The Girl I Loved Once

Chapter 23

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I  ran from my locker to Lara Jeans. It was the end of the day, and I was getting ready to head off to a Footloose rehearsal. I had decided that today was the day he would ask Lara Jean to watch.

A small amount of anxiety swept through my mind. What if she said no, or didn't enjoy it, or sat on her phone the whole time? I wondered to myself. No, No! It's Lara Jean. She'll say yes. 

"Peter!" 

I stopped running and turned my head to realize that in my zoned out thoughts, I had sprinted right past her. 

"Oh, hey!" I  said, trying to catch my breath, "I have a question for you."

"What's up?" She replied, staring at him expectantly. 

"Um, ok so," he stuttered out nervously.

"Spit it out!"

"Do you want to come to Footloose rehearsal?"

She smiled a bright smile. "That's what you sprinted down the hallway to ask me?"

I nodded

"Of course I'll come. I'd love to, Peter." She said, still smiling.

I beamed. All my previous doubts were swept away with the cool October breeze, and in an instant, I  grabbed her hand and ushered her quickly down the hallway and into the auditorium. 

"Peter, slow down! Your legs are longer than mine!" She said laughing and tripping over the air as I powerwalked into the auditorium and down the slanted walkways and near the stage. I waved, still holding Lara Jean's hand in the other. 

"She's finally here!" Alexa yelled and clapped. She ran over to Lara Jean and grabbed her. 

"I can't wait for you to see Peter act! Your boyfriend is so talented! You should be very, very proud." She said. I smiled. I appreciated Alexas support, even if its a bit overkill. shes my "girlfriend", of course, she'll love it. Lara Jean laughed at all this. I had learned from the first rehearsal that the happy chaos of being in a high school musical was infectious; you couldn't help but have fun. 

Lara Jean sat down as Ms. Davenport hurried us all onstage. She needed everyone backstage for costumes, which left Lara Jean awkwardly sitting in the audience with my bookbag, awkwardly doing her homework. As everyone left backstage to try on various flannels and cowboy hats, I ran over to her seat, which was on the isle. 

Kneeling next to her chair, I said, "It'll be like two seconds, I'm sorry."

She looked down at me with a smile, and her eyes seemed to shine even in the darkness of the auditorium. "What are you sorry about?"

"Keeping you after school to sit in the auditorium while I try on cowboy hats."

She laughs, and I kneel a little higher, our noses almost touching.

"I don't mind." She whispers. We have a quiet moment, and I wonder where it would have gone if her phone didn't buzz and Ms. Davenport didn't call me. 

I get up and flick her on the shoulder. "It'll take a few minutes, then I promise it'll get interesting" She smiled at me and went back to her homework.

* * * * * * *  * * * * * 

We finish trying on costumes, and quickly the band comes in and we run through act one. I feel nervous, for some reason, with Lara Jean watching me. I cast a few glances at her whenever I get a moment, and every time I look she looking at me with all the joy in the world. 

Before I know it, the rehearsal is over, and she's in my Audi. I'm driving her home, and she's in the passenger seat going on about how great I was. "I didn't know you could do that Peter! How come you never danced with me like that?" She said, whacking me jokingly. I laughed and kept driving. "I'm sorry I never busted out my sick moves on the dancefloor. I never had the opportunity to! I'll make it up to you."

"How?"

"We'll go to DC, and I'll take you dancing," I said, half-jokingly, half wondering if we'll still be in this pseudo-relationship long enough for me to take her dancing in DC. 

"Can we even get into one of those clubs? I thought you had to be eighteen."

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there," I say. 

For the rest of the short car ride, we drive in silence. I park my car in front of her house but don't unlock the door, hoping to talk more. 

"Hey, Peter?" She says gathering her things.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for inviting me. I had fun."

I smiled at her. "Of course, you're great company!"

She proceeded to take a deep breath, "And I hope when y' know, this, is over, you'll still invite me to your rehearsals." 

I take a deep breath as well, playfully punching her in the arm and unlocking her door, I say, "For sure. You have a standing invite." I say. 

She nods and gets out of the car, and I watch her get up to the front door. She unlocks her door, and turns around and smiles at me and waves. Once shes in the house, I drive off, wondering exactly if this thing even had to have an end date.