75. A Date with Andrew.

Mia.

I sat at my vanity after changing my outfit for the fifth time and I kept looking at myself and wondering if this one was the right outfit for the day. I was in a white off-shoulder top with a delicate lace trim that fell loosely over my torso. The fabric was lightweight and breathable, perfect for a warm day at the beach. I paired the top with high-waisted denim shorts that hug my curves just right. The shorts are frayed at the hem, giving them a slightly worn-in, vintage look.

On my feet, I wore a pair of simple brown leather sandals with a small heel that added a bit of height. I also brought along a woven straw tote bag that was big enough to hold all my essentials, like my phone, sunglasses, and a beach towel. To protect my eyes from the sun, I wore a pair of oversized round sunglasses with a tortoiseshell frame. Finally, to complete my beach-ready look, I applied a little bit of sunscreen to my face and shoulders to protect my skin from the sun's harmful rays. I also brought out a wide-brimmed straw hat to wear if I needed extra shade.

With my outfit and accessories in place, I felt okay and ready to enjoy my day at the beach with Andrew but then another thing crossed my mind as I wondered if my bare face was enough.

I have been eyeing a lipstick that belonged to Elena for a while now. It was a bold red color, something that I would not normally wear, but then I think it was something that would definitely make me stand out as I had my sights set on impressing Andrew. Things have been going so well between us for the past weeks now but he was so mature and popular that I never thought I stood a chance. Maybe this lipstick could make him like me even more. I knew that I shouldn't take it, but the temptation was too strong so I snuck into Elena's room, and without a second thought, took the lipstick.

I picked it up and twisted the tube open, revealing a bright red color and then I applied it to my lips as soon as I got back into my room. , but as soon as I saw myself in the mirror, I did not recognize myself. I didn't recognize the girl staring back at me. This wasn't my style at all.

So I quickly wiped it off, but the thought of impressing Andrew was still on my mind as I thought of how many girls in my school want him so I reconsidered and decided to put on the lipstick again, even though it did not feel like me. Andrew was worth taking a chance on, wasn't he? I applied the lipstick once more, and this time, I left it on. When I left the house, I put a face mask on to avoid getting it seen by anyone before I left and as I got far enough from home, I ripped the mask off and tossed it in my tote bag.

As I made my way to the beach, I couldn't help but feel self-conscious. Once I arrived at the beach, I found Andrew waiting for me at a distance. He looked even more handsome than usual, wearing a simple button-down shirt that's light and airy, with short sleeves that allowed him to stay cool in the warm weather. He paired the shirt with a pair of khaki shorts that hit just above his knees, which were also comfortable and practical for the beach. For footwear, he wore a pair of brown leather sandals that match mine and made me smile.

To complete his beach look, Andrew was also in a pair of classic Ray-Ban sunglasses to protect his eyes from the sun, and he carried a beach bag with a towel, sunscreen, and a water bottle.

I couldn't help but stare at him, feeling nervous and excited all at once. I was sure that a lot of people was staring at me, but when I met up with Andrew, he was so blown away by how good I looked that all my worries instantly melted away.

"Oh my God! You look absolutely breathtaking and that shade on your lips is so fitting that it looks like it was custom made for you!" He said to me as soon as he saw me.

I felt a sense of accomplishment that my plan had worked as we both took off our sandals and started to walk the entire length of the beach, chatting about everything and nothing.

The beach appeared to be a long, sandy stretch that stretched out before Andrew and I. The sand was warm and slightly gritty under my feet, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore was very soothing. I noted the way the sun was also beginning to set, casting a warm golden light across the beach and making everything glow. There were a few other people on the beach, but they were far enough away that I felt like Andrew and I had the place to ourselves. The water was calm, with small waves lapping at the shore, and there were a few small boats visible in the distance.

To be honest, the beach seemed like a peaceful, idyllic setting that felt like it had been particularly set for a date.

As we walked along the sandy beach, Andrew started to talk about the pressures he faced in school and I could immediately see the weight of responsibility on his shoulders and could sense the struggle he faced.

