eighteen

Pearl POV,

"You didn't forget your promise about tomorrow right?" Tate asked after I was quiet for a while and if not for the fact that he spoke of it now, it had entirely escaped my mind.

"Of course not," I lied through gritted teeth, not wanting him to catch my lies I quickly told him about how my parents had invited him over for the weekend and I know how much he loves them to do that would make him excited... Or so I had thought.

...

I thought inviting him over for the weekend would make him super excited but unfortunately, he had a business trip planned for the weekend and it was not a trip he could fore fit, and that completely sullen his mood.

"I can't believe I would have to decline their offer, that's just not fair," Tate expressed worriedly for the umpteenth time now.

"It's okay Tate, I didn't tell them you were coming anyway, plus they would completely understand if I were to tell them you had something important to do," I tried to reassure him again but it doesn't seem to be working.

"I'm going to try to finish what I'm doing before the weekend ends and I'll be there," he said conclusively and I didn't try to argue with him further, because I know he would do everything within his power to see that what he said would work out no matter what it would take.

The lasagna was no longer warm and I had to put it back into the microwave because I enjoyed eating a steamy hot lasagna with chilled cola.

I had dropped the call with Tate, and for some reason, I was glad he called because that call took my mind off of all the wild thoughts that went on in my head.

I was in Mackenzie's kitchen trying to set the timer on the microwave when she walked into the kitchen.

"Let me guess, you were busy on the phone with me lover boy that you completely forgot to eat your food?" She said and grabbed an apple from the fruit basket that was seated in the middle of the table.

I flashed her a small smile but said nothing because I know she would end up teasing me about it until she finds someone else to tease.

I was glad she wasn't asking me about what happened back at my house anymore, probably because she thinks I'm okay now after speaking to Tate, or maybe because she forgot about it although I think the former would probably be the case.

"I'm glad you look okay, now," she said with a smile, but I remained quiet as the thought that had left my head for a moment now, started to find its way back into my subconscious and forced my lips to turn downwards in accordance to my mood.

"Have you finally realized you love him?" Kenzie said quickly probably sensing the sudden change in my mood.

I know she was talking about Tate, and honestly, I still wasn't sure if I was in love with him or not. I know I kinda want to spend the rest of my life with him because I trust that he would keep me happy no matter what and I know he wouldn't stop loving me.

I know I love so many things about him, and I also love the way he makes me feel, but I don't know why I'm still not sure if I've fallen for him or not.

They say you know you're in love with someone if you feel like you want to spend forever with them but that's not the case with me and Tate.

I want to spend forever with him because he gives me a sense that I could leave a roller coaster free life without having to worry about heartaches but for some reasons I find my self wishing for more sometimes.

I don't know why I do that tho, since I liked everything about him and he was a really great boyfriend.

However, I think sometimes I feel like I met him a little too early and I'm still yet to explore so many things I want to explore in life.

Makenzie was so sure that I was in love with Tate after I told her I wouldn't mind spending forever with him, but one she doesn't know is that I don't think that was the reason why I think I could spend the rest of my life with him.

"I'm not in love with him Kenzie, I love so many things about him, but I'm not in love with him," I said after a short while of silence.

"Yeah? I won't argue with you," she said and I turned to glare at her playfully before turning back to the microwave that had just made a loud clicking sound.

Makenzie washed the apple she was holding while I brought out my lasagna from the microwave the steamy aroma filled my proboscis and that made a broad smile spread across my face.

We both walked back to the sitting room and I dropped my plate on the table before going back to get a coke from the fridge.

"Should we watch a movie?" Kenzie asked after I walked back into the living room and I nodded my head before taking a seat.

"What do you say we watch? A romcom? Or a horror movie?" She asked turning on the tv and searching for something to watch on her Netflix.

"Romcom," I said taking a large bite of my meal.

I think lasagna tastes better when it's a leftover I thought of the savoury goodness in my mouth.

I didn't see what movie Mackenzie picked, I just saw it had started playing on the tv but I was paying more attention to my meal than the tv.

"This should be interesting I think," Kenzie said and then dropped the remote control on the table close to our feet.

I know she was probably going to fall asleep before the movie starts playing because she never really watches a movie, which made me wonder why she actually asks us to watch one all the time, and I think it's only because she wants to fall asleep.

"You'll be asleep before the movie even starts," I said and she just smiled sleepily without even trying to argue.

Mackenzie had fallen asleep even before I finished eating my meal and when I was done, I looked up at the tv screen to see what was going on in the movie, and after watching for a while, it didn't look interesting, so I ended up changing it into and action-comedy since I enjoy watching such genre more.

I had only picked rom-com because of Mackenzie. I watched the first part of the movie with much interest but ended up falling asleep for the other half.

....

I don't know if it was because of the way I was lying, or not, but for the first time in like forever, I had a nightmare that sent me to sprint up from the chair I slept, my whole body covered in a cold sweat.