Not Just Another Cliché

"Where are we staying again?" Holly asks as we drive to the hotel.

"Um its called Westin Austin. My mom and dad went there for their anniversary last year and they said it was great."

Casey pulls into the parking lot and we all grab our luggage and walk to the front desk.

"Hi, I have 2 rooms booked under St Cloud." Casey says to the receptionist.

She clicks on the computer for a couple of seconds until she looks back up at us and smiles.

"Right here. So you are staying for 2 nights and having dinner tonight and breakfast in the morning."

"Sounds like it alright."

"We aren't staying here for breakfast on Sunday morning?" I ask Casey.

"No, I have connections here and I've been told about an amazing diner." He smirks and I smile back.

"Whatever you say."

"Your room numbers are 235 and 237. If you have any questions feel free to call us at any time as we will always be here and room service is available at all hours. Enjoy your stay." The receptionist smiles and we thank her and then walk to our rooms.

"Oh my gosh this is so exciting. We never do stuff like this together." Holly squeals as we get in the elevator and go up to the second floor and get out.

"Yeah because we totally didn't go to Coachella last weekend and spend almost our whole lives doing stuff but yeah, I guess you're right." I say sarcastically and everyone laughs.

"This is us." Casey says when we get outside our room.

"Bye guys. Have fun." Seth says.

"But not too much fun. I want to be an aunt but not just yet. I'm still in my prime." Holly says and I freeze at the thought of me and Casey having, you know, it.

He was and still is my best friend, I never thought we would happen never mind, that, would happen.

He isn't thinking about that is he?

Of course he is. He's a guy!

But I've never had IT before so what if I'm no good and he leaves me. That'll ruin our relationship and our friendship.

This is what I was talking about before we got together. One wrong move and it's so easy for things to change forever.

"Em, you coming in or are you gonna stay out there for the day?" Casey asks taking my attention off the topic.

I smile at him and nod and walk into our room.

You know what, if Casey really wanted to get me into bed, do you think he'd wait until today, our friendaversary.

He was going to leave his campus tour for today. The last thing he has on his mind is sex.

At least I hope so.

"Wow the room is huge." I say.

There's a king size bed with a single fold out bed in the corner and the bathtub looks amazing.

Overall the room is fabulous.

"So the tour is tomorrow at 9:30. We have the whole day today and tomorrow we can have our traditional friendaversary breakfast after the tour and yeah do whatever we want." Casey explains coming behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist and leaning his chin on my shoulder.

"Sounds perfect. Are Seth and Holly joining us tonight?" I ask.

"No way. For the rest of the day we can be with them but tonight you're all mine." He says and I turn around, still in his arms, and peck his lips.

"Perfect."

We break away and I jump onto the bed.

"So what are we doing until then? It's only 1pm. Reservations are at 7, right?" I question.

"Yeah they are and I don't mind. Wanna go over to Seth and Holls and ask them if they wanna do something?"

I agree and we both hop off the bed and open our door and walk over to there room.

We knock and they open with Seth running out the door and I find Holly just standing there staring at us with steam basically coming out of her ears.

"I got him." Casey says and he leaves us to get Seth.

I look at them and then I walk into Holly and close the door.

She storms over to the bed and I gently walk over and sit beside her.

"Hey what happened?" I question.

Silence.

"Holls. You know you can tell me. I'm your best friend. What happened?"

She looks up and shakes her head before throwing a phone on my lap.

I look down at it before noticing it was Seths and then I look back at Holly.

"What's this?"

"3768." She says and I look at her confusingly.

"Seths passcode. Open it."

I type in 3768 and read the text that appears on the screen.

Hey baby, call me if you ever feel lonely because I can't get you off my mind ;)

The text was from, Amber.

"I knew something was going on." Holly shouts as she jumps off the bed.

"Maybe it's not what it looks like Holls."

"He's been distancing himself so much lately. He never says he loves me as much as he used to and then this comes through. What am I supposed to believe Emily? Because it sure looks like what I'm thinking."

I open my mouth to speak but I'm cut off by my own cell ringing.

I stand up from the bed and answer.

"Em, what just happened?" Caseys voice bounds from the other end.

"Seth is a rootless pig. Is he cheating on Holly?" I ask walking into the hallway.

"No way Emily. I don't know the full story but I know Seth and I know how much he loves Holly. He'd never do that."

"Then what is that text about because 'I can't get you off my mind' sounds exactly like trouble and Amber and trouble doesn't end well and I personally know that Casey. So unless you find out the full story, I've lost all respect for Seth."

"Seth, Seth, where are you going?" I hear Casey call after Seth.

"Casey make sure he doesn't move. Tell me where you are, I'm coming to you."

