Jade walked into Jet Brew getting her usual; Black coffee with two sugars. Today was different than other days. She didn't know why, but she could feel it. It was going to be a different day.
She grabbed her coffee and took a seat at a table pushed against the window, so she could look outside.
"Do you mind if I join you, beautiful?" a familiar voice asked.
Jade looked up, to see a guy she didn't wanna see. Alan Michael. The guy who hit on her and Tori when Sikowitz forced them to have a play date at Nozu. As if that play date wasn't already torture enough, Alan and his friend, Chad, had to irritate the shit of her. Though she did enjoy telling them off by singing, Take a Hint.
She flashed a fake smile at him. "Sit at your own risk," she replied, gesturing at the chair across her.
He took his seat and sipped his coffee, not taking his eyes off of her. She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.
"You don't scare me, Jade," he told her, with a smirk on his face.
She arched her left eyebrow at him. "Really?" She found that hard to believe. Everyone was scared of her.
"You know, there's a lot more to me than meets the eye."
Jade rolled her eyes a third time. At this rate, she'll be rolling her eyes about thirty times before she got to school. "Really? So there's more than just going "oogle-y-oggle-y-ooh," she said, mimicking him at Nozu, when he was trying to tickle her and making those stupid sounds.
Alan chuckled. "I only acted that way because Chad and I thought it would be funny."
She arched her brow again. "So you guys were hitting on us because you thought it would be funny?"
"Actually, that was my reason. Chad actually thought your friend Tori was hot. That's why we ended up at watching you guys' play. It was his idea, not mine."
Of course! The only reason people hit on me, is for a joke. She rolled her eyes. Fourth time.
"But then, when I sat next to you, I noticed how beautiful you are. Then when I saw you at that play, I saw how talented you are and how amazing you looked on stage. You looked like you really belonged."
Jade rolled her eyes again, but couldn't help but smile. She loved compliments. No matter who was giving it. He was actually more civilized now, than he was at Nozu and the theater. What a relief. She thought she would have kicked him off his chair by now.
"Do you like it at Hollywood Arts?"
"Cut the small talk Alan. What do you want?"
"Nothing. I just wanna spend my morning, sipping my coffee, and talk to the most beautiful girl at Jet Brew, before I go back to school."
"You can stop saying that."
"Stop saying what?"
"Calling me beautiful."
"What?" He smirked at her. "You don't like being called beautiful."
"Not by you." She flashed her fake smile back at him.
He chuckled to himself and took another sip of his coffee. "How about you go on a date with me?"
Jade scoffed. "Don't make me barf. Why would I go on a date with you?"
Alan shrugged. "You're gonna eat dinner tonight right?"
Jade nodded.
"How about this? I'm going to be at La Bella Mia, tonight at 7 o'clock, sharp-"
"The Italian restaurant that serves every dish gluten free?" She'd heard about that restaurant and she'd been dying to go there. She loved eating gluten free food, but La Bella Mia was way too expensive.
"Yeah. My step dad is best friends with the owner. Anyway, I'll be there at 7 o'clock. If you decide to come, I'll be sitting at table 8. If you don't want it to be a date, then don't look up from the table. If you do look up, then it's date. And if you do look up, just know that I'll be staring back at you."
Jade actually blushed. Alan actually made her blush. He was being really suave right now and she was so surprised to see him like this.
He smirked at her and took another sip of coffee. "I have to go to school now." He stood up and held out his hand to her.
She stared at it. "What do you want me to do with that?"
He cocked his head to the side. "You don't shake hands?"
Jade rolled her eyes again and held out her hand. He shook it and smirked at her. Before she could pull it away, he bent over and planted a soft kiss on her hand.
She quickly pulled it away. He smirked at her again. "Chivalry is dead," he uttered. "I like to keep it alive. I hope to see you tonight, beautiful."
On her drive to school she contemplated on going tonight. She made a pro and con list in her head. Pro: La Bella Mia is a five star restaurant that serves gluten free dishes. She can't pass that up. Con: Alan was an irritating little twat when she first met him. And him and his friend stalked her and Tori at the play.
