Page 56 of The Pinkie Pact

Thank God.

So far, Kara was keeping to our little pact. And Bear... well, Bear was just being his usual awesome self.

We were finally able to get more drinks just as the band started back again, and I wondered how the rest of the night would play out. Would we finally get to kiss? Or was the moment over?

Any hope I had crashed completely when Kieran's friends approached us, probably wondering why he wasn't joining them as usual. As Kieran introduced them, I noticed how much they studied me with an almost scrutinizing glance. My guess was they were confused.

Did they even know that Kieran and Christina had broken up? Were they trying to figure out who the new girl was holding onto their friend's hand?

They weren't exactly unfriendly. Just the whole thing was crazy awkward and left me wondering what the hell I was doing. As we all stood in a big group drinking and listening to the music again, I tried to shake the negative thoughts. What did it really matter anyway?

After a disappointing letdown of more of the same and finishing our three drinks, Kara and I eventually decided to leave, and Kieran insisted on walking us home. As did Bear.

Weird.

Sometimes, I walked with Kara, and other times, I ended up with Kieran, who always grabbed my hand, making me warm. He seemed kind of shy, kind of hesitant, flashing me an unsure smile as his fingers wrapped around mine.

Along the way, we stopped at a food truck, famished from all the booze and dancing, waiting in line with all the other drunk college students. As we finished off our food, I noticed we were very close to our dorm, and my mind began to whirl, wondering what was next with this guy walking next to me.

When would I see him again? Should I be pushing anything?

"Hey," he said, rubbing my hand with his thumb, "do you have plans Friday night?"

What? For real? "Um, I don't know."

Stopping, he spun to face me on the dark sidewalk, the streetlight shining behind him, making it hard to read his expression. "You don't know?"

That had sounded pretty lame. "I mean, Kara usually knows what's going on. I don't know if there's a party or bar or concert that she was going to suggest."

He stared at me for a moment, then glanced over his shoulder. "Hey, Kara!"

She was still walking up ahead on the sidewalk with Bear but stopped when Kieran shouted at her. "What?"

"Do you have plans for this Friday night?"

Thinking for a second, she eventually said, "No, not really."

Kieran's face turned back to me, and even in the dark, I could see his grin. "Looks like you're free."

As I giggled, he grabbed both of my hands. "Okay. I guess I'm free then."

"So will you let me take you to dinner?"

A strange squeezy pressure took over my chest. "Dinner? Well, it depends on where you're planning to go," I teased.

"Oh, really?" He laughed. "Well, what if I make sure it's someplace nice?"

"Hmm," I said as I shrugged. "I could probably be persuaded then."

Pulling me closer, he laughed again, shaking his head. "I don't even know what to do with you."

"I guess you'll have to figure it out."

"I guess so," he said, his expression turning serious as he quickly glanced ahead.

For a second, I thought he might kiss me, but instead, he let go of one hand, sighing. "So Friday night then."

"Friday night," I repeated as we started to walk down the sidewalk again, only a short distance away from the dorm.

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