𝓿𝓲𝓲𝓲. first date

written – 12.10.23  |  re-written - 9.6.24

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16TH

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( SENT AT 5:10 PM ) RONI:

just getting off work, heading now.

( SENT AT 5:10 PM ) RONI:

don't forget. 6.

( SENT AT 5:15 PM ) WOLF BOY:

Yes. 6 o'clock. Nothing earlier, nothing later.

( SENT AT 5:16 PM ) RONI:

just making sure you remembered. see you later em.

( SENT AT 5:18 PM ) WOLF BOY:

See you layer, Roni. :)

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EMBRY PLACED HIS PHONE ON his bed before he continued to pace around his room. What if i fuck up? We are doing so good right now! Embry thought to himself before grabbing his phone again.

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( SENT AT 5:21 PM ) EMBRY:

Sam! Is there anything I need to know about Roni before I pick her up?

( SENT AT 5:24 PM ) SAM:

Roni told me to send you this if you texted me.

( SENT AT 5:25 PM ) SAM:

"stop asking people for advice on what to do. be original. just be yourself."

( SENT AT 5:27 PM ) EMBRY:

Thanks a lot, Sam.

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( SENT AT 5:27 PM ) CALL:

Paul! Is there anything I need to know about Roni before I pick her up?

( SENT AT 5:28 PM ) PAUL:

stop asking people for advice on what to do. be original. just be yourself.

( SENT AT 5:29 PM ) CALL:

Oh Jesus Christ!

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( SENT AT 5:31 PM ) EMBRY:

Emily! Is there anything I need to know about Roni before picking her up?

( SENT AT 5:34 PM ) BEST CHEF EVER:

Sorry, Embry.

( SENT AT 5:34 PM ) EMBRY:

Emily.

( SENT AT 5:34 PM ) EMBRY:

Don't.

( SENT AT 5:34 PM ) EMBRY:

You.

( SENT AT 5:34 PM ) EMBRY:

Dare.

( SENT AT 5:36 PM ) BEST CHEF EVER:

stop asking people for advice on what to do. be original. just be yourself.

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( SENT AT 5:40 PM ) RONI'S BF:

Seth Clearwater.

( SENT AT 5:42 PM ) LITTLE WOLF:

stop asking people for advice on what to do. be original. just be yourself.

( SENT AT 5:43 PM ) RONI'S BF:

Go fuck your self, Clearwater!

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EMBRY GROANED AND RAN A HAND down his face, his fingers lingering on his stubbled chin before reluctantly setting his phone down on the bedside table. She really went to everyone, didn't she? Embry thought to himself, a mixture of exasperation and amusement coursing through him. After a moment, he couldn't help but shake his head, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Despite the initial annoyance, there was something endearing about her persistence.

"I'll be back later," Embry announced, his voice a blend of excitement and nervousness. He leaned in and planted a quick kiss on his mother's cheek, the familiar scent of her perfume momentarily grounding him. With a deep breath, he straightened up and headed for the door, his hand hesitating for just a second on the doorknob before he stepped out into the crisp evening air.

As Embry approached Roni's house, his heart skipped a beat when he saw her standing outside, patiently waiting for him. Her silhouette was backlit by the warm glow of the porch light, creating a halo effect around her hair. He couldn't help but smile as he pulled up, noting the exact time on his dashboard clock.

"Wow. Six o'clock right on the dot. I'm impressed," Roni said, her voice carrying a hint of pleasant surprise as she gracefully slid into the passenger seat. The car filled with the subtle scent of her perfume, a mix of vanilla and something floral that Embry couldn't quite place.

"Honestly, same," Embry replied with a self-deprecating chuckle, shaking his head slightly. "I thought I was going to be late. Traffic was a nightmare." He glanced over at Roni, catching her eye for a moment before she turned to look out the window, a soft smile playing on her lips as the streetlights began to flicker on in the gathering dusk.

"I was just kidding, you know," Roni said after a moment, her voice softer now. "You could have been a few minutes late. I wouldn't have cared." Embry shrugged, stealing another quick glance at her profile, admiring the way the passing lights illuminated her features.

"I didn't want to disappoint you on our first date," Embry admitted, his voice carrying a hint of vulnerability that surprised even him. He gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, suddenly aware of how sweaty his palms had become.

