A/N: I hope you guys are still interested in reading this story. Please continue to let me know what you think. Thanks.
After ordering dinner, Haley asked, "So did Stella fill you in about this whole surprise dinner thing?"
"If you meant, if she told me she invited you, no she didn't."
"Oh."
"Do you think I would have came if you knew?"
"It doesn't matter, it wouldn't change the fact that we're both here." After taking a sip of her water, she began playing with the napkin on her lap. "Have you been here before?"
"A few times." He bit into a slice of soft bread.
She wondered if he had taken any dates with him. She could imagine Lucas taking the women he was interested in to elegant places like this restaurant; an environment where they could converse and get to know one another better.
"With anyone special?" She didn't know where she found the courage to ask him all these questions. Human's natural curiosity was the answer Haley came up with.
"Yes," he kept his answer vague.
"That's nice," Haley pretended to be unfazed by his answer but Lucas wasn't blind.
"I've taken my mother here."
Once again, Haley noticed the admiration he had for his mother. She would too if she had a mother like Karen. Remembering how understanding and sweet the woman was, she wasn't surprised that her son was the same way.
"So when was the last time you saw her?"
"About two months ago. It's been a while since I last seen her but we talk on the phone daily."
"That's great. I use to talk to my best friend, Isabella, everyday before she moved to teach."
Propping an elbow on the table, he inquired, "How did the two of you meet?"
"We had the same English and History class during our freshmen year in high school. She sat right next to me in English class and we would talk about how boring our teacher was."
"I bet you made fun of her too," he added.
Lowering her head slightly, she answered meekly, "Yes. I'm embarrassed to admit I did for the longest time. I use to say how she looked like a school bus; especially when she wore yellow. I even remember her telling us about her house, her cats and her family. To tell you the truth, I wondered who would marry her. Man, I use to say mean things about teachers."
"And I bet they loved you because you were a great student."
"I wouldn't use the term love. At least I hope not," Haley shivered to emphasize her point. "Wait, what were we talking about before I lost my train of thought?" Gnawing on her bottom lips while she thought, she squinted her eyes, trying to remember.
Unable to suppress a laugh, he assisted her, "You were talking about how you met Isabella."
"Right. I knew that. I just wanted to test you to make sure you were listening."
"If you say so," he stated doubtfully."I do. Anyways, we worked on a few projects together and realized how much we had in common. We instantly became best friends. We're so much alike yet so different. It's hard to explain."
"I know what you mean." He felt the same way about him and Haley. He felt as if he knew her better than any of his other friends.
Nodding her head, she took another sip of water. She was so nervous being alone with Lucas that she needed to somehow keep her hands busy.
"So what's your most embarrassing moment," Lucas questioned. He wondered if she would ignore his question or answer it.
"I would have to say when I went bowling for a school function and the person I liked at the time saw me throw the bowling ball backwards. I was humiliated beyond belief."
"What did the guy say or do?"
"He didn't really say anything. He probably didn't even notice I existed until that moment and a few minutes later forgot again."
"I'm positive that's not the case. If it was me, I would have noticed you."
Ironically, the person she was talking about was none other the same person who said that, but she wasn't about to point that out. "Luckily I redeemed myself later that night by miraculously throwing the ball into the gutter..."
"I don't see how that's amazing," the confusion on his face was evident.
"You didn't let me finish," she pointed out politely. "It went into the gutter and back out onto the lane and hit some pins."
"Really? Wow, I never seen that happened before."
"Neither have I. Luck was on my side. Well, kind of. The person I had a crush on already left by the time I did that. I also bowled a better game when he left, not that he noticed me. Wait, I guess luck wasn't on my side," she babbled inanely.
"Maybe it was."
"What do you mean?"
"Well maybe fate led you to not end up with the guy that obviously wasn't right for you."
"You may be right." She just needed to keep reminding herself that. Unfortunately, the more she talked to him, the more she found it harder to uphold her promise to herself. Right then, she couldn't remember why she thought it was a bad idea to be with him. Frustrated with her own indecisiveness, she directed the attention back towards him.
"Your turn."
"My turn. Hmm...Let me think." He drummed his fingers against the table. "There was this one time, but it's too mortifying to talk about."
"Hey, that's not fair. I told you mine and now you have to return the favor."
"Alright then. This was during the first week I joined the varsity Raven team. My teammates thought it would be funny to put me through hazing. I went to take a shower after one of our basketball practice and mysteriously my clothes just vanished. All I could cover myself with was two basketballs."
Laughing hysterically, she bobbed her head up and down. "That is embarrassing. Too bad I wasn't there to see it."
"In that case, I would haven't covered myself," he raised an eyebrow.
Instantly Haley's cheek was painted red while Lucas watched in amusement. A few seconds passed by before she responded with, "Why bother especially since ping-pong balls are adequate in covering your equipment."
Now it was Lucas' turn to blush.
"So what were you day dreaming about?" She loved how she was able to put him on the spot. He did it to her so often she was justified in doing the same to him.
"What?" Caught off guard by the question, he almost choked as he drank some water.
"Or should I say who were you dreaming about?"
"If I tell you I would have to kill you."
"Don't give me that cheesy line. I want an honest answer." She waved a finger at him.
"How about I answer that question honestly if you answer one of my questions honestly?"
"Umm...I don't think that's such a good idea." She began to breathe heavily at the possible questions he might ask her.
"Chicken," he taunted, knowing she would fold.
"Fine."
"I was imagining us talking about one of the chandeliers in this restaurant."
"That sounds...interesting." She had no idea what in the world would have caused his mind to think of that.
Giving her his trademark smirk, he revealed, "Actually, it was. We were talking about how hot I was."
"What does chandeliers and your so called 'hotness' have to do with anything? Those two topics aren't even related."
"Well you see you were fascinated by the chandelier instead of my God given good looks. So I confronted you about it."
"You did?"
"Mmm...hmmm." Haley could see the gleam in his eyes.
"And?"
"And you admitted I was good looking, not that I'm surprised or anything."
"I don't think I would say something like that." Uneasily, she sat up straighter.
"Don't be so sure."Haley pretended to gag at the thought.
"If you had to rate me from one to ten, what would you rate me?" Lucas deadpans.
"I'm not going to degrade men by rating them."
"How is it degrading? Women do it all the time."
Haley quickly opened her mouth and then closed it. He did have a point there. "Well I'm not going to answer the question."
"But we just made a deal so I think you do have to answer it." Seeing how she wouldn't budge, he added, "What if we take turns answering one another questions. You can ask me anything you want."
"As tempting as that sounds, I think I'll have to pass."
"In that case, I won't tell you what I would rate you."
"I don't even want to know."
"Okay. Too bad because I thought you being the curious person you are would be interesting in knowing. I must have made a mistake."
"Alright, I'll give you a negative two."
"Honesty Haley. It's always the best policy."
Muffling something inaudible, Lucas asked Haley to repeat her answer. "I didn't quite catch that."
"A ten," she said barely above a whisper."What a coincidence, I was going to say the same thing about you!"
She wanted to say, "You got to be kidding me," but didn't want to make it seem like she was one of those girls who would say that in an attempt to fish for compliments. Although she often does refute some of the compliments directed towards her, she only stated what she believed was true.
"My turn. How did you change your mind so quickly one minute to the next?"
"Could you clarify that?"
"How did you change from being infatuated with me to agreeing with me in keeping our relationship professional so quickly?"