"This is a terrible idea."
I said it for the third time as we walked out of the café.
Ethan, of course, looked happier than a kid who had just discovered unlimited candy.
"You say that now," he said, stretching his arms behind his head, "but someday you'll thank me."
"I will never thank you for this."
Austin chuckled beside me.
"You might."
I turned to him.
"You're enjoying this too?"
"A little," he admitted.
"That makes two evil people."
Ethan gasped dramatically.
"I'm not evil. I'm a matchmaker."
"You're a problem," I corrected.
He laughed loudly.
We walked along the park path again, sunlight filtering through the trees. The place had started to get busier now—families, joggers, people walking their dogs.
But somehow it still felt like our little bubble of chaos.
Ethan suddenly clapped his hands.
"Alright! Date planning time!"
"No," I said instantly.
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Austin sighed.
"Ethan, relax."
"I am relaxed," Ethan said. "I'm just invested."
"You're too invested," I muttered.
Ethan ignored me.
"So where should the date be?"
"It's not a date," I said.
Austin glanced at me.
"Right. 'Hanging out.'"
"Exactly."
Ethan nodded dramatically.
"Sure. Two people who definitely don't like each other hanging out alone. Totally normal."
I threw a leaf at him.
"Stop talking."
Austin laughed quietly again.
I really needed him to stop doing that.
Every time he laughed, my brain forgot how to function.
Ethan turned to Austin.
"Where are you taking her?"
Austin thought for a moment.
"I don't know yet."
Ethan looked offended.
"You didn't think about it??, look my sister deserves the best!!",
"Oh so now I'm your sister", I huffed
Austin shrugged.
"I didn't expect this to happen today."
"That's because you lack vision," Ethan said.
I rolled my eyes.
"Why do you care so much?"
Ethan placed a hand on his chest.
"Because I live for good stories."
"This is not a story."
"It definitely is."
Austin looked at me.
"Do you have any suggestions?"
I blinked.
"Why are you asking me?"
"Because you're the one going on the… hangout."
"That doesn't mean I have ideas!"
Ethan snapped his fingers.
"I know!"
We both groaned.
"What now?" I asked.
"The fair!"
I frowned.
"What fair?"
"The one downtown," Ethan said. "It opened yesterday."
Austin looked thoughtful.
"That could be fun."
My eyes widened.
"You're both serious?"
Ethan nodded.
"Very."
I crossed my arms.
"Fairs are chaotic."
"That's the best part."
"There are crowds."
"Exciting."
"There's loud music."
"Romantic," Ethan said dramatically.
"Nothing about that is romantic!"
Austin chuckled again.
"I think it sounds fun."
I looked at him.
"You do?"
"Yeah."
I sighed.
"Fine."
Ethan raised his hands in victory.
"YES!"
"Relax," I said. "I only agreed because it's public."
Austin raised an eyebrow.
"You think I'm dangerous?"
"I think Ethan is dangerous."
"Fair point," Austin admitted.
Ethan looked proud.
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment," I said.
We reached the parking lot again where Ethan's car was parked.
He leaned against the hood.
"So when is the hangout happening?"
Austin glanced at me.
"How about tomorrow?"
My eyes widened.
"Tomorrow?!"
"Too soon?"
"Yes!"
Ethan shook his head.
"Nope. Perfect timing."
Austin looked calm as usual.
"We can wait if you want."
I hesitated.
Part of me wanted to delay forever.
But another part of me…
Well.
That part kept remembering the way he looked at me earlier.
And the way he said "Yeah" when I asked if he wanted to go.
"Tomorrow is fine," I said quickly before I could change my mind.
Ethan clapped again.
"This is incredible."
"You're acting like you just won the lottery," I said.
"Honestly," Ethan said, "this might be better."
Austin shook his head.
"You're ridiculous."
"And proud of it."
Ethan opened the car doors.
"Alright, tomato face. We'll drop you home."
"I'm never escaping that nickname, am I?"
"Nope."
I got into the back seat again, and Austin sat beside me.
Ethan started the car.
"So," he said, glancing at us in the mirror, "rules."
"Rules?" I asked nervously.
"Yes."
Austin sighed.
"I'm already tired."
Ethan raised a finger.
"Rule number one: No cancelling."
I frowned.
"I didn't say I would cancel."
"I'm preventing future excuses."
Austin nodded.
"Fair."
Ethan raised another finger.
"Rule number two: No bringing friends."
I blinked.
"That's oddly specific."
"You look like someone who would bring backup."
I shrugged.
"Maybe."
Austin laughed.
"I wouldn't mind."
Ethan gasped.
"No! That ruins the whole point!"
"What point?" I asked suspiciously.
Ethan grinned.
"The point of you two spending time together."
I leaned back in my seat.
"You're exhausting."
"But effective."
The car ride was quiet for a few minutes.
Then Ethan suddenly spoke again.
"You know what else would be funny?"
I groaned.
"What now?"
"If you two end up dating."
I nearly choked.
"That's not happening!", not now at least, but I didn't say the last part out loud
Austin looked out the window, smiling slightly.
Ethan smirked.
"That's exactly what people say before it happens."
I shook my head.
"You watch too many movies."
"And they're usually right."
We finally reached my street.
Ethan parked the car, and I quickly opened the door.
"Freedom," I muttered
Austin got out too.
Ethan leaned out the window.
"Don't forget! Tomorrow evening!"
"I know!"
"Wear something cute!"
I grabbed a nearby leaf and threw it at him.
"Drive away."
He laughed and started the car.
"Good luck, Austin!"
"Thanks," Austin said calmly.
Then Ethan drove off, leaving the two of us standing there in the quiet street.
Suddenly it felt very awkward.
I shifted slightly.
"Well… that happened."
"Yeah."
We stood there for a second.
Then Austin spoke.
"You really think this is a terrible idea?"
I hesitated.
"I think… it might be chaotic."
"That's not the same thing."
I looked at him.
"Are you nervous?"
He thought about it.
"Not really."
"Why not?"
He smiled.
"Because I already know you."
That caught me off guard.
"You do?"
"Yeah."
"How?"
"You're honest," he said. "Even when you're panicking."
I felt my face warm again.
"Great. Now I sound embarrassing."
"Not embarrassing," he said
"Just… real", he added
I looked down at the ground.
Nobody had ever described me like that before.
Austin suddenly stepped back.
"I should go before Ethan comes back with more ideas."
"That would be terrifying."
He laughed.
Then he started walking away.
After a few steps, he turned around.
"Tomorrow at six?"
I nodded.
"Six."
He smiled again.
"See you then."
And as I walked back toward my house, my heart started racing again.
Because tomorrow…
I was going on a "not-a-date" with Austin.
And something told me Ethan wasn't the only one excited about it.