Soul Singer

Chapter Two: Dinner and Shakespeare

Allison's POV

If there was any one man on this earth who was absolutely perfect for me, it was Seth. He had stared at me when Veronica, Lily, and I had walked out of the elevator like I was the only girl there. Like I was the only girl that existed.

He had held out his hand like a true gentleman, and escorted me out of the building. Five minutes later, I was grateful I had worn my gladiator flats. The restaurant we had picked was a few blocks away, and judging by the complaints I could hear from Veronica, five-inch stilettos would have been very uncomfortable.

Seth and I led the way, my hand comfortably nestled in the corner of his arm. We would look at one another every now and then, and would catch the other staring. Then we would quickly look away. I felt beautiful, for the first time in my life. I felt special.

Munchies, the restaurant Lily had chosen, was in a basement at the end of a street. Instead of looking scary or intimidating, it felt warm and inviting. Seth stepped in front of me and helped me down the stairs. We both knew I didn't need his help. He was doing it to make me feel safe and secure. That was far more important to me than just helping me.

Dinner was wonderful. Munchies, it turned out, was a little diner with amazingly good food. My fish had been cooked to perfection, and by the way Seth and his friends devoured the burgers, they were delicious, too. Then again, they were boys. Some of them just ate like that, I was told.

We sat in the diner after dinner was finished, just talking. I didn't think my friends would get along with Seth's friends for longer than the weekend, though. Lily and Veronica were the daughters of politicians, too. The three of us had been trained from the cradle that we were to always look our best, act politely towards everyone, and always make our parents look like model parents and model citizens.

Seth's friends were so easygoing in comparison. They laughed a lot at jokes that weren't that funny, but their laughter was infectious. They were a group of friends that didn't have to worry about politics or paparazzi or anything like that. They had to worry about keeping their grades up, getting to work on time, and other normal things. I wished desperately that I could be a part of that life. One where my father didn't control me, where I was the master of my own destiny. But it was nothing but a wish, because my father would never let me go. I was his pride and joy. At least, to the media and the voters. My father's career was his true pride and joy. Both me and my mother were just tools to reach that constant goal of reelection.

I stopped myself from thinking about the differences in our two groups and tried to think about the similarities. Both Veronica and Brady were players. They both had quick tempers. Collin was just as shy as Lily. Both started talking up a storm as soon as a conversation was started that involved books.

Seth held my hand underneath the table. I had just met him, but it felt like I had known him my entire life.

"We should probably start heading over to the theatre," I called out into the cacophony of sounds at our table.

"Wait, what play are you three going to see tonight?" Seth asked me.

"Tonight is 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'," I answered.

Seth let out a huge sigh of relief. "Good, we're going to the same play tonight."

"I'll ask Brady if he'll trade seats with me, that way we can sit together and Veronica and Brady can entertain one another," I suggested. His face lit up at the idea.

"Good idea! Brady!" he shouted to his friend on the other side of the table. "You're switching seats with Allison!"

"Okay! Me and Veronica can party on our side of the theatre!" he shouted back.

"Hell yeah!" Veronica agreed enthusiastically.

"Everything's set. Want to head out now so we can take our time?" Seth asked.

"Sounds great," I told him.

I left my money for the check with Lily. She would give me my change back. Seth did the same with his friend Russ.

Brady started hooting and hollering once he realized Seth and I were leaving early. We weren't leaving so we could do anything sexual or outrageous (my father would kill me if anything like that happened and it leaked to the press). I was just eager to get to know him better. I think he was just as eager to get to know me, too.

We started wandering down the street, and it was chilly. I had forgotten to grab a jacket from my luggage earlier, so I snuggled up next to Seth, putting both of my hands into the crook of his arm this time. I was instantly grateful for is unnatural body heat. I was warm in no time.

I looked up to his eyes and forgot how to breathe. His smile was stunning, and his eyes were shining with joy. How could he be this happy, just to be with me? I wanted to ask him, but I chose another question that would be less likely to offend or upset him. Or embarrass me.