"Well, you certainly didn't," Roni chuckled, the sound light and melodious. She turned to face Embry fully now, her expression a mix of nervousness and excitement. "Look, I'm going to be completely honest with you. I've never been on a date before, so I have no idea what I'm doing. This is all new territory for me."

Embry felt a wave of relief wash over him at her confession. "That's fine," he reassured her, his voice warm and encouraging. "Just think of it as a hangout, but with feelings involved. No pressure, just us being ourselves." Roni nodded, seeming to relax a bit at his words. She turned her attention to the front window, watching with growing curiosity as Embry navigated through the familiar streets of Forks.

As they pulled into the parking lot of 'Forks Retro Arcade', the neon signs casting a multicolored glow over the car's interior, Roni's eyes lit up with recognition and excitement. "Did you get one of the guys or Emily to crack?" she asked, a playful grin spreading across her face as Embry smoothly parked the car.

"No. Why?" Embry asked, his brow furrowing slightly as he looked over at Roni. Before she could answer, he quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the truck. With a burst of energy fueled by both nerves and excitement, he jogged around the front of the car, reaching Roni's door just as she was about to open it herself.

"This is like my favorite place ever!" Roni exclaimed as she stepped out of the car, her enthusiasm palpable. "Well, besides Sam and Emily's house, of course." She paused for a moment, taking in the familiar sights and sounds of the arcade. "I'm so beating you at every two-player game, just so you know," she added with a competitive glint in her eye.

"We'll see about that," Embry jokingly scoffed, a challenging smirk playing on his lips. As they approached the entrance, he quickened his pace slightly, reaching out to open the door for Roni. Obviously, he thought to himself, feeling a mix of old-fashioned chivalry and modern self-consciousness about the gesture.

As they stepped inside, the cacophony of arcade sounds washed over them – the electronic beeps and boops of various games, the clatter of pinballs, and the excited chatter of other patrons. "Well, if it isn't my favorite player!" The warm, familiar voice of Cindy LaCraw cut through the noise as Roni walked through the door. Cindy's eyes widened as she noticed Embry. "Oh! Who's this handsome fellow?"

"Hey Cindy!" Roni greeted enthusiastically, crossing the room to give the older woman a quick hug. As she stepped back, she gestured towards Embry, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "This is Embry. He's my date for the night." The word 'date' sent a little thrill through both of them, the reality of the situation setting in once more.

Cindy let out a light gasp, a wide, almost maternal smile spreading across her face. She turned her attention to Embry, her expression shifting to one of playful warning. "You hurt her, I hurt you. Got it, young man?"

Embry raised his hands in a gesture of innocence, his voice earnest as he replied, "I have no intentions of hurting Roni. Not like I could even if I wanted to." He muttered the last part under his breath, earning a swift elbow to the ribs from Roni. Cindy's stern expression melted back into a warm smile as she reached behind the counter.

"I've been saving these for the next time you came in," Cindy said, her voice filled with affection as she handed Roni a bag of tokens. Roni's face lit up with childlike glee at the sight of the shiny coins. "Now go have fun, you two!" Cindy shooed them away with a motherly wave.

As they moved deeper into the arcade, weaving between the rows of blinking, chiming machines, Embry couldn't help but ask, "You come here a lot, don't you?" His tone was curious, tinged with a hint of admiration for this new facet of Roni he was discovering.

"Of course," Roni replied, her voice taking on a slightly nostalgic tone. "I came here a lot as a kid. It was my escape from home." As soon as the words left her mouth, Roni seemed to realize what she had said. A shadow briefly crossed her face before she quickly schooled her features. "Ignore what I just said," she added hastily, her voice a touch too bright. "Come on, I'm so beating you at Dance Dance Revolution!"

Before Embry could process the weight of her words or formulate a response, Roni grabbed his hand, sending a jolt of electricity up his arm. She tugged him towards the Dance Dance Revolution machine, her earlier enthusiasm returning full force. Embry allowed himself to be led, a smile playing on his lips even as his mind whirred with questions about Roni's cryptic comment. As they approached the flashing lights and pulsing music of the dance game, Embry pushed his concerns to the back of his mind, determined to focus on the present moment and the warmth of Roni's hand in his. Whatever her past held, he was here now, ready to create new, happier memories with her.