Chapter 8 - An Awkward Date
After enduring many hours of Alyce's coaxing, I finally agreed to go out on a date with Dennis. Just like with salsa, my friends had to do a lot to convince me to go. It wasn't like I had anything against him, I just wasn't sure how I felt about him and his twin. Although he was very kind and friendly towards me, his brother Dylan was a whole other story.
I straightened my shirt as I sat in my sofa, with my foot steadily tapping the floor, waiting for Dennis to arrive. The sound of my phone suddenly ringing caused me to break out of my staring contest with the door to answer the call.
"Hello?"
"How's the date going?" Alyce asked.
"It's not going anywhere, I'm still at home," I replied, slightly unhappy about the fact that he hadn't shown up when he was supposed to be here twenty minutes ago.
"He didn't show? That doesn't sound like something Dennis would do." But it could be something that Dylan would do. As soon as she finished speaking, the doorbell finally rang.
"Looks like he's here." We said our goodbyes before I stood up and walked to the door, holding my bag.
"Sorry I'm late," he said, flashing a small smile.
"I was beginning to think you sent your brother instead," I told him truthfully. He chuckled slightly.
"You don't need to worry about any switches tonight. Dylan's not in town." I heaved a sigh of relief mentally before reaching into my bag and pulling out my keys. After locking the door, I followed him to his car where he opened the door for me like a gentleman, causing my lips to tug up in a smile.
"Thanks," I said as I got in.
"You're welcome." He closed the door as I put on my seat belt before walking to his side. He started the car and pulled away from the curb. The drive to our destination was mostly quiet, with me looking out of the window as he focused on driving.
We were driving towards our destination with an awkward silence when he suddenly turned towards me. I pulled my eyes from looking outside to look at him as he smile slightly.
"Do we really look alike?" He asked, chuckling slightly.
"You are twins you know," I replied. He continued to look at the the road with a small smile and turned a corner.
"I'll tell you something to help you tell us apart," he pointed to a small beauty mark on his neck, "Dylan doesn't have any beauty marks." I slowly nodded my head as he told me that, making sure to remember it for the future.
Not too long after, he drove into a parking lot and we arrived at a restaurant which I had never seen or heard of before. He pulled into an empty parking spot before turning to me again as I turned to him with a questioning look.
"It's one of my favorite restaurants─I thought you might like it," he said slightly shakily. I smiled and nodded again before getting out.
* * *
"Dennis?" we both turned to face the person who had just spoken, to find Nate slowly walking towards us.
"Hey what are you doing here?" Dennis asked him, standing up to greet him.
"Just picking up some dinner, what about you?"
"I'm on a date." He turned to face me with a small smile. Nate looked at me and his eyes widened.
"Cadence?" He asked, almost as if he couldn't believe that I was there. I nodded my head.
"Hi." A small smile appeared on his lips as he replied.
"Did you guys already order?"
"We were just about to, why don't you join us?" Dennis replied. I looked at him questionably, wondering why he was inviting someone to join our date, even though he was someone we both knew. He didn't notice my look as he pulled a chair from another table for Nate to join us.
"Are you sure about that?" Nate asked.
"Yeah, Cadence doesn't mind─right?" He turned to me with a large smile, causing me to reluctantly nod my head.
"I don't mind─"
"Great."
I sighed mentally just as the waiter arrived. What happened to being on a date? I thought to myself.
We all ordered our food and sat down mostly in silence as we waited for the waiter to return with our food. The table had been surrounded by an awkward silence when the sound of a phone ringing interrupted it.
Immediately, Dennis reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He frowned slightly as he looked at the screen, before excusing himself from the table as he answered it, leaving Nate and me alone.
We both continued to remain silent, looking everywhere but at each other. This date is definitely the most awkward date I've ever been on, I thought to myself, moments before the food arrived along with Dennis.
"Sorry about that, it was a call from work," he informed us. We both nodded our heads as he sat down before starting our meal.
The meal was silent, an awkward silent, as we all ate. I didn't know whether or not I should start a conversation because it definitely didn't feel like a date anymore. I had heard the saying, three's a crowd many times; but I hadn't understood the true meaning of that phrase until this moment.
When we finished, I could tell that we were all relieved that it was over. But once Dennis suggested going for a movie, I wasn't sure whether it really was all of us who were happy about this finally ending.
* * *
We walked into the showroom, each holding our order of snacks and picked out seats in the middle. I sat down and was surrounded by Nate and Dennis on both sides.
None of us said a word as we watched the commercials, occasionally reaching for out popcorn or drink. Just as the movie was about to start, the sound of a ringtone filled the theater, causing many people to groan in frustration. Dennis turned to me with a guilty smile after pulling out his phone.
"I'll be right back," he whispered before answering the call and leaving the room, much to everyone's relief. I turned to Nate to find him looking at his retreating figure with an unidentifiable emotion masking his face. When he noticed me looking, he smiled slightly before averting his gaze to the movie screen just as the movie was about to start.
After a while, Dennis finally returned to his seat and took a handful of popcorn.
I looked at him and suddenly felt as if something wasn't right. Remembering what had happened the last time he had left for a phone call, I looked at his neck, recalling the words he had told me earlier in the night:
Dylan doesn't have any beauty marks.
Immediately, I noticed that it wasn't Dennis─he had just switched with Dylan. Again. I sighed and stood up, walking out of the room.
"Cadence." I stopped when I heard my name, trying my best to suppress my anger.
"Where are you going?" Nate asked, coming to stand beside me and handing me my bag.
"I'm going home."
"Alone?" I nodded my head. I knew that we were very far away from where I lived but that didn't matter to me at the moment. I was infuriated with Dennis for switching with his twin. I started to walk towards the door but stopped when I felt a hand grab mine. I turned to find Nate standing closer to me and gently pulled my hand away.
"Why don't you let me take you home?" he asked. I smiled slightly but shook my head.
"It's okay, I can go on my own."
"I don't mind," he said, smiling slightly too. I felt guilty for leaving the date early and with someone else. But I couldn't help but to give in to his request. After all, Dennis had been the first to leave.
"Okay." I followed him outside and towards his car, trying to balance my guilt and annoyance.
We drove to my home in complete silence as I looked out of the window and contemplated on the words which I was going to say to Dennis as soon as I saw him.
How could he do that to me? And on a date?
I was pulled out of my thoughts when the car came to a stop. I turned to Nate with an appreciative smile.
"Thanks for the ride," I said, unbuckling my seat belt.
"No problem."
I opened the door and got out, ready to head into my house. But I was surprised when I saw Nate get out too.
"Why don't I walk you to the front door?" he offered. I nodded my head mutely and led the way.
"Your date with Dennis didn't go so well, and I feel like I'm to blame," Nate said as we stood in front of my door. I shook my head slightly and gave him a reassuring smile.
"It wasn't your fault, Nate." He smiled slightly and ran a hand through his hair nervously.
"If you'd like, why don't I make it up to you?" he asked.
I've been hearing that a lot lately, I thought to myself.
"My family is having a birthday party for my niece next week─she's turning nine. Why don't you come with me?"
Although it didn't sound very appealing, I knew that it would be better than going on a date with someone who would switch with his twin throughout the date.
"I'll think about it," I replied.
"Great, let me know what you decide." After saying that, he said goodbye and turned to leave. I watched him as he left for his car and wondered whether I should agree to go or not.
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