***
I see 2 figures sitting on the curb and I run towards them.

"Speak." I say instantly to Seth.

He looks up at me and then back at the ground.

"I didn't cheat on her Em."

Casey stands up from the curb.

"I'll be over at the burrito cart." He says and then walks across the street and I take his seat beside Seth on the curb.

"You have some explaining to do."

"I know it looks bad but I didn't cheat Emily, I wouldn't do that. I'm hurt that you'd think I would."

"How do you explain that text then?"

"Emily I promise you I haven't a clue what that text means. I hate Amber as much as you do. Holly has always been the girl of my dreams so why would I ruin that for Amber? You need to believe me Em. Please."

We stay quiet for a moment until I nod my head and look back at Seth but have to squint my eyes because of the sun.

"I believe you."

"Please tell Holly, Em. She's my entire world. She has to believe me."

"And she will eventually. But if nothing happened, why did you storm out of the room? Remember what our second grade teacher told us, only the guilty walk away. The innocent fight. And out of all of us, we believed you were the one who always remembered that."

"She didn't trust me Em. She had no faith in me whatsoever and when I told her over and over again, she still didn't believe me. So after 5 years of being together, can you blame me for being hurt that my girlfriend didn't trust me."

"Fair enough. Don't worry Sethy, things will work out perfectly." I smile.

"So how are things going on your end?"

"Good. Great, actually. Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure fire ahead." He says.

"Does Casey ever talk about me?"

"Well yeah, all the time. He loves you."

"And I know that. I mean, about that." I ask putting enfaces on 'that'.

"Oh that, um no he actually hasn't. I think it's the last thing on his mind actually."

"Okay, thanks."

"Don't worry Em. He didn't tell you he loved you for any of that or to hear it back. It's because he does love you."

"Thanks Seth. And keep letting your girl know she's beautiful." I smirk as I hit my knee off his.

"We better get back." He says and he helps me up off the curb and I bring him in for a hug.

"You and Holls are meant for each other. Don't ruin what you have."

"Thanks Emily. You're a really good friend."

We pull away and I smile.

"But she's an even better girlfriend." Casey says coming over and linking our fingers in each other's.

We walk back to the hotel and Seth hesitantly opens the bedroom door.

I see Holly coming to the door and hugging him and then they participate in a deep and loving kiss making me smile and hug Casey who kisses my head and rubs my back.

******
It's been about 3 hours since the whole Solly fiasco and me and Casey decided  to just chill in the room until dinner because we well know that they are making up alright if you know what I mean.

I hear a knock on the door and I look up at Casey with a confused look.

He moves from under me and answers the door.

"Okay we have less than 3 hours to get you ready for tonight. That delay earlier has ruined our timing big time. So get your ass out of bed and into my room. Case, Seth is bringing you out."

"Where is he bringing me?"

"I don't know some kind of football field his cousin has access to. Emily Hannah Hunter get your butt over here and bring your bag. Time is ticking."

I groan and Casey chuckles at me.

I jump off the bed and pick up my bag and to the door.

"Wish me luck." I moan making him chuckle at me even more.

"I love you." He says leaning in and placing his lips on mine in a quick peck.

"I love you too. Bye and practice hard. You never know what they'll make you do tomorrow." I say walking out the door and across the hall.

"What am I walking into?" I say to Seth as I walk into the room.

"I don't know but I'm just happy I'm walking out. Good luck."

Seth closes the door behind us and instantly Holly comes at me with clothes.

"Holly I had an outfit planned. What is all this about?" I chuckle putting one of her dresses on the bed.

"Knowing you thought its jeans and converse."

"Ha, thanks." I say sarcastically.

"No it's cute don't get me wrong but it's been like 15 years since you and Casey met and without that day, none of this would happening. Don't you wanna look different."

"But Casey met me. This Emily. And I'm pretty sure I was wearing jeans when it happened." I say.

Hollys eyes light up and she runs over to her purse and begins dialling a number.

"Who are you ringing Holls?" I question.

"Your mom."

"Why?"

"You'll see." She smirks.

"Hello, Rachel. Hi it's Holly here. Yeah everything's fine I'm just getting Em ready for her date tonight with Casey and I was curious if you knew what exactly Emily was wearing when they met." She says and I scoff.

My Mam forgot me in Target once, like she's remember the outfit I was wearing over 10 years ago.

"Awh Em you cutie. Okay thanks Rachel. I'll let them know. Okay. Yeah. Bye-bye." She says and then puts her cell down.

She skips over to the bed and smirks.

"What she say?" I question.

