CHAPTER FIVE

I shouldn't have agreed to this stupid date, I thought, feeling a wave of frustration as I stared at the pile of clothes strewn across my bed. I had spent hours trying on outfits, debating between casual and dressy, and now it all seemed like a pointless effort. Ryan was supposed to pick me up at 8, and here I was, still struggling to decide what to wear.

I glanced at the clock—7:45. Great, just perfect. I had already been through this wardrobe crisis too many times and had yet to find an outfit that felt right. Eventually, I settled on a simple yet flattering dress that was comfortable enough to keep me from feeling too self-conscious. I took a deep breath, gave myself a quick pep talk in the mirror, and headed out the door.

As I approached the front of the house, I could see Ryan's car parked by the curb. My heart skipped a beat when I saw him leaning against the driver's side door, waiting. He was dressed casually but looked effortlessly handsome, his green eyes lighting up when he saw me. 

"Hey, Emily," he called out with a grin. "You look great. Ready for tonight?"

"Thanks," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "I hope I'm not too late."

"Nope, just on time," he said, opening the car door for me. "I figured we'd start with a movie. I remember you said you liked survival shows, so I picked out something special."

"Oh, really? What's the movie?" I asked, sliding into the passenger seat.

"Bird box," he said, starting the engine. "I thought it might be up your alley."

I felt a warm flutter in my chest. "You remembered."

"Of course," he said, flashing a quick, sincere smile. "I think you'll like it."

The drive to the movie theater was filled with easy conversation. Ryan made jokes about how he had to practically fight for the last ticket, and we laughed together about some of our favorite scenes from other survival shows. It felt natural, like we'd been doing this forever, and I found myself relaxing into the evening.

After the movie, which was as intense and thrilling as I'd hoped, Ryan suggested we grab a bite to eat. We ended up at a cozy diner with a warm ambiance, where we continued our conversation about the movie. We debated the film's ending and shared our own theories about the mysterious creatures. Ryan listened intently, his eyes never leaving mine, making me feel like I was the most important person in the room.

"You know," Ryan said, his tone suddenly more serious, "I've really enjoyed spending time with you these past few weeks. I was wondering... if you'd like to be my girlfriend?"

My heart raced as I looked at him, the sincerity in his eyes making me smile. "I'd like that," I said softly, feeling a mix of excitement and relief.

Ryan's face lit up with the most genuine smile I'd ever seen. He reached across the table, taking my hand in his, and I felt a rush of warmth. 

The night ended with him dropping me off at my house. The air was cool, and the stars were beginning to twinkle as we stood outside the car. Ryan looked nervous yet hopeful, his eyes searching mine. 

"So, this is where I say goodnight," he said softly. "But I hope it's just the beginning."

I nodded, feeling a surge of affection. "Me too."

Ryan leaned in slowly, giving me plenty of time to pull away if I wanted to. But I didn't want to. Instead, I met him halfway, and our lips touched in a gentle, tender kiss. It was sweet and lingering, filled with the promise of something new and wonderful.

When we finally pulled away, we both had smiles on our faces that couldn't be wiped off. Ryan tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear, his touch lingering just a moment longer than necessary.

"Goodnight, Emily," he said softly, his voice full of emotion.

"Goodnight, Ryan," I replied, my heart full. 

As I watched him drive away, I felt a sense of exhilaration and contentment. It was a perfect ending to a perfect evening.