Chapter 11
"You are not seriously going out with Elijah, are you?" Kalinda asks walking into my room.
"Yes, I am, not that it is any of your concern," I snap.
"Paige, please don't. You need to stay away from him!" Kalinda says seriously.
"You know Alaric said that, too," I say as I put on my eyeliner. "He wouldn't give me a reason as to why. I assume you aren't going to either," I say annoyed.
"He is bad news and you need to stay away from him," she says firmly. "I don't want you associating with him."
"Kalinda, stop!" I yell. "Just stop." I say and lay on my bed.
"Paige," she says walking over to me.
"Kalinda what is up with this necklace? What do you know that I don't? Give me one good reason why I should keep it on and why I should not see Elijah." I ask after a few minutes of silence. I look at her and see she is biting her bottom lip. "Maybe if the reasons are legit I will stay away from him and stop asking questions about this necklace," I say hoping I can get her to speak.
"Paige, it's just, I'm, I can't," she finally says.
I let out a huff of frustration and sit up.
"Kalinda, please, you know you can tell me anything. Are you in some sort of trouble? Please, Kalinda, tell me," I basically beg.
"Trust me. That is all I am asking," she pleads.
"I am so sick of that stupid answer! How am I supposed to trust you if you won't even tell me the truth?" I ask irritated "I'm not stupid. I know you are lying to me. Now get out of my room! I have to finish getting ready." I say standing up and practically push her out of my room.
"Paige, please listen to me. Don't go out with him today!" she begs, as I get ready to shut my door.
"You can't stop me, Kalinda. I am old enough to make my own decisions and until you or Alaric give me any good reason to stay away from Elijah, I won't," I say and close the door in her face and lock it.
"Paige!" she calls through it.
I don't respond and walk over to my closet. I go through all of my clothes and finally pick a blue cocktail dress. It's spaghetti strap and it comes to just above my knees.
He'll probably be wearing a suit as usual so this should be good. I just hope it's not too fancy. I think to myself as I put it on.
I look at myself in the mirror once I have it on and smile. I look at my cell phone and see it is 5:30. Elijah would be here at 6, so that gives me a half hour to curl my air and finish getting ready.
Once I finish getting ready, I see it is 5:50. I hurry and put on my jewelry and head downstairs.
"What time is he coming?" I hear Kalinda call from behind me.
"Six," I answer as I head into the kitchen.
"Can you do something for me since you are obviously not going to listen to me about going out with him?" she asks coming into the kitchen.
"What?" I ask annoyed.
"Could you not invite him in?" she asks looking at the ground.
"What kind of question is that?" I ask now irritated.
"A serious one," she answers. "Please just don't invite him in," she says desperately.
"Kalinda, I will do whatever I want. Please stop asking me stupid things," I say angry now. "Oh, and why on Earth don't you want me to invite him in?" I ask wanting to hear her reasoning.
"Just please don't," is all she says.
"You'll have to do better than that," is ay and just then there is a knock at the door.
"Please?" she pleads behind me as I walk to the door. "Don't let him in."
"Kalinda, just stop! I don't want to hear it!" I yell as I open the door.
"Paige!" she yells.
"Hello, Elijah," I say putting on a smile.
"Is everything okay?" he asks curiously.
"Yes, everything is fine. My sister is just being rude and doesn't want me to invite you in for some odd reason," I answer.
"Is that so?" he asks. I see him glance at Kalinda who is standing behind me by the stairs.
"But, of course, you are more than welcome to come in," I say kindly.
He steps into the house and smiles.
"Paige, I'm going to my room," Kalinda informs me and then runs up the stairs.
"I'm so sorry you had to listen to us fight," I apologize.
"It's quite alright. I understand that siblings can be hard to deal with," he says but I can see he is troubled by the comment. "You look lovely by the way," he says smiling at me.
"Thank you," I blush. "You look very handsome in your suit, as usual," I say with a smile.
"Thank you," he smiles.
"Just let me grab my jacket and purse and we can head out," I say walking over to where I keep my things. I hurry up and grab them and then walk over to the door where he is standing and put on my heels.
"Ok, ready," I say putting on my jacket.
"Shall we?" he says with a smile and opens the door and leads me to his car.
He opens the passenger's door for me and once I'm in he closes it. Soon after he is in the car, starting it up, and driving down the road.
"You know, you are quite the gentleman," I say after a few minutes of silence.
"Well, thank you. It is one of the things I pride myself in being."
"Well, you do a very good job at it," I smile.
He pulls into the parking lot of The Grill and parks and then turns the car off and gets out and walks over to my side and opens the door.
"Thank you," I smile, and he holds out his hand for me to take.
I take his hand and he helps me out of the car and then closes the door.
"Let's hope this time we will not be interrupted or have to reschedule," he says as we walk in.
"Well, you know what they say: 'Third times a charm'," I say and then giggle.
"Yes, well let's hope it is," he smiles as we sit down at a booth.
"Yes, let's," I say optimistically.
"So, how have you been doing?" he asks me. "I do hope that everything is going well with you."
"It is well besides the fact that Kalinda and I seem to be fighting a lot lately," I say sadly.
"And why is that?" he asks sincerely.
"It's just she keeps telling me to do all of these things without giving me any reason as to why," I say a little angry.
"Oh, and what type of things are you talking about? If you do not mind me asking?" he asks as a waitress comes over.
"What can I get ya'll to drink," she asks with a peppy smile.
"Wine for me," Elijah answers. "Would you like a glass as well? I am paying," he informs sternly.
"Well, um sure," I answer.
