I never thought I would risk the chance of getting hurt again, but for some reason when I’m with you, it all seems worth it.

Standing in front of your bathroom mirror, you meticulously looked yourself over, pulling down the hem of your shirt just below the belt loops of your form fitting jeans. Raising your hand, slowly running your fingers through your freshly washed hair, still feeling the damp cool hair pass across your hand. Taking in a deep breath, butterflies began to fill your stomach, anxiousness began to swell within your heart as you dropped your eyes from your own reflection.

Glancing down at the countertop, your phone rested on the cool surface before your fingers found their way to one of the buttons. Pressing the button, sliding your finger across the screen unlocking the device. Tapping the messages button, tapping on a conversation before it pulled up. Scrolling back through the messages, cradling the phone between your hands as searching for a text that was sent to you.

I just got off of work, does Bowling and dinner sound good?

Reading over the next few texts, you couldn’t help but show a small smile across your lips.  Glancing up at the time in the upper right corner of your phone, you froze a moment to see that there was only a few minutes left before he would be here.

Pulling back a section of your hair and securing it to your head, you looked yourself over once more before descending downstairs. With your family occupying the open kitchen and conjoining family room, you played with the ends of your hair while you kept your phone in hand, for any text saying that he was going to pull out.

“You clean up nice” Your little sister told you as you looked over hearing the slight sarcasm lacing her words.

“Thanks” You whispered softly as you glanced over at your dad and then your mom.

“So when you are out on this date, I don’t want you to giggle too much, you can’t smile too much, be too friendly, you have to be lady like or he won’t like you. Lose your bowling games and don’t show him any flaws” Your mom began to drill you on the new and sudden rules that she was telling you while she ran her soapy sponge over a dirty dish in the sink. “Remember to be a lady and no affection is going to happen between you.”

A hard knock came from the front door as your heart sunk into your stomach.

“Ooooh there he is!” Your little sister cooed as your mom gave you one last harsh glance at you before you walked towards the door. Twisting the top lock, you turned the handle and peered out into the dark to see your uncle standing there with a smile.

“Hey” You smiled as you stepped away to let him in. Closing the door behind him, your dad and mom took over the conversation as you leaned against one of the walls that was close to the door.

“Why are you dressed up?” Your uncle quizzed you as you glanced up from your cute sneakers that outfitted your feet.

“She has a date!” Your little sister chimed in before you could speak, “It is her first date in a year, she hasn’t even met him before!”

You heard a pan drop into the sink as you shyly glanced over back at your mom who shot you a look. Dropping your head, you began to blush more as you checked on the time on your phone. Not even a minute later, the front door opens quickly as your older brother walks through the door.

Wondering to yourself how many more people could possibly be here to meet your date, you began to press your cool hands against your hot cheeks as your older brother glanced over at you.

“Where are you going?” Your older brother questioned as he looked up and down your figure.

“She has a date to a stranger” You sister filled everyone in as a message lit up your phone as you quickly swiped your thumb across the screen.

What is the number on your apartment again?

“I did see a guy wandering around outside, he looked really lost” Your brother took a seat with a smile as you picked your head up slightly wondering if that was him.

“What did he look like?” Your mom quickly probed as your brother began to laugh thinking that it is your date.

Dropping your eyes to the screen on your phone, you typed back and answered your date.

I totally just knocked on the wrong door hahahaha

Your date sent back as you helped him to find your door, a soft chuckle leaving your lips helping with the nervous edge that was being bottled up inside of you.

A knock came to your front door as you slipped your phone into your pocket and opened the door in hopes that this was your date.

“Hello, I’m looking for _______?” A handsome young man asked standing on the other side of your door.

“That’s her” Your sister chimed as you nodded your head. A smile covered his lips as his beautiful brown eyes took in the angel that stood before him.

“You two have fun now, please have her back before midnight” Your father advised as your date nodded in agreement.

Holding the door for you, you stepped out into the cool air first before he followed you out into the dark surroundings of night. Making small talk, the two of you began to head to his car, laughter filled the air between the two of you already as the nervousness and anxiousness ebbed away to the dark canvas of night that surrounded the two of you.

Arriving at his car, he skipped ahead of you pulling open the passenger side door for you as you thanked him and entered into his car. Watching him close the door, you took a quick glance around his car as you smiled as he slid behind the wheel.

“Where to first? Bowling or dinner?” He questioned, turning the key in the ignition as he turned his head to observe you while you mulled over the options in your mind.

“What do you think about Bowling first?” You questioned wanting his input as well.

“Sounds great to me!” He sung with a smile, resting his hand on the stick shift between the two of you, he shifted the car into gear as he carefully backed the vehicle before he pressed his foot against the clutch just to shift into first gear.

“You’ll have to tell me where you are going because I don’t know this area” He chuckled nervously as you came to a crossroads exiting your apartment complex. Knowing he was from the next northern town not to mention that the town he was from was across state lines, you just smiled and looked both directions.

“Take a right” You advised him, he his blinker as he waited for a gap between cars before shifting and pulling out into traffic.

Guiding him to the closest bowling alley, he pulled into a spot as he turned to you. Both of you unbuckled the seat belts and pushed your separate doors open. Stepping out into the cool night air, the two of you walked together to the bowling alley entrance. Pulling open the door for you once again, he smiled as you thanked him once more.

Scanning the bowling alley, the two of you entered into the line as you watched a few of the players roll their bowling balls down the lane to the pins that nervously waited the impact.

“Do you come here often?” Your date questioned as you nodded your head

“I have a class that I take here” You told him with a small smile playing on your lips.

“You do?” He lifted his hand and ran it against his neck, “Looks like I have some stiff competition. We will just have to see if you can put your game where your mouth is.”

“Bring it!” You challenged him as he nodded his head with a bright smile pulling back his lips.