Valentine Masquerade

For entertainment only!

Chapter 13: Dressed to Impress

Betty rushed up the stairs in a blur muttering a very hurried "Hi guys! Talk-to-ya-later, bye!"

Justin and Hilda shared a confused look but then quickly raced up the stairs eager to hear what happened with her and Daniel and what she seemed to be so excited about.

When they made it to her room they watched as clothes were being tossed out of her closet in her mad effort to find something.

"Uh...Betty? What on Earth is going on, mami?" Hilda asked in wonder, never seeing her sister look so frazzled.

"I don't really have time to get into specifics but I have a date with Daniel and I need to find something perfect to wear!" she exclaimed as she walked out of her closet with an armful of dresses and plopped them on the bed with an exasperated huff.

Hilda and Justin shared excited smiles, and Justin rushed over and hugged her "OMG AB, that is so awesome! We totally knew he was crazy about you when he came over here looking for you!"

Betty bit her lip, her cheeks warming at the thought of Daniel and how amazing he made her feel.

"Oo, Betty! I'm so glad you're giving him a chance, and don't think I'm going to let you slide without commenting on your new blog post! I just read it!" she gave her sister a mischievous look.

Betty blushed "Hilda! You read my blog posts?"

Hilda shrugged nonchalantly "Duh! Of course I read them! It's like reading your diary but better because I get to comment on them!" she said with a smirk.

Betty's eyes grew wide "Hilda! Are you QueensHottie_HS! Oh my god! I can't believe I didn't realize it sooner!"

Hilda laughed and shrugged. Betty shook her head, "but wait, how'd you read it so fast? I just posted it!"

Hilda smirked "I'm signed up for notifications"

Betty sighed in annoyance, when her nephew squealed in excitement, causing both Hilda and Betty to shield their ears.

"Justin!"

Sorry, but oh my god, oh my god, mom, did you see Daniel commented on Betty's post?"

Hilda's eyes lit up "what?! Let me see!" She took the phone from him and read Daniel's comment on Betty's blog post. Betty blushed, when Hilda looked to her with a mischievous grin "wow, mama, aren't you a lucky lady! That is so amazing! And oh my god, Betty, your blog is blowing up!"

Betty looked confused "what do you mean?" She took the phone and saw there were hundreds of comments and likes already. "Wow!"

Hilda nudged her shoulder "oo… Justin did you read this? I can't wait for our date tonight, Betty! My Bella, my princess, my rose… YOU are BEAUTIFUL! You have easily become the woman of MY dreams! Betty! It sounds like he is falling in love with you!"

"Wow, AB, I could tell he likes you, but omg, this is like the best thing ever! He is definitely going to marry You!"

She blushed "Guys, what? Stop acting crazy and stop distracting me! I need to find something to wear! Ugh! You both are the worst! I'm so behind! What am I going to wear tonight?!" Betty panicked, seeing all the clothes she had to choose from not seeing anything she liked enough.

Justin grinned "No need to panic, AB, you have your very own stylists right here! We totally got this!" he said as he started rifling through the pile of dresses making faces and tossing them aside left and right until he found the 'perfect one'. "Ahah! This is perfect, AB! He is going to go crazy if he sees you in this!" he said as he held out the dress he picked for her.

Betty bit her lip, a bright blush coloring her face at the dress he picked. She'd never actually worn that dress before because it was a bit too low cut than what she was used to or comfortable wearing and a bit shorter too, but it was pretty. Hilda had gotten it for her as a gift for getting her braces removed.

"Just try on it, Betty, before you go making your judgy Betty look!" Hilda stated with a knowing look.

"Fine, Hilda!" Betty rolled her eyes and took the dress from her nephew. She started to retreat to the bathroom, but turned back and said "Wait, uh...Hilda, you wouldn't happen to have a leather jacket I could borrow?"

Hilda gave her a funny look "Maybe...why?"

Betty blushed looking down… "Uh...can I tell you later?"

Hilda looked at her with her eyebrow raised "Oh no, now I have to know!"

Betty pouted "Ugh! Why can't you ever just let me do something without being so nosy!"

Hilda grinned "Because you're my sister and I love you and want to know what's going on with you!"

Betty smiled "Fine! I hate you, though!"

Hilda laughed and pulled Justin close to her "We're waiting!"

Betty took a breath slowly and said "Uh...well I sort of told Daniel to wear leather pants as sort of payback for making me wear that leather outfit when I worked for him. So...I just thought...I would uh…" she blushed and stammered, feeling embarrassed as they were both listening with goofy smiles on their faces.

Hilda grinned and walked out of the room, while Justin laughed and said "AB, wow, you must really like him, huh?"

Betty blushed "Uh...maybe…I don't know...fine, yes! okay?"

He grinned "you should definitely keep wearing that rose! It will complete the look and Ooh, here, let me find you shoes!" he said as he went into her closet and searched around until he found a pair of black pumps that had cute little black bows. "These will look so good, especially if you wear a black jacket." he said with a smirk.

