She paced back forth, in her sundress, denim jacket and bunny slippers. She checked her face in the mirror every 5 passes, fixed her hair and sighed.
"Sere, you can do this." She told herself for the 20th time. "It is just a d...da... a date." Her heart dropped to her stomach. "This isn't cheating... we are not together. This isn't cheating." The guilt started to consume her. "I should cancel." She tried to convince herself again. "I am not ready. There is no way I am ready." She blew a raspberry as she fixed her bangs again. "But what if I hurt his feelings..." She pouted. "And here I go again with the same conversation. Ugh." She stepped away from the mirror and started to start another lap up the hall.
"I don't even has his number to cancel. How am I going on a date with someone I don't have his number?" She slapped her forehead. "What if this is a joke and he flakes..." She threw her head back. "I am so not ready for this."
There was a knock on the door.
"It's him..." She froze. "Or what if it was..." She stopped. "Yeah, right he would never just show up like that. My dad would murder him."
Another knock.
"Maybe he will leave." She exhaled. "But I don't want him to leave...I have to get the door." She nodded at the door and walked over.
Another knock.
"Coming!" She yelled, as her hand grabbed the door knob she felt a pool of sweat drip off her hand. She wiped her hand on her skirt and tried again. One twist, and a pull and the door was open, and there he was.
"I thought I had the wrong house for a second." He forced an awkward smile.
"Sorry I took so long...I..."
"I know, I am pretty nervous too." He scratched the back of his head. "Sat in my car actually wondering I was doing the right thing."
Her face sunk.
"But now seeing you here," His heart just pounded. "I am glad we are doing this."
She smiled.
"You look amazing by the way." He watched as she blushed.
"Thank you," She continued to just stand there, one hand on the door.
"You ready to go?" He asked.
She took a second to process everything. She was really doing this. Going on a date, with another guy. She released a light exhale. "Yes." She was about to take a step out.
"Are you sure...?" He asked look at the ground, drawing attention to her slippers. "They're cute and everything...but maybe?"
"Oh, yes!" She released the door jumped back. She looked at the shoe options in front of her. She almost went with her usual flats, but decided to go with the wedge heels instead.
Darien just watched her from the door, as she wrapped the straps around her ankles. Once they were on, she stood up straight, and checked herself out one more time in the mirror.
"Again, you look amazing."
She turned to him, smiled. "Now I am ready."
She walked out of the house, closed the door behind her. He walked slightly ahead of her towards his car. He opened her door and gestured her to go in. Once she was in, he walked around the front and got in.
"Nice car." Serena complimented as he came in and she got herself situated
"It is going to be nice out, so I figured we take this one, and drive with the top down." He casually replied as he put on his seat belt.
"This one? Is that a flex?" She mocked.
He looked up at her, as she smirked. "Is that how you impress the girls... all your fancy sports cars...?"
" .no?" He paused. "But are you impressed?" He asked for reassurance.
She turned to look at the road, and sat back into her seat and shrugged. "Still deciding."
Confused. He turned himself towards the steering wheel and turned on the car. His stomach was flipping all over the place again, his palms were sweating. He did a slow exhale to collect himself. "And, no, I don't use my cars to get girls." He finally answered. As he stepped on the gas and they started to go.
The breeze hit Serena's face, and it like a peace washing over her. Like a reflex, her hand just surfed the wind as it hung over the door.
Darien couldn't help but smile as he took small glances at her. He finally turned on the radio, and her eyes shot opened.
"Oh my god! I love this song!" She squealed. "Can I turn it up?"
"Whatever you want." He replied.
She smiled and turned the dial towards the max option. People stared as they drove by, but Darien just smiled. She looked so relaxed, quietly singing the song to herself. He wanted to just keep driving, but they eventually reached their stop. And Serena came back to reality again. She looked around.
"Where are we?" She asked.
"Just a small cafe, that I found awhile ago." He unbuckled his belt. "I promise you will like it."
He hopped out of the car, ran to her side, to open the door for her. He put out his hand for her to come out. "Careful there is a step there."
"My ex never did this." She thought to herself as she put her hand in his. He helped her out and on to the curve. "Thank you," She whispered. Looking up at him, even with her heels he was still a good foot and a half taller than her. She thought about how she never wore heels with her ex because he would getting annoyed if she was taller than him.
"You really do look great." Darien said again, interrupting her thoughts, preventing her from falling into a sulk of all the things her ex did not want her to do. "I know I said it multiple times already, but I just wanted to make sure you knew." He switched her hand over to his other hand, put that empty hand on her waist, and nudged her to the direction they needed to go. "This way."
