taking a chance

Chapter 3: Taking a Chance

Days had gone by since I'd met Marie, and I'd been agonizing over whether to text her. Kylie had been bugging me to reach out, but I'd been too nervous. Finally, Kylie took matters into her own hands and forced me to send Marie a text.

"Come on, it's just a text," she'd said, rolling her eyes. "What's the worst that could happen?"

I'd sent the text, and to my surprise, Marie had responded quickly. We'd made plans for her to pick me up and hang out at her house.

When Marie and her dad arrived at my apartment, I felt a mix of excitement and nerves. Marie was smiling brightly, and her dad was friendly and welcoming. We chatted as we drove to her house, which was huge compared to my cramped apartment. I felt a little out of place as we walked in, taking in the spacious living room with two TVs.

The house was immaculately decorated, with modern furniture and artwork adorning the walls. I couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by the grandeur of it all. Marie, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease, leading me to the gaming setup like she owned the place.

We spent hours playing Halo, competing and joking around. I sat in a recliner, feeling a little more at ease as the game progressed. Marie's little brother, Andrew, joined in, and we had a blast. He had short hair and brown eyes, just like Marie, and a mischievous grin that suggested he was always getting into trouble.

As the evening wore on, Marie's dad brought in some snacks, and we took a break to munch on chips and dip. Marie and Andrew chatted with their dad, and I listened in, feeling a little more comfortable. They seemed like a close-knit family, and I enjoyed watching them interact.

As the night drew to a close, Marie's dad called out that it was time for me to head home. As we said our goodbyes, Marie stood up and tripped on the rug. I caught her instinctively, and for a moment, we were lost in each other's eyes. My heart both skipped a beat and swelled up at the same time. I felt a rush of emotions as I awkwardly helped her up.

"Sorry about that," she said, laughing.

I smiled, feeling a little more at ease. "No worries, I'm just glad I caught you."

After that, we headed out to the front lawn, where we laughed and joked around. I offered to give Marie and Andrew a piggyback ride, and they both climbed on. I ran around the lawn, feeling carefree and happy. We were all laughing and having a great time, the cool evening air and the sound of crickets adding to the ambiance.

As we rode around, Andrew started making silly faces and poses, trying to get me to crack up. Marie just laughed and smiled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. I felt a sense of joy and contentment wash over me, and I knew that I was having the time of my life.

Eventually, it was time for Marie's dad to drop me back off at my apartment. As we said our goodbyes, Marie smiled at me, and I felt that same spark of attraction. I couldn't wait to see her again and explore the connection we'd made.

"Thanks for the ride, Mr...," I started to say.

"Call me Mark," Marie's dad said with a smile.

I nodded and smiled back. "Thanks for the ride, Mark. I had a great time."

As I watched them drive away, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the chance to spend time with Marie and her family. I knew that I had a lot to learn about her, but I was excited for the journey.