Shannon sat on Maddy's bed as she looked at her. "I can't believe you're going through with this."
"It's one date not the end of the world." She said shrugging. "It's not like Rhydian and I are even dating. We're just friends. Even if I do like him. I mean Jimi isn't entirely bad looking."
"It's not about what you and Rhydian have or don't have. Jimi has had it out for us for years now." She said sighing. "I just don't want to see you get hurt."
She looked at her and smiled. "I know. I know. I believe him when he says he had a change of heart. So, this is the first step in doing that hopefully."
Shannon looked at her and nodded standing up. "Okay, but if you have any trouble call me, please?"
"Of course." She said nodding as she smiled at her grabbing two pieces of clothes. "Now help me pick out an outfit."
Thirty minutes later had Shannon going home through the back as Maddy opened the front door to Jimi. "Hey." She said smiling as she held her hands at her sides.
"Hey." He said smiling as he held out a box of chocolates. "I got you these. I figured it was better than flowers."
She looked at him raising an eyebrow and smiling softly. "Thank you." she said as she took the chocolates and put them on the counter.
Her parents watched from the doorway of the kitchen and smiled softly. "Have fun dear! Don't stay out too late. Jimi make sure she's home by ten!" Her father called.
Jimi looked at them and nodded smiling. "Of course, have a goodnight Mr. and Mrs. Smith."
Maddy smiled tightly as she turned to her parents. "Love you Mum, Dad! I'll be home later!" She called waving to them as she walked out the door.
Jimi chuckled as he smiled at her his hands in his pockets. He was wearing a light button up shirt with a coat and dress pants.
Maddy had on a blouse with a coat and the best pants she owned. "So, where are we going?"
"Well, I was thinking we could go have dinner and then go ice skating." He said as they headed toward the car.
"That sounds fun. Where are we eating?" She asked as he opened the door for her. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." He said smiling moving to the other side as he got in.
"So, your dad let you use the driver?" She asked humming as she put her seatbelt on.
He chuckled a little and nodded as he got in as well. "More like insisted. 'Chen men have to make an impression.'" He said mimicking his dad.
She laughed as she looked at him. "Sounds like something he would say."
"I'm also convinced he may be using the driver to spy on me in case something were to happen." Jimi responded as the driver headed towards town.
They talked for a bit about things they'd done as children. The anxiety and tenseness she had earlier seemed to be dissipating.
Once they arrived at the restaurant Jimi guided her inside. "I've never been here before." She said looking around. "I feel slightly under dressed." She said as he helped take off her coat.
"You look great." He said as he handed their coats to the coat check. "Don't worry about being under dressed. If there was a dress code, I would've said something."
She chuckled a little and nodded holding her hands in front of herself as she looked around. "It's really pretty here."
"I'm glad you like it." he said smiling as someone cleared their throat.
"Mr. Chen, your table for two is ready." The hostess said smiling as she held two menus. "If you'll follow me."
Jimi smiled and nodded as he gestured to Maddy. "After you." He said inclining his head to her.
She smiled and nodded as they followed after the hostess and hummed. He pulled her chair out for her making her raise an eyebrow as she sat down. "Thank you. Though I don't understand what's going on."
He smiled and sat down as he looked at her. "One thing my father did for me was teach me how to be a gentlemen on a date. Always thought it was boring and never thought I would need it. But now I'm glad he did."
She chuckled a little as she looked at her menu. "I see. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to impress me."
He chuckled a little as he looked at his menu. "Well, since I know you, I know big shows of money and gifts aren't going to do that."
She glanced up at him and made a small noise as she looked over the menu. "So, what do you suggest?"
"Actually, I'm not sure. I've been here once, and I don't even remember what I had." He said chucking as he noticed the chicken alfredo. "How about we both get the chicken alfredo?"
She hummed at the sound of that and nodded. "That sounds great." She said smiling as she set her menu down.
"Then I'll let the waiter know when he comes over." He said smiling as he took a sip of his water.
She watched him for a moment and raised an eyebrow. "So…tell me why you all of a sudden wanted to go on a date with me?"
"Only if you tell me why you agreed to it." He said smirking at her.
Maddy watched him for a moment before nodding. "Alright you got a deal."
"Well, I've been interested in you for a month or two now." He said sheepishly. "I wasn't sure how to ask you out or get close to you and I didn't think Tom was going to be much help. Or Rhydian for that matter." He said folding his hands in front of him.
"Yeah, that was probably a good call on your part." She said chuckling a little as she took a sip of her water as well.
"So, why did you agree to it?" He asked raising an eyebrow as he watched her.
"I don't have a good answer for that. Life has been crazy over the last few months. I've found out a lot of things about myself and my family that I didn't know about." She said sighing. "I needed a change something and someone that wasn't my every day, you know?"
He thought about it for a moment and hummed. "I think I understand. You wanted something new. There's nothing wrong with that."
She nodded and smiled. "Yeah, I needed a distraction I guess?" She said cringing slightly. "Though that probably makes me sound like a jerk."
He chuckled a little and shook his head. "It's alright. I can understand that. I haven't been the best so if being the distraction for whatever is going on in your life is the way I can spend time with you, I'll take it."
"Where has this new leaf come from, Jimi?" She asked a pleasant smile on her face.
Before he could respond the waiter came over and took their order. He looked at her and smiled. "I do hope that whatever happens tonight we can at least be friends. As for the reason I've wanted to change my ways. Well, I got a look at what life has in store for me if I continue on this path."
She looked at him and nodded as they found a comfortable conversation topic mainly about football and other school activities.
They talked about some games that had played. The night was going rather well until there was a loud crash from the back. One of the busboys had dropped a bunch of plates.
All the anxiety from earlier had come back tenfold. She felt her eyes start to turn as she clenched her fists and ducked her head.
Jimi immediately picked up on her change in demeanor and turned to look at her. "Maddy? Are you alright?" He asked tilting his head concern clearly in his voice.
"Yeah…uh…I'm fine…I'm going to use the restroom." She said as she started to get up clenching her teeth as she gripped the table.
"Are you sure? If you need too, I can pay, and we can go." He said as he started to get up.
"No. It's fine. I'll be alright, just need a few minutes." She said as she looked at him with a small smile.
He didn't seem convinced but let her go in the direction of the bathroom.
He got up and paid the bill grabbing their coats and heading to the bathroom. He figured she was uncomfortable and didn't want to keep her there.
He waited outside the bathroom for a few moments before knocking on the door.
"Someone's in here." She called though her voice was slightly gravelly.
He furrowed his brows as he cleared his throat. "Maddy? It's Jimi. What do you say we get out of here? It's getting a little stuffy."
Maddy let out a groan as she looked at her face in the mirror. Her eyes had changed, and her fangs came out. "Jimi, just give me a few moments."
"I know we're not friends. But I'm not going to leave you alone. Come on. Please. You don't have to tell me anything just let's get out here?"
She closed her eyes as she tried to focus on anything. The different sounds from the restaurant and waitstaff all mingling together until she heard Jimi's heart.
She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths as she started to calm down though everything was on the surface.
Soon after she opened the door and looked at him. "Fine." She growled as she grabbed her coat and started out of the building with him quickly following after her.