The gang stood in front of Tori's locker. Everyone was there; Andre, Beck, Cat, Robbie, Tori, even Rex. They were laughing about something when Jade reached them.
"Hey Cat, can I talk to you about something over there?" Jade asked, pointing over at her locker.
"What do you need to talk to Cat about that you can't say in front of us?" Tori asked, being nosy.
"What's it to you?" Jade asked, glaring at her.
"Ooh! Jade's got a secret!" Robbie said, excited. He liked discovering secrets. He's been like this since his Robarazzi phase.
Jade rolled her eyes and pulled Cat over to her locker. The gang was beginning to irritate her.
"What's up?" Cat asked, cheerily.
"Alan Michael asked me out to dinner tonight at La Bella Mia."
Cat's jaw dropped. "La Bella Mia?!" she screeched loud.
Jade turned around and saw the gang looking at them. They heard Cat screech that. "Shhh!" she told Cat, then nodded to confirm.
"Oh. My. God! You need to go!"
"I want to. I really wanna try their gluten free food, but Alan is just so... Alan!"
"Wait, Alan. Alan Michael? One of the guys that hit on you and Tori at Nozu?"
Jade nodded. "Yeah. I don't know if I should go."
"Of course you should go, it's gluten free entrees and desserts and appetizers and everything!"
"Yeah, but it's Alan."
"So?!"
"Well... I mean... at Nozu he was really annoying and irritating-"
"Wait, when did he ask you out to dinner?"
"Today."
"Where?"
"Jet Brew. I was minding my own business and he came and... i don't know... he was kind of charming. He didn't act like an immature ass this morning." Jade's cheeks blushed with a light red, remembering him calling her beautiful and kissing her hand.
"Oh my God, are you blushing?" Cat asked, giggling. She said it loud again.
Jade looked at the gang across the room and they were full on staring at Jade and God! They heard Cat say I was blushing... "Shut up!" she scolded Cat again.
"Tell me how it goes," Cat said, smiling, playing with her ends of her hair.
"I don't know if I'm gonna go yet-"
"Go where?" Robbie asked, interrupting them.
Jade rolled her eyes and walked away, trusting Cat not to say anything.
"Where's Jade going?"
"To History of Broadway class," Cat answered, innocently. She knew how to keep secrets even though she didn't know she was keeping the secret.
"No, I meant-ahh, never mind," Robbie said. He wasn't in the mood to dig, since he knew it was gonna take a long time with Cat. Cat giggled and swung from side to side making her skirt flow.
At lunch, Beck, Tori, and Andre sat at a table in front of the grub truck.
"So when are you gonna introduce us to this new girl you've been seeing?" Tori asked Beck.
Beck smiled shyly and looked down. "Soon. I wanna see how it goes. I mean, I was hesitant about going on a first date with her. I still gotta see if I'm actually gonna continue this."
"Is she hot?" Andre asked. He squirted ketchup on his hot dog.
Beck chuckled and shrugged. "You would think so."
"Well. She sounds like a keeper," Andre said, laughing.
Tori rolled her eyes. "Pigs," she snorted. "At least you're over Jade."
Am I? he asked himself. "Yeah..." he said, softly. I guess...
"I heard she's going on a date tonight," Andre commented.
Beck raised an eyebrow, curious. He wanted to know who she was going on a date with, but he didn't want Tori and Andre to know that he wanted to know. Complicated, yes.
"With who?" Tori asked.
Yes! Thank you Tori for being the nosy person you are, Beck said in his head.
"I don't know. Robbie overheard Jade telling Cat about it this morning."
"So that's what she needed to tell Cat," Tori said.
"Jade's not one to be public about her personal life," Beck told them. "You probably shouldn't go around telling people. She might find out and do something about it..."
What am I doing here? Jade asked herself as she stood in front of La Bella Mia.
She reminded herself that the only reason she wanted to come was because it was gluten-free food and he was paying. It had nothing to do with his settle charm.
She wore a black strapless dress with black heels. She did nothing special with her makeup or hair. She had the regular amount of eyeshadow and same design of eye liner. Her hair was in its natural curls but she decided not to wear any clip on colored hair extensions. After all, La Bella Mia is a five star restaurant. She didn't wanna look like a teenager and be treated like one, especially around all the other adults.