She blushed as she took the shoes from him. "Thanks"

"Viola! I found you the perfect jacket, Betty!" Hilda said as she came in with a short black leather jacket in hand. Betty felt like her cheeks were permanently rosy as she took the jacket from her. "Thanks" she took all the garments and shoes and went into the bathroom to get dressed.

She had flutters in her stomach. She couldn't believe she was getting so worked up about a date.

Who was she kidding? This wasn't a normal date. This was a date with Daniel Meade! And he was so gosh darn charming and handsome and she felt like she was in a dream right now.

Daniel unlocked and opened his door, the same grin on his face the whole way back from Queens to his apartment. He was so excited to go on this date with Betty. She was really darn cute and he felt his smile was permanent when he was around her.

He dropped his keys on the coffee table and started to open the bag taking out the article of clothing he purchased on the way home. He smirked, thinking about Betty asking him to wear leather pants and how hot she sounded as she did. He couldn't wait to see her tonight!

He quickly got a shower and started to get dressed sliding on the black leather pants and threw on a white fitted shirt. He looked in the mirror and grinned, feeling like he looked pretty damn good.

He picked up his phone when he heard it ringing to see that it was his mom calling. He picked up with a smile "hey mom!"

"Daniel! How did things go with Betty?"

A bright smile spread across his face "Great, mom! I have a date with her tonight! I'm so excited. I feel like a teenager." He chuckled, though he felt his face warm at his admission.

She laughed "Well, that's wonderful, darling. I'm so happy to hear that you two patched things up. She must be very special. I can't wait to get to know her better. In fact, why don't you stop by tonight?"

"Uhh… I'm not sure… that won't like freak her out or anything?"

His mom laughed on the other end and said "sweetheart, if she was willing to forgive you for all that you did to her,then this will be a walk in the park, besides if she is special it'll be nice to meet her sooner than later."

He ran his hand through his hair nervously "uh...maybe, how about when we go out, I'll ask her if she'd like to, that way she doesn't feel pressured or anything."

"Sounds good."

There was a pause, then she said "so?"

"So, what?"

"How was she? What happened? Tell me everything!"

"Mom!"

"Oh come on, please? Indulge your mother"

"Well...fine, she's gorgeous and amazing and adorable and clumsy, and I had the best time hanging out with her today" he went on to tell her of his eventful time with Betty at the library and their time after and how he helped her with her blog"

"Oh, I want to read it! Send me the link"

He shook his head, but sent her the link to Betty's blog which he'd favorited; he smiled "you got it"

"Yes…"

he continued getting ready while his mom read her story, then when she was finished she said "wow! She is a splendid writer and now I see how nice your night was with her! My, have you seen all the comments? there's hundreds! And it has nearly five thousand hearts!"

"Wow, really?" Daniel pulled it up on his phone and saw that. His smile beamed "that's great! Betty will be so happy! I can't wait to tell her!"

"Daniel, don't screw this up! She seems like a wonderful young lady!"

"Trust me, mom, the last thing I wanna do is screw this up again. I...I really like her."

"Is that so? I couldn't tell!"

He rolled his eyes, "hah-hah, very funny."

She laughed "I'm only teasing. I'm very happy you've met her...again. I see she took your mind off of you know who!"

He made a face "yah, and honestly, it makes me grateful that I'm not married to her, because then I wouldn't be going out with Betty. I'm really an idiot, huh?"

She laughed "unfortunately, sometimes"

He laughed. "Look, mom, I could literally talk to you about Betty all night, but no offense, I need to get going for our date."

"Yes, yes, you have a marvelous time"

"Thanks mom. I'll let you know if we will stop by"

"Alright, darling, you have fun, and tell Betty I can't wait to see her again"

He smiled "sure, mom. She really liked you, by the way. I think you two will get along great!"

"Alright sweetheart, good night"

"Bye mom. Love you"

He quickly finished up and made his way, his heart racing, as he thought about Betty. She was really cute. How was it that just thinking about her made him smile?

He texted her when he was a few blocks from her house.

B there in a few. Can't wait 2 c u, cutie!

He was at at stop sign when he got her response and opened it, smiling.

I can't wait to see you, hottie!

Betty had butterflies as she got Daniel's text that he would be here soon.

"Damn, Betty, you look so hot, chica. I'm digging this look on you." Hilda said, snapping her back to the present. "Really? I do like it; it's not too much?"

"You look so badass Aunt Betty!"

"Justin"

He shrugged "what, I'm not a baby, you do!"

Betty shook her head but smiled "well, thanks!"

She looked in the mirror and felt pretty excited to see Daniel. When she got downstairs her papi saw her and his eyes widened "wow, mija, where are you off to looking like this?"

Betty blushed when Justin blurted "she has a date with Daniel Meade!"