"I will be right back with your drinks," she says and then walks over to the bar.
"Well, it all started with this necklace," I say hesitantly.
"The one your father gave you?" he questions.
"Yes," I lie.
"What is your sister telling you to do with the necklace?" he asks.
"Just that she ants me to keep it on at all times," I say and see him glance at it. "But she won't tell me why."
"I see. Well, that is an interesting request," he says as the waitress brings us our drinks.
"Now what can I get you to eat?" she asks.
We quickly order and then she takes our menus and leaves.
"Isn't it, though?" I say continuing our conversation. "And then there was that whole thing you heard tonight about her not wanting me to invite you in. Again I am really sorry about her rude behavior."
"It's quite alright, there is no need to be sorry," he assures.
"Thanks," I say with a smile. "How about we talk about you. I feel so bad I am sitting her blabbing about my life and personal problems which I'm sure you don't care to hear," I say awkwardly.
"No, it is fine. I like hearing things about you even if that means listening to some problems you might be having," he says kindly with a soft smile.
I blush. Such a gentleman, I think to myself. "Aw, that is very sweet of you," I reply kindly.
"Here is your food," the waitress says sitting it on the table. "Enjoy ya'll."
"Thank you," we reply and then she walks away.
"Mm, this looks delicious," I say looking at my food.
"You know you really do not have to pay for this. I am more than capable," I inform him, and then take a bite of my food and he takes a sip of his wine.
"Even if that may be, I want to pay for it," he assures.
"Well, thank you, very much, but it is just that you paid last time, and…," he cuts me off with a wave of his hand.
"Nonsense, I assure you it is fine," he says firmly, taking a bite of his food.
"So, how are you and your siblings doing?" I ask him curiously after a few moments of awkward silence.
"We are doing okay, we still have got some issues but we are fine. Our mother moved back to town and moved in with us," he says.
"Oh, well, are you happy about that?" I ask and I see a look cross his face, but as quick as it comes, it is gone.
"I haven't seen her in quite some time, and it is nice to," he pauses. "Reunite."
"Enough about me," he says changing the subject.
I note that his family must be a touchy topic, because very time I bring it up he changes the topic.
"Let's talk more about you," he suggests.
"Well, what do you want to know?" I ask.
"Anything you wish to share."
"Let's see, my father was a well known herbist, and my mother was a doctor, so we are kind of rich," I say and hold back the tears coming to my eyes. I haven't talked about them in awhile. I see him glance at my necklace at the mention of my father being an herbist.
"I see," he says. "You miss them a lot don't you?" he states like a question.
"Yes," I answer honestly. "I have been so busy with my job and taking care of Kalinda, I've barely had time to deal with any of my emotions," I say letting a few tears spill out of my eyes. "I just can't believe they are gone," I say holding back a sob.
"I know it must be hard to accept and I am terribly sorry I have upset you," he apologizes.
"No, it's not your fault," I say wiping a few tears from my eyes. "It's mine for choosing them to talk about."
He grabs my hand comfortingly, and I smile.
"In the time that either of them were home they always made sure they spent time with us. We weren't like the rich stereotypical families you se eon TV. A nanny didn't raise us, or a maid or butler," I let out a small laugh. "Granted we did have a nanny but it was our parents who raised us. Every minute they were home they were teaching us and doing things with us. I will always treasure the time I had with them," I say letting more tears spill from my eyes.
He let's go of my hand and walks over to my side of the booth and sits down.
"They sound like they were very good people," he says and he wipes a few tears off my cheek.
"They were," I confirm with a little smile.
He puts his arm around my shoulder and pulls me into his shoulder and the tears break free that I was holding back. He rubs my back comfortingly and just lets me cry.
After a few minutes of us sitting like this I bring my head up to look at him.
He smiles sympathetically at me.
"I am so sorry for crying on our…," I stop myself. Was this a date?
I hear him give a small chuckle.
"On our date?" he asks with a smile.
"Yes, our date. It was just that I wasn't sure if that was what this was," I say feeling slightly embarrassed. I hear him chuckle again.
"Yes, of course that is what this is," he smiles assuring me.
"Well, I am glad," I blush.
"Are you ready to head home?" he asks.
"I should probably go back it is getting late," I say although I really don't want this date to end.
"Then let us go," he says taking my hand and leading me out of the booth.
Once we get to his car he opens the door for me as usual and then closes it once I am in. He gets in and starts it and in no time we are headed to my house.
"Look at that," I say happily.
"What?" he questions with a raised eyebrow.
"Third time is a charm.'
"Yes, it seems it is," he smiles.
Once we reach my house he gets out of the car and opens the door for me and helps me out of the car.
He walks up with me to the front porch.
"I had a lovely time tonight with you, Paige," he says with a smile.
"I had a great time with you as well," I say kindly.
He looks at me for a few minutes and before I know it he is leaning toward me and kissing me.
It takes my brain a minute to react before I start to kiss him back.
I feel him slip a piece of paper into my hands before breaking the kiss.
"What is this?" I question.
"It is an invitation to a ball my family and I are having. I would like it very much if you would attend as my date," he says with a smile.
"I would be more than happy to," I assure him.
"Well until then," he says with a smile. "Goodnight, Paige," he says walking down the porch steps.
"Goodnight, Elijah," I call as he gets into his car.
I smile to myself and watch as he drives off. I touch my lips and it makes me smile even more as well as blush. I look at the invitation and read the ball is on this coming Saturday.
I walk into the house and then up the stairs to my room and get ready for bed. I fall asleep with thoughts of what happened tonight.