Catch Me (The RLU #5)

Chapter 14

Marcela

I don’t think I’ve ever had this hard of a time choosing an outfit.

Theo’s picking me up for our fake date, and I’m panicking over what to wear as if this is an actual date. Despite it being our second, this is the first time it will be just us.

I whip my gray sweater off and onto the floor, along with the other clothes that I deemed unworthy.

Deep breath , I tell myself. It’s just Theo. Two friends hanging out.

Except we’ll be acting like a couple.

And honestly, what does that even entail? Are we going to hold hands? Or try different ways for his arm to wrap around my waist?

Kiss?

I shake the ridiculous, fleeting suggestion and keep looking through my closet. I know this was my idea in the first place, but now I’m overthinking it and questioning why I’m doing this to myself. Someone who was in a serious relationship for nearly eight years shouldn’t need to practice how to date. I guess that says a lot about how awful my previous relationship really was.

With a sigh, I return to my dresser and pull out another stack of tops to go through.

I debate FaceTiming one of the girls, but I don’t want to bother them. Aurora is probably training, and Jasmine is working hard on getting her café up and running, while Camille is in Detroit with Ryker.

After a few more minutes of excruciating decision-making, I finally decide on a pink tank top and white pleated skirt that I pair with my white canvas shoes and a matching pink cardigan.

My hair’s up in a ponytail, my curtain bangs styled in slight waves, framing my face. I keep my makeup simple, not wanting to overdo it.

Theo was tipped off by a guy on his team that Hunter and Ruby would be at Fall Fest, a campus party featuring different food vendors and activities like bobbing for apples, pie-eating contests, and more. So I think I’ll be dressed perfectly.

I’m dousing myself with perfume when my phone buzzes with a text.

Theo

I’m outside, come down when you’re ready, Celly. It’s time to fake the hell out of dating you.

Me

I’ll be down in two minutes.

I throw my phone into my tote bag as nerves begin to swirl in my stomach. It’s not nerves from being with Theo, because I feel comfortable with him. It’s more from not wanting to mess up while we’re pretending today.

Sure, I went to his football game, but it’s not like we spent time together there. He was playing and I was watching. And then our date last weekend at Beers ‘n’ Cheers felt more like a hangout with friends. But going out on campus just the two of us, for everyone to see? It’s a completely different story.

As I exit my building, I come to a halt when I see Theo standing outside with a bouquet of roses.

Before I can process the words, he says, “I told you. Every date.”

Knowing Theo like I do now, it’s pointless to argue about it.

“Thank you for these. I’m going to run these back upstairs quickly.”

I do just that, and within a minute, I’m back down and walking beside Theo as we head to the center campus quad where the festivities will be held.

We’re silent for a few minutes, walking side by side. My eyes roam over piles of yellow, orange, and red leaves, the sun dipping low on the horizon much earlier than it did all summer.

I’m used to silence—and actually, quite enjoy it—but since we’re practicing how to date each other, it makes me nervous because Hunter always assumed I was upset when I was quiet.

“So, uh,” I start, fumbling over my words.

“Why do you sound nervous? Tell me what’s going on in your head,” Theo says calmly, not an ounce of annoyance in his tone.

“Well, we’re supposed to be practicing dating each other and I haven’t said a single word in a whole five minutes. I’m worried you’re going to be mad at me or think I’m awkward. And now you’re probably thinking that I think too much, and to that, I would say I agree,” I ramble.

Theo laughs, and the sound stops my anxious words from tumbling out further.

“Celly, you’re good. Be as quiet as you want. I’m enjoying a nice walk with you whether we talk or not. There doesn’t always need to be conversation.”

“But you love to talk,” I point out.

“I do, but I know that you’re a quiet person, which is fine. There’s nothing wrong with that. So I won’t force you to talk all the time,” he explains, easing my worries.

“I like talking to you.” The words slip out of my mouth before I can stop them.

“I like talking to you too,” he says, lacing our fingers together, pulling me to walk closer to him.

My heart races at the gesture, but I quickly remember that this is a role we’re playing. I need to get used to it. If he touches me and I look uncomfortable, people will notice, which won’t work very well for the purpose of our plan.

We hold hands in comfortable silence the rest of the way, with Theo saying hi to nearly everyone we pass, seeming to know everyone on campus—which honestly makes sense.

After all, he is friendly and popular.

What surprises me is that these people say hi to me too. I usually get through campus without so much a word from anyone, but now that I’m on Theo’s arm, everyone sees me.

It’s an odd feeling. There’s something to be said about the power of connection between strangers, of how a simple hello or kind gesture can boost someone’s mood.

As we approach the quad, which is louder than usual, with his hand in mine, he guides us through the crowd. Even though it’s all for show, I can’t help but think about how I never thought I cared about small things like that until Theo came into my life.

“Where do you think they are?” I ask.

Theo looks down at me as he shrugs a shoulder. “I’m not sure. Let’s have some fun. I bet we’ll run into them at some point.”

And that’s exactly what we do. We drink apple cider and navigate through the maze, laughing the entire time. Although we totally get lost, we eventually make our way out. I crush him when we bob for apples, but he retaliates when we challenge each other at a game of ring toss.

