Entry 10: Our Third Date

Why are parents so insistent on being the most embarrassing beings on the planet? At some point before my date with Preston, my mother found out about it. I assume she was eavesdropping on Leah and I talking. She loved to do that. Ever since last year, I get absolutely no privacy in this ginormous house.

Anyways, Mom found out that I was going out with Preston tonight and was very adamant that she properly meet him. I asked him after school on Friday since he had been coming to all of my cheerleading practices. He said he didn't mind meeting my parents but I did. I tried to warn him about them and their unusual tendencies these days. My mother being a wired wreck about me and my father basically disowning me. Again, he said he truly didn't mind.

When the time finally came around, I was so nervous. I got into a fight with Mom about my outfit. She didn't share the same appreciation for fishnet stockings that I had. I was wearing a cute jean skirt over top with my go to, black thigh high boots. She also wasn't a fan of the off shoulder, plunging neck sweater I was wearing either. She just didn't get it and there was no way to explain to her that I wasn't Preston's type but I could at least try to look the part.

"I'm just saying, if you want boys to respect you, you need to cover up..."

"So how I dress determines whether or not I deserve respect?"

"That's not what I mean. Just, what kind of boy is he if he only likes you when you're dressed like... like...?"

"Like what mom? Say it!"

We continued arguing back and forth but I wasn't going to change my outfit. I looked hot and I wanted to stay that way. We both piped down when Preston's car lights could be seen through the bay window.

"Cyrus! Come out! Parker's date is here!"

My dad came out of his study looking more tired than ever. I swear that man would rather bury himself in paperwork just so he can avoid interacting with me.

He removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. When he put them back on, he looked at me and rolled his eyes.

He didn't say anything but I could tell my outfit was going to send him over the edge.

When Preston rang the doorbell, my mother and I looked at each other. We both went to get the door at the same time but she beat me to it.

"You must be Preston! I've been so looking forward to meeting you."

Preston came into the foyer and I had to catch my breath. As usual, he looked flawless. Only tonight he looked more parent friendly. His hair was brushed forward instead of back. And he had removed all but one of his piercings. Even his eyebrow piercing was missing. He smelled really good too. Like a driftwood, seascape sort of scent.

He was wearing a white t-shirt and a black bomber jacket. His black cargo pants and white sneakers pulled the outfit together nicely. I gave him a sincere, apologetic smile and he smiled back.

Nothing. I mean absolutely NOTHING could have prepared me for what happened next.

"Preston Dunn, nice to see you again, son."

My father!

The man whose voice I hadn't heard in 9 months, just called Preston "son". My head was spinning as he reached out and shook my fathers hand.

"What's up Mr Lockwood, long time no see."

"You two know each other?" My mother asked. I didn't speak up since I shared the same sentiments.

"Yeah, he fixed up my old convertible this summer. Smart kid. He got it running like the day I got it when I was 18."

Preston smiled humbly.

"Don't worry Mr Lockwood, Parker's in good hands tonight." He assured my father.

Everyone was fawning over Preston and talking around me. I was getting fed up with how friendly my parents were getting with Preston considering they had not been that friendly towards me, their own child!

"Okay, we need to go." I shoved Preston toward the door unapologetically. "Our movie is starting soon."

Before I could get him out, my father grabbed his arm and pulled him aside. He whispered to Preston so that I couldn't hear him but I could hear every single word.

"I don't doubt that you're a good kid but my daughter, she's trouble. I know she's in good hands with you but watch out for yourself. Don't let her drag you down with her."

Preston didn't say a word as he turned around and followed me out the door. When we got in the car, I was still fuming about what my dad said.

"What did he say to you?" I asked, pretending like I didn't already know.

Preston shrugged, keeping his eyes on the road.

"Nothing." He lied. He was doing that thing Leah did. Lying to spare my feelings.

"I heard what he said. It wasn't nothing."

"Then why did you ask?"

I slunk back in my seat, now in a sour mood. My father, who had somehow evaded me and my business for nearly a year has finally decided to stick his nose where it didn't belong. My date with Preston...

Preston could tell I was angry. He put his hand on my leg and squeezed just above my knee. My breath hitched at his touch.

"Forget them," he said. "Focus on me tonight."

That was honestly a good incentive. Focusing on Preston was easier than breathing. It came so naturally to me. He was simply too handsome not to pay attention to.

When we got to the movie theater, he opened the door for me as usual. He even took my hand. He stopped outside before going in.

"Do you mind?" He asked, pulling out a pack of menthols.

"No, go ahead."

"You should go inside. It's cold."

"I want to stay with you," I insisted.

He started smoking a cigarette and we talked for a little while.

"Is your band practicing on Thursday?" I asked.

"Yeah, probably."

"Can I come watch? I don't have cheer practice and the football players have a tournament so we aren't cheering all weekend. I thought I could come watch you practice on Thursday and maybe even sneak into The Basement on Friday night."

Preston looked at me with that same blank expression he always wore.

"Sure, if you want." He blew the smoke away from his face. "I'd like that."

I smiled to myself and waited silently for him to finish smoking. As much as I felt like he shouldn't do it, there was no denying that he looked cool standing there in the evening, smoking his cigarette and not having a single care about the world.

Before he was finished, he handed me a wad of cash.

"Go get us some food. Anything you want. I'll be in shortly to grab our tickets."

I did as I was told. I'm always very obedient when it comes to Preston. Ever since the night at the club, I learned my lesson. He just seemed to know best about everything.

I went inside and ordered a large popcorn, a large blue raspberry slushie, peanut butter M&M's, cookie dough bites, sour patch kids and some lemon heads. It was a struggle carrying so much food and candy and when Preston came over, the way that boy rolled his eyes made me freeze.

"What?" I asked.

