Before returning to my apartment, I went to the petrol station and filled my car with fuel. I then drove back home, the soft hum of the engine accompanying me as I navigated the familiar streets. My thoughts drifted to what lay ahead. I still couldn't quite believe it—Gabriella had asked me out, and I was actually going to go on a date with her. My heart fluttered at the thought, but I couldn't help feeling a bit nervous too. Was this really happening?

As I closed my apartment door behind me, I felt a sudden rush of excitement. My phone buzzed in my hand, a notification from an unknown number. I hesitated for a second before opening it.

____________________________________________
Unknown Number:

"Good evening, Mia."

"Is this Gabriella?"

"Mhm! So, about our date...
I'll be picking you up. Could you
send me your address?"
"I hope that's not creepy, haha."

"No, not at all. Here it is:
****B, **** Street
London, *** ****"

"Thanks! I'll pick you up at 5:30 p.m.
Does that work for you?"

"Yeah, no problem at all."
"Good night, Gabriella ❤️"

"Good night, cutie 💋"
____________________________________________

I stared at the screen for a moment, rereading the messages. The butterflies in my stomach stirred again. Did she really just call me "cutie"? I giggled quietly, hoping no one heard me. I closed my phone. Standing in the doorway, I let out a quiet scream of excitement, careful not to wake up my neighbours. The anticipation was almost too much to bear.

I collapsed onto the couch, my mind racing with thoughts of what the date would be like. How should I act? What should I wear? Would it be awkward? Despite my best efforts to calm myself, I felt my excitement build. I lay there, daydreaming about the evening ahead, until I eventually drifted off to sleep.

When I woke up, the sunlight streamed through my window. I glanced at the clock—it was 11 a.m. I'd somehow ended up sleeping on the couch, still in the same clothes I'd worn yesterday. Groggily, I sat up and cracked my back and neck. I slowly shuffled to my room, changed into my pyjamas, and began my usual morning routine—washing my face, brushing my teeth—but it felt different today. My mind was still focused on tonight, on Gabriella.

I wasn't really hungry, so I just plopped back down on the couch and flicked on the TV. I went through the motions, watching random shows, but my mind was elsewhere. Every so often, I would catch myself daydreaming about what tonight would be like. I couldn't help but smile to myself. Time seemed to move in slow motion. I couldn't wait any longer, so when it hit 2:44 p.m., I decided I might as well take a shower and start getting ready.

After the shower, I stood in front of my wardrobe, staring at the array of clothes that lined the shelves. What do I wear? I asked myself. It had to be just right—nothing too fancy, but not too casual either. Not too dark, but not too bright. Not too revealing, but still flattering.

I let out an exasperated sigh. "AHHH, WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?" I yelled, throwing my hands in the air. I felt a bit dramatic, but I couldn't help it. The pressure of picking the perfect outfit was overwhelming.

Finally, after much deliberation, I settled on something simple but cute—a long sleeve off-shoulder ribbed-knit crop sweater, a pair of flared jeans, silver jewelry, a white converse shoes, and a white purse with a butterfly in the middle. I ironed everything and laid it out on the bed, trying to avoid getting anything wrinkled. My nerves were starting to kick in, so I decided to get ready while still in my towel, doing my hair and makeup first.

As I finished applying my makeup, I added a few sprays of body perfume—just a light touch—and some moisturiser to my skin. I spritzed on a tiny bit of pheromone perfume on my neck and wrists, wondering if Gabriella would notice.

When I glanced at the clock, I saw that it was already 5:20p.m. I grabbed my things and left my apartment, heading to the lift. As soon as the doors opened and I stepped outside, I spotted Gabriella right away. She was leaning against her car, scrolling through her phone. My heart skipped a beat. I wasn't sure why, but the sight of her just standing there made my nerves kick in again.

I walked quickly, but not too quickly, trying to act casual while my heart was racing. How long has she been waiting for me? I wondered. When I finally reached her, she looked up and flashed me a smile, putting her phone in her back pocket.
"Hi, Mia. Ready for our date?" she said, her smile bright and genuine.

"When did you get here? How long have you been waiting for me?" I asked, feeling a bit self-conscious.

"I just got here a few minutes ago. Don't worry about it," she replied, her hand brushing mine as she took it and gave it a soft kiss.

