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Post by Dani on Feb 27, 2019 0:12:05 GMT -8
Tuesday, February 27, 2019
Tuesday night arrived and Hadley was frantically trying to get ready for her date. She had been home for half an hour so far and although she was wearing a beautiful dress with full hair and makeup done, she still felt completely unprepared. She ripped off her dress for the fourth time and - wearing her robe - stood in front of her closet staring at it contents once more.
There was a knock on the door and Ari walked in, "You're still not dressed?"
"I've been dressed about fifteen times now." Hadley sighs as she looks at the clothes strewn all over her room, "Nothing seems right!"
Ari smiles and places a hand on her sister's shoulder, "You've gotta relax, Had. He likes you. He likes you knowing about you. He wants to date you for you."
"Ugh I know! That's what is making this so hard!"
"What do you mean?" Ari asks as she pushes some clothes aside and takes a seat on Hadley's bed.
"I mean... what if he decides he doesn't really like me? What... what if.... what he does.... and then I have to have the surgery and he realizes what all that entails and then decides its all just too much for him... what if he wants kids of his own someday... what if?"
"Hey, hey, hey." Ari smiles as she pulls her sister into a hug, "We're talking about a first date, "You don't have to marry the guy."
"But I want to!" Hadley laughs and sighs and begins to cry all at the same time.
Ari grins, "You hardly know him."
"I know. But he's cute and funny and sensitive and... his eyes are so.."
"You could get lost in them?"
Hadley looks up, "How did you know?"
Ari grins, "Because you've told me about a hundred times since you got home from meeting him."
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Post by starletinwaiting on Feb 27, 2019 5:28:08 GMT -8
Asher sits on the couch in the tiny living room of his apartment, Marcus on one side of him and Caleb on the other. All day and every day building up to this day, Asher felt the pressure and his nerves rising. It's been a few years since he dated anyone and he's never dated anyone quite like Hadley (and he means that in more ways than just the obvious). What if he's forgotten how to do the dating thing? What if he's a horrible boyfriend? What if he makes a fool of himself? What if he says something wrong and Hadley gets angry? What if--
"Earth to Asher, come in, Asher. You there, buddy?" Caleb calls, waving a hand in front of his brother's blank stare. Snapping to, Asher looks to Caleb. "You're going down the what if rabbit trail again, aren't you, Ash?"
"There's just so many variables--"
Marcus sets a hand on Asher's shoulder. "Breathe, Asher," he reminds his stepbrother, taking a deep breath himself to lead Asher into doing so. "You're going to be fine. Just treat her well and things will go smoothly."
Nodding ever so slightly, Asher glances to the clock on his phone and realizes he's supposed to be there in two minutes. He jumps to his feet. "Crap." His body hops into hyper drive, running at about fifty miles a second. He grabs his coat, grabs his wallet, grabs his phone and his keys but nearly forgets his calm amd sanity as he heads for the door.
Caleb stops him before he heads out. "Remember, Ash, this is just like a first date with anybody else. Don't question yourself. You've done this before."
"And you're good at it," Marcus chimes in. "You're very charismatic. So much so I wish charisma we're contagious because then maybe I could share some."
His hands on his brother's shoulders, Caleb rubs Asher's back to help him relax. "You're super tense, dude."
Asher groans, "Saying it doesn't make it any better." He glances at the clock again and another groan escapes him. "And now I'm officially late. What's she gonna think of that?"
"Asher, you're overthinking things," Marcus states. "I'm sure she's hardly keeping track of the time. She's probably just as nervous as you are about this. Now breathe." Asher takes a deep breath at his stepbrother's bidding, Marcus taking a few deep breaths with him. As he sees Asher begin to relax, Marcus says, "Now there. Go. You'll be great."
As Asher passes him, Caleb gives him a brotherly slap on the back for encouragement. "You've got this, Ash."
Asher nods, forcing himself to keep breathing. "I've got this," he repeats as he leaves ths apartment. "I've got this," he repeats as he slides into his car. "I've got this," he repeats as he turns the key in the ignition.
"I... got this?" he questions as he finds himself on Hadley's doorstep, finger on the doorbell. He hears the bell ring throughout the house and sucks in a breath, holding it in as he anticipates the moment Hadley comes to the door.
