THE PRETTY LIE

Christine's eyes met Jessie's as she finished dressing for her date with Peter. Jessie lay on the bed, watching her with a knowing gaze.

"To be honest, I just think you should thank him," Jessie said, her voice laced with concern.

Christine's laughter was tinged with shock. "Thank him? You've got to be kidding me."

Jessie's expression remained serious. "Yes, this guy has been sending you flowers, taking you out for almost two weeks straight, and he doesn't deserve a thank you?"

Christine's eyes flashed with defiance. "That's his game, he plays? I play along. No hard feelings."

Jessie's gaze narrowed. "And you think you are going to win?"

Christine's smile was confident. "Of course, I will, as long as I don't feel it."

Jessie's voice was laced with skepticism. "But you do enjoy the good time with him?"

Christine's laughter was carefree. "The good time is whenever he actually makes sense, but he doesn't, ever. I do enjoy his funny act, though."

Jessie's expression turned serious. "Then you are walking into his trap, liking one thing from him."

Christine's phone buzzed, interrupting their conversation. She glanced at the screen, her heart skipping a beat as she saw Peter's name.

"Thank you," Christine said, smiling at Jessie as she headed out the door.

"It's nothing, Chris," Jessie replied, her voice laced with concern. "Have fun."

Christine's laughter echoed down the hallway as she walked out to meet Peter.

As she approached the car, Peter's eyes met hers, his smile charming and disarming. Christine's heart fluttered in her chest as he opened the door for her.

"Hey, beautiful," Peter said, his voice low and husky. "You look stunning tonight."

Christine's laughter was carefree as she slid into the car. "Thanks, Peter. You don't look so bad yourself."

As they drove through the city, Peter's conversation was effortless, moving from music to movies with ease. Christine found herself laughing and smiling, feeling more and more at ease in his presence.

But as they pulled up to the restaurant, Christine's phone buzzed with an incoming text from Jessie. She glanced down to see a warning message: "Be careful, Chris. We both don't trust him."

Christine's eyes flicked up to meet Peter's gaze, and for a moment, she wondered if Jessie was right to be suspicious.

As they walked into the restaurant, Christine was struck by the upscale atmosphere. The dim lighting, the fine china, and the soft music all screamed "fancy." But Peter, it seemed, was not impressed. He tripped on the carpet, almost face-planting into a nearby table.

Christine gasped, her hand flying to her mouth to stifle a giggle. Peter, however, just laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

"Sorry about that," he said, holding out his arm for Christine to take. "I'm a little clumsy sometimes."

Christine's smile was warm as she took his arm. "It's okay," she said. "I think it's kind of cute."

Peter's grin was charming. "Cute?" he repeated. "I'll take that as a compliment."

As they were led to their table, Peter continued to make a scene, knocking over a chair and spilling water on the tablecloth. Christine couldn't help but laugh, feeling a sense of joy she hadn't experienced in a long time.

Despite the chaos he was causing, Peter seemed completely at ease, laughing and joking with the waitstaff. Christine watched him, mesmerized by his carefree spirit.

As they sat down to order, Peter looked at Christine with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"So, what's good here?" he asked, scanning the menu with a look of disdain. "I hate fancy food."

Christine's laughter was carefree. "Well, I think the filet mignon is supposed to be good," she said, trying to keep a straight face.

Peter's expression was comical. "Filet mignon? That sounds like something my grandma would eat."

Christine's giggles were uncontrollable. "Well, what do you want to eat, then?" she asked.

Peter thought for a moment, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"I know," he said finally. "I'll have the burger."

Christine's eyebrow rose in amusement. "The burger?" she repeated. "That's not very fancy."

Peter's grin was charming. "Hey, I'm a simple guy with simple tastes."

As they waited for their food to arrive, Peter regaled Christine with stories of his childhood, of pranks he'd played on his siblings and of adventures he'd had in the woods behind his house. Christine found herself laughing and smiling, feeling a sense of ease with Peter that she hadn't experienced in a long time.

