chapter twenty three

p a r t y p o o p i n g , d a t e s a n d c l u m s y s i t u a t i o n s .

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Picture: Nova's date clothes. What do you think? Yay or nay?

Video: Playing Matchmakers trailer. Be sure to check it out so that you can see the whole cast! ;)

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I had raided Georgia's candy bar.

Okay, it may sound like I'm a theft or something, but I just couldn't help myself. There were so many candies to choose from, so I had to have a bit of everything. As in, I filled up three bags worth of them. People looked at me curiously as Tyler and I left the reception with bags of Wonka Nerds, Hershey Kisses, Reese's Pieces, Red Vines and many other types of candy.

I popped a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup into my mouth, nearly moaning as they chocolate hit my tongue. Peanut Butter Cups are my favourite type of candy, by far. Nothing beats Peanut Butter flavoured candies, ice cream and drinks.

"Thanks for taking me with you," I say to Tyler as we step into his car. Tyler's car is the epitome of sexy, with its sleek black finish and leather interior. I could live in it - not kidding. "I had a great time."

"No problem," Tyler smiles, opening the passenger door for me to get in. "I obviously had the hottest date of the night."

I raise my eyebrows at him, "You think so?" To me, I just felt average. Georgia has quite a few friends, but they're more on the geeky side than the cheerleader slash footballer kind of person. I met a few of them, and they seemed pretty nice. One of them was my utmost favourite, because he kind of looked like Dylan O'Brien. Tyler got so jealous when I said that, because he knows how much I love him.

"I know so," he shoots me a cocky smirk, "Cake Batter, you really don't understand it do you? Want me to sing 'What Makes You Beautiful' for you to get it?"

I let out a snort. So unladylike. That's the song about not knowing you're beautiful ... right? "I guess it wouldn't hurt," I shrug my shoulders innocently. Tyler revs the engine of his car, and then puts his foot on the accelerator. His car is so smooth to drive, much nicer than my mother's car or Nate's for that matter.

"No way," he protests.

I roll my eyes at him, turning the radio on so there was some background music. Taylor Swift blasts through his speakers, as I may have turned it up all the way. Taylor has good music, okay? Well, most of it is. I turn to Tyler with a creepy smile. "Sing this!"

"Once upon a time a few mistakes ago, I was in your sights, you got me alone. You found me, you found me, you found me," I start singing I Knew You Were Trouble horribly. I was practically yelling the lyrics, while Tyler laughed his head off in the driver's seat. "Come on party pooper, sing with me!"

"Cause I knew you were trouble when you walked in. So shame on me now," Tyler joins in.

"You sound like a donkey," I wheeze out in laughter. His voice isn't the best, but I don't really care.

Tyler continues singing, ignoring my mean comment. These are the times that I never want to end, because nothing feels better than having fun with someone who means a shit load to you. Emphasise on the shit.

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I was tossing and turning all night, and I couldn't seem to wipe the smile off my face. I'm going on a date today. A date. With a hot guy. Nova Lockheart earned herself a date and didn't even have to grovel for it. Sure, I've been on dates before, but this is Tyler Bradford we're talking about.

Sure, he's the biggest shithead I've ever met, but that doesn't stop me from not being exciting. Tyler has been so much nicer to me lately. Even though we fight and squabble at any chance we get about the stupidest of things, none of it is serious anymore.

I ate my pop tarts with a huge grin on my face, fidgeting in my seat with excitement. Tyler still won't tell me where we're going, but he did say that I needed to wear something casual, nothing fancy. I'd lasted most of the day containing my excitement, but now that I was eating my afternoon lunch, I was beyond ecstatic.

Jeez, look at you Nova. You're a mess.

I ran upstairs, not paying any attention to Austin as he was screaming at someone on the phone. It's either one of his Xbox friends, or his ex-girlfriend. Judging by what he is saying, it would have to be his ex. The weird, possessive girl who couldn't leave him alone. I'm glad I never met her, I probably would have wanted to kick her in the throat or pull her vocal chords out. But, that's a little violent and I promised Austin that I wouldn't go all protective big sister on his girlfriends.

Too bad I'm giving Savannah a little 'chat' tomorrow night at work. Ah, the joy of being an older sister. You have so much power, I swear. Well, at least in Austin and my brother-sister-ship we do. I just don't think Austin knows that yet.