She spotted Alan sitting down reading the menu, intently.
She started walking to him, feeling her tummy is this feeling? Am I getting butterflies? No I can't be.
Alan looked up and saw Jade walking in his direction. He stood up and walked to her chair. Seeing him standing next to her chair, made her stop. She took deep breaths and continued walking. When she reached him, he pulled out her chair and gestured for her to sit down. She looked down, making sure not to make any eye contact, as she sat down.
"You look stunning," he whispered into her ear, as he pushed her chair in.
She felt her cheeks warm and knew right away that she was blushing, she chided herself. She opened the menu and stared at it.
He walked around to his side of the table and took his seat. "So you decided to come?" Alan confirmed as Jade took a seat at the table. She sat across him.
Jade rolled her eyes. She didn't bother responding.
After the waiter took their orders and took their menus they grew silent. Jade looked around the restaurant to avoid looking straight at Alan. Alan would snicker at her, but she pretended not to notice. He enjoyed looking at her.
"I never got to tell you this, but I thought you stole the show at your play. The one Chad and I went to. I thought you out shined the rest of them."
Jade blushed again and a smile formed on her face. She looked up at him and her eyes locked with his. For the first time, she noticed his misty blue eyes. It resembled her eyes.
"So I pressume this is officially a date?" he asked, breaking the spell of their eyes locked.
Jade rolled her eyes, but smiled. "Whatever. So your dad is best friend's with the owner?"
"Step-dad," he corrected her.
"How's that?"
"What?"
"Having a step dad?"
Alan shrugged. "It's ok. My mom and I moved in with him and his daughter. I don't like spending much time there. He's annoying and his daughter is a brat."
"That must suck!" she said. She hated brats, especially the spoiled ones.
Alan chuckled. "Yeah, but oh well. If he makes my mom happy then so be it."
"I hate my step-mom," Jade confessed to Alan. That was the first time she ever blurted that out to someone she barely knew. It wasn't like her, but it was too late to take it back.
"Why?"
Jade shrugged. It wasn't that she hated her step-mom. She just didn't really like her. "She's annoying. She's this perky blonde lady and uses my dad's money to get Botox and plastic surgery."
"At least you have your mom."
Jade scoffed, thinking of her mother. "She's annoying too. She's been dating this rich guy. She barely spends any time at home. She's always at her boyfriend's house."
"Any siblings?"
"Yeah. A little brother. He's a good kid..."
"But?"
"But I don't get to see him much. He spends his time at my mom's boyfriend's house. It's like their own little family over there. My mom always tells me to join them, but..." She took a sip of her water. "I don't know... It's just different."
"So you stay at home by yourself? You're not scared."
When Alan said that, for some reason that triggered her memories with Beck. She didn't spend a lot of time at her house because she was at Beck's RV. The few days that she didn't sleep over at Beck's RV, Beck would sleepover at her house. "No. I'm not scared of anything," she answered, confidently.
"I don't think that's all quite true."
"And why not?"
Alan shrugged. "I don't know. I just feel like it isn't."
Jade rolled her eyes, but found herself laughing, in surprise.
Alan arched his eyebrow wondering why she was laughing. "What's so funny?"
"I don't know. You just seem... really, ugh, well-mannered and you talk so... properly."
Alan laughed with her. "Would you like it better if I acted the way I did with Chad that day at Nozu and the play?"
"Oh, God, No!" She let out a last laugh. "So you're really not like you were when I first met you?"
Alan nodded with a smile to the side.
Jade rolled her eyes. "I don't believe you."
"There's a lot more to me than meets the eye." He winked at her, making her stick a finger in her mouth, acting as if she was trying to making herself barf. They both laughed.
The waiter came with their food.
She took a bite of her Fettuccine pasta. "Mmm," she moaned. "This is delicious!"
Alan chuckled. "Yeah? I'm glad you love it. So tell me about yourself?"
"What's to know? I'm 18, going to Hollywood Arts, aspiring to be an actress, singer, director, and/or writer."
"Wow. You're really ambitious."
Jade shrugged. "I guess? I just always know what I want. What about you?"
