She looked at Bradin. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"Your voice," he told her, "It's amazing."
She smiled and looked at her straw as she began to play with it. The food came within several minutes. Throughout the time that they ate, they talked some more about each other. Bradin was falling for her by the second. He didn't know how she was doing it. He was just falling for her so badly. He completely forgot that Callie and Lucas were there. the waitress came back with the check. Bradin glanced at Elie and saw her going into her purse.
"I got it," he told her making her looking at him.
"Are you sure?" she asked. He nodded. "I'll pay you back," she said."
"I'll think of a way you can," he said smiling at her.
When the bill was paid, the two walked intothe arcade. Bradin looked at Elie. "I'm not going easy on you."
She looked at him and smirked. "Who said I wanted you to?" she asked. She walked over to the machine and put a dollar in for the both of them. She turned towards Bradin. "You can pick the song," she said.
Bradin searched through the songs as he leaned on the bar behind him. He picked the hardest one he could find. Because the music was similar to today's, many people gathered around and watched the two teenagers battle. After two songs, the two were tied with one win. They looked at each other.
"You're good," Elie said.
He smiled. After the last song, Elie won by 100 points. He smiled as she looked at him. "You're better than I thought Westerly," she told him. After that, they decided to walk along the beach.
"Where did you learn to dance?" he asked as they walked.
"My aunt was a choreographer for some music company. She was watching me one day because my parents were in meetings. I had to sit and watch her teach groups how to dance and all that jazz. As I watched them, I don't know what happened but I fell in love with dancing."
"So, you're aunt taught you?"
"No. I fell in love with it because of her. I learned from watching music videos and listening to music."
"Why haven't you gone and danced for a celebrity if you're as good as you say you are."
"Now, I never said I was good. What I said was that I wanted to go and become a singer and dancer."
"Then, why didn't you?"
"My parents were suppose to sign the papers and when they read over them, they were like 'you're too young'. They just didn't want me to be happy."
"Well," he began, "after tonight, I believe that you're an amazing singer and dancer."
"Westerly!" a male voice yelled. He looked to his side and saw someone he once considered a friend, Greg. "What's up man?"
"Nothing," Bradin said coldly.
"What has been up with you lately? You haven't returned anyone's phone calls. You've ignored or been cold to everyone you know. You're not you," Greg said.
"Since when do you care? Greg, you've never cared what has happened to me. And, all of a sudden you do now. I should be asking what's up with you."
With that, Bradin walked away in anger. Elie looked and Greg and ran after Bradin.
"Bradin!" she yelled as he continued walking, "Bradin!" He turned around and glared at her. "I'm sorry," she said, "I'll go." She turned to walk away when she felt Bradin grab her hand.
"Don't go," he said softly, "I'm sorry. I just... I don't know."
She turned towards him. "You're confused about a lot of things. And when people try to talk to you about it, you flip out at them."
He smiled when she said 'flip out'. "Exactly," he said.
"And yet, you haven't got pissed at me or anything yet."
"Yet?" he asked.
"Yet," she repeated making him laugh. "You realize that every time something bad happened to you tonight, you just smile and start laughing when I say something..."
"When I hear your voice," he told her, "I wish I knew how you did it."
"So do I," she said.
They arrived at Elie's apartment when Elie turned towards Bradin. "Thanks for tonight."
"Thank you, too. It made everything a whole lot better."
She smiled. "I shall see you soon?"
"Oh, you shall," he said smiling back.