Bella's a true nerd at heart despite being BFF's with the school's IT girl Alice Hale. Alice is fed up with Bella's constant timidity towards the opposite gender and the fact she's never been on a date before and refuses to try ask a guy out...So Alice being Alice sets her up with one of the cutest guys at Fork's high; Edward Cullen. Will the date go to plan or be Bella's worst nightmare? And will something blossom out of this 'date', say maybe a RELATIONSHIP!!? Read to find out. Contains language and future lemons ;)…
The D.A.T.E - Disastrous.Assembly.Truly.Embaressing
"I really don't want to do this Alice. Seriously."
She lifted her head sharply, glaring into my eyes. Her hands absentmindedly carried on wrenching my hair, intricately putting it into braids.
"Bella are you a lesbian?"
My eyes widened in sudden shock at her words. I gnawed at my lip whilst thinking of a suitable response.
"No, Alice I'm not a lesbian. Honestly."
I thought that was pretty suitable. She tilted her head and abruptly stopped braiding.
"Then why, when you're in a two meter radius of a male do you scowl like a baby? And why when I set you up on a date with one of the cutest guys at Forks high do you feel so dam belligerent to go?"
Irritated, I got up from the bed and started to pace the floor nervously.
"Alice, you know I get nervous when I'm around the opposite gender and forcing me to go to an Italian restaurant and share a table for two with a male really pisses me off!"
She sighed exasperated as she knew I wasn't going to crack. I was too stubborn.
Totally ignoring my rant, Alice skipped towards her closet and pulled out a cerulean blue chiffon dress. With frills. She pouted angelically at me. I groaned, maddened as I knew my stubbornness had been defeated.
"Bella you look…hot!
"Thanks Alice!" I chimed, faking enthusiasm.
She rolled her eyes and melodramatically wiped the palm of her hand across her forehead.
"You're such freaking hard work Isabella Swan. You should be grateful you have me as a best friend!"
Grateful!? HA. I arched my brow and stuck out my tongue playfully at her.
"Ok, I put mascara, lip-gloss and face wipes in you purse in case of emergency top ups, make sure you take your cell in case anything goes wrong, NOT that it will, so you can call me for help, Charlie and Renee are covered, they think your stopping at my house tonight for a study slumber party so you can stay out as late as you want, OH and…"
My jaw was fixed in the shape of an O and my eyes were bulging out of there sockets.
"Alice, STOP! I understand, everything's covered now can we please just go. Its 7pm and I'm SUPPOSED to be meeting Edward at half past." My voice broke on the last word revealing my uneasiness. She grinned wildly and grabbed my hand toeing me toward the stairs.
There was only 10 blocks to go, everything was under control. Except for me. I fidgeted uncontrollably in the passenger seat beside Alice whilst she bopped up and down to Flo-rida's 'Low'.
"She got those apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur…"
"Alice, shut the fuck up!"
"She got the whole club looking at her!"
Grunting loudly, I put my fingers in my ears to block out her singing. Nerves rippled through my body as we turned the corner to the restaurant and Alice then noticed that I was shaking.
"Bell's you don't have to do this if you really don't want, I can call Edward now and tell him you came down with the flu…" She bit her lip anxiously, tuning her head to look at me then turning it back to look at the road.
"Alice, I didn't get dressed up like this to fake the flu!" I tried my very best to disguise my chattering teeth. I gave her thumbs up, which I regretted seconds later, and she seemed satisfied to carry on driving. I could see the sign slowly approaching as Alice drove unhurriedly trying to spot a parking space, 'La Bella Italia'. This being the only decent restaurant in the whole of Forks, Alice had a minuscule choice of where the date would occur. Shit. It finally hit me. I was going to be in a two meter radius of a male! The car jolted to a halt and the engine cut off leaving an eerie silence.
"Ready!?"
"No but there's no time better than the present!" I laughed shakily, unfixing my seatbelt. The frills got in the way. Alice grasped my hand and gave it a little squeeze as I jumped out of the car door. I plodded around the bonnet to the drivers side. She had her window rolled down.
"You'll be fine Bell's. You look stunning! Don't panic, Edwards a really nice guy, he'll understand that you're a little nervous!" She cooed whilst reapplying her lip-gloss in the wing mirror. Yeah, she really didn't give a shit! Her words of wisdom seemed to make me feel ten times worse. I gave her a quick peck on the cheek and made my way sluggishly toward the restaurant entrance. She was waiting until I got inside. This made me feel more at ease. Taking in a large gush of air and pushing it out through my nose, I opened the door. A small, round man with a freakishly long moustache played a sweet melody on the violin passionately as I headed for the booking stand. Alice had already reserved a table for two.
"Ciao Madam, may I ask your name?" the man enquired politely in a strong Italian accent. The violin stopped as he walked over to the booking stand and flicked through a bulky book containing calligraphic written names and table numbers.
"Miss Swan, Bella Swan, I think the tables booked under the name Cullen, Edward Cullen?" I breathed as harmoniously as I could. His thick eyebrows furrowed as he searched for the name. I took this time to take a quick gawp around the restaurant. Families and friends were sitting at grand glossy wooden tables sitting on quant wooden chairs, laughing blissfully with each other and eating there meals. The restaurant had a nice atmosphere which involuntarily made me smile. I could smell wild flowers and tomato pasta – typically Italian! Not being able to help myself, I gaped indifferently at the striking paintings that were situated at the left hand side of the rectangular entrance. They looked out of place in this high class Italian restaurant, and it puzzled me why they were there. Knocking me out of my trance the man spoke with an assertive and strangely mocking tone.
"Ah yes! Cullen, table cinque!" My previous Italian vocabulary ability told me he meant table five. He then muttered something under his breath which I could not make out. My stomach churned rapidly as he lead in front down a spacious corridor decorated with chandeliers and bouquets of wild yellow roses that smelled beautiful.
"A set up date, a very tasteful one if I must add, by Alice Hale I believe Miss Swan?" He said whilst grinning. Alice was a usual here and knew the staff well. This didn't mean she had to pour out the fact that I couldn't arrange a date myself, TO A RESTERAUNT EMPLOYEE! She'd be getting a yelling at when I got back. I was not a happy freaking bunny.
"Yes, which I was forced to attend." I growled whilst throwing him a scornful look.
"If you don't mind me saying Miss Swan, you look dashing in that blue dress. The colour complements your skin tone perfectly!"
"Err, thanks!" I stuttered, knowing the blush would come any second later.
Pervert.
The corridor opened out into a circular shaped room filled with intricately hand crafted metal tables and chairs. This room also was decorated with chandeliers and roses but these were red. Couple's, age ranging teenage to elder years were clinking glasses of wine, staring lovingly into each others eyes and eating Italian dishes that smelt divine. Alice had booked us into the 'Romantic couple's dining area – *couples ONLY'. This I had not known. Arggggh, for fuck sake ALICE! My eyes rolled automatically then scanned the room crazily looking for table 'cinque'. The man then led me toward the far right of the circular room where Edward sat calmly and very, very sexily, gazing at the skilfully painted sealing above us. Every nerve and cell in my body was set alight like a firework and my insides turned to jelly…
