It is now Saturday, and Danny, Nina, Eli, and I all decided on going skating, and then out to eat at five guys.

I'm actually pretty excited about today, but scared. I'll finally get a feel of how Eli is as a person, but what if I end up not being interested in even being his friend? He seems like a nice guy, but I don't know. Since he's widely known around the whole entire school, he could have developed a huge ego over the past years, became cocky, or anything.

It is 5:00pm, and Nina is at my house currently getting ready with me. She doesn't seem that pumped about today, but I think that's because she basically considers it a date with Danny. I mean it could be considered that, a double date, but I'm looking at this as two friends and possibly a new friend hanging out with me today. I understand that Eli probably has an interest in me, and I definitely have an interest in him, but I'm not ready to jump back into any pre-dating process. The "things". At least not until there's some closure in my life.

I'm currently finishing my outfit with putting on my stud earrings, while Nina is putting on her black vans that she'll be wearing today. I'm just wearing ripped jeans, short brown boots, and a sweater. Something simple, but also cozy. It'll probably get hot in the skating rink, but whatever.

"Do I look okay?" Nina questioned nervously while standing up. I looked away from the mirror I was staring in, and looked at her. She looked absolutely beautiful like always.

"Dude you look hot, why are you so nervous?" I laughed while walking over to my bed and laying on it. She walked over to the window, looked out of it, and looked back at me.

"Im not nervous." She spoke coming to the bed and sitting next to it. I saw her take a deep breath, and let out a big sigh. Yeah, definitely not "nervous".

I sat up, and looked at her.

"Just look at this as being a few friends going out to have fun. I'm kind of nervous, I mean, I think Eli might....be a tiny bit attracted to me."

"There's no such thing as being a 'tiny bit attracted" Nina laughed. I let out a small laugh as well, which resulted in us both laughing even more.

Once we calmed down, I took a deep breath and began to speak, "You get what I'm trying to say. I mean, I know Danny likes you..and you like him to. You already met his family.....his family loves you...everything works out perfectly. What's holding you back?"

Nina then looked out the window again when we both heard the sound of car doors locking. Eli must be here already, my heart is beginning to race.

"Myself." She spoke softly standing up, and walking out of the room. I stood still for a couple of seconds wondering what Nina meant by "myself". Any guy would be extremely lucky to have her, does she not know her worth?

I sat up and soon followed after. By the time I reached downstairs, the doorbell rang, which of course meant Eli and Danny were here. Danny could have came over way earlier considering the fact that he lives right next door, but I guess he just wanted to show up with Eli.

Nina and I both walked over to the door, and opened it. There, was standing two handsome young men, waiting to go out skating with us, and to dinner.

As I looked at Eli, I immediately began to blush. He looked like a complete model. I think he noticed my reaction as well, because a huge smile began to form across his face.

"Hey guys, ready to go?" Danny asked looking at me, and then at Nina. When he made eye contact with Nina, his facial expression changed. I could tell he suddenly became nervous, but it's okay, we all are, besides Eli I think.

I looked at Nina who seemed awkward, and then at the boys.

"Yeah sure, lets go."

When we got to the skating rink, it was actually a pretty decent sized crowd. There weren't too many people, meaning that if I fall it'll be okay. Well actually it wont be okay, because Eli would see it. The last time I went skating was probably when I was 10. It's been a while, but hopefully I haven't lost the skill.

Right now we just got done putting on our skates. Danny and Nina went off to go race each other, of course, and I was currently trying to keep my balance while Eli waited by my side. I hope he isn't annoyed by this.

"I'm so sorry, I haven't skated in years. If you want you can go off and catch up with Nina and Danny, I'm just trying to balance myself." I laughed embarrassingly. Going skating probably wasn't the best idea.

However, Eli suddenly grabbed my hand, and began to slowly guide me towards the skating floor.

"It's okay, i'll help you learn again."

