Nine

Cassandra

I smirk, watching a distressed Crayvin run his fingers through his disheveled hair. His eyes meet mine through the side mirror, and without even thinking, I raise my middle finger and flip him off. I scowl when I see him laughing since that is not the reaction I would've liked to have seen.

Drew chuckles by my side and I turn my head to face him. "That's not the usual reaction Crayvin gets from women. They normally moan awe's and ooh's when they see him. Basically they flip their skirts up, not their fingers."

"Well, I can promise you, Drew. I'm not what you're used to," I admit with a smirk.

The light turns green and he presses the accelerator, giving a slight side smile. "I know. It's refreshing honestly. I like that about you." I feel my cheeks warm at his unusual compliment. Normally, a guy wouldn't be all too happy with the best friend not getting along with the girl.

His car is comfortable for being as small as it is. It's a two-door grey Honda Accord. The interior is black with white stitching on the seats. At first glimpse, the car looks clean, but once you're in it and have time to look around, you see the remnants of french fries and the faint smell of smoke mixed with fast food.

At least he tried to clean it up before our date.

Minutes later, we are pulling up to the restaurant that brings a smile to my face as soon as my eyes land on the familiar neon green sign. "I hope you like sushi," Drew says, nervously.

I nod with excitement. "Love it. Nice job, Evans," I add, making us both laugh. "Sorry, Drew. Work sticks with me I guess."

Drew grins as he gets out of the car, skates around the hood, and opens the passenger side door to let me out. I swing my legs out and his hand is outstretched towards me, gesturing to assist my exit. I put my hand in his, allowing him to help me out, his palm is much bigger than mine.

Instead of letting go, Drew intertwined our fingers and led me to the entrance. His hand may be larger than mine, but it's warm and comforting just like Drew. "Reservation for two for Evans," Drew advises the hostess.

The hostess looks at her list and nods with a friendly smile. "We have your table set for you sir, follow me." We follow the young girl to a booth in the corner and take a seat. The hostess hands us both a menu, still smiling, "Can I get you something to drink to start off with?" She asks.

Drew orders a coke and I order water with extra lemon. "So, Cassandra, tell me something about yourself," Drew suggests, trying desperately to break the ice.

This right here, is why I don't date. The awkward stage of getting to know one another and all of the questions is exhausting; and quite frankly, my life is boring. No one cares, really.

I shrug my shoulders and take a sip of the water the hostess just placed on our table. "What would you like to know?" I ask, my eyes scanning the menu.

The waiter comes by and takes our order. I order one salmon roll with miso soup and Drew orders a California roll, a cilantro roll, and miso soup. After the waiter walks off with our order, Drew brings his hands together and puts them on the table.

"Let's start off with something easy. Tell me little things, like your age, what school you went to. You know, the basics," Drew continues.

I smack my lips.

Basics? Okay, I can do that.

"Well, for starters, I'm twenty-one. My birthday is June twenty-ninth, uhm, I love the color teal. I love watching football and Star Wars, reading, and don't get me started on TV series. I can't choose a favorite, so I have a wide variety, and I went to high school here in Phoenix. I did a couple of terms in college also, studying criminal justice, until my dad passed and then I decided to just do the academy and well, here I am," I declare with a smile.

"Very nice. I love it when a girl can watch football. I'm not much of a reader or a Star Wars fan, to be honest. I couldn't get into the weird creatures or those flashlight things they fight with."

I snort, putting my glass of water down before I humiliate myself further, by possibly spitting out water through my nostrils or something.

Hey, it wouldn't be the first time for me.

I clear my throat and bite my lower lip. "Are you talking about the lightsabers?"

Drew grins, rubbing the back of his neck with his large hand. "Yeah, lightsabers." He states, making me giggle again. "Another thing I just learned about you is that you snort when you really laugh."

I lower my head, embarrassed, my cheeks flushing. "Yeah, I'm sorry," I confess.

"Don't be. I like that I can make you laugh. Like, really laugh."

I look up and his face matches the sincerity in his tone. "Me too," I admit.

After dinner, which was amazing by the way, we head back to the apartments. As soon as Drew parks his car into the only vacant spot left, he faces me, his hand still resting on the key in the ignition. "Say, if you aren't exactly ready for bed yet, would you be up for some pool at Jax's? Crayvin's still there and would like some company and I'm not exactly wanting to say goodnight to you just yet. Maybe your sister and you can come?"

I arch my brow, "What? Houdini has no girls to assist with his disappearing act tonight?"

Drew chuckles softly, shaking his head. "Guess not. Can I ask why is it that you don't care for him? I'm not complaining, trust me, but I'm a little curious."

I guess I should have seen this question coming, but that doesn't mean I was ever going to be ready for it. I needed a long time to become as confident as I am and to get rid of Miss Piggy forever.

Do I really want to tell Drew about who I was back then? I mean, we all have a past right? Skeletons in the closet and all.

I let out a small breath, my mind racing, searching for a reply for the sweet man in front of me. The faint smell of smoke and his citrus cologne hits my nose, though, I could do without the smoke part.

"Honestly, I just knew him in high school and he was a pretty big jerk to me. I'm not his biggest fan," I admit. It's not a lie, I just withheld the part about his best friend being the person that destroyed me in school.

The bully of the century.

"Well, I didn't know him in school but I do know that he has said he was an asshole." I arch my brow again. "Okay, he still can be at times, but he is pretty cool once you get to know him. He really is a great cop too."

A gives me a sweet, soft smile and we exchange a flirtatious glance before my eyes avert to his lips.

Remind me again why we're sitting here talking about my nemesis rather than making out?

"I'll go ask Tarra real quick if she wants to go. Give me three minutes," I say and he smiles, his cheeks lifting with the commanding bone structure that only he obtains. In one swift motion, I lean in and press my lips to his before hopping out of the car to get Tarra.