DAMON

She said yes.

She said yes?

Holy shit she actually said yes!

Once Sophia and I said our goodbyes and were both back in our own houses I kind of freaked out. If you counted jumping in the air and fist pumping as freaking out. I just couldn't believe she said yes.

The plan to make her fall for me was all coming together so much easier than I expected it to. First the kiss and now a date, Sophia was making it too easy. If I didn't know any better I'd think she had a plan of her own that she was executing. But she didn't have any reason to go out with me, it wouldn't benefit her in any way except if she was just genuinely interested in me.

But now that she said agreed to a date, where the hell was I supposed to take her? And I never gave her a time or date. I was so nervous asking her out that I couldn't think clearly. I was just expecting her to reject me and make me feel like an idiot, so when she said yes I was so happy it completely slipped my mind to plan out a when or where the date would take place.

I'd never been so nervous to ask a girl out before, but that was probably because every time I had in the past I knew they would say yes. But with Sophia I had no idea. I kind of liked it like that though, she made me work for it which made it feel worth it.

Taking other girls out was easy, they weren't hard to impress so I never had to stress about the details, but for Sophia I had to actually think things through. I needed to impress her.

I had to take her somewhere fun and surprising, but still slightly romantic. What could possibly be all three of those in our crappy town?

Then an idea hit me. The perfect idea. I knew exactly where I was going to take Sophia, and she would love it.

I went to my computer to look up the weather for the next couple days and to my delight tomorrow was going to be nice and warm. Perfect. And it was the weekend so I didn't have to worry about planning around school. Everything was working out perfectly.

I shut down my computer and flopped down on my bed, taking my phone out so I could text Soph.

To: Sweetheart

You free for our date tomorrow at 11:30?

I hit send and waited for her reply, hopefully she was available.

Ten minutes passed and still no reply, I was starting to get worried. What if she changed her mind and didn't want to go out anymore?

But why would I care if she changed her mind? I was just doing this to help her, it wasn't not like I even wanted to go on the date with her.

You want to go on this date more than she does, stupid. An annoying voice in the back of my mind pointed out.

That was absolutely not true. If she didn't want to go out anymore I didn't give a damn.

The buzzing of my phone broke me from my thoughts and once I realized it was a text I rushed to open it, hoping that it was Soph.

From: Sweetheart

I'm free. Where do you plan on taking me?

I shook my head at her reply, typical Sophia, always curious and asking questions.

To: Sweetheart

That's for me to know and you to find out ;)

Once I hit send I checked the time, seven o'clock already? Time flew today.

My stomach growled when it realized that we missed dinner. I planned on ignoring my hunger because I didn't want to go all the way downstairs but eventually my stomach won and I was off my bed and on my way to the kitchen.

Not surprisingly, mom was in the kitchen when I got there, making something that smelled amazing.

"Hey sweetie." She greeted me.

"Mom." I whined, she knew I hated that nickname.

She rolled her eyes and chuckled in response.

I opened the fridge and took out some leftovers from last night, then popped it in the microwave to heat up.

"So, how have you been lately? I barely ever see you anymore, where have you been?" Mom asked after a moment of silence.

"I'm good. And I've been hanging out with Sophia." I answered nonchalantly.

"I knew you two were dating!" She exclaimed.

"No!" I shouted, furiously shaking my head.

But she wasn't exactly wrong. I was taking Sophia on a date, but it would be our first date so we weren't dating yet.

But that didn't stop us from kissing. Only one time though, but that one kiss was incredible. I didn't know a kiss could feel so good. I had no idea exactly how it happened, but it fit into my plan perfectly. I just wished I could stop thinking about it. It was constantly on my mind and every time I looked at Sophia I wanted to kiss her all over again.

I was so lost in thought that when my phone buzzed I nearly had a heart attack.

From: Sweetheart

That's not fair!

I chuckled and shook my head at her childish text.

To: Sweetheart

Life isn't fair sweetheart, get used to it.

"Who's sweetheart?" Mom asked once the text was sent, scaring me halfway to death, I forgot she was in the room.

Then I realized what she said.

"We're you reading my text?" I asked in disbelief, realizing that she must have looked over my shoulder to find out who I was messaging.

"So what if I was? Now answer my question." She said, placing her hands on her hips.

I rolled my eyes, "It's no one."

But once those words left my mouth I realized how untrue they were. Sophia was not no one to me. She had always been a big part of my life, whether it was being my enemy and the person I was competing with at school, or my new friend and the only girl I actually seemed cared about.

