Thanks for the reviews and suggestions! Here you go:
[Loren's POV]
I'm met by an excited Mel and a somewhat nervous mother. But I can't seem to form any coherent thoughts. It's not so much the rejection as the hope that had seemed amazingly real. Eddie had been so close to me, so genuinely caring. I know that he's still hurting, and I don't want to push him any more than he wants to be. But I guess my heart just got caught up in the moment. My head was lost in the clouds. [haha :)]
The babbling of Melissa's voice had been drowned out in my head by all my thoughts, and I guess she finally noticed.
"Lo? Lo, are you okay? Nothing bad happened right?"
The look on my mom's face mirrored Mel's. Eyes drawn together, questioning eyes, no smile in sight.
"Yeah, I'm fine." The doubt in their expressions doesn't budge. "Really. I'm okay. Tonight was just so unbelievably amazing." And confusing, I added in my head.
They both noticeably relax and of course my short description does nothing to stop Mel's wild imagination.
"Oooh, Lo, what did he do?" Her devious smile and suddenly bright eyes make me blush even though I have nothing to be embarrassed about. My action makes my mom put her hands on her hips and gives me a you'd-better-tell-me look.
"Nothing happened. And that might just be the problem." I say this softly, with my eyes downcast so no one can see the disappointment in my eyes. I was finally ready to dive into a new relationship and it turns out the other person isn't. I'm not upset with him, just with myself for letting my hopes get so high.
We move our little group to the couch, me sitting on the soft leather hugging a pillow, Mel on the ground with her legs stretched out in front of her, taking the opportunity to inspect her bright pink toenails. My mom is still standing nearby with her arms crossed, but with an expression that tells me she'll go to any length to protect me from getting hurt again.
"He drove me up to our spot and had set up an amazing picnic and everything. We ate and laughed and talked, then watched the stars. It was so perfect…" My voice trails off. I take a small breath before continuing, "It got late so we headed back. He even opened the door for me and walked me to the porch." I smile, remembering the how sweet of a gentleman Eddie had been.
"And then?" Mel is eager to hear what she thinks will be juicy details. But my mom is cautious about what the rock star could possibly have done.
"And nothing. He leaned in for a kiss. But on my head, not exactly what I was waiting for. I'm not upset about it or anything. I just thought that maybe because he had asked me out he was finally ready to dive in."
My mom's voice is gentle and comforting. "Oh, honey. You know he does care about you, right? He's just still hurting." Nothing I don't already know. It's just that Eddie Duran had been my dream guy for so long that I guess I overreacted.
I paste a smile on my face and say brightly, "Well, it's late and I should probably get to bed now. Mel, I'm going to assume that you're sleeping over because otherwise you'd be dead for still being here?" It's a half-question half-statement. Of course she's sleeping over. Why wouldn't she stay over and talk to me about my first date with Eddie Duran?
My mom looks like she wants to say something but holds it in. I let out a breath, relieved not to be interrogated any further about something I don't even understand myself.
Now I'm the one being dragged down the hall by an unfailingly energetic Mel. I turn my head and blow my mom a quick kiss, mouthing "Love you". She returns the action that's been part of our goodnight ritual for so long.
The night flies by and I'm suddenly awakened by the blinding morning sun streaming in through my window. I groan and cover my face with a pillow. The memories come rushing back. I can't decide whether to smile, cry, or break out in laughter that I was so worried about Eddie's little action. It's not like he said he didn't like me. He just wasn't ready. Figures, I think. Little Miss barely-been-kissed Loren Tate goes on a date with a world-famous rock star and he's the one that's holding back.
Mel is dead asleep next to me. I don't even bother to get out carefully because I know for a fact that she won't wake up until she's ready. I pull on my clothes and scribble a note for my mom. She knows I have my shift today, but it's a little earlier than usual. I hop in my car and drive over to the Café slowly, knowing there's no rush or traffic to get through.
Walking through the door, I'm surprised to see a few tables already filled. There's usually almost no one here before at least nine or ten o' clock in the morning on the weekends. My shift doesn't start for a good hour, but I grab an apron anyway, thinking that this way I can take my break a little earlier. It's half-tied when the pocket of my jeans buzzes. I finish the quick bow and double-knot it before sliding my phone out.
Eddie texted me. I open the message and scan it. Why not? I don't have anything planned today. One of my coworkers is motioning to me to grab one of the tables. I send the two-letter reply in a hurry and get their orders. I ignore the second vibration until I'm back. Immediately feeling guilty for making Eddie think I was upset with him, even if it was an accident, I take the time to type out a longer message. I shove the phone back into my pocket and start actually working now.
A few hours later, right before my long-awaited break, I look up to see the handsome blond boy that I know I like, but just as a friend. He mouths, can we talk? I glance around and slide into the booth across from him.
"Hey Cam, what's up?" I try to keep my voice from sounding too curious, not wanting him to think that he's not allowed to come here unless it's something important.
His tone is equally awkward yet seemingly carefree. "Not much, I just wanted to let you know that Adriana's really got it out for you, Lo. She even tried to recruit me to the hating-Loren-Tate club.
I groan and roll my eyes. "I don't understand what I ever did to that girl to make her hate me so much. We used to be friends, but now she might as well have been my enemy from birth. But thanks for warning me. I'll watch my back."
We make small talk for a few more minutes before Cameron gets up and walks back out the door. I look after him, wondering why he still cares enough to drop by just to warn me about something that's common knowledge to anyone who's ever been in the same room with both Adriana and me. I shake off the guilt of rejecting someone who's so sweet.
That brings me back to Eddie. I can't wait for this afternoon; it's hard enough just focusing on work. I'm nervous and excited and confused all at the same time, but I know I'm happy.
And it's all because of him. The one guy who I feel like understands me better than anyone else. The one person I can tell anything to, even things I don't talk about with my mom. The little boy I know he still is inside who misses his mom more than anyone else knows. The rock star who wants to meet up with a senior from the valley for a dance lesson.