Chapter Eight
“Emily come on will you hurry up?!” Kaity questioned the closed door of the bathroom.
“I’m coming, I just had to finish my makeup.” Emily said as the door finally creaked
open. She walked out and spun in a tiny circle. “How do I look?” She asked in an English
accent. She looked great wearing tight blue jeans, v-neck red top, and brown laced shoes. She
had curled her hair a little bit and pulled it back into a long ponytail and her makeup was
light. Brian would pass out when he caught sight of her.
“Great Em! The guys will love you. Come on we’re going to be late!” Kaity replied
exasperated as she grabbed her friends hand and pulled her out of the room and down the
hall.
Nick sat on his front steps waiting for Brian to get there. Nick was extremely excited
about tonight. Tonight happened to be his and Kaity’s first time out since they became more
than friends. He busied himself imagining what she would be wearing and he got great joy
from realizing that she would be looking great all for him. He had seen Kaity’s car pull out of
her driveway about a half an hour ago, so he knew she was at Emily’s house helping her get
ready. The night had already begun. Now all they had to do was meet at the movies and Emily
and Brian would pleasantly surprised. The night was looking great. Nick finished his thought
as Brian’s BMW pulled into his drive. Not waiting for Brian to get out, Nick jumped up from
the steps and quickly got into the car.
“Hey Rok.” he said happily.
“Hey Nick, you look all decked out.” Brian said looking over Nick’s outfit.
“What?” Nick asked as he glanced down at himself. He was just wearing khakis and a
black T-shirt. Nothing wrong with that.
“Nothing, just looks like you’re really pumped about tonight. I thought for sure you’d
be down about Kaity still, guess I was wrong.” Brian pointed out. Nick realized that he should
at least play along until they met up with the girls.
“Yeah, well I got over it. I realized that she was better friend material anyway.” Nick
said simply. Brian nodded his head and pulled onto the street and headed for downtown
Tampa.
Kaity and Emily pulled into the parking lot of the movie theater in Tampa.
“Where we meeting them?” Emily asked.
“Just wait.” Kaity said simply. After a few minutes Kaity saw Brian’s car pull into the
parking lot and pull into the spot behind her. Emily didn’t notice the car or the people in the
car, and sat looking at the entrance to the theater. Kaity unbuckled her seat belt and tapped
Emily on the arm. “Come on.”
“Where are they?” Emily asked as she got out of the car.
“Emily! Hey!” Brian said as he saw Emily get out of Kaity’s car which was parked in
front of him.
“Hi Brian!” Emily said happily. She looked over at Kaity who just gave her a
smile.
“Hey Kaity.” Nick said walking up to Kaity. He wrapped his arm around her
shoulders, kissed her lightly on the cheek and smiled down at her. She looked beautiful in her
black jeans and a sweater in his favorite shade of green. She smiled back up at him and
blushed a little.
“Hey.” She whispered back.
“What’s going on guys?” Brian asked looking skeptically at Nick and Kaity.
“Nothing really. We just didn’t want to go on our first date alone so we decided to set
you two up with each other.” Kaity replied smiling.
“Your first date?!” Nick you told me that she didn’t feel that way about you!” Brian
screeched.
“You guys are dating? Kait, you never told me?”
“You set us up?!?” Brian asked even more upset, then realized what he was upset
about. He had a date with Emily. Why was he upset? Hello?? Nick and Kaity had just made
his dreams come true. “You set us up.” He said more to himself now. He looked up at Nick
who was smiling at him and gave him a thankful look. His best friend had come through for
him. He had promised to help him out and he did. He glanced over at Emily who was smiling
at Kaity, the smile girls always share when they have a secret. Emily glanced at Brian and
held her hand out to him.
“Shall we, my date?” She asked him using the English accent again.
“Oh Em, will you stop it with the English accent. It sucks anyway.” Kaity informed her
friend.