"She told me that your aunt Miranda sent you this little white playsuit that you lived in but the day you got it and insisted on wearing it instantly, was the day you met Casey. And she also told me to tell you to use protection."

"Holly! That's so embarrassing. Anyway, what was the point of that?"  

"Well I just happen to know that you have a White playsuit with you." She says walking to my bag.

"How do you happen to know that?"

"You see, remember when I said I needed to pee before we left? Well I went into your room instead and I was about to 'borrow' it," she begins.

"Which means I'll never see it again but continue."

"Anyway, I noticed it wasn't there and I checked the laundry and it wasn't there either so I assumed you had it with you and you just confirmed it."

She kept digging in my bag until she pulled out a white playsuit with frills around the top that flowed over the shorts and ties at the corners of the shorts.

"Well that's exactly what I had planned." I said taking it off her and walking into the bathroom.

Minutes later, I arrive out with the playsuit on and my hair brushed down and I see Holly holding a pair of high heels and I laugh and shake my head.

"No way Holly. I'm pretty sure 4 year old me didn't wear heels." I say.

"Let loose Em. You can't always wear converse."

"Can I wear my Vans?" I question.

"You know what Em, fire ahead. Butt instead of it being Daniel it's Emily." She says and I look at her with a funny look on my face. What is she on about?

"Damn Emily back at it again with the white converse."

She says that and there's a moment of silence throughout the whole room and then suddenly I scream with laughter.

"Fine if it means that much to you, I'll wear the heels but don't expect me to be happy about it." I say pointing my finger at her and she holds her hands up in defence and hands me the heels.

Next we move into my make up and after nearly 10 minutes of arguing. We come to a compromise.

Since Holly insisted I cake myself and I barely ever where make up, we decided I wear clear mascara and a very light coat of foundation since I'm already slightly tanned since I'm half Spanish.

"Now hair." Holly says.

"What's wrong with my hair?" I ask.

"Nothing but it's your first date with the guy you have been best friends with for years and now your boyfriend. Don't you want a change?"

"No Holly, I don't because Casey fell for me. This Emily and tonight I'm not gonna be anyone else." I insist.

My hair is naturally wavy not full blown curly but wavy and yeah it can be annoying but I like it so I decide to keep it down and split it down the middle and I thought it was cute especially since my hair is dark and it was nice against my sallow skin and white outfit.

*******

"What time is it?" I ask Holly.

"6:54."

An hour or two has passed since I was fully ready and now we are both chilling on the bed watching reruns of Friends.

My phone vibrates on the bedside table and it's Casey and as soon as I see his name, butterflies erupt in my stomach.

[Be there in a second. Can't wait. Case x]

I jump off the bed as slow as I can trying not to break my ankle because of these stupid heels and grab my purse from the table and I walk into the bathroom to make sure I look presentable and as I walk out, I fall on my ankle.

Ouch.

A knock erupts through the room and suddenly, I freeze and look at Holly who motions for me to open it.

I take a deep breath and open it hesitantly.

Seth.

"Casey told me he had some things to sort out at reception and that he'll wait at the bottom of the steps for you." Seth explains.

"Oh okay thanks Seth."

"Bye Holls, thank you so much for helping me get ready. Bye Seth."

I close the door behind me and walk down the stairs slowly.

I had to take one step at a time or else I'd be bumming it down the stairs.

We were told earlier that the elevator was under construction because the cables were being replaced with newer ones so stairs had to do.

I finally get to the final step and see Casey at the reception leaning on the desk and my oh my does he look fine.

He's wearing brown chinks with navy shoes and a navy sweater. His hair is styled in spikes and he looks so hot.

I hop off the last step but not before my ankle letting me down again, literally.

Thankfully nobody noticed and I just continued walking to Casey but instead I tripped in these stupid heels and fall on top of him.

"I'm so sorry. I-I you know what, no. I can't do this." I say and then lean on Casey and bring my foot up to me to take my shoes off and then I walk backwards apologising to Casey and I run up the stairs holding the heels in my hand and knock repeatedly on Hollys door and when she answers,  I throw her stupid heels in the corner and grab my converse off the bed and quickly put them on before running downstairs.

Casey is seating in one of the seats looking worried all of a sudden.

"Better." I say standing in front of him.

He jumps up and takes my hands in his and smiles down at me.

"You look amazing Em. I don't need you to wear heels because you are perfect in whatever you wear. I love you so much and I don't just say it to hear it back. I need you to know that."

"I do. And I love you too. Shall we go in?" I ask and he nods and smiles and then we walk into the candle light restaurant.

This is going to be amazing!

*****
It's almost 7am and I can't sleep so I thought I'd publish this for other insomniacs. Love you all!

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-Madison🤘🏻🤘🏻