Her father looked at her "mija, are you sure about him? I don't want to see your heart broken again"

Betty smiled and hugged him "papi, I really like him. Honestly, he has been nothing but nice to me. And he apologized for the way he treated me and he more than made up for it."

He looked at her with his eyebrow; she blushed and elaborated "he's just been really nice to me. He even helped me with my writing. And I'm enjoying getting to know a different side of him I didn't see when I worked for him. And he's charming and fun and…" she blushed more when she noticed Hilda and Justin were listening with knowing grins on their faces.

Ignacio chuckled "as long as you are happy, mija. I haven't seen you this happy in some time."

Betty found a smile inevitability sweeping her face. "He does make me feel happy. These two times I've spent with him have been...amazing."

He placed a kiss to her cheek, "then have fun, mija. You deserve to be happy. Though, just know if he hurts my mija again, I will have to hurt him!"

Hilda laughed and wrapped her arm around Betty "don't worry, papi, I already threatened him when he came here looking for Betty."

"Hilda!"

"What? Just because he's all charming, doesn't mean I can't look after my sister!"

Betty shook her head, when her phone dinged with a message. Her smile widened when she saw Daniel's text.

I'm here & dying 2 c u!

"Gotta go, please don't embarrass me!" She said as she walked to the living room.

"Betty, we are shocked you think we would do that" Hilda said with a teasing smile.

"Justin" Betty gave her nephew a pleading look. He nodded "don't worry, AB. I'll take care of it!" Justin ushered his mom away from the door area.

Hilda gave her son a shocked look "Hey, you're supposed to be on my side"

"Mom, I love you, but you always embarrass AB"

She gasped "I do not!"

Betty and her father laughed.

"Ok, love you guys, bye!

Betty opened the door right as Daniel was about to knock. A huge smile crossed her face at the sight of him.

He grinned and she felt her heart skip at how darn hot he looked dressed the way he was. She couldn't believe he actually wore leather pants for her! And boy did he look good! He was HOT!

She blushed when he looked her over and looked at her with that flirty smirk of his.

He held out the combination of red, pink and white roses to her. She bit her lip as she took them. "Thanks… they're really pretty"

He smiled "mhm, not as pretty as you, though." He leaned close and whispered "you look so sexy" he placed a teasing kiss to her cheek.

She blushed, a flurry of tingles migrating down her body at his closeness, the touch of his lips against her skin, and the intoxicating scent of him that overwhelmed her. He smelled just as hot as he looked.

Daniel felt like his heart was on a racing circuit seeing how gorgeous Betty was looking. He couldn't stop himself from taking her hand and pulling her to him for a hug. She smiled and hugged him closer.

Betty's family was watching their interaction in amusement, seeing how long they were hugging. "Ehem" Hilda cleared her throat, causing them to step back from each other, Betty was blushing, whereas Daniel said, "uh… sorry, I couldn't help myself. She is too adorable not to hug. Uh… I promise to take care of her."

He walked in more and held his hand out to Ignacio. "Mr. Suarez, I'm sure you've heard some… not so pleasant things about me and I know I treated Betty badly when she worked for me, but I can promise you I never plan to hurt her again. I feel terrible for even knowing I hurt someone as kind and amazing as Betty. I hope you don't hate me too much that I'm going out with you daughter."

Mr. Suarez was giving him a stern look, but surprised him when he returned a smile and said "if my daughter can forgive you, so can I. Have fun, mijo" he patted him on the back good-naturedly, and Daniel smiled "thanks Mr. Suarez"

Betty took his hand in hers giving it an affectionate squeeze. He smiled and looked to her. "Ready to go?"

She nodded with a bright smile.

Once they were in the car; he was about to put it into drive when she surprised him by grabbing his arm and pulling him to her for a kiss. It wasn't just any kiss; her kiss was so passionate and intense, he felt his heart burst at the overwhelming intensity of it all. His hand went into her hair deepening the kiss that was already on fire.

When she let go of him, he looked at her in surprise "what was that about?"

She blushed and he felt an overwhelming affection for her, especially when she said "I couldn't help it. You look so freaking hot and I couldn't wait another second to kiss you!"

He grinned and leaned across placing another kiss to her lips "yah, well just know that you look so hot and I'd be an idiot if I didn't kiss you" he kissed her again and she felt flutters in her stomach.

She looked at him with a happy smile "Also, thank you so much for helping me with my blog. It's already a hit!" She took out her phone and showed him.

He grinned and lifted his hand into her hair. "I'm so happy for you" his voice was soft and affectionate and made her look in his eyes seeing how sincere he was.

She blushed taking in how handsome and hot he looked in this outfit. "I like this look on you" she said as she placed her hand on his knee.

He looked at her with a naughty smirk "oh, and I love this look on you" he said in her ear placing a kiss and trailing his own hand down her arm and interlacing their fingers and placing a kiss to her wrist. "You look really awesome. No one will wanna mess with us."

She laughed and he grinned "ready?"

She nodded with a smile "mhm…"