"Are you going to eat all that?"

"Of course I am!" I lied. I really only wanted a couple of bites of everything. I think he knew it too.

The movie went by a lot faster than I thought it would. Of course, Preston picked a horror movie. I think I looked at the screen for only like 30% of the movie. I hate scary movies. They give me the worst nightmares so I knew I was going to have to watch a lot of Disney movies before going to bed.

When we got back into Preston's car, it was only around 9:30. I still had an entire hour and a half before I was expected to be home. Preston noticed this too.

"Do you want me to take you home?"

"Do you want me to go home?"

It was bold of me to answer his question with another question. I didn't care though. I wanted to hear him say it.

"No."

I smiled when he finally did.

"What should we do?" I asked with a shrug.

"We can go to the garage. I have to pick up my guitar."

"Is it still open?"

"No. I have a key."

"So there's no one else there?"

"There shouldn't be."

I smiled to myself as Preston headed for his father's garage. When we got there, it was dark. When he turned the car off, it only got darker. After the horror movie we just saw, I was a little spooked.

Preston came around and let me out of the car. He took my hand and helped me inside through the dark of night.

"Watch your step." He said as he unlocked the door to the office.

We walked in and Preston turned all of the lights on. I assumed I should just follow him as he made his way into the garage. He walked over to where his band normally practiced and picked up his guitar.

"Those assholes," he muttered under his breath as he stroked the body.

"What's wrong?"

"They took it out of the case. It's all marked up."

I watched as he packed it up angrily and placed it on the floor.

"Mind if I step outside and smoke again?"

I thought about it for a second and I actually did mind. Sure, I didn't want to go home and I wanted to be with Preston but I always just followed him around as he did things. It was like we were never really doing anything together.

"That's fine," I lied.

I wanted to go with him but I fought the urge. I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of having me follow him around like a puppy. He seemed a bit put off by the fact that I wasn't going with him. I simply folded my arms, sat on a chair and waited for him to come back. He was only outside for like 5-10 minutes when he returned to the garage.

He didn't say anything, so neither did I. I just watched him walk over to me casually. Preston stood in front of me and I smiled up at him. He didn't smile back or anything. His eyes just scanned my face like he was analyzing it. For a moment, I felt like he was reevaluating whether or not he thought I was pretty.

"Wanna make out?" He asked out of absolutely nowhere.

I was a little thrown but yes, I most definitely did want to make out with him.

"Uh sure, yeah."

"Cool," he said casually as he reached out and took my hand.

Preston pulled me up from my seat and put his hands on either side of my face. I closed my eyes quickly when I felt the soft brushing of his lips against mine. For someone so passive, his kisses always seemed to invoke a powerful array of emotions. I got butterflies as he kept kissing me more and more.

He moved his hands to my lower back and pulled me in closer. I didn't know what to do so I did the only thing I wanted to. I ran my fingers through his silky brown hair, hoping he would like it. I kept playing with his hair at the back of his head as he pulled away from my lips.

I was disappointed thinking that he was done but he wasn't. He simply began to lightly kiss my neck just under my ear. I was a little embarrassed by the moan I let slip out. I couldn't help it, it just felt so good.

Preston moved my hair off of my shoulder and began to kiss my collar bone. He moved his hands back up and placed them on my chest. Before I could make a single sound, his lips came crashing down on mine again. This time, he opened his mouth wider, slipping his tongue inside and playfully teasing mine.

Making out with Preston was way better than with Drake. Drake would've been moaning on and on about how I was giving him blue balls or teasing him. This was different. I could tell Preston was aroused but he wasn't trying to force me to do anything. It was more like he was teasing me. It was working too, because I wanted to do so much more with him.

I took his hand from my chest and was about to move it to my inner thigh when a voice suddenly came from the other side of the garage.

"Preston!"

It was Mr Dunn.

I nearly jumped away from him but Preston just held on to me as he pulled back without a care in the world.

"What's up dad?" He asked like we weren't just caught making out in his dads garage.

"What's up is you nearly gave me a heart attack! What are you doing here?"

"I left my guitar."

"Well you tripped the alarm. I thought there was a break in."

"Nope. Just me," he shrugged.

"And Parker, I see. Hello Parker."

I smiled bashfully with a small wave. It was so embarrassing. I wish I could be as cool as Preston in situations like this. His dad was definitely annoyed that we were there, but relieved that we weren't thieves.

"Alright, just lock up when you leave." He said turning back to the office. "I'm going back home to bed."

For a moment, I thought we would get to make out some more but Preston killed the dream immediately.

"It's okay, we're heading out. I'm gonna take her home."

Preston took my hand and began pulling me along with him. I gave some resistance at the thought of going back home but I guessed our date was over.

Even when he dropped me off, he didn't kiss me again. Since he was adamant in leaving me wanting more, I decided I would return the favor.

Once he pulled into the bottom of my driveway, Preston got out of the car and opened my door for me.

"Goodnight," he said without another word.

After stepping out of the car, I turned and wrapped my arms around him. I squeezed him hoping he would hug me back. Preston put his arms around me and pat my back softly until I pulled away.

"Goodnight Preston, I had fun!" I stood up on the tips of my toes and pecked him on the cheek.

I didn't see his face when I walked away, back toward my house. I just heard his car door close and the sound of his car pulling out onto the street.

I feel like I need to lean more into the girlfriend role. I mean, he hasn't officially made me his girlfriend or anything but it's coming soon. I can sense that he likes me more than he says. He shows it well enough. I just don't want to fall into being friends with benefits. I'm not that type of girl. Not that I have anything against girls who are. I just don't have much of the 'benefits' to give. I think I'm going to get Preston something. Something that says he's my boyfriend and I'm his girlfriend so that he doesn't have to.