“I kind of like it.” Brian said taking her hand in his and leading her towards the
entrance.
“Mission Accomplished.” Nick whispered into Kaity’s ear. A shiver ran up her spine
when she felt his breath on her neck. She turned towards him and wrapped her arms around
his neck.
“Congratz Nickolas.” She whispered back to him. He smiled at her then softly kissed
her lips.
“Will you guys cut it out! We’re gonna be late for the movie if you keep that up!”
Brian yelled from the ticket window. Nick and Kaity just smiled as the broke apart and headed
for the theater, hands intertwined.
Once inside the movie theater all four of them seated and began to watch the screen in
front of them. Kaity and Nick situated themselves comfortably, Nick gently resting his arm
around Kaity’s shoulders. Brian and Emily awkwardly sat attempting to act calm, but inside
they were both tense beyond belief. Neither of them knew what they were doing. Emily was
watching Brian out of the corner of her eye. He fidgeted to get comfortable, glanced at her
and gave a nervous smile. He placed both of his hands in his lap, unable to get the nerve to
hold her hand. She inwardly smiled at his shyness, it made her feel more comfortable, less
afraid that she would screw up. The theater darkened and the previews began on the screen.
Emily leaned forward to check on Nick and Kaity, and found them in a light embrace. She
smiled, she was happy for her best friend. Even though Kaity had never mentioned it, she
knew that her best friend had never really thought of Nick as a friend. She was right about
that.
Brian watched Emily as she watched Nick and Kaity. In his mind he tried to form a plan,
when exactly should he try to hold her hand? Did he want to do that gay yawn, lift arm, and
drop it around her shoulders?? Did he want to kiss her? Was it too soon to kiss her? He
decided that he would just go for the holding hands tonight. If he had anything to do with it,
there would be plenty more opportunities to continue acting out his thoughts. Emily leaned
back in her chair and got comfortable as the opening credits for the movie, ‘Autumn In New
York’ began. Brian let out a slow quiet breath as he told his heart to calm down. He
apprehensively reached his hand to her lap, where she had rested her hands like him. She
jumped a little as she felt his hand brush against her, but calmed as he closed his fingers
around her hand. Brian felt Emily gently squeeze his hand and he smiled. As the movie
progresses, the closer Emily leaned towards Brian. Half way through the movie, Emily was
practically resting against him. His arm was beginning to numb from the pressure so he
carefully pushed her off, only to have her catch his arm and lift if over her head to rest on her
shoulders. Brian smiled to himself, things were moving along nicely between the two. Brian
took a second to glance over at Nick and Kaity to see Kaity centering her attention on the
movie and Nick looking anywhere but the screen. He glance over at Brian and Emily and gave
Brian a knowing smile before going back to the movie.
Nick had an extremely hard time concentrating on the movie playing in front of him.
Kaity held all of his attention. Every move she made, he watched. She had no idea he was
staring at her, for all she knew he was just as involved in the movie as she was, but it was
exactly the opposite. Nick had no idea what was going on in the movie, he couldn’t even tell
you the main character’s name if you asked him. Brian and Emily seemed to be getting along
great. Nick could tell that Brian was a little peeved at him for keeping he and Kaity a secret,
but then again, Nick could also tell that Brian was thankful beyond words that he finally had
a date with the girl of his dreams. Kaity shifted again and rested her head on Nick’s shoulder.
He tightened his grip around her and attempted to focus his attention on the movie once
again.
The movie let out an hour later and the four headed out of the theater and into the
parking lot.
“I had a good time.” Emily told Brian as the two walked a few feet in front of Nick and
Kaity.
“Me too.” Brian responded quietly as he squeezed her hand, he didn’t want to let it go.
“We uh, should do that again sometime, just you and I.” He said in a shaky voice.
“Yeah, I’d like that Brian.” Emily replied smiling at him. She could not believe that
this was happening to her. Brian had just asked her out. On a date...just the two of them. It
was like her prayers had finally been answered.