After a couple of minutes, I eventually got the hang of it, but still held onto Eli for support. The funniest thing that happened at the skating rink was probably watching Danny fall....and taking Nina down with him. I couldn't help but laugh until I cried, which winded up in me falling, and taking Eli down with me as well.

Karma is a bitch.

When we left the skating rink, we of course went to five guys and ate delicious burgers. Eli winded up paying for my food even though I told him not too. He also paid for my ticket for skating, and my skates.

Right now, we are just arriving back at my house. Because we drove Eli's car, Danny got out to walk Nina to her car, while I stayed in to have a last minute conversation with Eli.

"You know I can walk you to your front door right?" Eli spoke jokingly. I let out a small chuckle and looked at him.

"Yeah, I just don't want my parents to see." I spoke looking at my house and then back at him. He shook his head understanding what I meant.

A few seconds of silence filled the air, but then he began to speak.

"I had a lot of fun today, and I learned a lot about you. I wish I had the guts earlier in the year to go up to you, and talk to you." Eli laughed. I felt my cheeks begin to turn red.

"Same, to be honest." I said back. We both looked at each other with smiles on our faces. Why does he have to be so hot? Everything about him is just..perfect. Especially his personality, or at least what I picked up on today. He's so sweet, kind, has a good sense of humor, just everything. I mean who knows, it may be a facade.

Not everyone is what they seem to be.

"Eli....can I say something?" I questioned.

"Yeah, why ask?"

I took a deep breath, and began to speak. Hopefully I word this to the point where it makes sense.

"You're a great guy, and maybe I'm wrong about this but, if you're looking at everything this way, I'm not really ready to..start liking someone again. I like you, you're awesome, but before we start hanging out more I just want to address this now. I'm just not ready for that type of stuff, you know? I...I had a breakup a year or less ago, and he recently died, only a couple of months ago. I still don't have any closure with that and-"

"Rose, you don't have to finish. I completely get it." Eli spoke cutting me off. I felt all of the worries I just had on my chest get lifted off.

"You do?" I questioned just to make sure. He nodded his head.

"I mean we just met too. I would like to take a couple of more months to get to know you also. But, I do like you too." He smiled.

Thank the good Lord above.

I smiled back at him, and then kissed him on the cheek. Hopefully that didn't just throw everything off.

"Thank you for everything today, I had fun.....Let's hangout soon again." I said unbuckling my seat belt starting to open the car door.

"Agreed, see you soon Rose." Eli responded. I smiled one last time, and got out of the car.

Once I closed the car door, I began to walk towards my house, and eventually heard Eli start his engine. Thinking that he pulled off, I face palmed my head thinking about how awkward me kissing his cheek probably was. Maybe I should have just given him a high five.

"Rose, do you have any siblings around your age?" Eli spoke rolling his car up next to me, looks like he didn't drive away yet.

I stopped walking, turned around, and looked at him.

"No, why?"

He let out a small laugh.

"You said your parents would probably spy on us if I walked you up to your house, but looks like someone across the street is doing the job for them. I thought maybe you had a sibling that went over to that house over there, and wanted to check up outside to see if you were home." He finished pointing directly, at Blaire's house. I quickly looked at the house seeing no one standing in the window, and it being pitch black in there.

"They were standing there for a while. I don't know, looks like they just turned the lights off when I turned around and drove up to you to mention it to you. It was probably the neighbor being nosey."

I continued to look at the house realizing one of the front curtain downstairs shift. Maybe it was Blaire or his mom, but why spy on me while I'm outside?

I looked back at Eli, and shrugged my shoulders.

"I have no clue.........but again, thanks for everything tonight. Can't wait to do it again." I spoke waving. He waved back, and continued to wait until I got into my house safe and sound.

When I reached my doorway and walked in, I turned around, and looked at Eli giving one final wave. I wish we could have hung out longer than what we all did, but it's already almost midnight.

As I somehow lost eye contact and looked up, there I saw in a bedroom window Blaire staring at me. His face was expressionless.

And with that, his light shut off.