Chapter 9
NINE
ANNIKA
I glance over at the clock on my nightstand.
Chloe is sleeping on her twin bed, tangled in the full-size comforter.
She spent the rest of the night scrubbing her Birkenstocks, trying to get out the liquified Jell-O that spilled on them before knocking out from all the emotional distress.
A part of me is upset that she ruined the moment I was having with Reid in the backyard, and another part of me is mad at myself for being mad that the moment was ruined.
What was I thinking? I didn’t want to fall in love with a boy.
And I’m clearly falling for him already.
We only started college five months ago.
I have years to have fun, flirt and have flings.
I can hear Chloe’s voice reverberating inside my head, “Have fun, date around.” I’m not supposed to be engulfed by a herd of butterflies when a boy tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear.
I lay in my bed wide awake, replaying the events in my head and comparing Reid now to the Reid I was so love-struck with as a kid.
He is still the goofy, bright Reid I’ve always had the pleasure of interacting with.
Except now, he’s a man. A man with muscles and a hot haircut.
A smile that whisks me off into a delusional fantasy. I yearn to be closer to him.
In fact, I know more about him now in the time we played ping-pong than in the entire years in school together.
I think it’s the longest conversation we’ve ever had.
I have this creeping doubt about all of this.
I hope it was all a mirage and he doesn’t text me.
I don’t know if this is the right thing to do.
As if I gave the universe a sign, my phone buzzes.
I hesitate, staring at it on my nightstand.
I should be asleep. I force my eyes closed, ignoring the notification that pops up on my screen.
I know it’s a text because of the type of buzz.
I have specific alerts set for texts and calls, such as, when my mom calls, it’s the same sound as a car alarm because if I don’t answer, my mom gives me a hard time about it for a week.
I am doing a terrible job of ignoring the buzz.
I feel the vibration in my head Buzzz bzz, and imagine what the text says.
Maybe it isn’t from Reid. Maybe it’s Aimee checking in on Chloe.
Or maybe it’s my hair salon sending a reminder.
I can’t stand it anymore and reach over to my phone and yank the charger cord out, tucking myself under my comforter so the brightness doesn’t wake Chloe.
Unknown
Hi :)
Oh, it’s Reid by the way
U know? Ping Pong champ?
I catch the smile that floods my face after scanning the messages. Relax Anni.
I add his contact to my phone, and before I start typing back, another message comes in.
Reid
Shoot, I just realized how late it is. I’m totally not thinking about you and can’t sleep because of it. Nope.
The feeling is mutual.
Annika
Good thing I’m awake trying to plot my ping-pong revenge
Reid
Revenge? I won fair and square. Don’t try to back out now. I have the perfect beach planned for our date :]
Stupid butterflies, you are not welcome here.
Annika
Which beach? Please tell me it’s PB, I love the chill tides
Reid
Chill tides? Lmao, are you a hot surfer too?
Omg did he call me hot?
Annika
Haha, no. I just like walking out to the water. I do my best thinking when my legs are at least six inches submerged in ocean water
Reid
Well, ur in luck because I’ve picked the best spot on PB to split a veggie sandwich while sippin’ on ice teas.
I have to admit, that sounds like an awesome time. Eh, what’s the harm in going on one date with him? I’m probably just feeling shortness of breath and chills because I caught some bug at the party. I peek out from the comforter to check on Chloe. She’s still zonked out. Buzzz bzz
Reid
let me know if i’m too much, i’m just…
Annika
ur wut?
Reid
Promise you won’t laugh at me?
Annika
I can never promise you that >:)
Reid
ahah touche
Do you remember before I moved away? Seventh grade before spring break?
I contemplate whether I admit knowing the exact moment I found out. After spring break, going to school and seeing his chair in history class empty. It matched the hole that was left in my heart.
Annika
yeahhh, I think so
Reid
Well, i was going to ask u to the spring dance. I made a card and everything.
And with that text, I melt into my bed. That’s it.
I’m here forever now. How could I go on existing after learning the boy I had a massive crush on was about to ask me to the dance?
I can’t help but picture my twelve-year-old self and how elated I would have been.
I might have peed my pants from equal parts excitement and nerves.
And now here I am, eighteen and curled up in my dorm bed texting the same boy, except now he’s a tall man that smells like evergreen trees and has eyes that undress me with one look.