“Do you mind if I call you??”
“Of course not. You know the number.” Emily said.
“Is tonight too soon?” Brian asked smiling shyly.
“Not at all.”
“Look at those two.” Kaity whispered to Nick as the two of them watched the
conversation take place.
“Adorable. Just like you and me.” Nick said stopping to turn Kaity’s face up to his. He
gently rubbed his nose against hers before giving her a quick peck on the lips.
“Hey you guys, do you mind if I drive Emily home??” Brian asked.
“Nope, see you later!!” Nick said squeezing Kaity’s hand.
“Cool thanks, see ya.” Brian answered taking Emily’s hand and leading her to the car.
He walked Emily to her side of the car and opened her door for her.
“Wow, a modern day Romeo.” Kaity said giggling.
“Yeah, really. I could learn something from him.” Nick commented as he and Kaity
walked towards her car. “Mind if I drive home??”
“Nah, here.” Kaity said reaching into her purse, pulling her keys out and handing
them to Nick.
“Thanks.” Nick said as he walked her over to her door. Grinning he casually opened
her door for her. She smiled back and got into the car.
“You learn fast, I see.”
“Yup, I always was a quick learner.” Nick said closing her door, jogging around to his
side of the car. He got in and smiled at her as he started the car and pulled out of the parking
space. Kaity carefully watched him maneuver the car, she always loved to watch Nick drive.
He held the steering wheel so lightly, letting it slide through his hands on a turn. When he
was on a straight away, he brought his hand up to the top of the wheel. He didn’t hold the
steering wheel, he just rested his wrist on top it. He glanced at Kaity and caught her staring at
him.
“What are you looking at?” he asked.
“You.” she stated simply.
“I am pretty nice to look at huh?” he asked straightening to look at himself in the rear
view mirror. Kaity laughed and lightly smacked him on the arm. Nick suavely caught her
hand and smiled at her as he brought it up to his lips and kissed it softly. Kaity felt her heart
begin to quicken.
*******
Brian pulled into Emily’s driveway and parked the car. “Do you want to come in for a
little bit?” Emily asked. It was getting late and Brian had an early morning the next day so
sadly he declined.
“I will walk you to the door though.” He said unbuckling his seat belt and climbing
out of the car. Emily followed and the two met at the front of the car and reached for each
other’s hands. Brian led Emily up the walk but stopped before they reached the front
steps.
“Do you want to sit out here for a few minutes before I go in?” Emily asked again. She
knew that as soon as she stepped through the front door the wonderful night would be over.
Brian smiled and sat down on the steps pulling Emily down next to him.
“I had a really nice time tonight Em.” Brian said grinning.
“Me too. I can’t believe that Kaity and Nick are dating. I always imagined that they
would eventually end up together, but I just didn’t expect now. She never even mentioned it to
me!”
“Yeah I know.”
“See, I have this theory, and I myself have participated in it. People are afraid of not
being loved. They hide their feelings because they don’t want to know what people really think
of them. I personally think that Nick and Kaity both were like that.”
“I agree with you. People don’t say what they are thinking or feeling because they
don’t have enough guts to just go for it and face the outcome.”
“Yeah.” Emily said absorbing everything that was just said. She was guilty of
everything that she and Brian had just said.
“Em?” Brian said in a voice just above a whisper. After going over everything in his
head millions of times, he decided that it was the right time, he had to.
“Hmmm?”
“Can I go for it??” Emily’s gaze snapped to Brian’s face. She was in shock. Did he
just ask her what she thought he had asked her?? Her mind froze but she was brought back
into reality when she realized that Brian was still waiting for a reply. The only thing she could
manage was a small nod of her head. Brian smiled and brought his hands up to cup her face.
He leaned forwards and brought her face towards his. Without hesitating he pulled her mouth
against his in a soft kiss. At last.
Chapter Nine
Table of Contents
HOME