Chapter 8: I Did Not Call You Darling!

Later the next day, Ataru asked Amaiko to meet him at the park. he sat on a bench, waiting anxiously.
he had lots of things he wanted to ask. questions he hoped she could answer. he then saw her walking up to him.

"hi Ataru! how are you doing today?" she asked cheerfully.
"just peachy. Amaiko, the reason i called you out here is because i wanted ask you some questions about yourself."
"okay, ask away."
"alright, i wanna know, when's your birthday??"
"March 27th."
(March 27th? that's the day i wished Lum away...) he started fidgeting.
"Darling, is there something wrong? you're squirming an awful lot."
"there you go again! you called me 'Darling'!"
"Ataru!" Amaiko said, clearly annoyed. "i told you, i've never called anyone that in my life!! you're hearing things."
"no, Amaiko, i am not hearing things. i know you called me Darling."
"look, Ataru, if you just called me out here to make false accusations, i have much better things to do today." she got up to leave.
"wait, Amaiko!" he grabbed her. "i'm sorry if i upset you...it's just that i have some things that are bothering me right now...that's all."
"it's okay, Ataru. i shouldn't have got so mad. why is the name 'Darling' so special to you anyways?"
this caught Ataru off guard.
"it's not!"
"yes it is. i can tell. did some old girlfriend that you still have feelings for call you that or something?" she joked.
"she was not my girlfriend!" he blurted without thinking.
Amaiko laughed. "i'm not even gonna ask. was there anything else you wanted to ask me?"
an idea hit Ataru. "can i meet your parents??"
it was Amaiko's turn to be suprised. "m-my parents? why?"
"because i just want to. i'm curious about them. i want to know what they think of me and if i'm fit to be your husband some day..."
she blushed. "umm, y-you can't...because...because...they're out of town!"
Ataru knew that was a lie, but he didn't want to tell Amaiko that. that's exactly how he sounded when he was trying to make excuses.
"okay. well, i have to be going. my mom wants me to clean the house." (what a lie that was. mom would never trust me to clean the house. she says i always do a poor job of it. at least it doesn't sound like a lie...)
"alright then. bye Ataru."
"bye."