Chapter 2

Aaron poked absentmindedly at his breakfast. He hadn't been able to eat that much for the past two days. All he could think of was her. He had racked his brains trying to find a way to earn her number, and had a few good solutions, but he hadn't seen her. Today, he thought Today I will find her.

He stepped out of the house sat on his steps. He needed an attack plan. Hm, the park is a good place as any to start. The park was about a 10 minute walk, but only 5 minutes on by bike. He grabbed his dad's ancient bike and pedaled down to the park. All he could think of on the way were things to say to her. He finally got there, and raced over to the bench. She wasn't there. He sat down and put his face in his hands. What now? He thought in despair.

"Looking for me?" a sing-song voice said from above him. He looked up, only to see the face of Selina. She had a grin on her face. Not a mean one, just a grin.

"Selina! I found you!" he yelped and stood up. Before either of them knew it, he had her wrapped in a hug. She stood, surprised for a second, then hugged him back. They pulled away, and Aaron's face had flushed a brilliant red.

"Well that's an enthusiastic greeting all right!" she laughed.

"Yeah..." he ran his hands through his short, brown hair. "Well, anyway, I've been thinking...and I've come up with a way to earn your number"

"And what is that?" she asked, tilting her head like a bird.

Aaron cleared his throat, stood up straighter, and looked right into Selina's different colored eyes and said, "Selina, would you accompany me on a date?"

Her eyes widened, and she put her pointer finger to her mouth. "Mm...yes!" she said after a moment. Aaron's tense face broke out into an ear-to-ear grin. He pulled her into another hug, tighter this time. Selina didn't hesitate before hugging back.

"So where will we go?" she asked.

"I don't know. Where do you want to got? There's a cafe down the street. About 5 minutes away." he offered.

"That sounds great! But by the way, I'm a vegetarian." she smiled.

"Really? Me too! That's cool." Aaron was surprised.

"Okay then, lets get going." They started walking. As they went along, Aaron noticed that she was still barefoot.

He pointed to her feet and said, "Doesn't that hurt walking barefoot along the street?"

She glanced down, "Oh. It doesn't hurt at all, really. I never wear them, so now my feet are calloused. It's like wearing shoes anyway."

Aaron laughed. They spent the rest of the walk chatting away comfortably. If one were to see them along the street, they would think that they've know each other forever. Soon they arrived at the cafe. It was lunch hour at by that point, so it was pretty busy. They walked up to the waiter and Aaron said, "Table for two, please."

The waiter said, "Sorry, we have a no-shirt no-shoes policy." Aaron's brow scrunched up in confusion, but then he saw the waiter's finger pointing to Selina's feet. He opened his mouth to say something, but Selina ran from his side and out the door. He gave the waiter a death stare and ran out after her. He found her sitting on the curb. He started to ask why she ran out, but then he saw the shame in her eyes.

"I-I'm sorry..." she turned her face down.

"What do you have to be sorry for? The waiter is the one who needs to apologize!" he said in an angry voice.

"I didn't mean to embarrass you. I feel like such an idiot." she buried her face in her palms.

"You didn't embarrass me. Not at all!" he sat down with her.

"Really?" she looked up at him.

"Really. I promise" he put his hand on her shoulder. "Now I know how we can get in..."

Aaron walked up to the waiter and said, "Table for one please. But I'll have a friend meeting me later. And make it an outside one." The waiter escorted him to a table outside. There was a fence around the tables. Selina came up to the fence by his table. He handed her his shoes and she slipped them on.

She shuffled inside because Aaron's shoes were about 2 sizes to big. She walked up and said, "I'm here to meet my friend, he told me he'd have table outside." The waiter looked at her huge shoes, but shrugged and brought her outside. She pretended to scan the tables and pointed to Aaron and said, "That's him, right there." She walked over sat down. The waiter gave them a skeptical look, but just walked away. As soon as she was away, they broke into hysterics. All of the other diners stared. They settled down and continued their date. They talked about nothing in particular while they ate, and when there was a silence, it was comfortable, not strained at all. They finished and went out one-by-one with the shoes.

As they met up outside, Selina said, "It's getting late. My mom will wonder where I am...I better get home."

Aaron looked at her, "Can I walk you home? Have I proved myself worthy to know where you live?"

"I think so."

It turned out that her house wasn't too far away. When they got to the front porch Selina turned to him, "Thanks a lot Aaron. Most guys would have left after the thing with the shoes, but...well thanks."

Aaron leaned in and gave her a quick peck on the lips. Then he turned and walked down the steps, to the street, and around the block. Selina stood and put her finger on her lips for a few seconds, before slipping into her house.