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Post by Dani on Feb 27, 2019 5:58:48 GMT -8
Twenty-one year old Zander opens the door and smiles at Asher, "Hey, you must be Asher," He offers his hand in welcome, "I'm Zander - Hadley's older brother. She's just finishing getting ready. Come on in." He says as he opens the door wider and shows Asher to the living room. Taking a seat across from Asher, Zander smiles again, "Had will be down in just a minute."
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Post by starletinwaiting on Feb 27, 2019 6:17:47 GMT -8
Inwardly, Asher sighs in relief. Hadley isn't even ready yet. She definitely won't mind him being a few minutes late. "It's nice to meet you," he says to Zander.
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Post by Dani on Feb 27, 2019 6:49:09 GMT -8
Zander grins, "Dude relax. you look super tense. I promise this is no big deal. All we care about, and all Hadley cares about is that you treat her well. Do that and you're good as gold."
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Post by starletinwaiting on Feb 27, 2019 6:57:42 GMT -8
"Funny thing is, I know that," Asher says with a frustrated chuckle. "It's just... been awhile since I've been on a date."
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Post by Dani on Feb 27, 2019 14:22:11 GMT -8
"You'll do fine." Zander smiles, "You're getting an amazing girl and I'm not just saying that because she is my sister."
Just then a sound is heard on the stairs, "speaking of..."
Hadley comes slowly down the stairs. A beautiful long soft pink dress with a white sweater and soft pink ballet style shoes on her feet. Her hair is pulled back at the sides and soft dark brown singlets cascade around her face and down her back and shoulders. Her dark eyes have just a hint of eye shadow and the bit of blush she is wearing cannot hide the true color in her cheeks. She stops at she bottom of the stairs, her hands clasped before her, "hi." She smiles shyly.
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Post by starletinwaiting on Feb 27, 2019 14:35:06 GMT -8
Asher catches himself staring before finding the words to respond. "Wow, you look great. I feel kinda underdressed now," he adds, looking down at his (admittedly nice) jeans and button up.
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Post by Dani on Feb 27, 2019 18:58:01 GMT -8
"I wasn't sure how dressy to go." Hadley says biting her lip, "Ari helped pick this out." Hadley nodded toward her older sister who was coming down the stairs behind her.
"I figured she only goes on a first date once." Ari smiles, "Might as well feel like a primcess for it." Ari offered her hand to Asher, "I'm Ari." She smiles, "And persomally I think your choice of clothing go great with hers. Not too dressy, not too casual."
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Post by starletinwaiting on Feb 27, 2019 19:03:08 GMT -8
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Asher says with a smile at the two sisters. "Nice to meet you, Ari."
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Post by Dani on Feb 28, 2019 5:40:14 GMT -8
Hadley blushes and smiles as her parents and Soren come into the room.
"Well don't you look beautiful." Her dad said to Hadley. "Thanks, Dad." Hadley smiled and then turned to Asher, "Asher, this is my mom and dad, Sarah and Tom, and my brother Soren." Soren smiles and offers his hand in greeting to Asher, "Good to meet you." Sarah puts a hand on Asher's shoulder, "We're so glad to meet you. I hope you two have a wonderful time tonight."
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Post by starletinwaiting on Feb 28, 2019 8:11:22 GMT -8
"It's good to meet you too," Asher responds politely. Hadley's family seems like good people, both from what she told him and from what he has observed here tonight. "I will definitely try my best to make tonight a good one."
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Post by Dani on Feb 28, 2019 15:42:50 GMT -8
Sarah smiles warmly, "I'm sure you both will have a wonderful time."
Just then the door opens, "We're home!" comes a young male voice.
Two fifteen year olds come into the room - a boy and a girl - both with blonde hair and brown eyes.
Hadley smiles, "Asher, this is Everson and Everleigh. They're my cousins but might as well be my little brother and sister."
Zander laughs, "Yea but you'll always be the baby of the family, Had."
Hadley playfully jabs her older brother in the ribs. She turns back to Asher, "I'm ready when you are."
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Post by starletinwaiting on Feb 28, 2019 16:00:06 GMT -8
"Wow, I did not expect to meet the whole family on the first date," Asher teases nervously. "I guess we should head out before your family takes over." He points to the door. "I'm parked out front." Wow. Captain Obvious, much?