She followed his lead, into a cure cafe, that maybe fit 30 people at the most. He nodded at the host, who grabbed two menus, and guided them to their table. The host put the menus down, as Darien pulled out her seat for her, and pushed her in after she sat. Then went to his side of the table.
"This place is really cute!" Serena admired.
"Thought you would like it. I wanted something nice, but not too fancy." He put the napkin on his lap. "And of course somewhere other than the arcade."
"Do you come here often?"
"If you are wondering if I come here with other dates..."
Her facial expression went straight, as her heart paused. She was not sure if that is what she meant when she asked it, but here she was, about to hear the answer. She tried to change the subject but could not come up with the words to say.
"No." He simply answered. "I come here sometime when I want something other than arcade cafe, and I need to do some work."
"So... you are cheating on Andrew with another cafe..."She asked sarcastically.
He simply laughed. "Are you going to tell him?"
Serena just smiled. How he never noticed how beautiful her eyes were when she smiled, was beyond him. He just kept staring.
"Is there sometime on my face?" She started to feel around her face. "I haven't eaten yet, so that this will be a first." She went to unfold her napkin.
"No... you look perfect."
She started to blush.
"I am sure people tell you that all the time." Darien casually sipped on his water.
She lightly chuckled. "Soooo... what do you get here?" She did not know how to respond to his comment, so changing the subject seemed to be a better option.
He picked up the menu.
"Everything looks so good." Serena glancing up and down the menu.
"If you want we can grab a couple of options and just share."
"Share?" Serena asked sounding confused.
"Unless you don't share food? I mean I remember how much you can eat... up to you whatever you want." Darien back tracked but then got nervous remembering how many of their past fights started over him making comments about her intake. He held his breath, hoping she would not get up and leave.
But she didn't get mad. "I don't mind sharing." She shrugged, and rush of relief came over him. "I am just not used to being an option." She paused. "I mean, me and girls will order appetizers and pick at them...but..." She hated herself. She did not want to bring him up, but she knew Darien was smart, and probably knows what she was referencing. She didn't want awkward silence, but she again was at a loss for words. She could feel her face getting warmer. She picked up her menu to hide her face.
Darien, could see she was nervous. He reached across the table pulled her menu down, to expose her face. He grabbed her hand. "Whatever you are comfortable with... I don't mind." He calmly expressed. "There is not right or wrong."
"Then...umm.. let's do what you suggested."
"Okay, so pick a few things you really want and I will pick some as well."
Their server came and took their order. They removed the menus, and refilled their waters.
"So...do you have any plans for college?" Darien tried to make small talk. He wished he thought of something else, but that was the first thing that came to his mind.
"Well... I wish I could be a doctor like you...but we all know I am not that smart."
"I am sure you can be anything you set your mind too." Darien tried to be encouraging, hoping he did not sound cheesy.
Serena brushed a piece of hair out of her face. "I actually..." She looked down at the table. "I really want to design wedding dresses."
"Dresses?" Darien leaned back in his seat.
"Look, I know it is hard to be successful as a dress designer...but I love, love and seeing someone find the perfect dress for their big day is something I think I really want to be apart of." She looked at the ceiling, bit her lower lip, and sunk in seat. "Again, I know...the odds of being successful will be hard, and according to sone people, it is just a hair above working at the mall..."
"I would never say that." He interrupted. "If that is your dream, I would follow up. I remember Andrew saying how good you were at art." He just shrugged. "And even if it is not the successful career one would want, that is what your partner is there for, to help support you and balance it all out. If they truly love you, of course."
Serena let that last sink in.
"Look our food is here." He nudged his head to show Serena the server coming.
"Oh my god we ordered so much!" Serena gasped as the server put dish after dish down.
"And we still have dessert to get to too." Darien picked up a serving spoon. "Would you like some this?"
He just offered to serve her... this was also new. All she could do was nod. "We're getting dessert?"
"I planned on it." He placed a scoop of salad on her plate. "Only if you want too of course... if you are already tired...then of course..." He then scooped himself some salad. He did not want to take her home just yet. Though they hadn't talk as much as they did earlier, being next to her...was all he wanted.
"I am not tired yet" She answered, she took a bite of her food. "Where is the dessert place?"
"It is a small window spot down the road. I figured we can grab some things to go and then go walk around the park."
"I love the park." Serena gushed.
"I know, that is why I picked it."
"This is too perfect..." She thought to herself. "Nobody is this perfect." Again, she was sinking into a dark spot, and it was like he knew.
"I want you to always remember tonight... even if you choose not to go out with me again. I want you to know that this is what you deserve."
