Read Online Obscured (The Obscured Series Book 1) by C.M. Boers - Free Book Online

hands like he
didn’t know quite what to do with them.
    “I
came over because I wanted to talk about the double-date you suggested.”
    “I
hoped that’s what you wanted to talk about. What do you think?” I asked, trying
to sound lighthearted.
    “Well,
there is someone that I am interested in, but I can’t ask her to go out.”
    “Why
not?” 
    “I
just can’t” His tone was suddenly aggravated.
    “Oh,”
I said.
    Why
couldn’t he ask her? I got the feeling that he did not want me to know anything about it, but I
couldn’t help but feel even more curious about the identity of this mystery
girl. For now I had to let it go; I didn’t want to make him mad again by
pushing him to tell me something he clearly didn't want to.
    “I
don’t mind going with you but... will you help me get a date?” he looked away
shyly, and any hint of his aggression was gone in the blink of an eye. 
    I
hadn’t seen that side of him before. He was always so confident and sure of
himself—or at least he seemed that way. I usually felt like the awkward one, so
it was nice to know that I wasn’t alone.
    “I
don’t—” he paused. “Really have much experience with girls.”
    He’s
shy? I couldn't believe
it! He didn’t seem to have a hard time approaching me or being around girls for
that matter. Not to mention he had a great personality and was a blast to be
around. How could he be self-conscious?
     “Of
course I will help you. What do you want me to do?” I asked. I couldn’t think
of how he would want me to help him, but I would do whatever I could. Not just
because of the date, but because he was my friend.
    “I
don’t know. I don’t even know where to start,” he said nervously. “Every time I
try to ask a girl out, I end up talking to them about something else and then
we wind up being just friends. I think a lot of it has to do with not knowing
how to bring up that I like them, and then by the time I have broken the ice,
it feels like it’s too late and it would be awkward asking.”
    “I’m
not sure what I can teach you, but there’s really not much to it. You take a
deep breath and ask.” I looked at him to make sure he was listening. He was,
more so than I had expected. I almost jumped at the sight of his eyes staring
at me so intently. “Like when Pete asked me out for this weekend, he started by
asking me what I was doing this weekend. Then he suggested going to dinner with
him and maybe a movie,” I said, shrugging. “There’s nothing really to it. It
just takes a little bit of courage.”
    He
contemplated quietly for a few minutes. 
    “I
don't know if I have the nerve to do that...” he finally admitted.
    “I
think you do; you approached me didn't you?”
    “Well,
that was different.”
    “No
it wasn’t. Approaching a girl you like is exactly the same. You have to just
stop thinking of it as such a daunting task. Maybe you could start with a girl
you may not necessarily like so you can see how easy it can be. This weekend’s
date can be practice. What do you think?”
    He
seemed to be thinking really hard. “Who would I ask?”
    “I
don’t know.” I thought about it for a minute and then suggested, “How about
Bailey?” 
    “Uh,
I guess that could work.”
    “So
you’ll double with us?”
    “Yeah,
as long as I don’t chicken out tomorrow,” he said faintly.
    “It’ll
be fine, you can do it.”
    “Whatever
you say.” He didn’t sound convinced. “I should be going. I still have some
homework to get done before I go to bed.”
    I
walked him to the door where we said goodbye. I felt bad for Eli; he seemed so
nervous about asking someone out. I wished he had the confidence I saw when he
was around me. If only he could see himself as I see him, then he’d be
set. 
    After
Eli left, I went upstairs to finish my homework. I was so happy that Eli agreed
to go on the date with Pete and I, but I decided that I wouldn’t call Pete to
let him know just yet. I wanted to see how