"What's your family like?" I decided on.

"They're great," he answered, and launched into a huge story about his family. How his mother was strong and wonderful, how his father was caring and just as strong as his mother, and how his sister was the bravest person he knew. He talked about deep-sea fishing with his father, watching his mother bake cookies or make dinner, and arguing with his sister about stupid things. I almost cried when he told me how Leah had her heart broken by the man she loved. I did cry when he told me his father died when he was only fifteen. Seth had gone crazy when he saw me wiping away tears, wailing about how stupid he is for telling me, and how I shouldn't cry, and how he had accepted it and gotten over it years ago. It didn't stop me from being sad.

My father was an absolute monster, and was still alive and spreading misery. Seth's father sounded like one of the best people to bless this planet with their presence, and he had died too young, leaving behind a family that truly cared about him. It wasn't fair. It wasn't right. Seth did mention that his mom was dating someone new, and that made me feel a little better.

Seth asked me about my family, and I quickly changed the subject. He got the hint, and didn't ask again.

Instead, I told him more about Veronica and Lily. How wild Veronica was, and how her parents were desperately trying to regain control over her. How Lily didn't care about anything that wasn't in her books, and how she was a hopeless romantic.

We kept walking and eventually wandered our way into a park. Fireflies danced around us as we walked down a trail next to a creek. We kept shooting shy glances at one another.

We both were silent, but it was a comfortable silence. No one else was around as we meandered down the path. We were the only ones there, and for once, I wouldn't have it any other way.

I realized then that I had never been kissed. That I had never cared enough about a boy to spend that kind of time with him. Seth was different. There was something more to life when he was with me. I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my life like this. And that was the truly terrifying thought.

I had just met Seth today, and I was considering being with him for the rest of my life.

"Allison?" Seth's sweet voice interrupted my thoughts.

I looked up at him. His face was so wonderful, full of kindness and compassion. No, I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my life with him. Not in the slightest. "Yes?" I answered.

"Can I call you Ali?" he sounded so unsure. I wanted to erase that. And no one had ever given me a nickname before. I was always Allison. Now I was Ali.

"Sure," I said, and I could feel the smile on my face. The insecurity in his eyes vanished at my answer, and was replaced by happiness.

The sun had dipped below the mountains surrounding the city, and the sky was painted with all of the beautiful colors of a sunset. Fireflies were dancing around us, and the water in the creek was singing as it passed. The universe was giving me a sign. This was the most romantic setting possible.

"Seth?" I asked timidly.

"Yeah?" he looked down at me as I moved to stand in front of him.

I saw the look in his eyes. If I had known him longer, and he knew me better, I would have sworn it was love. Regardless of what it really was, it erased my doubts.

I stood up on the tips of my toes, placed my hands on his shoulders, and pressed my lips to his. I was swept up in a whirlwind of emotions. His lips felt perfect against mine, and I knew in an instant that I never wanted to kiss anybody but Seth for the rest of my life.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer. It was a chaste kiss, but so full of emotion it left me breathless.

I pulled away, and looked into his dark eyes, full of an emotion I think might be love. I had made the right decision, because I think I was in love, too.

"We should probably head over to the theatre," I said breathlessly.

"Yeah," he looked so dazed. "Ali?"

"Yes?"

"Do you believe in love at first sight?"

I did, but I decided to take a line from the Beatles to answer him. It sounded much better, and described what I was feeling and thinking a lot more.

"I'm certain it happens all the time."

He took my hand in his. We headed down the street towards a stairway that led straight to the theatre.

After that night, Seth and I were inseparable. We spent every spare moment possible together. We ate every meal together, switched tickets around so we were always right next to one another during plays. We held hands all of the time. And every moment I spent with him only made my budding love for him grow.

Veronica said it was unhealthy to pick one guy and quit. She said I needed to play the field, or at least wait more than a few hours before thinking I was in love. To which I answered, "I know I'm in love."

