Getting to Nirvana {editing}

Chapter 21

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. ~Buddha

Chapter 21

Nirvana

"So your birthday's in two days how does it feel to be almost eighteen? You can now smoke until your lungs give out on you, become a stripper, and hook up with me, legally. Aren't you excited?" Daniel asks as he grins at me.

In response I throw a French fry covered in ketchup at his head. It immediately gets caught in his curly hair. I laugh and he scowls.

"Aren't you a little bit to old to be playing with food?" He question as he takes the fry from his hair and tosses it in his mouth.

I give him a look of disgust to which he shrugs at. "What? My hair. My lice."

"Eww you have lice?" I cringe in disgust.

"I was just kidding."

Our waitress comes by with our check and we pay. She was young and pretty. I thought Daniel would go for her. After she leaves I look to Daniel in surprise.

"What?" He asks.

"She was pretty why didn't you ask her out or something?"

"So every pretty girl I see I have to ask out?"

"Well that's what you usually do." I state matter of factly taking a sip of my soda.

"Fine then Nirvana will you go on a date with me?"

I almost choke on my soda. "W-what?"

"You said every pretty girl I see I have to ask out. So I'm asking you out." He states pointedly his cerulean eyes dancing with amusement.

"I'm flattered." I reply sarcastically, but my stomach starts hammering like crazy. But of course he didn't really mean that he was just joking.

"Anyways what kinda guy do you take me for? I don't ask every girl I see out. I'm not some whore."

"Since I've known you you've already been through two girls and I've know you for less than a month. So that says otherwise." For some strange reason I find myself actually caring about how many girls he's dated.

"I promise you I don't go through that many girls on a regular basis. My last girlfriend was almost a year ago. And me and checkout girl only went on two dates and we didn't even kiss and that other girl we just-"

"It's okay. You don't have to explain your love life to me." I interrupt his rambling.

To my surprise he actually looks down at his almost empty platter of food and blushes.

"Are you blushing? That's so cute!" I gush jokingly. "Is it because of our waitress?"

He frowns. "I'm not blushing, and even if I was it wouldn't be because of the waitress. I don't like her. So drop it."

"Touchy subject. Fine I'll drop it." I hold up my hands defensively.

He glares at me in response.

We finish up our food and then leave the restaurant walking back to our hotel. "So I have an early birthday gift to give to you." Daniel states with a knowing smile.

I'm shocked for a while. A birthday present for me? "Really?"

"Yes really. Of course. Why wouldn't I get you something?"

"Well because I probably wouldn't get you anything if it was your birthday." I answer truthfully. What do boys like anyways? Cars, shoes? For my dad's birthday I would always buy him a tie even though he worked at a plant so never really wore them. Eight brand new ties, representing ever year since I was ten, hang abandoned in his closet. They even still have the 19.99 dollar dangling on it.