Friday, presentation day. Joshua did most of the talking, as we agreed. I haven't quite learned to swallow my fear of public speaking like he has. All in all, it went well and I got my first 'A' in Science, though I give Joshua all the credit for that. I feel like I did almost nothing.
Joshua and his crew have been sitting with Aria and I at lunch every day now which has made it really hard to read, but not impossible. Joshua asks about my progress in the book as soon as he sits down. He finished reading this series last month so he knows everything that happens, but thankfully has kept the spoilers to himself.
Aria has seamlessly inserted herself into Joshua's group of friends. She always has been good at the people thing. What she isn't good at, is keeping her mouth shut.
"We should all hang out tonight. The new Spiderman movie is out." Juanita says.
I stare intently at my book as everyone makes plans.
"What about you, Mags?" Mateo asks. I pretend not to hear, but then Aria speaks for me.
"Oh,she's got a hot date tonight."
I look up at her as I feel the heat rise in my cheeks, though not the same heat I get from Joshua's smiles, whom I kissed, or Nicolas' for that matter. Whom I am going on a date with tonight. And then the heat is gone, as the blood drains from my face. I bite my lip and chance a glance over at Joshua. He seems to be un-phased by this turn of events. He even smiles. Damn him!
"Who's the lucky guy?" Juanita ask, also smiling.
"Uh,he's just a guy that graduated last year. He's back in town visiting some friends and we ran into each other in the parking lot."
"We could do Spiderman next Friday then." Joshua says. He's being awfully cool about this. It worries me.
"What about Saturday?" Aria asks.
"I work Saturdays."
"Sunday then?"
This time Sam speaks up. "Nah, man. Sunday is church day. Can't do Sundays."
"Then next Friday it is." I say, putting on a smile.
After school, I finally catch Joshua alone. I want to explain, to tell him it all happened before the...uh. Crap, he's getting away!
I run up to him and catch his sleeve. He turns around, smiling at me.
"Hey, Maggie. What's up?"
"I,um," How do I start this? How do I tell him?I take a deep breath and decide to just blurt it out. "Look, this all happened before I went to your house and we, uh." I scratched my head, looking away. I can't look in his eyes right now. What if I hurt him? I didn't want to see that on his face.
"It's fine, Maggie. Really." He pulls on my chin to look into my eyes. He has a sincere smile on his face. Is he really okay with this?
"It's not like you asked me to kiss you and I should have made sure you were okay with it before I did. I don't hold any kind of exclusive rights to your time. You are your own person and can make your own decisions."
"You're being awfully cool about this. I just, it would kill me if I hurt you. You're such a great guy and I, um..." I mumble. I almost told him I liked him. But how can I say that when I'm going on a date with another guy tonight? Social lives are hard. Can I go back to not having one?
"I know, Maggie. It's because you have such a big heart and you deserve to give yourself a chance to find out if this guy is the right one."
"I, uh, I just-" I look back down, biting my lip. I feel so cruel right now.
"And you have to promise to give me a chance too."
"I—what?"My eyes snap back to his face, a smirk on his lips and a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Monday is my next day off and you are going on a date with me."
I nod. "O-okay."
He ruffles my hair and walks off into the parking lot. I stand there and watch him go.
"What was that about?" Aria walks up startling me out of my stupor.
"I have a date. Another date. I have two dates. Aria, what the hell is happening to me?"
"Aw,my widdle Maggie is all growed up." She says wrapping her arms around my head in an awkward hug. I shove her off and head for my car.
Aria came over to help me get ready for my date with Nicolas. She brought over half her wardrobe because apparently my closet full of t-shirts wasn't good enough.
"You said Nicolas was in a suit, which means he will also be wearing one when he picks you up tonight." She said, picking up dresses,shaking her head and tossing them aside.
"You don't know that. He could have planned a hiking trip."
"We live on the plains, where are you going to go hiking?"
"I just mean-"
"He wore a suit, you will dress to match. Now shut up and put this on."
She tossed a dress at me. It was a wine red flared dress, no poofy underskirt this time though. I put it on then looked at the dress and glared at her.
"I don't think so." The design was similar to the dress she had me wear to the party, but the neckline plunged down in a 'V' showing way more cleavage than I was comfortable with.
"He's like, designer hot, so you need to look like you deserve to be by his side. Which means designer dress. You're not changing."
In the end, she won. At least she didn't even try to put glitter in my hair this time since she was going for a more elegant and mature look. We were just finishing up when the doorbell rang. I looked at myself in the mirror. I really did look elegant. Aria did a great job.
I heard my mom greet Nicolas at the door and I turned to Aria. "I think I'm going to throw up."
She raised her eyebrow at me. "Not in that dress, you're not."
"Aria,I don't think I can do this."
"Yes you can."
"Just tell him I got sick."
"You're going."
"What if I make a total fool out of myself? I mean, I can barely walk in these shoes. What if I break an ankle. Actually that's a good idea! Tell him I broke my ankle. Or really break my ankle! Even better!"
She grabbed my arm and ushered me out the door. Apparently I wasn't getting out of this.
Nicolas stood in the doorway dressed in a black suit, dress shirt and tie. He looked like a mafia hit man. An extremely sexy mafia hit man. In his arms he held a large bouquet of dark red roses, a smaller one was in Mom's hands.
"I must say, Maggie, you're choice in men is exceptional. I haven't gotten this many flowers in ages." She smiled.
Nicolas walked forward, taking my hand and kissing it lightly. "You look stunning, Magnolia."
"Th-thanks."I mumble.
He hands me the flowers, "A beautiful bouquet for a beautiful woman."
Wow, cheesy line. But does it work? Of course it does. I bite my lip, transfixed by his intense gaze. He glances to my lips and smirks. His eyes do the talking for him this time and I can read exactly what he is thinking. I feel my skin burning as mom walks over and takes the roses from me.
"I'll just go put these in some water shall I? Aria, you can help." She gave me a knowing grin and pulled my friend from the room leaving me alone with Nicolas. I had the sudden urge to grab Aria's arm and scream 'Please don't leave me!' but I took a deep breath instead.
Nicolas offered me his arm. "Shall we?"
Dear readers,
Yay! Date time! Wow, they are both being such gentlemen, Maggie really got lucky in love, didn't she? Date #1 in the next chapter? What does Nicolas have planned for our little cinnamon roll?
Please click that little star in the corner to let me know you liked it! And leave a comment. I would love to hear your predictions!