Lily understood, and encouraged us as much as possible.

Seth's friends, surprisingly, encouraged us, too. They didn't tease him as much as I thought they would. They were genuinely happy for us, and welcomed me into their group with open arms.

Sunday night, after sneaking out to take another walk in the park, I fell asleep, and Seth had to carry me back to my room. We never did more than kiss and hold hands and cuddle. It was more than enough for both of us.

Monday morning greeted me, and I wanted to shrink into my bedcovers and not get up. This was my last day in Ashland, my last day in paradise with Seth. At this point, both Lily and I were convinced Seth was my soul mate. Veronica didn't say anything about that one.

"Allison," Lily called gently. "You have to get up. Seth is leaving in an hour. You should spend as much time with him as you can."

I started to cry. I couldn't help it. I had been given a taste of heaven, and now it was being taken away from me.

I pulled myself together quickly. Today was my last day with him, and I would make it special for him. I put effort into my hair again so it was perfect. I put a beautiful blue sleeveless blouse on, with black skinny jeans. I was thin enough to carry off the look. I did my make-up carefully and quickly packed everything into my suitcase.

As soon as I opened the door to go meet Seth downstairs, strong arms picked my suitcase out of my hands. Seth had waited by our door so he could help me with my suitcase. I had mentioned Friday night that it was kind of heavy. How did he remember?

I looked at his face, and it didn't matter anymore. His usually bright, happy eyes were dull, and his perpetual grin had been replaced with a frown. He looked as depressed as I felt.

"Hi, Seth," I whispered.

"Hey, Ali," he replied.

We were silent on the elevator down. I clung to him in an iron grip of a hug. He held onto me just as tightly. Outside, his bus was waiting, kids loading up their stuff before breakfast. The bus for my school was around the corner. He helped me load all of my stuff into the storage compartments underneath the bus. We walked silently back to his bus before I threw myself into his arms and held on as tight as I could.

"It shouldn't be possible," I whispered as he wrapped his arms around me. "It shouldn't be possible for me to love you this much in such a short amount of time."

"I know," he replied, his voice thick with emotion. "It shouldn't be, but it is. But I love you, too, and after our senior year, we'll find a way to be together."

"You have my cell number, right?" I asked.

"I already have it memorized," he said.

"And my email?"

"It's memorized, too."

Russ walked up to us. "Seth, it's time to get going. Teacher said to load up."

"Thanks, Russ," Seth said quietly.

"No problem, Seth. Allison, it was great to meet you," he said.

"It was great meeting you, too," I told him.

"I'm sure we'll see one another again eventually," he said before he got onto the bus. There was a message there, but I couldn't focus enough to care.

Three windows opened up and all of Seth's friends stuck their heads out and shouted goodbye, we'll see you soon, I better be in the wedding party (that was Brady). I waved goodbye. It was all I could do.

"I love you," I whispered.

"I love you, too," Seth whispered back.

We kissed, he took a step back, and walked onto the bus. He immediately pushed Brady out of the way of a window and waved goodbye to me, blowing a kiss. I blew one back, and waved until I couldn't see the bus anymore.

"The two of you are going to be together forever, you know that, right?" Lily had walked up behind me and put her arm around my shoulders in an effort to console me.

"Yeah, I know," I answered truthfully. I would just have to wait a year before I got my happily ever after. It was a small price to pay for the joy that would accompany the rest of my life.

"Will you idiots hurry up? I want to go home now," Veronica called over to us angrily. I don't know why she was so upset about me and Seth. I would have thought one of my best friends would be happy for me.

"We're coming," Lily called back to her. She softened her voice when she turned to me and said, "Everything will work out, Allison. It always does."

With that, we got on the bus that would take me farther away from the boy who had quickly stolen my heart.

Not stolen. I gave it to him willingly, the same way he gave me his.

As I settled into my seat next to Lily, I consoled myself with thoughts of my first night with Seth. The bus lurched forward, and I closed my eyes.