Time flies as we move from one activity to the other, lost in our own little bubble.

It’s the happiest I’ve felt in a long time.

All my nerves are gone, replaced with a sense of contentment. Everything between Theo and me is so natural that my usual overthinking self never rears her head. The way his hand reaches for mine effortlessly, or how I’ll lean into his body whenever he kisses my forehead, feels like home.

As if we’ve been doing this much longer than we actually have.

Since we’re both starving by the end of the festivities, we order from a food truck and make our way to an area full of picnic benches. Once we’re settled with our tacos and nachos, I ask, “Okay, what’s our next lesson?”

Theo looks up from his food, his light-blue eyes gleaming with delight. Then he’s sliding out from his side of the picnic table, and sliding next to me, pressing his thigh against mine.

“For starters, we need to be closer. Show people that we’re so in love we can’t even sit across from each other because it’s far too much distance to handle,” he says with a wink.

I hold two fingers up, nearly pinching them together. “That’s a tad cheesy.”

Theo wraps his arm around my shoulder, dropping a kiss to my forehead. “I’m a cheesy guy. You’ll have to live with it as long as you’re my girl.”

I’m surprised at how comfortable I feel wrapped under Theo’s arm in a public place as we talk about random things. I find myself even enjoying our date, almost forgetting that we’re supposed to be practicing.

Until Ruby and Hunter sit themselves at the picnic bench right next to ours.

Oh, no—

No, I cut off the thought. This is exactly why we’re here.

To my surprise, Hunter merely nods at us, while Ruby doesn’t bother acknowledging our presence.

Relief washes through me knowing it won’t be another pissing match between everyone this time. I focus on Ruby as my brain tries, once again, to process how she did this to me.

A press of lips to my cheek draws my attention back to Theo.

“Eyes on me, Celly,” he whispers into my ear, his lips brushing against the shell of my ear.

“Didn’t we say no kissing?” My words come out breathy as my cheek still tingles from his lips.

“I’ve always been a rule follower, but it was a dire situation.”

“Dire?”

“You were in your head and staring at them, who aren’t worthy of even breathing the same air as you. So, yes, it was dire ,” he states, making me blush and look away.

“Theo, you don’t need to say things like that. No one is listening.”

“Exactly. If I’m saying it now, it’s because it’s real. Not for show,” his voice is so sure yet soft, and it draws my gaze back up to his.

“But—”

“But nothing,” he cuts me off, kissing my forehead. “I know what you’re thinking, and I only said it because I care about you as a friend. Relax, Celly.”

I peer up at him, suddenly noticing how close we are. How close our lips are. If we move even an inch, we could be kissing. The thought startles me.

Do I want to kiss him?

No.

No, I don’t want to kiss Theo.

I was merely acknowledging that we could, that’s all.

My mind is about to spiral, so instead, I pick up a taco and shove it into Theo’s mouth. Theo’s eyes widen for a fraction of a second and then he shrugs and begins chewing on it.

“Ahh, you want to be the couple that feeds each other. I got you,” he rubs his hands together as I laugh, then takes a nacho chip dipped in salsa from his plate and holds it up to my mouth.

I open it and Theo hums. “That’s my girl. Open up for me.”

Thankfully, he puts the chip into my mouth before I can think about how those words made my core warm. That never happened when I was with Hunter.

As I chew and swallow, his eyes never leave mine, watching me with an odd admiration that I find myself wanting more of.

In the quiet moment we’re having, I overhear Ruby hissing at Hunter. “Why won’t you come sit next to me?”

“Because it’s too tight. I like my space,” he says, sounding frustrated.

“Oh, you want space, huh? I’ll give you plenty.” Ruby sneers as she pushes up from the table and storms off.

I watch as Hunter rolls his eyes and begins texting on his phone, making me avert my attention back to Theo.

“Awkward …” he says with his eyes wide and his lips pressed together.

That makes me laugh, and soon we’re both giggling. The sound of a hand slamming on the table nearly makes me jump out of my seat. I turn to see Hunter, his fist clenched tightly, pushing away from the table and walking away.

“Think we upset him?” Theo raises an eyebrow at me.

“I think we did. Is it bad that I feel good about that?”

He smirks at me. “Not at all. I think that’s rather healthy.”

We finish the rest of our food, continuing the date even though Evil Thing One and Two are gone.

“I’m buying our next dinner,” I tell him, determined to be fair.

“Ooh, so you think this went well enough for a second date, huh?” he teases.

I nudge him playfully with my shoulder as I attempt to wiggle my hand out of his, but he holds it firmly.

“You can take me on a fake date anytime,” Theo assures me, hitting me with a smile so big I swear his dimple is going to indent his cheek forever.

“Agreed, this was a lot of fun.” I smile back at him.

Theo holds his hand out to me, and I take it, letting him guide me as we stand and make our way back to my apartment. I can feel a set of eyes on me as we walk out, but I don’t dare look back.

I only keep my eyes ahead, smiling at my best friend who treats me better than anyone in my life ever has.