offered. "We can get an ice cream and just hang out, if that..."

"That sounds perfect," he stated. "Let's say about lunch time," he asked. "I might bring one of my friends with me, if that's okay?"

"That's okay," I answered. Was this a double date?

I sighed and closed my eyes hearing the phone beeping again.

"I'm guessing your other line is still ringing," he chuckled.

"Yes it is. My friend, she's," I paused. She's trying to hook me up with her boyfriend's friend, I shook my head. "She's persistent."

"Well, I'll let you go. See you at lunch," he said.

"Thanks Zeke. Bye."

I let out a deep sigh and then pressed the button.

"Yes Cara?"

"Don't take that tone with me," her voice came over the receiver. "What are you doing tonight?"

"Tonight? Well..."

"I'll take that as a 'no'," Cara responded. "So anyways, Caleb was saying that he is able to get his friend to come out with us tonight. He is a little reluctant to meet you but Caleb wants to cheer him up. Apparently he's head over heels about some girl and..."

"If he's head over heels over her then why do you want me to go out with him?"

"Because you are just as hopeless when it comes to dating, too," answered Cara.

"I am not hopeless. I keep my options open," I retorted. "And I don't know if I'll be able to make it tonight, alright? So don't plan anything."

"Where were you last night," she questioned suddenly.

"What?"

"I came by last night and you didn't answer. Where did you go?"

"Does it matter?"

"Were you on a date?"

"Maybe," I answered.

"Don't hide anything. Shauna, where were you?"

I didn't know what to say. I was out with some guy I met at a bar who said that he'll break my heart at the end of the summer because he doesn't do long distance relationships. Who am I kidding? I wasn't going to tell her anything. I didn't feel the need to, especially since things would be ending with him. Why introduce him to my friends?

"I was out and that's probably what I'll be doing tonight also. As I mentioned earlier, don't plan anything."

"But Shauna..."

"I mean it Cara! Don't plan anything."

Cara had texted me just as I parked my car at the Park to let me know that she did set up the blind date between me and Caleb's friend. I was just about to text her back as I looked over out of my window to see Zeke sitting with a girl under a tree.

She smiled and laughed at something he said and I felt a small sting of pain. No, I shouted in my head. This is not happening to me. This is totally not happening. Shut up, I yelled at myself. Why was I feeling all torn? Was that part of his plan to break my heart? Well, too bad Zekey boy! I got out of my car and walked briskly over towards him. I was about to show him that I was in no way affected by this.

Just as I got close a huge dog barreled into the girl. "Good dog," I smiled.

Okay, maybe I was feeling something for Zeke and didn't want that other girl around.

I continued to walk closer and then another guy came up patted the dog and twirled a football in his hands. Zeke got up and ran a distance before the guy threw it towards him. He leaned down and kissed the girl and then took off after Zeke. Wait, what is going on?

The girl turned around and smiled at me. "Hey, are you Shauna?"

"That depends," I eyed her out but she stood up and continued to smile sweetly.

"I'm so sorry. Where are my manners? My name is Ana," she extended her hand which I shook. "This animal here is Rocky," she patted the dog that came to sit next to her. "I hope you don't mind, Zeke invited Eric to come along and," she looked back at Zeke and the other guy who I can only assume is named Eric, "Rocky and I came with him."

"Well, Zeke did tell me he was inviting a friend," I answered. "I just didn't think it was going to be like a double date or anything," I looked uncertain.

I wasn't going to tell Cara about him and yet here he was introducing me to his.

"I think if Zeke did a double date, he would have chosen something nicer," she leaned in, "and probably a better couple than Eric and I."

"Well," I shook my head as we made our way back to the tree where a blanket was spread out. "Tell me why you and Eric are a bad couple."

"We're not really a bad couple," she replied. "I'm sort of new to their group of friends. Eric and I have been dating for a little over a year. I've only known Zeke for about a few months. He could have chosen one of his friends who is married or something like that. I can't tell you much about him, if you know what I mean."

"I do actually," I nodded. "But this is the best because you won't try to win me over with feeding me exaggerated depictions of Zeke. I mean you would tell me if he was a convicted criminal, wouldn't you?"

I let out a nervous laugh but she only smiled slightly.

"Eric just got off parole when we started dating," she commented as I gulped and looked away.