Almost everything I did revolved around her in some way. The way I dressed and acted so I could beat her at most popular. The people I hung out with because they were on my side. The people I hated because they were on her side. And now she was an even bigger part of my life. I was constantly thinking about how to help her, I was revolving my whole life around her lately.

The realization terrified me. Without Sophia in my life I wouldn't be me, and nothing would be the same. Someone I once wished would disappear off the face of the earth was a vital part of who I was as a person.

The beep of the microwave mercifully ripped me from my troubling thoughts.

I took my food out and told mom I would eating in my room tonight before I headed upstairs. I picked at my food but didn't eat a lot. I wasn't really hungry after my discovery about Sophia.

When my phone buzzed yet again I was hesitant to open the text this time, but I read it nonetheless.

From: Sweetheart

Not funny. Just tell me where we're going. Please!!

I smiled at the message, I could just imagine the puppy dog face she would be giving me if we were having this conversation in person.

To: Sweetheart

I want this to be a surprise so no more begging for me to tell you, because I won't.

I sent the text and looked over at my clock again, eight forty-five o'clock. Where had the time gone? I couldn't believe I wasted so much time thinking about Sophia. But then again, I really had nothing better to do.

Only a few minutes of waiting for her to reply and she actually did, much to my surprise, usually she took a long time to reply.

From: Sweetheart

Fine. If you won't tell me I'll just stop texting you now. I have homework to do anyway.

Typical Sophia.

To: Sweetheart

Whatever, be a nerd and stop texting me. I don't care.

I replied and again to my surprise, she responded quickly.

From: Sweetheart

Cool, so stop texting me. I have stuff to do and it's getting late. Besides, I need my beauty sleep for tomorrow.

Beauty sleep? Why would she need that? She was already beautiful.

And I couldn't believe I really just thought that.

To: Sweetheart

Fine. Goodbye and sweet dreams sweetheart.

Once I sent that I looked out my window towards Soph's, her curtains were shielding her room from my view but I could tell that the light was still on, but moments later it went out.

I sighed and closed my eyes. How could one girl effect my life so much? I couldn't even picture what I would be like if I never met Sophia, and frankly I was too scared to ever find out.

From now on I'd do anything to keep that girl in my life, and keep her happy too because when she was happy, I was happy.

- - - - - -

The next morning I woke with a start.

To say my dreams were unpleasant would be the understatement of the year. I was an absolute loser without Sophia around, it was terrifying.

I looked over at my clock, an hour until I had to pick Soph up for our date. I hopped out of bed and took a quick shower, then I stood in front of my closet contemplating what I was going to wear. We weren't going anywhere fancy so I didn't need to really dress up, but I still wanted to look good.

But then again, I always looked good, so I decided to wear a black t-shirt and jeans. Then I messed up my hair until I was satisfied, and for the final touch I sprayed some cologne on myself.

I checked the time and I still had a half an hour to blow before the date so I went and packed our lunch and put it in the fridge until I had to go.

By then I still had ten minutes and that was when the nerves hit me. I didn't have anything to distract me from them anymore.

This had to be perfect. I had to win her over so she'd go on other dates with me and eventually become my girlfriend, that way I could protect her and make her happy again.

I really hoped she liked where I was taking her. Most girls would throw a fit because it wasn't expensive or somewhere people usually went on dates, but I had a feeling Soph would appreciate it.

Then a new worry hit me like a ton of bricks. What if the date when perfectly well but she just didn't like me enough to go out again. I knew I was good looking but Soph didn't care much about that. She was a girl that needed to have a genuine connection with someone in order to date them. That was why she rejected so many guys at school.

But we had a connection, at least I thought we did. We wouldn't have become friends after such a long time of hating each other if we didn't have some kind of connection.

And when we kissed the sparks were crazy. There was no way she didn't feel them. That would mean something to her, right?

One last glance at the time told me I had to leave now if I didn't want to be late, so I gave myself one last look over to make sure I looked okay, before exiting my house and walking to hers.

It was pretty convenient that she lived right beside me. Maybe even fate?

I used to hate that we lived so close to each other when we hated each other, who wanted to live beside their enemy? Certainly not me. But now I was happy to have her so close.

Once I was standing in front of her door I took one last calming breath and knocked on the door.

This was it. I was taking Sophia Mackenzie on a date.