"Good evening, Mr. Rosenly," came Julius' smooth voice. Willa almost melted on the spot, just seeing his super-model figure on her doorstep, that was the last place he belonged.
"Hello Julius," her father said in a stern voice that intimidated every opponent he came across, because that's what Julius was, an opponent. "Where are you taking my daughter tonight?"
Julius glanced at Willa and hesitated, "Sir, if you don't mind, that is a surprise."
With hesitation in every syllable, Mr. Rosenly said, "Alright, but you had better have her home early." Then, with only a protective look towards his daughter, he turned and walked back to the kitchen.
"You look so tempting," the words just slipped out so quickly that Julius hardly had time to think them. Willa's face flushed with embarrassment,
"Thank you," was all she could manage to stammer out.
Julius slid his arm around her waist and led her out into the Autumn sun. Her hair shimmered strawberry blonde in the faint sunlight. Without hesitation, he opened the passenger side door for her. He must have sprinted around the back of the car, because she didn't see him walk around the front. He opened the door, slid into the drivers seat, and smiled at her so warmly that the look in his eyes could have been mistaken for unbearable hunger. It wasn't until he smoothly pulled his Porsche Carrera GT into a parking space that she realized they were there.
Again, Willa had to wonder how he managed to slip out of seat and around to her door before she even had time to get her seatbelt off. Julius, was a great boyfriend, the kind you would see on an old movie; holding open a door, or putting his coat over a puddle for his lady. The perfect gentleman.
"Wow, Giardino Ristorante huh? Italian is my favorite you know," Willa said, in a slight daze.
Though she had been here many times with her mother, everything was a new experience with Julius. He added so much class to everything. Julius, smiling, obviously amused by her daze, took Willa by the hand and led her across the brick parking lot, into the old Italian restaurant. A stuffy teenage boy, no older than Willa, greeted them at the door.
"Smoking or Non," he asked, though he looked at them as if daring them to choose smoking, because he himself knew they couldn't possibly be old enough to have the choice.
"Non," Julius said cooly, "in the back please."
The boy looked at Willa as if expecting her to whine in protest, because he was sure that's what all rich girls with good looking boyfriends acted like. After a moment, he walked them to a booth in the back of the dining room where only two couples dined. Neither of them were in hearing distance, just what he wanted. They both voiced their thanks as Julius waited for Willa to sit before taking his own seat.
"Your server will be with you momentarily. For the time being, you may look at these menus," he said as he sat two menus down in front of them, then he walked away.
"How were you while I was away?" Julius asked casually.
"A little bored, all Mickey could do was ramble on about graduating. I swear sometimes she never shuts up." she replied, hoping she hadn't upset him.
Julius didn't get a chance to respond, as the waiter had appeared. The boy looked a few years older than Willa. His beautiful caramel colored hair spiraled into a few wild curls. He was a tall, pale boy. Just an inch or so shorter than Julius. He was not scrawny in any way, his muscular arms and chest slightly bulging through his shirt."Good evening, My name is Riley and I shall be your server this evening. May I get you some drinks?" His eyes, the most beautiful shade of emerald that Willa had ever seen.
"Willa?" Julius said quietly, but very sharply.
"Yes?" She asked, tearing her face away from the boys eyes.
"Your drink," he growled softly, his voice showing slight pain.
"Oh, Sweet-Tea, please," she said, looking back into the waiters face.
Every time she had been here with her mother she had always gotten some stuck up blonde waitress. Why did she have to get this gorgeous god-like figure while with Julius?
"I'm sorry Juls... I just like his eyes, they're emerald. I've never seen a color so-" she stopped. This wasn't what he had wanted to hear.
"How were the mountains?" the waiter returned and sat the drinks down in front of Julius and Willa, "Did you hunt at all?" with that the waiter snapped his head towards Julius with surprising speed.
"Is there a problem?" Julius snarled to the boy.
"No sir, I just enjoy hunting as well, that's all," the boy said, then asking for their orders.
"Darling, let's talk about you. You must have done some shopping while I was away," Julius said, and the waiter turned to walk away, lingering to hear what he could.
Knowing Julius was obviously in a mood, she began to talk of shoes and dresses; things that seemed so mundane to her, things she should care about. The waiter came back several times throughout their meal, then to bring the check. Julius slipped a couple twenties into the bill folder and they waited for his change. As the two of them stood, the waiter returned with Julius' change.
"Here is your tip. Maybe next time you will keep your mind on professional matters, not the guest." Julius said, slipping him a twenty.
"Let's go Will," he said, slipping his arm around her as he did before, but, this time it was territorial.
This was the second quiet drive home that Willa had to make today. Realizing they were almost to her street, and not wanting to end their night badly, she spoke quietly:
"Juls, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I'm very glad you're home."
Without a response, he pulled into her drive way, put the car in park, and shut the engine off. Suddenly and smoothly he leaned over and pressed his lips to hers. He sat there like that for a moment, it seemed that he was waiting for something. Then, he pulled away just as suddenly, and got out of the car. Willa opened her own door this time, but Julius' hand was there waiting to lift her from the car to the concrete. She took his hand and he helped her out of the car. They walked silently to the door. When she turned to say something, he said "Goodnight Willa," cutting her off. She smiled weakly and went inside, closing the door behind her. She waited there by the door to hear him walk back to his car, start the engine and speed off.
Willa could hear her mother arguing with her father over something unimportant, and decided she didn't want to have to relive the nights events to her mother while listening to cruel comments from her. So, she quickly tip-toed to her room.
She opened her door to the familiar pink palace which she had always run to with a problem. There was a slight breeze, she noticed the window was still open, so she walked over to shut it and hear a muffled cough. Startled, she leaned out of her window looking for the person who had coughed, finding nothing but dark shadows. Finally, deciding she had imagined the noise, she pulled the window closed. Then she slipped off her clothes and dug for one of Julius' old shirts he had left at her house. Tears began to stream down her face, as she pulled one on, and she began to realize just how unbelievably confused, angry, and tired she was.
In an easy escape, Willa pulled back the pink quilt, her grandmother had made her before she died three years ago, and the light pink comforter. She then slipped her bare legs deep down into the sheets, pulling the rest of the comforter over her body as she rolled onto her side and cried herself to sleep.
