I skip up to my front door, Dan alongside me as he laughs at my extra way of getting to the door. Our fourth date has just come to a close, and Dan has brought me home.

   Once I get to the front door of my house, I turn to look at Dan and say with a smile, "I had a great time, as always." My heart rate then speeds up. Maybe he'll ask right now? I was a bit disappointed when he didn't ask at dinner, but this could be his chance! Let's just hope he takes it.

   Dan returns the smile, which makes my smile get wider. "I did too," he states quietly, tucking a rogue strand of (h/c) hair behind my ear.

I sigh impatiently. "Danny, are you just gonna stand there or are you gonna kiss me like a real man would?"

Dan laughs, a smirk on his face. "Fine, fine. However, I must say how needy you are~"

I open my mouth to retort, but Dan silences me by putting his lips to mine. My defense fall as I kiss back, wrapping my arms around his waist. He tangles his hands up in my hair, smiling into the kiss.

Then, after what feels like not long enough, Dan pulls apart. He smiles at me and cups my face, saying, "As much as I hate to leave you, darling, I must. You have a good night, okay?"

My heart drops at the fact that he's probably not gonna ask what I want him to ask tonight. "Mhm. And you as well," I say with a smile, a tiny glimmer of hope shining through the negativity that clouds my mind.

   That glimmer is snuffed out, though, when Dan releases me and walks back to his car, waving at me one last time.

My heart heavy, I wave back. I then walk inside, sighing a little with disappointment. Once I get inside, I shut the door behind me with much more force than I meant to. The noise of the door slamming startles me, causing me to jump. I then press my back to it afterwards with another sigh.

Why can't he just ask me to be his girlfriend already? I've been waiting a while now, and I'm too socially anxious to ask if I can be his myself.

No, shut up, (Y/N). Here you are, mad at Dan because he didn't ask you to be his girlfriend, when you know full well that he could be just as socially anxious as you are. Stop being a brat, and try to see things from his perspective.

I run a hand down my face, knowing that my second inner voice is right. But I still can't help the pang of desire that strikes my heart every time I breathe.

Well, since you want him so much, why don't you grow a pair and ask him to be yours yourself? Yeah, you're socially anxious, but that'll ease your desires, right?

Yeah, but what if he says no? Then it'll be super awkward. And it's not that easy to get over social anxiety. You should know that, me.

My brain continues to have a battle with itself as my eyes dart around for some sort of thing that can help me make up my mind. Once I find nothing, I sigh and stuff my hands into my sweater's pockets. But there, I find my answer.

My phone.

I could call Arin and see what he thinks I should do! He knows Dan better than I do, and he probably knows what Dan thinks of me, since they (I'm assuming, since they're best friends) talk about personal stuff like this on a regular basis.

I nod to myself, pulling out my phone and dialing Arin's number. I press the call button and wait.

Arin picks up on the second ring. "Hey, (Y/N)! What's up?"

I smile at the sound of Arin's enthusiastic voice. "Nothing much. I was just calling to ask for your opinion on something. It involves Dan."

I can hear the smile in Arin's voice as he says, "Oooh, this matter sounds interesting. Well, you can ask me anything. I know Dan better than anyone else. Besides Suzy, that is."

"Okay. So...I think that I'm ready for Dan to be my boyfriend," I tell Arin, blushing at the thought. "But I didn't know if he was ready for that sort of commitment, and if he was, would he prefer asking me or would he want me to ask him?"

Arin chuckles. "Well, he's definitely talked to me about the matter of you and him becoming an item." He then laughs a bit. "Dang, I sounded really sophisticated just there."

I let out a small sigh, waiting for Arin to get to the point.

"Okay, okay, I'll get to the point," Arin giggles, having heard me sigh. That made me blush a little in embarrassment, since he wasn't meant to head that. "Anyway, I don't know if I should be telling you this, but he said that he's ready for you guys to actually date."

"Oh..," I say, smiling a bit. "Did he say what's holding him up from asking?"

"Nope. But regarding of the question you had of who he'd prefer to ask..," Arin says, pausing a little to collect his thoughts. "I think that he was planning on asking you, but I think it'd be more effective if you ask him, if you want to be official quicker. Dan takes his time with plans." He then chuckles evilly. "And it'd also be a really cute moment. Dan gets all flustered when romantic things happen out of the blue without his planning them first."

   I smile, picturing Dan's handsome face a bright red, his hair bouncy and floofy as his eyes dart around nervously. I picture him softly biting his lower lip and giggling awkwardly before saying yes to dating me...

   "Hello?" Arin asks, making me snap out of it. I must've been zoning out an uncomfortable amount of time.

   I giggle in embarrassment and say, "Sorry, sorry. I guess I was just...fantasizing a bit."

   "Awww!" Arin squeals. "I know they were about Dan, but what exactly were they about?"

   I blush, saying, "Well...how cute he looked when I asked him to be my boyfriend...and him saying yes."

   "Awww!" Arin squeals once more. "Ugh, you guys would make the cutest couple ever! But," he says, his voice suddenly turning serious, "if he ever hurts you, just lemme know. I will personally beat him to a pulp."

   I laugh a bit at Arin's protectiveness. "I will, Arin. And I think I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna ask him to be my boyfriend."

   "Ahhh, yes!" Arin fangirls. "When are you gonna do it?"

   I sigh, figuring that it'd be best to get it over with relatively quickly. But not tonight. That's too sudden. "Tomorrow," I answer. "Can you do me a favor, though?"

   "Yeah, anything!" Arin replies.

   "Can you make sure you and Dan get all your Grumping done and that he's home at around 5:30? I want this to be a private, romantic thing," I say.

   I can hear the dorky smile in Arin's voice as he says, "Can do! Good luck, (Y/N). I'd love to stay and talk longer, but Suzy and I are having a movie night tonight, and the movie was just set up."

   "Oh, okay," I say. "Thanks again for being such a good friend, Arin."

   "Oh, anytime! I'm happy to do it!" Arin says. "So, I'll see you later, all right?"

   "Yep! Bye, Arin."

   "Bye, (Y/N)."

   I then hang up, stuffing my phone back into my sweater's pocket. I then exhale deeply, attempting to prepare myself emotionally for the following day.

~~~

I just wanted to put a tiny author's note at the end of this chapter because...well...

WE HIT 1K READS!!!!!!! That's an insane number, and thank you guys so much for reading this story!