“Oh, uh, I don’t know...” she said, her voice faltering. “My schedule really is packed every day. I had to move things around to even have Thursdays available. And um, I think maybe it’s best if we just see each other when we need to study, you know? Don’t want to overcomplicate anything.”
Tristan let out a defeated sigh, feeling his skin get warm and red under the adrenaline and shock of being rejected – something he wasn’t used to.
“Yeah, no, totally, I agree,” he said stumbling over his words. “Okay well, but you’re good with going to the show and exhibit though?”
“Yes of course,” she said, her voice returning to that sweet honey-like tone that made him weak.
“Okay, cool,” he took a breath and rubbed his sweaty palm on his sweatpants. “Can I pick you up or -”
“No, I’ll meet you there,” she said immediately, cutting him off, and he gave another defeated sigh. She was really good at boundaries.
“Sure, no problem. It’s off Florence St right across from the library at the auditorium.”
“Yeah, I know exactly where that is, I won’t have a problem finding it. I’ll see you then, okay? At our normal time or when does it start?”
“Yeah, it starts at 6. I’ll be there well before then waiting for you, so just show up whenever you’re comfortable. I’ll meet you out front.”
“Okay, perfect. I’m excited. I’ll see you then.”
“Okay, see you.”
He hung up the phone and threw his head back against the seat and closed his eyes, allowing his body to come back down from the heightened emotions he always felt when he talked to her and he realized how tense he was. He stretched his hands out and rolled his neck, taking a few deep breaths until there was a knock on his truck window snapping him out of his thoughts. He opened his eyes to see his brother’s amused face. Tristan rolled his eyes and reluctantly rolled down the window.
“Bro, I see enough of you every day. What do you want?”
“Did you ask her?”
“Yes, asshole”
“And?”
“She said she would go with me,” he said with a shrug, choosing to leave out the fact that she shot him down to hanging out with him outside of anything school related.
“So it’s a date then?” Jordan asked in a teasing tone, wiggling his thick eyebrows suggestively.
“No dude, fuck off, okay? I don’t have time for your bullying. I have to meet with coach on the other side of campus to go over some film.”
“It’s what big brothers are for Trist, lighten up,” Jordan gave Tristan’ large shoulder a squeeze and a sympathetic smile. “It’ll put some hair on your chest.”
“I’ve got enough of that, thanks,” he said dryly, starting the truck, hearing the large rumble cut through the air. “I’ll see you later.”
Jordan watched his brother drive out of the parking lot and shook his head. This girl was different, he could tell.
When Thursday evening finally came around, Tristan waited anxiously outside of the theatre auditorium waiting for Tessa.He had shown up very early and had been pacing since he arrived.
He couldn’t figure out why he was so nervous. Sure, she was pretty and he liked her, but he had spent plenty of time with pretty girls that he liked and none had ever affected him like this. He had to keep reminding himself that this was not a date. She had set an obvious boundary with him that their relationship was strictly academic and that she was not interested in him in any other way. He still swore he saw signs that he affected her just as strongly but had concluded that he was making it up in his mind and it wasn’t real. What would a girl like her want with a guy like him anyway? He thought of himself as a bull in a China shop who could be crude and obnoxious and did not consider himself to be smart. Sure, he knew he was funny and tall and athletic but he took Tessa as a girl who cared about much more than that in a partner. She didn’t seem easily impressed.
When he finally spotted her, he couldn’t help the smile that broke across his face. He stood tall and strong, his hands behind his back, waiting patiently for her to reach him. She looked like an angel. She had on a casual pink dress, the color complimenting her milky smooth skin. She had a cream-colored cardigan wrapped tightly around her body, and he smiled when he saw that she was wearing a shoe with a moderately sized heel. He had remembered her talking about how self-conscious she was about her height and how she almost never wore heels because of it.
“Hey!” She said with an enthusiastic smile as she approached him, catching him off guard by throwing her arms around his shoulders in a quick hug. He was so stunned by the action that he stumbled slightly and was disappointed when she pulled away faster than he could react to the hug.
“Hey, you look nice,” he said softly, giving her a shy smile.
“Aw, thanks,” she bounced on her heeled shoes nervously, avoiding eye contact, her cheeks blushing.
“Are you excited?” He asked, noticing her discomfort and deciding to change the energy between them.
“Oh my gosh, yes!” She beamed up at him and clasped her hands together. “I was reading reviews this morning, and I think it’s going to be great. And I’m super psyched for the exhibit too.”
