Bruised

chapter five.

Justin asked me to dinner, I can't say no. I didn't think I wanted to go,I'm not gay, I still barely know him, and I'm just not big on going out to dinner with strangers?

"Sure, should I pick you up?" I asked, biting the inner skin on my lips.

"Of course not, I'll pick you up, I need your address though." He said pulling out his phone. "You can just text it to me if you'd like."

I nodded and pulled out my phone to. I didn't want to give him my address so I opened google maps on my phone and found an address close enough to my house that I could walk, but not my address. I gave him the address of a dog park nearby.

His phone dinged and he nodded. "I'll pick you up around 7, dress nice. He smiled back at me before walking to his car.

I felt my face cringe, I'm going to be waiting at a dog park, dressed nicely, I'm going to get strange looks, and I don't know how Justin's going to react to me giving him a fake address.

I started walking home and I ran into Jenna and her friend Leah, I've never really met Leah, but apparently she's Jenna's best friend. I tried to keep walking but Jenna stopped me.

"Why didn't you text me back?" She asked. I remembered to the other night when in went off on her.

I wanted to ask for a reason as to why I should. But I didn't. "My phone died." I spoke trying to just keep walking away.

"Liar, we seen you at the park with Justin, is he trying to get with you?" Jenna spat.

"I'm not gay." I told her, trying to convince myself more than her.

"Whatever you say, this is Leah by the way I'm sure she would advise you not to mess with Justin, but we gotta get going now, bye Tyler." She said walking away from the scene, her friend just nodded and walked away, she actually seemed pretty nice, to nice to be hanging around Jenna.

How did they know Justin, I didn't even know him. I sighed and tried to forget about it, but she said she would advise me not to mess with Justin, what if I make him angry about not trusting him? What if that's what they meant? Oh well...

-

I waled inside to be confronted by my mom. "Where were you?" She asked setting down a potholder on the counter beside her.

"I went out to see a friend at the park, why?"

"I just wish you would have let me know." She walked away to the stove and I followed her. "I'm making meatloaf for dinner." She spoke checking on it in the window of the oven.

"Actually, I got invited out to dinner tonight." I smiled.

"Oh, Uhm okay want me to save you some meatloaf?" She asked.

"Sure." I smiled even though I was completely disgusted by meatloaf.

I walked up to my room and found the nicest clothes I had, which happened to be a black bottom up and a black pair of pants, I put on a pair of dress shoes that I've only ever wore once.

Soon my phone buzzed.

TB BOY: Are you ready?

Me: yeah

TB BOY: Okay I'll be there in about 15 minutes.

I read it but didn't text back. I sat at a bench and waited for him to show up. I soon seen his car pull around the corner. I stood up and waved at him and he pulled over so I could get in the car.

"This doesn't look like you live here?" He questioned.

"I don't, I just had plans to come see the dogs so I just thought I'd have you pick me up from here." I lied, I thought of the lie earlier.

"Oh.." He said, quickly turning the radio.

-

We sat silently in the car until we got to a restaurant I could never afford. "Are you sure? This is really expensive." I sad concerned.

"Yes, don't worry about it, I wanted to take you to a nice dinner." He smiled pulling into a parking spot.

"Well, thank you, but you didn't have to." I smiled. He really shouldn't have, I'm not even gay.

"It seemed necessary, did you look the the menu?" He chuckled.

"Oh, no sorry." I apologized and opened the menu.

I soon decided on the cheapest thing in the menu, a five dollar salad. He said he was paying and considering every actual meal was over fifteen dollars I didn't want him to spend that much on me.

"Are you sure that's all you want, there's uh, actual food on the menu." He joked.

"Yeah, yeah its fine." I sipped my water that was running low, I was waiting for our actual waiter who has yet to introduce himself, to come refill my water.

"I brought you here knowing they were a bit pricy, I wouldn't bring you here if I couldn't afford it, get whatever you want, seriously." He smiled.

"Are we getting an appetizer?" I asked seeing a waiter was coming to our table or at least I was pretty sure.

"Chips and salsa?" He asked.

I just nodded, whatever he wanted because he's paying. A middle aged man came over to out table and pulled out a small notebook.

"Hi, guys, I'm Craig, I'm going to be your waiter tonight, can on start you guys off with an appetizer?" He said pulling a pen from his apron.

Justin ordered for us, and our waiter took our cups to refill them. I looked over the menu again, making sure I chose the cheapest meal. I hate people spending money on me. I sat silent until our drinks were brought back and I quietly thanked him. Not long after he brought the appetizer.

We soon ordered and I stuck with the salad. We ate and talked, even though I was extremely awkward. I tried splitting the bill, hut he wouldn't let me. After we paid the bill, he drove me home, and I had a lot to think about.

---

(A/N)

SORRY I wanted this to be posted a little while ago but like,, personal stupid stuff.

Anyways ty for reading voting/commenting and adding my story to your reading list!!

As always, feedback is greatly appreciated.

8.18.16