Chapter 8

AN: I don't own the Twilight characters, but I do own the ones that I made up.

Sorry this took so long. I had tests to write and now I'm busy with exams.

Paul called me during the week to set up our date for tomorrow – which also happens to be Halloween.

Well, at least it's not April Fools.

I shook my head as I stared desperately into my closet for something to wear on my date. My shoulders sagged as I took in the meagre contents of my closet with a frown.

"What's up, Buttercup?" Bianca asked in her usual cheerful voice as she leaned against the wall. "Why so glum?"

"I'm not glum," I told her, sighing in frustration. "Nervous, frustrated and slightly annoyed, but not glum."

"What's troubling you, my friend?" Bianca asked as she sat down on my bed and pulled me down next to her. "Tell Auntie B all about it."

I giggled and shook my head at her, before sighing again and resting my head on her shoulder.

"Well, as you know I have a date with this really hot guy," I looked up to see her staring intently at me, nodding her head for me to continue. "And for some unknown reason I have absolutely nothing to wear."

Bianca patted my head sympathetically as I finished.

"Do you know what you need?" she asked and I shook my head. "A shopping trip."

"Shopping? Really, that's your helpful advice?"

I jumped off of my bed and walked solemnly to my closet again.

"Or…"

"Or what?"

"I could put a fabulous outfit together for you," Bianca said as she stood next to me, eye my closet. "I see some pieces with real potential."

"See, now that's something I can use," I told her, wrapping my arms around her in a grateful hug. "You're the best."

"Oh I know," Bianca said, pushing me out of my room. "Now shoo, I have work to do."

-o0o-

"Awe, come on," Bianca complained. "Can't you give me something?"

I peeked around the corner into my room and saw Bianca pacing as she spoke to someone on her phone.

"Can you at least tell me if it's formal or casual," she pleaded into her phone, her voice laced with desperation.

I stepped fully into my room and looked at the heap of clothes piled on my bed. I turned to Bianca with a raised eyebrow as she spoke again.

"Well, I can't make her look nice if you won't give me something to work with," she huffed into her phone in annoyance.

The room filled with silence as I waited for their conversation to continue.

"Fine, if you won't tell me, then she's not going."

Wait! What? No, no, no…what is she doing?

Bianca smiled in victory as the person on the other end of the line conceded to her demands.

"Now was that so hard?" she asked sweetly. "Thanks for the help, buddy. I'll have her here for you tomorrow. Bye."

"Bianca? What are doing?" I asked her slowly.

"Picking out your clothes for your date tomorrow, silly," she told me, her victorious smile still in place.

"But who were you talking to?"

"Paul," she said, rummaging through some tops before finding one and laying it on the bed. "I need to know what you're doing in order for me to pick out the appropriate outfit."

"Oh," I said, shocked. "So did you find out where he's taking me?"

I looked at her hopefully as she moved on from my shirts to my jeans.

When Paul called me to ask me out, he full out refused to tell me where we were going and as an extremely curious person I had to object. But Paul is really good at standing his ground, so it's a surprise.

I hate surprises. Okay, maybe hate is too strong a word.

I intensely dislike surprises, unless I'm in on them. There, that's better.

"No," my face fell, "he wouldn't tell me, but I do know that it's going to be casual and that you're going to be walking around for a bit, so I hope you have comfortable shoes."

I sighed.

"Yeah, they're in the bottom of the closet," I told her, pointing to the most comfy shoes I owned. "So casual and a lot of walking…"

I sat down on my bed after clearing some of the clothes out of the way.

"I wonder what it could be," I said to myself as I tapped my chin.

"I don't know, V," Bianca huffed as she pulled a pair of shoes from the back of the closet. "Why don't you just be patient and wait to find out?"

"Ha, you should know me better than that by now, B," I chuckled. "Patience is not one of my strong points."

Bianca sighed softly as she turned to me.

"Yeah, you're right, you're one of the most impatient people I know," she told me with mock sadness. "Now go get some sleep so you don't look haggard on your date tomorrow."

"Where am I supposed to sleep? Hey! I don't look haggard." I huffed and crossed my arms.

"Go sleep in my bed, this is going to take a while," Bianca ordered. "And you do have dark circles under your eyes, but I'm sure one full night of sleep should cure that. Now go."

"I'm going, I'm going," I muttered, leaving my room to head to hers and catch up on some beauty sleep.

-o0o-

"Veronica, you have five seconds to get out here before I come and get you!" Bianca yelled from the living room.

I wrapped the black scarf around my neck and allowed myself one final glance in the mirror – just to make sure that I looked okay.

As I walked out of my room I straightened the sandy brown knit-shirt, making sure it fell to my mid-thigh.

"Stop fiddling," Bianca said, swatting my hands away. "You look great."

"Thanks," I said, blushing slightly.

There was a knock on the door and my heartbeat picked up, knowing that it was Paul standing on the other side.

Bianca stared at me as I stood frozen in front of the door. She shook her head and opened the door.

"You'll have to excuse her," she told Paul as he stepped into the apartment. "She's a little nervous."

My jaw dropped as I took in his appearance. He looked absolutely gorgeous in faded jeans and black t-shirt, spanning tightly across his muscular chest.

I nervously wiped at my mouth to make sure that there was no obvious signs of drool before putting on my best smile and greeting him.

"Hey," Paul said, pulling me into a warm hug. "You look beautiful."

And queue the drool.

"Hey, you don't look to bad yourself," I told him, returning his hug.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, just let me get my bag," I said with a smile as I grabbed my bag and gave Bianca a hug.

"You two kids have fun, and stay out of trouble," she joked as we left.

-o0o-

"Are you going to tell me where we're going now?" I asked Paul five minutes into our drive.

"Nope," he said, popping the 'p' as he sent me sly smile.

I sighed in frustration. "Why not?"

"It's supposed to be a surprise," he stated. "It would ruin the surprise if I told you."

I pouted and crossed my arms. Realmature,Iknow.

"You're cute when you pout," Paul told me with a smile, giving me an idea.

"Paul?" I asked, sitting up straighter and turning towards him.

"Yes?" he said, eyeing me sceptically.

"Will you please tell me where we're going?" I asked him, pulling the puppy-dog pout. "Pretty please?"

"I...uhm...It's supposed...uh...surprise," he stammered as I batted my lashes at him while I pouted.

"Pretty please?" I asked again, leaning towards him as I took my bottom lip between my teeth.

Paul gulped and I knew he was close to cracking.

"Fine," he sighed. "I'll tell you, but on one condition."

I nodded my head excitedly.

"Okay," I told him. "What's the condition?"

"The condition is," he paused. "You have to wait until we get there."

Damn it!

My smile fell as his cocky grin picked up.

"That's not fair," I said, crossing my arms again. "I don't even know how long it'll take for us to get there."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that," he said.

"Why not?"

"Because we are here."

AN: Okay, so the next chapter will be their date. Anyone want to guess where he's taking her? And there may or may not be a little twist in the next chapter.

Thanks to everyone who read and review this story, even if updates are few and far between.

You can expect more frequent updates after the 21 November, because then I'll officially be on vacation.