Reid
don’t block my number lmao
i’m embarrassed, forget what I said, just delete my number, forget i exist, k bye
Annika
No no! It’s okay, i’m just processing
Reid
…
Annika
Do u still have the card?
Reid
:[ no, i think it got lost in one of the many moves
Annika
for what it’s worth, I would have said yes
Who am I right now? Where did all this charm come from? Reid just brings something out of me. I don’t feel weird admitting to him something that is so vulnerable. Although, I am tempted to throw my phone across the room so I don’t see his reply. Buzzz bzz
Reid
I'm glad you said yes again.
The sun wakes me up as it creeps through the cracks in our window shades.
Chloe is already up and in the bathroom.
I can hear her humming a song to herself.
Then I remember what happened yesterday, and I immediately lunge for my phone and read the last texts again, noticing another came in after I fell asleep.
Reid
I'm glad you said yes again.
Do you want to get some coffee tomorrow morning?
It was real. It actually happened. Reid admitted that he had a crush on me in middle school too, and now we are going to have a romantic beach date on Saturday and a coffee date tomorrow.
Tomorrow? Did I really agree to two dates already?
Panic fills my brain as I try to figure out what to wear and how to do my makeup.
Despite having a full week until our date, it’s all I think about now.
I fling myself out of bed and pace over to the bathroom, where Chloe is braiding her waist-length hair.
“Reid Parker asked me out.” I don’t have time for good mornings.
Her eyes bug out, and she drops her hair tie to the floor, letting the braid loosen. “What? Who? When? How? When? Who?” she says, swinging her head from side to side.
“Okay, you’re broken. Let me explain.”
I tell Chloe every detail from last night. How he saved me from Trey and beat me in ping-pong. How he was centimeters away from my face before I heard her screaming, which she profusely apologized for. I told her everything and even reluctantly told her how I’m excited but not sure I should be.
“You were there, Chloe. I was heartbroken when he moved. I vowed to never love again.”
“Yah, but you were twelve and overly dramatic. Give it a chance. It’s one date. You’ll at least get a free meal out of it.”
“You’re right, but also, what if I fall in love? I mean, I practically loved him once already. I don’t know if I have time for that! I’m already behind in two of my classes. Besides, you told me to play the field. I’m freaking out!” I dramatically fall on my bed.
Chloe lets out a little laugh. “Hey, crazy lady, it’s one date. Cool it. Plus, you are having a coffee first. You can always back out after. Besides, you are doing what you wanted, going out on dates. Go out with Reid, then move along,” Chloe says as she sits next to me, petting my head.
“Something tells me it’s not going to be that easy with Reid.” I take a pillow and squish it against my face.
“You are the most dramatic person I know. Have I mentioned that before?” she says.
“At least once a week,” I say, tossing the pillow up at her.
My Monday morning class ends at nine-thirty, so I’m going to be terribly early for my coffee date with Reid.
Is it even a date? It sounded more like a coordinated run-in.
I kept my outfit casual today, flared ripped jeans with a loose band T-shirt.
My hair is braided into pigtails on either side.
I can’t be bothered to try on Mondays, even if I’m about to see my childhood crush again.
Except for my eyeliner, I always have time to do a winged eyeliner look.
The coffee shop is one of the three the campus has spread around.
One is by my dorm, where Dane works, another is by the sciences buildings, and the third is near the main entrance and student bookstore.
The inside is a simple scheme of dark wood with green accents, just like the other campus cafes.
A few students are sitting at the tables, working on their laptops.
There are some armchairs by the windows where a couple is chatting.
I stand in line, looking at the menu, despite knowing exactly what I’m going to order.
“Fancy seeing you here,” a deep, raspy voice says to me, coating me in warmth.
I turn and see Reid standing in front of me in the flesh and not a figment of my imagination. He’s wearing dark wash jeans and a faded red Nirvana band T-Shirt. It’s as if we coordinated on outfits.
“Are you following me, Parker?” I tease him and nudge his side.
He laughs and scans my face, so I quickly do the same now that we are in the daylight. Even as years passed, he didn’t cease to make my nerves tickle, my center ache, and my breathing uneasy. It’s probably just my crush resurfacing, that’s all. Nothing more than that.
“What are you ordering?” He breaks my gaze and looks at the menu.