I groan in frustration, because I just can't seem to find anything to wear. I have one hour to get ready, an I've already pulled my wardrobe apart, my room looking like a hurricane had just hit it. Why is it, that when someone tells you to dress casually, it's so hard? Casual should be easy, but I was always feel like when I wear casual, I'm either trying too hard or trying not hard enough.

I'd already settled on a pair of blue jeans and my black converse, but couldn't find a shirt that would suit it. My choice was between a mint green peplum top, and a floral layered tank top. I groaned in annoyance, closing my eyes and grabbing one at random since I just couldn't pick one.

I picked the floral shirt. I shrugged, putting it on over my bra. It covered just to the top of my jeans, and looked pretty good in my opinion. I'm absolutely hopeless at dressing casual, so this is probably the best I'm going to get.

I run into the bathroom to pin my side fringe back, and put some mascara and tinted lip balm on. After I finished making myself up, I grab my black leather handbag, throw my wallet, phone and perfume in for that just-in-case moment.

"Took your time," Austin comments as I come down the stairs, fiddling with the strap of my handbag. I hadn't used it for ages, and had a growth spurt since then so it looked way too high on my side. "You look good."

"You're supposed to say that I look amazingly gorgeous and that you're jealous of my looks," I reply sarcastically. Austin pokes his tongue out at me, continuing to cook dinner for himself. Mom and Dad would fend for themselves, or cook something when they feel like it. I breathed in the smell of chicken and gravy, wishing that I could go and eat it all. "Tyler better feed me some good food," I stare lovingly at the chicken, "Because I am starving."

"You just had pop tarts," Austin pointed out, putting the chicken breast in the pot of gravy. Oh god, I could just imagine how good it tastes.

"They didn't fill me up!" I shriek, "Stop judging my appetite, I'm a growing girl." I'm just glad that I do sports, or I would be the tall, door-wide girl if I didn't. "Tyler accepts it, so that's all that matters."

"Ah, whatever," Austin shakes his head with a laugh. It's no surprise that he and I have the appetites of a person who hasn't eaten for a week. He's more obsessed with meat, while I prefer tacos and Mexican food, really. Must be the Spanish side of me showing?

I check the time on the clock. Tyler is due at around 7:00, and it's fifteen to at the moment. It's usually weird that I run on time, because I'm usually always the one who is lagging behind. My body clock works fifteen minutes late, that's what.

I sit down in the lounge room, Austin soon following with his amazingly smelling food, and turn the TV on to watch something interesting and entertain myself for the next fifteen minutes. Austin snatches the remote off me to put a South Park marathon off me, not that I mind though.

I love South Park - especially Stick of Truth. I finally managed to finish it this week, and couldn't be happier that I finally farted on Kenny's balls.

Austin had bought a new car game and had been obsessed with it, and managed to finish it in three days. He really spends too much time playing games. The only form of exercise Austin does is football practises while he waits for me, and gym class. I heard that he started going to the gym though, since he needs to get ready and fit for his new role in the movie. How cute of him. Maybe he wants to impress the lead girl role?

The filming starts in two months, so Austin has to take a lot of time off school which he doesn't mind. Obviously, it's going to set him back really far, but he'll have to catch up somehow. I don't know what I'm going to do when he's off in Hollywood making movies while I'm here doing jack-all.

The doorbell rings, and I immediately jump off the couch in a fluster. "Oh god, this is happening," I whisper frantically to myself. Austin ignores me; too busy watching Cartman and Kenny on the screen. I drawl out a long breath, mustering up the courage to go to the door.

I opened the door slowly, effectively hitting myself in the forehead with the edge since I wasn't looking where it was going. I've always been clumsy - it's one of my fabulous talents I was granted with.

That reminds me of when I was at my first school dance, and I managed to face plant, because I tripped over my partners foot. It was so embarrassing, and I had bruises under my eyes for the following week I had hit my nose on the gym floor so hard. That had to be one of the most embarrassing moments in my life. I distinctively remember the amused looks everyone was giving me.

I snap back to reality, relishing in the satisfaction that I, Nova, am going on a date and I need to stop reminiscing on clumsy moments of mine. I have a hot date, with a hot guy to who-knows-where, and I am going to have the time of my life.

Tyler stands in the doorway with a nervous smile on his face. I guess it's not only me who is nervous, judging by the way he couldn't stand still and kept on rocking on the heels of his Vans. How dare he betray the converse tradition?