"It's tough being the principal's son, you know?" Andrew sighed, "Everyone expects so much from me. They think I have all the answers, but I don't. It's hard to live up to everyone's expectations."

I nodded in understanding. "I can imagine. It must be hard feeling like you're constantly under a microscope."

Andrew looked at me gratefully. "Yeah, it can be. But I try not to let it get to me too much. It's not worth stressing over things I can't control."

I smiled. "That's a good way to think about it."

As we continued to walk and talk, I felt a connection growing stronger between us. I couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity to get to know Andrew better. Our conversation was interrupted by the sound of waves crashing against the shore and we stopped to watch the water for a moment, taking in the beauty of the ocean. I felt a sense of peace wash over me as we both stood there together, enjoying the moment. I knew that there was something special between us, something worth exploring further.

Suddenly, the Andrew broke the silence, as he mentioned how much he loved his younger brother and how they often played video games and watched movies together and I could totally relate. "I know what you mean. I have a younger brother too. His name is Diego, and I would do anything for him."

Andrew smiled, "That's really cool. I think it's great when siblings have a close bond like that. I also think your dad is the coolest dad ever... honestly, one could say I look up to him even."

I could see the admiration in his eyes as he spoke about my dad and it almost made me scoff, "ah! You are very wrong about that! Cool and my dad do not belong in the same sentence at all, don't even get it twisted, he is never cool. My mom was the cool and fun parent and even when she died, dad never became the cool parent. He's just him, trust me when I say he sucks the fun out of everything." I replied and he seemed shocked.

"Well, you thought wrong and his cool countenance must have made you think so." I added and he smiled but it seemed like he was worried about my late mom which I mentioned and before it all turned into a total sob story, we came across a spread that took me unawares.

I saw that Andrew had prepared a surprise spread for us to enjoy. On the picnic mat, there were slices of bread, a bottle of wine and there were also fruit baskets and a nice bouquet of flowers.

"That is your doing?" I asked him, surprised.

"Yes and I promise that the wine is non alcoholic too... I follow the rules, you know." He joked and we both laughed.

I couldn't believe how thoughtful he had been to prepare a surprise spread for them. The slices of bread looked fresh and inviting, the fruit baskets looked vibrant, and the bouquet of flowers added a nice touch to the picnic mat. As we ate and chatted, I couldn't help but feel grateful to have Andrew in my life. I never had friends, not since I was old enough to know a lot of things at least, the minute I thought I had one, they moved on to another person, they just never find me worthy enough to be friends with.

At the end of it all, he walked me home and shyly pecked my cheeks. "Goodbye and my regards to your dad. I am counting the hours until we can see each other at school again, you're my best friend and now and I like you. See you soon." He said and I could only nod since my breathe seemed to gave been robbed off by the peck.

I entered the house after wiping my lips and after greeting everyone I could while avoiding their embarrassing questions, I ran off to my room. I brought out the lipstick I had stolen and kissed it, believing it to be a source of my good luck today. Then I quickly kept it as I heard Elena calling me downstairs for Dinner.

I refused to share with anyone the details of how the date went and rather let Diego ramble on about how his own day went at the charity event.

When I head to my room for the night, I found myself scrolling through the pictures that Andrew and I had taken that day on my phone and on impulse, I wished that mom was around to talk about these feelings to. But then, I remembered that when mom had recently died, Diego and I used to send her little voicemail of updates about our lives as it used to make us feel closer to her.

So, I dialed my mom's number and began to speak into the speaker pretending that she was listening to me, "Hello mom, it's been a while, how are you doing? Is that place very beautiful and comfortable for you as everyone says? Do you miss me too? Cos I definitely do, so much. Mom... I like a boy. He treats me so well that anybody my age ever did, he is so nice and attentive to me and I am so glad to finally have a friend my age in my corner. All I can hope for now is that he does not deem me unworthy and throw me away too... anyways, mom... I just wanted to tell you this new and happy development about my life and I can already imagine your smiling face as you listen to this. Goodnight mom, I love you."