How To Be The Best Third Wheel

Original Edition - Tip 36: Don't Kill him on the First Date

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WARNING: AUTHOR HAS NO SKILL OF WRITING ROMANCE. EVACUATE CHAPTER DUE TO LACK OF ROMANTIC EXPERIENCE OF THE AUTHOR. I'M NOT ROMANTIC PLEASE DON'T JUDGE ME I BEG YOU KMS. (proceed with the chapter now)

James opens the door to the passenger's seat and gestures for me to get inside the pick-up truck. He bows his head like a Prince asking for a dance, and I roll my eyes at the exaggerated courtesy.

"What am I, The Royal Princess of Genovia?" I joke, remembering one of my favorite books, The Princess Diaries.

He chuckles as he closes the door. He walks around the vehicle, and hops into the drivers seat.

"You couldn't pass for a princess even if you tried. You have unbelievably uncoordinated feet, a passion for hugging the floor, and you sort of eat like an animal." he tells me.

I look at him with my mouth hanging wide open. I try to keep my face looking as shocked/angry/kill yourself as possible, but my lips end up curling into a smile since all of that was true.

"I think you're doing this romance thing wrong. I'm almost 100% sure that you're supposed to compliment a girl on the first date." I state, looking into his eyes and challenging him to counter my idea.

He leans in, close enough that I can feel his breath on my skin and smell the scent of his cologne. "So how would you advise me to do this 'romance thing' right?" he whispers, his voice rough.

"I think..." I start, leaning closer to him, placing my hand, lightly on his cheek.

"I think you should start driving or else we're going to have our first date in the comfort of my house." I finish, pulling away from him and reaching for my seatbelt.

"Even if we got stuck in the middle of nowhere, it would still be the perfect date because I'd be with you...and being with you puts the brightness of the sun to shame." He gives me another one of those crooked smiles, reminding me of the ones he used to give me when we were growing up.

"Hallmark's calling, they want their card back." I blurt out, then quickly cover my mouth.

Shut it Lara! You're blowing it! Oh gosh, he's actually being sweet and you don't even have an inch of romance in your body.

He sighs, "Of course."

He turns the engine on, and begins to drive. I look out the window at the sky, the sun almost gone although it's only half past five. November does have its quirks. The thing about colder months is that the sky always seems to be dark. There's less and less daylight with every passing day.

I look over at James, who is focused on the road. I begin to get lost in observation. Observing the difference in his hair today, it's styled up so that none of it covers his forehead. His eyes, brighter even though the climate contrasts any feeling of warmth. His jaw, relaxed, probably not thinking of anything near stressful.

"I know I'm pretty, but if you stare any longer I'm going to have to stop the car in the middle of the road just to beat you in a staring contest." he states, making me chuckle.

"Where'd you get the pick-up truck by the way?" I ask him, changing the topic of interest.

"It's my cousin's truck." he answers.

"Why did you have to borrow it? You have your own car." I wonder out loud.

A smile forms on his face. "Ah, so I do. The answer to that is my car will not work for this occasion."