"I'm 18, going to North Ridge Prep-"
"Wait, North Ridge Prep?" she asked, surprised.
Alan nodded.
"I thought you went to North Ridge? The regular public high school."
"Nope. What made you think that?"
"I don't know. 'Cause everyone I've met so far goes to North Ridge."
"Not me."
"What about Chad?"
"Same as me."
"Step-sister?"
"Same."
"Wow. You must be loaded."
Alan chuckled. "A little. My dad was the owner of a few businesses. When he died he left half for me, and half for my mom. My step-dad owns a business too. Plus he's a silent partner for a lot of business around Hollywood. So they're loaded too, I guess."
"Wow," she repeated. Her dad was a business man, and made more money than most, but nothing compared to Alan's family.
"Don't be intimidated by my money," he told her.
Jade scoffed. "Please! Nothing intimidates me."
Alan arched his brow. "Really?"
Jade rolled her eyes and continued to eat. "I still don't believe you."
Alan looked at her confused. He had no idea what she was talking about.
"I think the way you acted when we first met, is the way you normally act."
Alan picked up his napkin and dabbed it over his lips before he spoke. "To be honest, that's how Chad normally acts. I told you... I just acted that way for fun and to see if I could actually land a date - acting like Chad."
"So if you're so well-mannered then why hang out with Chad?"
"He's been my best friend since Pre-K. I had to do a lot of growing up when my dad died when I was in sixth grade. It kind of opened up the door to my man hood, so to speak. Meanwhile, Chad stayed the way he was. He still pulled pranks and told jokes that middle school-ers thought were hilarious, while high school-ers thought they were lame. He reminds me of my child hood and my youth. I know, it sounds crazy, but it makes sense to me. Plus, he's like the brother I never had."
Jade was amazed by Alan's life story, so far. She never thought she'd actually be interested in him. Well, not in a dating way; more like in a get-to-know kind of way. She wasn't who she expected he'd be when she first met him.
"So... on to the boiling hot question..." Jade said, taking a sip of water.
Alan arched his eyebrow. "And that would be?"
"Why'd you ask me out tonight?"
Alan chuckled. He knew he was going to have to face this question, sooner or later. "To be honest, when I first saw you at Nozu, I thought you were amazingly gorgeous. Believe it or not. But I knew I had no chance of going on a date with you-"
"Why would you think that?" she asked, interrupting him.
Alan let out a chuckle. "Would you have?"
"Noooope." She smiled at him. It was the truth.
"Yeah. I thought so. So I thought that - since I had no chance - I was just going to be a goofball. I figured it couldn't hurt to try."
Jade laughed and shook her head, replaying the time she first met him.
"Like I said, when I saw you at the play, you really out shined the rest in my eyes. I've been to a lot of plays and operas to know who can and cannot act."
Jade arched her eye brow at him. "You've been to a lot of plays and operas?"
"Yeah. My mom and dad loved them. So we always went as a family. After my dad died, my mom and I made it a vow to go to a play/opera at least once every four months."
Jade leaned back on her chair, totally impressed. She never would have taken him for a regular theater go-er.
"Anyways, back to what you asked," he said continuing. Jade made a gesture with her hands, to tell him to continue. "You and Tori disappeared as soon as curtain fell, so we never got to talk. So when I saw you, earlier today at Jet Brew, I thought that this was my only chance to talk to you, and introduce you to the real Alan Michael. Sitting across you - staring at you at Jet Brew - made me ask you out on a date. I knew there was a 99.9% chance that I would be rejected, but my actions were betting on that 0.1% for a chance to be sitting across you at this very dinner table. Now that I have you here, I can say that I am one lucky man."
"That you are," she told him. She took a sip of her water. "You're just lucky you offered gluten free food." She set her glass down.
"You really love the food here huh?"
Jade nodded and they both continued to eat their meal while getting to know more about each other. They talked about the general biographical information. They talked about family, friends, school, what they did as kids, etc.
She found it very easy to talk to him. Before she knew it, their date was coming to an end. The waiter came with the check. Jade tried to grab the check to see how much it was but Alan snatched it away before she could touch it. He opened it, looked at it for one second, closed it, pulled out his card from his wallet, and inserted it into the holder. The waiter immediately grabbed it and came back with his receipt and card in just a few seconds. Jade was impressed by the customer service here.
