Selene didn't mean this when she told Declan to try again but better.
She looked up from her lunch.
Verona was holding out a small pink helium balloon with the word 'Will' on it.
Selene took the string the balloon was on.
Verona smiled at her before walking away.
Roman handed her a yellow 'U go' balloon, Carlos handed her a pink 'out' balloon and Ruby a white 'with' balloon and finally Declan with two balloons a yellow 'Me' and a white balloon with a question mark.
"You're ridiculous, Grey," she said, taking the final two balloons. All the balloonsâas well as Declan himselfâhad caused quite the attention towards them in the cafeteria.
He shrugged, lifting one shoulder as he stood back. "Selene," he started.
She rolled her eyes, leaning back in her seat.
Declan started again. "Selene Calloway. Will you go on a date with me, next week Friday?"
She put a hand to her chin, stroking it as she feigned thinking about her decision as she starred at Declan, then the balloons, then his friends, then outside.
She shrugged as she turned to him with a smile. "Sure. Don't be late."
"Wait really?" he asked. "I had a plan B ready and everything."
She raised an eyebrow. "Do you want me to say no?"
"No, no, no," he said quickly. "I'll see you on Friday."
She nodded and turned back to her lunch, eating with one hand as she used the other to hold the balloons.
Declan walked away, a little bounce in his step.
»
Selene didn't know what to wear on her date with Declan.
Like two weeks prior when she went to the party, Zoë was helping her get dressed for her date.
"On our first date, he took me to a carnival. Fancy dates are for anniversaries," she had said, getting Selene dressed in a casual outfit.
She wore a black long sleeve tucked into a red jean skirt that just hit her knees, her hair was in the loose waves from when she woke up and black heeled ankle boots on her feet along with a small circle shaped purse. She had worn minimal makeup that day after foundation and concealer only having on some mascara and a sheer sparkling lip gloss. Out of all the outfits she had worn since starting this whole plan with Declan, this one felt more herself.
She stood outside of her house, waiting for Declan. She had gone down early, worried that Declan may come by too early and catch a glimpse of Zoë's car before they could hide it in the garage or Zoë herself in Selene's house.
The early April weather felt crisp, a layer of fog settled just above the rooftops, the air misty with a hint of wetness. Selene breathed in deeply. Soon spring would come and the glorious summer after graduationâher and Zoë were still working out a trip but they had narrowed it down to either a month in Europe or a few weeks in the Caribbean.
Declan came only seconds later, pulling up in his Lamborghini Aventador.
The doors unlocked, the butterfly door on her side flying up.
She sat in her seat, quickly buckling up. "Hey," she said.
"Hey," he said, reaching into the backseat. He pulled out a small bouquet and placed it on her lap before he began driving. "You look beautiful, by the way."
"Peonies?" she asked, turning over the bouquet in her hands.
It only had a few of the pale pink flowers, wrapped up in brown paper.
"Roses are boring," he said, "and cliché."
She nodded.
The radio played music lowly as he drove, silence coming over them both.
Selene hadn't been on a date for a while, she wondered how this was supposed to go. Was this silence normal? Was she supposed to say something? Was she supposed to ask about him? What was she supposed to ask?
Luckily, Declan began reversing into a parking spot. She glanced out the tinted glass window to find that he had driven them to the mall. This was certainly not a carnival.
She opened her door once Declan had opened his and stepped out, walking towards the mall's entrance.
They walked at the same pace, not holding hands but not quite that far apart.
Declan led the way through the mall, taking them up an elevator to the food court.
"What do you want?" he asked.
She raised an eyebrow.
"I swear I'm not just bringing you to a mall food court for our first date," he said quickly.
She surveyed the food count, the smell of different foods mixing and filling her nose, bright logos almost blinding her. "Thai express?" she suggested.
He nodded, heading over to the black and green sign.
They each ordered their own combos in one of those takeout containers and after fighting, Declan paid for them both.
He opened a backpack that she hadn't realized he was wearing and safely tucked both containers inside and closed it before holding a hand out to her.
"Lead the way," she said, ignoring his hand.
His confidence was still suffocating as he dropped his hand and headed towards the escalators.
She kept in step with him as they descended. They walked off of the escalators and Selene followed him until they're standing in line for the movies.
"Anything interest you?" he asked.
She shook her head.
He asked for approval on a random teen comedy and she nodded in response.
They each paid for their own ticket and Selene bought them both drinks along with a pack of sour skittles to share.
Once they were inside the theatre at their seats in the very back row, Declan reached into his bag and pulls out each of their containers. "Chopsticks?" he asked, "Or just a fork?"
"Fork," she responded. "Thank you," she said once he passed it.
Declan talked during movies.
Not obnoxiously, just little jokes that had her covering her mouth to keep from other people glaring at them.
When he noticed she had finished her food, he tilted his container towards her and waited while she took a few forkfuls.
On the way out, he bought another pack of sour skittles and handed them to her without a word.
They roamed the mall afterwards, talking and walking into stores but not actually buying anything.
After a couple of hours, they walked out, the sky already dark.
He drove her home, carrying on light conversation as he drove.
"I had a good time," she said softly, reaching for the bouquet of peonies.
"Me too," he said in response, a small smile taking over his face.
The lights from the street lights cast small shadows on his face making him look more chiselled, almost like a sculpture.
"Well," she started. "I'll see you around?"
"Wait." He threaded his fingers into her hair. His lips brushed against hers. "Can I kiss you?" he breathed.
Cringing internally, she nodded infinitesimally and their lips connected.
He kissed her gingerly before his tongue slipped into her mouth.
She tried not to push him away, forcing herself to pull him closer by his shirt.
She pulled away first, watching as Declan's eyes fluttered open.
"I'll see you later," he said, his voice low.
She nodded before fleeing the car and heading up the stairs to her front door.
She locked the door behind her immediately getting ambushed by Zoë.
"How was the date?" Zoë asked.
Selene shook her head, pushing her out of the way and running up to her bedroom.
"What the fuck!" Zoë called, chasing after her.
Selene grabbed her toothbrush, wet it, put a shit ton of toothpaste on it and wet it again before furiously brushing her teeth.
Zoë stood, watching her as she leaned against the door frame.
When Selene finished brushing her tongue and rinsed with mouthwash twice she turned to her best friend. "He kissed me."
Zoë rolled her eyes before turning and heading into Selene's bedroom. "You're fucking ridiculous. You're eighteen, you know that cooties don't exist."
She gagged as she laid next to Zoë. "Whatever. At least I started step two of the plan." Literally. She shuddered as she remembered that she had pulled Declan closer.
"So how was the rest?" Zoë asked.
Selene filled her in on the whole night, leaving out the fluff of how the movie was and all the jokes Declan had made. "It was pretty okay," she finished, "besides that kiss of course."
Zoë laughed as she opened Netflix. "Don't go falling for him now," she joked.
Selene tried to laugh it off but she didn't want to admitâat least not out loudâthat it was probably the best date she had ever been on.