The Wrong Girl: Chapter 31 - Asked
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"Yes, mom..." Elena lied.
"What's wrong? You sound a little down... is everything alright?"
It had been almost half a year since she had talked to her beloved mother. Ever since the reappearance of Evan, it seemed her life was too busy to call this loving woman nowadays. She felt guilty that even now, it wasn't she who was calling. Rachel had been calling her for weeks now and finally today she had decided to pick up. Pick up the call, not call back but picking it up.
"Nothing mom... I just miss home a lot." She said trying to dodge the question.
"Baby I miss you too... Why don't you come home for holidays? Maybe a relaxed distraction is what you need..."
Relaxed distraction? What is she trying to imply? Elena wondered quietly while she considered the suggestion.
"I don't know mom... I'll think about it. I'll try to finish the papers early..."
"Great!" Rachel shrieked in phone childishly.
"Baby I've got to go... but promise me you'll take care of yourself and maybe meet someone new up okay! Bye baby! I love you!"
And the line went dead.
Elena shook her head letting the soft laughter loose from her throat. If only her mother had stuck around for another second, she could've explained that she really had met someone new. She was going on her first real date... after that day. She was going dressed up in the peach dress that she had gifted for Elena's 19th birthday. She could've explained that she for once was really excited about the day.
Elena sighed because she really wanted to share that part to her mother. Making up for the part that she had kept her from the information about Evan's return. She felt guilty for keeping her away, as if she were pushing her mother away.
Elena stared at the peach dress hanging in her door, almost as a reminder that she was going to wear it that day. Elena tried touching the fabric but was scared her sweaty palms would damper it. Elena was so nervous that she hadn't been able to eat her breakfast today, something that Nina disapproved. Elena still wasn't sure if Nina was troubled over the skipped meal or the reason behind the skipped meal.
Her phone rang once again. The name on her screen sent thousand bolts of electricity up her body. It was Kyle, her date. Elena suddenly nervous didn't want to pick up the call, afraid he wanted a rain check. She had looked forward to this date, since last week, though she had only seen him then.
Three days ago, Evan and the rest of them visited Kyle for a housewarming party to his apartment which turned out to be filled with boxes and furniture-less. Since he hadn't any friends there, the five of them were the only guest. But it had been a party nonetheless; of course with Phoebe there the party was full of hideous games. Elena was thankful for it at the end of the night. Since it was her idea to play truth or dare, and it was her dare to Elena that made Kyle ask her out.
"I dare you to..." Phoebe had given Elena a knowing sly smile and hurried the rest of the words out, making them sound like one, "ask-Elena-out-for-a-date"
Both Kyle and Elena had blushed at her boldness but were glee inside.
"I would love to do that but I..." Kyle's cheek turned a shade of crimson red as he said, "but I don't want to force it on her."
"She can refuse of course!" Phoebe said with a tone of a cunning doubt.
Kyle coughed loudly trying to throw away the nervousness with the breath.
"Umm... Elena, would you like to give me a chance to take you on a date?"
Elena's heart had fluttered a little and she had nodded wordlessly. Evan who was trying real hard to disguise the fury and jealousy failed miserably under the experienced eyes of Elena who had just dared a glance at him. Somehow more than Kyle's proposal, that tired and hard look on Evan's face had given Elena more joy. Elena felt vicious immediately and blushed as Evan and her eyes met and lingered for more than a second or so. Evan had stiffened noticeably and even thrown a fake smile at her.
At the end of the night, which actually turned out to be at around 1 in the morning, Kyle had offered to walk them out till the street. Phoebe and Aaron deliberately walked in front of them. Evan and Nina followed behind at a distance that made Elena wonder if Kyle and she were walking too fast. They were about thirty steps back.
"Umm..." Kyle said to bring Elena's attention back to him.
Elena turned towards him as she realized her head was turned back.
"Hope you didn't agree to the date just cause it was a dare... I wanted to wait till we were friends... but..."
"I guess Phoebe just sped things up huh?" Elena grinned wide.
Kyle's eyes widened and his left part of the lips stretched almost awkwardly upward. Elena loved the way what it did to his face, he reminded her of a toddler's innocence.
"Would you have agreed even if people weren't staring at you so expectantly?" Kyle asked, his eyes on the ground below and his hands inside his pocket.
Elena detected a faint trace of nervousness in his voice and his looks but even before she could think the words through she heard herself ask, "People were staring me?"
Kyle's hand flew out of his pockets and he smiled the same way as before.
"Hey, I'm sorry... Did I disturb you?" Kyle's voice shook Elena out of the fond memory.
"Oh no... Umm is everything okay?"
"Yeah... I just wanted to confirm things with you..." Kyle gave a nervous laugh hinting that he was just as nervous as she.
"Oh okay... where are we meeting?"
"Shall I pick you up at 8?"
"You're... Yeah sure." Elena replied quickly.
"See you then..."
Elena glanced at the screen as the other line went dead. The time at the top-right corner indicated that she still had two hours to get ready. She debated a second to call Nina up or not. She hadn't been too thrilled about the arranged date. But of course how can she not call Nina up? She was too excited and already felt her cold hands dial her number.
Nina's ringtone was heard right outside her room. Elena opened the door to find Nina there. They both stood there before smiling wide for a second as Nina welcomed herself in.
"So you ready to get dressed up for the 'big' date?"
Elena was prepped up but wasn't that excited to not note the forced cheerfulness in Nina's voice. Elena had to talk this out with her.
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I know, I know weird chapter name! Couldn't think up anything better... So likes? What do you think? Give me comments!! You know how I love them!
Thanks Shruti, Emma, Anu, Angie and Asian Cutie for awesome comments... they are my favorite part of writing these stories!
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