I froze in surprise. No one had ever done that before. I stared at her, wide-eyed, and I think it was obvious that I was blushing.

"Let's go," she said, opening the car door for me. Her hand was still holding mine as I sat down. She closed the door and jogged around to the other side.

When we arrived at the cinema, I was about to open my door, but Gabriella did it for me again. She held my hand as I stepped out of the car and raised it, closing the door with her other hand. She still hadn't let go of my hand as we walked inside, and my heart raced with every step.

"Two tickets for the (red one), please," Gabriella said to the attendant, her voice calm and smooth.

"Here you go. That'll be £16," the attendant replied, handing us the tickets. We thanked him before heading to the snack counter.

Gabriella got herself a soda and caramel popcorn, while I opted for nachos—popcorn wasn't really my thing. As I reached for my wallet to pay, Gabriella had already taken care of it.

"You didn't have to do that, Gabriella," I said, feeling a little guilty. She'd already driven me here, paid for the tickets, and now the food?

"It's fine," she said with a gentle smile. "I asked you out, so I'm paying for everything." She squeezed my hand, and I felt a warmth spread through me. My cheeks flushed, and I tried to keep my cool, though I was sure she could see me blushing.

We made our way to the theatre and found our seats. The movie started, but I barely registered anything. We chatted for a bit at first, asking light-hearted questions to get to know each other better, but my mind kept drifting back to her. Her hand brushed against mine, and I couldn't help but feel the spark every time we touched.

Half an hour into the film, I felt her hand slowly inching onto my thigh, just above my knee. My breath caught in my throat, and I froze. Her hand was still, not moving, but I could feel the heat of her touch through the fabric of my jeans. After what seemed like an eternity, she started rubbing my leg up and down, slowly, teasingly. I could feel the tension building in my body, but I didn't know how to react.

I stood up quickly, excusing myself to the restroom, desperate to escape the rush of emotions and physical reactions. Once inside, I leaned against the sink, breathing deeply, trying to steady myself. Why did I do that? I asked myself. Why had I gotten so nervous? After several minutes, I forced myself to return to the movie. I could hear my heart pounding in my chest as I sat back down next to Gabriella. I was sure she could hear it too.

After the movie, we got back in the car, but the mood felt different. Gabriella was looking at me, her eyes soft and intense. I caught her glancing at my lips, then biting her own, before she whispered, "Fuck," under her breath. She quickly looked down at her lap, as if embarrassed.

The rest of the drive was quiet, and I began to wonder if maybe I had somehow ruined the mood. I thought she might take me home, but instead, she pulled up in front of a beautiful restaurant. My eyes widened in surprise as she unbuckled her seatbelt and got out. She opened the car door for me and extended her hand. I took it, stepping out of the car. I could get used to this, I thought.

"After you," she said, holding the door open. I smiled and walked in. When we reached our table, my breath caught in my throat. There were rose petals scattered on the floor leading to our seats, and small candles flickered on the table. I covered my mouth with both hands, unable to hide the smile that spread across my face.

"Awh, Gabriella, you didn't have to do all this for me," I said, my voice trembling a little as I tried not to tear up. This was our first date, and she'd done all this? I didn't know if I deserved it. As I turned to look at her, I saw the shyest smile on her face, and I couldn't help myself—I ran to her and threw my arms around her neck in the biggest hug I could muster. I heard her take a deep breath, inhaling the scent of my neck, and she hugged me back just as tightly.

When we pulled apart, she was still smiling at me, and I gathered all the courage I could muster. I kissed her cheek gently, and her eyes widened in surprise. I could see the colour rising in her ears, and I couldn't help but giggle. I pulled her to the table, holding her chair for her as she sat down. I sat across from her, and the night felt... magical.

After dinner, she drove me back to my apartment. We stood in front of my door, speaking in hushed voices so as not to disturb the neighbours. It felt like the night had gone by too quickly. When I went to close the door, Gabriella gently pushed it open with her hand.

"Oh! Did you want to say something, Gabriella?" I asked, surprised. She was staring at me, her expression unreadable. Without saying a word, she reached for me, her hand brushing my neck, her thumb tilting my chin up. Then, her other hand rested on my hips, and before I could react, she kissed me... on the lips.

Mia's outfit:

Gabriella's outfit

*****

END OF CHAPTER 4!

Q: do you have pets?

A: I have 2 cats!