"Let me walk you to your car," he told her.
She pushed her chair back, she turned the side, and saw Alan standing in front of her with a hand held out to her.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Being a gentleman. I have to walk you out. Every guy is expected to do that here."
Jade furrowed her eyebrows. She looked around the room and saw guys escorting girls in or out. I guess that was the norm here. She shrugged her shoulders and place her hand in his. Her hand was ice cold, while his was warm. Her cold soft hands rubbed against his felt so nice. He held her hand tight as he pulled her up onto her feet. He stood next to her and held his arm out. She slipped her arm into his and took a deep breath.
As she walked with him, she felt different. She didn't feel like she was a on a regular date. She was dressed up and being escorted by a guy with a shirt, tie, and slacks, in a five star restaurant.
"Did you like the rainbow sorbet ice cream?"
Jade recalled the taste and smiled. "Yeah."
At the valet, the valet guy greeted Alan. Alan requested his car and Jade's. The guy went to fetch the cars.
"I'm really glad you came tonight, Jade."
"Me too," she said softly. She had to admit it, even to him. She had a great time, surprisingly.
"Can I steal you away tomorrow night?" he asked, hopeful. He liked being on a date with her. He'd never gone on a date with a girl who like her. A lot of girls had been interested in him, and they were too interested. That made them unappealing to him. Jade, showed no interest in him, yet for a few seconds she would show interest, and then it would fade. He liked that.
Jade thought about it. She actually enjoyed their date. She walked into La Bella Mia expecting to be annoyed by an irritating twat but she actually found herself liking him, as a person. She connected with him on a different level. They both understood how it was to have a step-parent. He didn't act like people their age, or the guys at Hollywood Arts. She could actually tolerate it. "What makes you think I'd go on another date with you?" she finally responded.
Alan smiled at her shyly and then looked down. He slipped his hands into his pockets and looked back up at her. "You can't fool me, Jade. I could tell you were enjoying yourself."
Jade tried to hide her smile, by looking to the side. The valet guys pulled up her car and his. She started to walk to her car. Alan followed her and walked faster to beat her to her car. He reached the door before her. "Please?" he asked, with his lips quirked up into a smile.
She always loved when people begged her. She couldn't help but smile.
"What's a guy gotta do to get a beautiful girl like you to go on another date?" he asked.
Again with the compliments. "Fine," she said, trying to sound indifferent. "What time?"
"What time do you finish school tomorrow?"
"Three."
"That's perfect. I finish at twelve. I'll pick you up at three." He opened her door and gestured for her to get in. She got into the car.
"Wait, we don't have each other's numbers. How am I supposed to know when you're there?"
Alan smiled at her. "Trust me. You'll know when I'm there." He held out his hand, expecting her to place her hand in his. She gave him her hand and he bowed over to kiss her hand again. "Thank you for an amazing evening. See you tomorrow, beautiful." He let go of her hand and closed her door. Jade started her car and drove away.
Beck sat in his RV, thinking about Jade on a date. He expected her to move on, but he didn't realize that he'd feel something when she finally did. He had a strange feeling that he couldn't describe. His phone began vibrating. He check his phone and it was the girl he'd been dating. The one he was thinking about introducing to Tori and Andre.
He answered the phone. "Hey Haley."
"Hey babe, what you doing?" she asked.
"I'm just doing some homework," Beck lied to her. It was a white lie. He thought it was harmless. He was just going to stay in his RV and just think to himself.
"Aww, boo. Can I come over?"
"You probably shouldn't. I got a lot of homework, and I have school tomorrow."
"Ok, fine. I miss you. When are you gonna introduce me to your friends?"
Beck hesitated on answering. He'd been contemplating on whether he should introduce her or not. They hadn't been dating for a long time, but he could see things getting serious between them. "Tomorrow, after school?"
"Yay! Ok. I can't wait. See you tomorrow babe!"
