ON THE WAY TO A LA CASA DE SUAREZ
Betty and Daniel walked out of IHOP, hand in hand, laughing.
"I'm glad you did this, Daniel." Betty said.
"I'm glad you had that dream!" Daniel exclaimed, "Although I would have liked it to be a little bit less innocent."
"Daniel." She warned.
"What? I can't help it." Daniel grinned, "I'm a guy, aren't I? And besides I bet you hide a nice body under those blouses."
Betty blushed. "Daniel, I don't want to rush into this. I want it to go slow."
"Me too, Betty. I don't want to hurt you, or for you to be disappointed in me." Daniel explained. "Whenever you're ready to go that far – I'll be waiting."
"Can we just think about right now, Daniel?" Betty said, and then a light bulb went off in her head. Fear shone in her eyes. "Wait, what will people say?"
"At MODE? To the hell with them." Daniel replied, "They're just jealous that they can't find someone as sweet as you."
"Oh, Daniel, that's so nice." Betty said and then she laid her head on his shoulder.
Daniel wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. "Damn it, Betty, you make me sound so cheesy." Daniel remarked with a laugh, and then he kissed her again.
Betty looked at her cell.
"Daniel, do we have to go back to MODE, right away? Lunch hour's not even half over yet." Betty asked.
Daniel raised his eyebrow.
"Mind out of the gutter, Daniel. I mean, we could go to my house, and tell Hilda and Papi the good news." Betty explained.
"Oh, I'm sure we could do that, and get back without getting in trouble. I've heard your boss is very forgiving." Daniel said, and winked at her.
"He sure is." Betty quipped.
A LA CASA DE SUAREZ
Betty walked in the door, and found that it was very quiet until –
"Betty! You're here! Tell me everything!" Hilda said excitedly, then after seeing Daniel, "Well, we'll talk later. But, give me the short version. How'd it go?"
"Perfect." Betty and Daniel said in unison.
"So you're together? Like, is it official?" Hilda asked.
"We're together, but we're going to take it slow." Betty explained, blushing. "I don't want to lose my best friend in the process of him being my boyfriend."
Daniel's eyes lit up – as Ignacio described – like a Christmas tree. My boyfriend. Those two words echoed in Daniel's mind.
But her shy smile was tempting him. No, he couldn't. He was going to go slow with Betty.
"Hello, Daniel." Ignacio greeted. "Any good news?"
"Daniel and Betty are getting married!" Hilda exclaimed.
"What!" They both exclaimed.
Ignacio looked confused. "She's joking Papi, we just had our first date." Betty explained, and then she glared at Hilda. "Not funny, Hilda."
"You'll treat her well, Daniel, won't you?" asked Ignacio.
"I will, Mr. Suarez." Daniel replied.
"You're a great man, Daniel." Said Ignacio. "And a great man for my mija."
"Thank you, Mr. Suarez." Daniel answered.
"So, was there some other reason that you came here other than to tell us the good news? Hm?" Hilda asked, with a mischievous smile on her face. She nodded her head, towards the stairs. She obviously meant Betty's bedroom.
"Hilda!" Betty complained.
"Alright, fine, I'll stop now. But I want to see a kiss." Hilda said. Betty looked shocked, but before she could tell Hilda that she was too embarrassed, Daniel captured her lips. Hilda whistled.
"Yeah, sis!" Hilda cheered. Betty slowly broke away, blushing.
"I'll see you later, Hilda, goodbye Papi." Betty said, and then she and Daniel made their way back to MODE.
AT MODE
Betty and Daniel walked out of the elevator, hand and hand. Betty could feel people staring at them, but she knew it was mostly at her. Daniel captured her lips, and she could hear the gasps.
"Daniel, are you ill?" asked Amanda. Daniel smirked.
"If love is a sickness, then yes, very much so." Daniel replied, and Daniel and Betty went into Daniel's office.
IN DANIEL'S OFFICE
"They were all staring at me, Daniel! I could feel it!" Betty cried. He closed the curtains around his office so no one could watch them talk.
"Daniel, what are you doing, won't they get the wrong idea with them closed?" Betty blurted. Did I just say that out loud? Betty thought to herself. Daniel grinned.
"Well, now I think your mind's in the gutter, Ms. Suarez." Daniel said smoothly.
"Daniel!" she protested.
"I love you." Daniel said to her.
"I love you too, Daniel, but what will people –"
"Betty, all that matters is you and me. You love me, I love you, and that's it." Daniel explained. "Don't worry about them."
"Ok, I'll try not to." Betty replied.
He kissed her, and it became heated. Betty couldn't think straight, and for once, she liked the feeling of her thoughts becoming elusive. The only thing in her mind was Daniel.
Let them think what they want to think. Betty thought. Rumors are only rumors.
"So Betty, when do you want to go on a date?"
"A date? Hm, how about now?" Betty asked.
She opened the curtains so that all could see into Daniel's office. She could feel their stares, but they didn't bother her as much now.
Her lips crashed into his.
"That's fine with me, Betty." Daniel replied, and he leaned in for another kiss.