Tyler does suit vans more than converse though. So I guess that's okay if he wears them, and I'll stick to the good old converse I wear all the time. Tyler looks hotter than ever in a plain grey shirt with a leather jacket over the top, black jeans and maroon vans. How does he look so hot, while also looking effortless all the while? It's not fair.

"Hey," I breathe out, too caught in the moment to speak up. I lean my head up against the door, but it opens further and I nearly fall over again. "You look hot tonight," I blurt randomly. Well, not entirely random because it is one hundred percent true.

"Thanks Cake Batter," he laughs, the hint of nervousness diminishing from his stature. "You look pretty sexy tonight as well," he winks.

I nearly blush. I lie. I blushed hardcore - cheeks redder than a tomato. I try to hide the growing heat, but it refuses to go back down to where it belongs. I feel like I'll be blushing a lot tonight. Not even Hayden, when we dated, could make me blush more than Tyler does - unintentionally most of the time.

"Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery," I smile cheekily, getting comfortable. Sarcasm is my second language, I can't not speak it - date or what.

"Hurry up and leave," Austin yells from the lounge room. I internally roll my eyes at him for pooping on our party promptly. "Or I'll be pooping on your party promptly."

We watched Rio 2 last night. Enough said.

"Cmon Cake Batter," Tyler grabs onto my hand. I feel the heat of his palm, and intertwine my fingers with him. Thank god it's a cool night, because I sure as hell don't want to have sweaty palms while holding a hot guys hand. "Ready for our date?" A twinkle of mischievousness encloses over his green eyes, which look so bright and lively. His eyes are the easiest way to determine what mood he is in. The darker they are, the more angry and mysterious, while the more blue-green they are, the happier. At the moment they're green with flecks of blue and gold.

"Where are we going, first," I inquire. We both walk to his car, which is waiting outside my house in the driveway next to my mothers car. It looked so out of place here - being so fancy schmancy. "Because I don't want to be driven to some forest and have you rape me then brutally murder me and get away with the crime."

Tyler looks at me, horrified. "You're way too loud to get away with murder, everyone would hear!"

I gasp, shoving his shoulder with my free hand so that he veered off the path. I didn't want to take my hand out of his, it felt way too good.

"Milady," he opens the door, bowing dramatically for me.

"What a gentleman," I gush, climbing into the passenger seat. Tyler walks around the front, a grin on his face and a visible bounce in his step. God, could he get any cuter? Seriously, this boy will be the death of me. I admire the interior of his car for what feels like the fiftieth time in one week, and imagine the feeling of driving it. "You have got to let me have a joyride in this," I comment as I sweep my hand over the polished dashboard.

Tyler snorts in disbelief, "You mean a lot to me, Cake Batter, but nobody gets between a man and his car. Especially a car of this quality."

"Why don't you go on a date with it then," I retort. I know what he means, because I would be a hell of a lot possessive of this car if it was mine. Heck, I wouldn't let anyone drive it.

"Plus, you drive like Emily taught you how to drive on Grand Theft Auto," he points out with a small shrug.

Way to kill the moment.

"But ... Emily did teach me how to drive on GTA." I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. Sure, emit may be the worst driver ever on GTA, but she learnt how to use the controller quicker than I ever did. Mind you, this had to be a long time ago. I'm talking about when we were ten years old.

"Exactly," he barks out a laugh, veering right. He's going the opposite way to town, so he must be driving to Halston, or a different surrounding suburb. "You would kill Regina."

"You named your car Regina!" I burst out laughing, slapping my leg animatedly. I can't believe he named his car after the Queen Bitch off Mean Girls. Sure, Regina has got to be the most amazing Mean Girl of all time, but still.

"Shut up," he blushes feverishly. "It was a spur of the moment thing. Georgia was watching it, and I thought it would be the perfect name."

I roll my eyes, "You completely changed subject. Plus, who says I'm not as good as you are at driving? I distinctively remember you crashing your car into a metal pole after you were doing drifting!"

"Strike two Nova, strike two."

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AWW I REALLY LIKED THIS CHAPTER. What about you guys?

Quick questions:

1. Where do you think Tyler is taking Nova for her date?

2. Whose your favourite character, and why?

3. Can you relate to Nova? In what ways? I'm really interested.

4. Clumsiest moment? Funniest moment will get a dedication :)

I want to do these questions so that I can get to know you all a bit better. I value each and every one of you, and without you guys I would be nowhere! You have given me the inspiration to write all the time, and I cannot thank you any more!

From your very happy author, summer xoxo