It's been 10 minutes into the game and I have not found Mateo anywhere. Literally I feel like I have searched the whole place already and I can't find him. I haven't been running and I am tired already.

I stop to just stand and look around me. Something doesn't feel right, I'm not sure what it is but I know for a fact it has something to with Mateo. As I'm still looking around me I'm broken out of my trance as my vest makes a noise and starts flashing colors. I turn around to see Mateo staring at me with a smirk. I knew something was going to happen.

Well two can play at that game.

I look at him with no facial expression and close my eyes.

"Veronica?" he questions with a concerning tone. I got him right where I want him.

I put my head down and hear his footsteps start to get closer to me. But right when he's about to stop in front of me I look up at him quickly and point my gun towards his chest and just like that his vest makes a noise and starts flashing colors.

He looks at me in shock, while I have a big smirk plastered onto my face.

"Oh it's on," once he says that my smirk wipes off and I turn around to start running forgetting all about the rules.

15 minutes later Mateo and I are side by side walking back towards the station where we got our vest. I hate to admit it, but I had a lot of fun. I'm glad I came with him after all.

"I thought you would have gone to hide behind a wall," Mateo teased as I was taking off the vest.

"Well you thought wrong young one, I got you plenty of times," I say proudly.

"Young one? I'm eighteen, how old are you?" he said as we started walking out to the exit.

"I'm 17, but back there you were sure acting like a little kid," I chuckled.

"Oh don't act like you weren't back there laughing and running away from me," he remarked as he opened the door for me.

We laughed at his comment and started talking about how good the game was. He unlocked the doors to his truck and we hopped in. He started the engine and reversed out of the parking space.

"So I was thinking we should go to Steph's to grab something to eat. Is that cool?" he glances at me as I nod my head yes and proceed to connect my phone to the blue tooth.

The whole way to Steph's we spend singing to songs and having small conversations. It wasn't weird at all, it was actually nice spending time with him. I'm surprised I got comfortable with him this quickly. Usually it takes me a couple weeks to finally act normal around someone.

He pulls up to the diner and we quickly get off the truck and start walking into the place we both know very well. When we walk in I spot Valencia quickly and I wave at her. She waves back and I start to lead Mateo to a booth.

We sit across from each other and Valencia comes up to ask what we want to order.

"Hey Veronica," she gave me a nice warm smile.

"Hey Valencia, this is Mateo I don't know if you both have ever met before," I gestured towards Mateo while he gave a small wave.

"No we've never met but I have seen you come into the diner before," Valencia mentioned while taking out her notepad.

"Are you guys ready to order,"

I look towards Mateo to see if he's ready and he nods.

"I'll get the chicken tender platter with fries and a sprite please," Valencia nods at my response and turns to face Mateo.

"And I'll get two double bacon cheeseburgers with extra fries, a side of onion rings, and a sprite as well please," he said proudly and looked back towards me and I giggled.

"Okay I will be right back with your food," and with that Valencia walked away.

"Really? You ordered chicken tenders out of everything on the menu?" He raises an eyebrow at me while I furrow my brows.

"What. I haven't had them in a while and I have been craving them," he laughs at my confidence.

"Since we want to get to know each other I think we should play a game,"

I look at him with a confused look. What game does he want to play?

"And what game would that be?" I say. "Two truths and a lie," he grins mischievously.

"Okay. You start first while I think of what I want to say," grinning back at him.

"Okay okay. Umm I'm into photography, I have a little sister, and I play a sport out of school," I squint my eyes at him and he laughs. This is going to be harder than I expected.

"Ummm I think the lie is the photography one," I say semi confidently. He smiles and starts shaking his head side to side.

"You like taking pictures?" he nods.

"So then which one is the lie?"

"I don't play sports out of school. I don't even like attending games," I chuckle at the statement. Something else we have in common.

"You have a little sister? And you like taking pictures? Wow I really didn't know anything about you," I smile and he just stares at me. I stop smiling and stare back at him. A few seconds later we both let out loud laughs that have the people next to us send us some glares.

Valencia walks our way holding our food and places it down on the table. Mateo and I mutter a quick thank you and start to eat up the delicious food in front of us.

"My sister is six years old. Only Adam and Alejandro have met her since they are my only friends and for the photography I caught interest freshman year" I nod as I dip my chicken tender into my ranch. "Okay, your turn to go," he says excitedly.

Luckily I have already thought of some while he told me his.

"I love to read, I love to get on roller coasters, and I like to watch movies," I look up at him to see him looking at the table in thought.

"The roller coaster one," I'm shocked at how fast he got it.

"Ho- How did you know?" he shrugs his shoulders and smiles.

"Veronica you just played laser tag for the first time and that makes me believe you haven't rode on a roller coaster all your life," in an amusing tone he answers my question. Fair enough. Pretty smart of him to use context clues.

"I went too easy on you," I rolled my eyes while eating a fry. He lets out a dramatic gasp and looks me straight in the eye. "Veronica, that was one of the most challenging things I had to answer! You have mixed up my brain completely," I start to laugh out loud once again and he starts showing his perfect teeth.

"Okay come on let's finish this food," looking down while smiling at my food I can't help but to think I am glad Mateo decided to talk to me this year.

When we finished eating of course Mateo insisted on paying for the food and after what happened at the laser tag place I was not going to risk him snatching my wallet again.

We got back into his truck and he started driving me home. I looked down at my phone to see it was already 11:00pm so I would make it home on time. The drive back home was a peaceful silence. Until Mateo started asking more questions.

"What's your favorite movie," I already know the answer right away and look at him with a bright smile.

"La la land. Have you seen it before," he shakes his head side to side and I gasp.

"Well that is going to change! We should watch it sometime it is such a great movie," I announced in a very happy tone.

"Are you asking me to hangout again?," he takes a quick glance at me and I blush.

"I guess I am. Maybe we could have a movie night! We can invite Alison, Alejandro, and Adam. Don't tell Alejandro this but Alison has a huge crush on him," giggling while finishing the sentence, Mateo lets out a scoff.

"Oh trust me Veronica, Alejandro feels the exact same way towards her. He was just too scared to start talking to her until this year," my eyes widened at his comment. Alison is going to freak out! Or maybe I shouldn't tell her and let Alejandro work his magic.

"Really?! Well finally they're both talking,"

"Yeah well maybe at this movie night of yours they'll be more close," I hum in response and see that we're pulling up to my house. I let out a sigh, I was hoping this feeling wouldn't end. Now time to head back to reality.

"I brought you back alive and well," he exclaims with a grin.

"Yes you did," I chuckled and turned to look at him in the eye. "Thank you for this Mateo. I really needed this," he smiles and moves his arm from his lap to touch my shoulder.

"No problem," expressing friendliness. "We should do this again, I haven't had this much fun sin-," he cuts himself off and looks out the window while I look at him confused.

"Since what?" he looks back at me with sadness in his eyes.

"You should head inside, it's getting pretty late. I'll see you at school," sending me a tight lip smile. I nod in response and start opening the truck door. Before closing it, I stand and look at him once again.

"Goodnight Mateo," I say in a soft tone.

"Goodnight Veronica," he murmured, and with that I close the door and head up the driveway to the front door.

Once I unlock the door, I look back and see Mateo is waiting for me to get inside. I wave at him and he waves back starting to drive off down the street. I head inside and walk up to my room knowing Mom is most likely asleep already.

I change into comfortable clothes and go to lay down on my bed. I get comfortable under the covers and turn off the light.

Closing my eyes all I can picture is how I'm glad Mateo came into my life at this time, and with that I fall into a deep slumber.