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Post by Dani on Mar 1, 2019 4:54:59 GMT -8
Hadley laughs, "This is all of them." She hugs her mom and tells everyone goodbye, "Okay," She smiles and walks with him to the car.
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Post by starletinwaiting on Mar 1, 2019 7:30:16 GMT -8
Asher grabs the car door for her. "There's a little bit of a trick to opening it. It's an old car. Used to be my dad's when he was about my age."
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Post by Dani on Mar 1, 2019 12:05:29 GMT -8
"That's great that he was able to give it to you." Hadley smiles as she gets in
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Post by starletinwaiting on Mar 1, 2019 12:27:16 GMT -8
Asher closes the door, running around to the driver's side before responding. "Yeah, well, it was kinda necessary for me. I had lots of places to go and public transit sucked so..."
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Post by Dani on Mar 1, 2019 15:01:14 GMT -8
Hadley grins, "It's nice. I almost have enough to buy a used one. It'll be nice to not have to share with Zander and Soren."
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Post by starletinwaiting on Mar 1, 2019 15:08:56 GMT -8
"I can imagine," he says as he pulls away from her house. "I need to start savinh up for a new one. This one's al oat on its last leg."
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Post by Dani on Mar 2, 2019 5:57:42 GMT -8
"Yea, Zander's car is getting pretty old too. Mom and Dad wanted to help us buy cars but since they had to take Everson and Everleigh in things have been pretty tight money wise. But I love having them with us so it's a sacrifice we don't mind. Just means we have to work harder. Nothing wrong with that." She smiles at him admiring how handsome he looks in the sunset.
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Post by starletinwaiting on Mar 2, 2019 6:00:17 GMT -8
"Definitely not," Asher says. He catches her looking at him out of the corner of his eye. "Is there something on my face?"
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Post by Dani on Mar 2, 2019 6:02:46 GMT -8
"No." She blushes, "I was just... thinking you look really handsome."
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Post by starletinwaiting on Mar 2, 2019 6:05:04 GMT -8
Asher can feel a warmth rising in his cheeks. "Oh. Uh, thank you." He glances over at her. "You already know I think you look great."
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Post by Dani on Mar 2, 2019 6:14:28 GMT -8
Hadley blushes, "Actually I wasn't sure what you thought."
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Post by starletinwaiting on Mar 2, 2019 6:18:21 GMT -8
"I didn't- I didn't tell you that when you first joined me and your family tongiht?" A different kind of warmth comes to his cheeks now.
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Post by Dani on Mar 2, 2019 6:37:21 GMT -8
Hadley bites her lip, "I.. I wasn't sure if that was for my family's sake or if you really meant it..." Hadley looked down at her hands, "I have a hard time believing people when they tell me I'm pretty. You're the first person to comment on my appearance besides my family. It's just something I'm really insecure about. I'm sorry." She hoped she hadn't hurt his feelings.
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Post by starletinwaiting on Mar 2, 2019 6:45:05 GMT -8
"No, no, don't be sorry," he says, lifting one hand from the wheel to give her hand a quick squeeze. "I know a lot of girls are really insecure and I can imagine that for you..." He doesn't finish his sentence, unsure if his train of thought would be taken as rude or insensitive.
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Post by Dani on Mar 2, 2019 6:51:39 GMT -8
Her heart slams into her chest as he touches her hand, "It's okay." She smiles as she squeezes his hand back, "You don't have to stop."
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Post by starletinwaiting on Mar 2, 2019 7:02:20 GMT -8
"It isn't weird for me to say 'I bet you're more insecure than other girls simply because of who you are'?" he asks warily. "Because that... that feels kinda weird."
He starts thinking of how he would feel if he were in her brothers' shoes and heard someone said that. And how Caleb would react if he knew he had said that. He can just about hear Caleb's voice admonishing him. Why would you say that? Good God, Ash! Great. Now Caleb's wormed his way into his head.
"Caleb would very likely punch me if he heard me say anything weird to you," he finds himself saying. Crap. Why are you bringing up your meddlesome brother on your date? "You might have guessed, but he's overprotective of the people he loves and he definitely loves the people in your community." I should really just shut up now.
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