But just as she was starting to relax, Peter's expression turned serious. "So, Christine," he said, his voice low and husky. "Tell me something about yourself. Something that nobody else knows."

Christine's heart skipped a beat as she met Peter's gaze. There was something intense about his eyes, something that made her feel like he could see right through her.

"I don't know," she said finally, trying to sound casual. "I'm a pretty open book."

Peter's eyes narrowed. "I doubt that," he said, his voice dripping with skepticism. "Everybody's got secrets, Christine. Even you."

Christine felt a shiver run down her spine as Peter's eyes seemed to bore into her soul. What did he want from her? And why was this suddenly feeling like a trap?

But before she could respond, the waiter arrived with their food, breaking the tension between them.

As they ate, Peter continued to charm Christine with his easy smile and quick wit. But despite his carefree exterior, Christine couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Peter than met the eye.

"Say it," Peter said, his voice low and husky, making Christine feel shocked as she was caught in his gaze.

"Say what?" she asked, still feeling the effects of his intense stare.

"It looks like you were going to say something," Peter replied, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

Christine pretended to be nonchalant, but Peter's gaze was unnerving. "Come on, baby girl, say it," he coaxed, his voice dripping with charm.

Christine finally relented, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Okay, fine. I thought you were going to be the same asshole who was frustrating my life two weeks ago."

Peter burst into a light laughter, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Well, I did say I would do anything in my power to make you fall in love with me."

Christine raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with skepticism. "So, you're still a psycho, but also trying to be cute?"

Peter's grin was unrepentant. "Exactly."

"So, I'm cute?" he said again, trying to flirt.

Christine chuckled, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Come on, get back to your food," she said, quickly trying to change the subject.

The rest of the evening was great, with Peter continuing to make Christine laugh and smile.

As the night drew to a close, Peter walked Christine back to her hostel, the cool night air swirling around them.

"Thanks for dinner," Christine said, trying to sound casual despite the tension between them. "I had a good time."

Peter's smile was slow and deliberate. "I'm glad you did," he said, his voice low and husky. "I had a great time too."

Christine felt a flutter in her chest as Peter's eyes seemed to bore into hers. She knew she should get out of the car, but her body seemed rooted to the spot.

"Peter," she said finally, trying to break the spell. "I should get going."

Peter's smile never wavered. "Okay," he said, his voice dripping with reluctance. "But can I walk you to your door?"

Christine's eyes met Peter's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them palpable.

"Okay," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

They walked in silence, the only sound being the soft crunch of gravel beneath their feet. As they reached the entrance, Christine turned to face Peter.

"Thank you once again for today," she said, her voice polite but distant.

Peter's smile never wavered. "It's my honor to make you happy," he replied, his voice low and husky.

Christine raised an eyebrow, feeling a flutter in her chest. "There you go," she said, trying to sound nonchalant.

Peter laughed, the sound sending a shiver down Christine's spine. "You haven't really talked about yourself, though," he said, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Christine shrugged, feeling a sense of unease. "Well, I'm not really comfortable with you knowing me too well, so that's me for you," she said, trying to sound casual.

Peter's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "Fair enough," he said. "But I'm not giving up. I want to know more about you, Christine."

Christine raised an eyebrow, feeling a flutter in her chest. "And what makes you think I'm interested in sharing more about myself with you?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Peter's grin was unrepentant. "Oh, I think you're more interested than you're letting on," he said, his voice low and husky "And I'm willing to wait and find out."

Christine felt a shiver run down her spine as Peter's eyes seemed to bore into hers. She knew she should step back, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot.

Just as the tension between them was becoming unbearable, Peter leaned in and whispered, "Goodnight, Christine. Sweet dreams."

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving Christine feeling breathless and bewildered.

As she watched him go, Christine couldn't help but wonder what had just happened. She had started the evening feeling wary of Peter, but by the end of it, she was feeling something entirely different "what was it?" she asked herself.