"See ya!" Beck hung up the phone. He questioned himself on if he made the right choice by introducing her already, and he decided there wasn't any harm. He waited for tomorrow, hoping that Jade wouldn't be there when Haley will be there.
Jade stood in front of her locker, arranging her books, thinking about her date last night. She actually went on a date with him, Alan. I can't believe I did that, she kept repeating in her head.
"How was your date?" Cat surprised Jade.
Jade jumped a little inside. "Cat, not so loud!"
Cat covered her mouth but giggled to herself. Jade shut her locker and grabbed Cat's arm to pull her into the janitor's closet.
"Where are we going?" Cat asked. They enter the janitor's closet. Jade turned on the lights and closed the door.
"What are we doing in here?" Cat asked Jade.
Jade paced in the little room she had in the janitor's closet.
"Why are we here?" Cat asked Jade again, hoping she would answer this question.
Jade stopped pacing and looked at Cat. Jade's cheeks flushed pink, and bit her bottom lip. Cat gasped and put a hand over her mouth. "Jade, you're blushing!" Cat screeched.
"Shut up!" Jade told Cat.
"So you guys had a good date?"
"To be honest... yeah..."
Cat giggled and screamed. "Yay! How was the food?"
"Ahhh-maaa-zing!" Jade articulated.
"And Alan?"
Jade opened her mouth to say something but couldn't. She exhaled her breath before speaking. "He was actually... tolerable."
Cat looked at Jade confused.
"He was a gentleman and charming. He was really easy to talk to, surprisingly."
"What kind of dessert did you get?"
"Rainbow sorbet ice cream, and it was so mouth-watering good. It was the best dessert i've ever had."
"Sounds yummy. I'm so jealous. At least you only had one date with Alan AND you got gluten free food. Win win."
Jade looked down again. When she looked back up at Cat, her cheeks were red again. "Actually-"
Cat smiled and put her hands over her mouth. "Oh my gosh! You guys have another date, don't you?!"
Jade nodded. Cat screamed in excitement for Jade.
"Shut up Cat!" Jade scolded Cat. "Don't tell anyone about this!"
"Kay. Kay."
Jade opened the door and left the janitor's closet. Beck, Tori, and Andre stood in front of Tori's locker.
"Hey," Beck called out to Jade.
"Whatever!" she responded, continuing to walk passed them.
Beck rolled his eyes. Every time he tried to talk to Jade she'd always give him the cold shoulder. He didn't blame her for doing that, but that didn't mean he liked it.
"Sooooo, we get to meet your girlfriend today?" Tori asked, excited.
"She's not my girlfriend, but yes you do get to meet her," Beck answered. "just to warn you though, please do not judge her right away."
"I won't," Tori swore.
"You too Andre," Beck said.
"Alright. But as long as she's hot, i'm on all for you two," Andre replied, in a joking manner. Beck laughed with him.
Cat walked out of the closet and walked up to Beck, Andre, and Tori. "Hiiiiiiiii!" Cat cheered, smiling.
They all greeted her back.
"Why were you and Jade in the closet?" Tori asked Cat.
"Oh, we were just talking about how Jade's da-" Cat stopped immediately and put two of her hands over her mouth as she gasped.
"Jade's what?" Andre asked.
"Huh? Oh nothing. Bye!" Cat said, as she started to walk away.
"I'm guessing it was about Jade's date last night," Andre told Tori and Beck.
"How do you think it went?" Tori asked Andre and Beck. It was moments like these that he liked when Tori would be such a curious cat. It saved him the trouble from asking and making people ask him why he was asking those things about Jade.
"Maybe the guy ran away when Jade showed him her scissors," Andre said, jokingly.
"Hey, that's not nice," Tori said defending Jade, but laughed with Andre.
On the outside Beck laughed, but on the inside, Beck really wanted to know how Jade's date went. Although, he didn't know why he wanted to know so bad.
The bell rang and they all started to walk away. "Can't wait to meet your girlfriend," Tori said.
"She's not my girlfriend!" Beck yelled.
Will Andre and Tori like Haley as Beck's new girlfriend?
Will Jade go ballistic when she finds out about Haley and Beck?
Will Beck see Alan when he picks up Jade after school?
Stay tuned to find out!
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