The Date After

VII

As I made my way down the hall, editing my never-ending homework list, I noticed a pair of shoes ahead of me that weren't moving. Usually, I'd keep walking and yell at whatever poor fellow I ran over for being stupid or something, but I wasn't in the mood. So I stopped, finished entering my chemistry homework, then I looked up at the idiot who had yet to move from my path.

Surprisingly the idiot was very good-looking. He had tan-ish skin with freckles covering most of his defined cheekbones. His black hair was messy yet perfectly styled to frame his face. His lips were relaxed despite the tension in his muscular jaw. His eyes tore holes into my head, the deep browns holding secrets unknown as he searches my face for any sign of emotion.

Allow me to edit my previous statement: Holy fuck he's hot.

With this in mind, I was thankful that hiding emotion has always been another one of my fortes but for some reason, I didn't want to hide my whirling feelings from this man. His wide shoulders were covered in a leather jacket of his own. In fact, I think he sits on the other side of the fourth row in chemistry.

I raised my eyebrow to him in hopes he'll explain his presence blocking my path. When he made no comment it became clear I'd have to make my question a little more verbal.

"May I help you?" I threw in tons of attitude with enough sarcasm to make even me roll my eyes.

"You got a 100 on the pretest." I looked at him slightly startled. There is no way he could've seen my VERY well hidden score from the other side of the classroom.

I let a bark of laughter escape my mouth as my mind fondled the hidden question in his comment. "I think you imagined a zero bucko, there's no way I got a fucking 100 on that stupid ass test."

Anger flashed through his eyes. Probably cause I just claimed that he is seeing things but strange nonetheless.

I moved around him as I remembered my delectable savior was waiting still for me. Sadly, it seemed I'd have to try a bit harder than that to lose him.

Walking next to me he finally voiced his impending question. "Why did you hide your score?" I was about to define the meaning of "cause it's no one's business" when he cut me off. "Or why lie about it?" His question was filled with curiosity yet his voice was completely void of it. It was monotone yet deep and commanding almost. Ugh, I needed to stop thinking about this.

I shut my mouth and decided on a new plan of action: Ignore the hot duche. It worked till I got to the cafeteria doors and he stepped in front of me.

"I was told by Mrs. Feymmer that I need a tutor. And you seem smart enough to help me not fail."

I mentally scoffed and rolled my eyes. I was certainly smart enough. "I could make your head spin a hundred different ways. So yeah, I'd say I'm smart enough. Now if you don't mind I have places to be." I wasn't really asking him to move but that's how he seemed to have heard it.

I stepped right to get around him, again, when he cut me off...again. And we have a death wish announced that annoying little voice in my head.

"Say yes first." Damn, this dude was impossible.

I met his daring gaze. Daring me to say no, daring me to walk away. And daring me to say yes.

"Fine, just fucking fine. Just as long as you get the fuck out of my way so I can eat my fucking food." As much as I didn't want to leave this hot hunahunk behind I wanted my food more. Nothing ever stands between me and my food.

This time when I went to move around his body he didn't block me.

As I walked past him his left arm moved in front of me. With his arm wrapped around my stomach, he stepped behind me effectively trapping me in place.

"Fucking wonderful."He whispered into my ear, his nose digging into the hair directly behind. "I'll meet you after school." It wasn't a request. There was no fighting it but I didn't think I wanted to either.

His arm slowly began to release me. As his hand reached the side of my waist I went to step away when his other hand locked onto my other hip. I stayed still waiting for his next move.

I could feel his lips brush against my ear as he whispered one final command to me. "Dirty words shouldn't belong in a pretty mouth like yours."

I was frozen in place as I felt his presence behind me begin to disappear. By the time I was able to move again, my song had ended along with my playlist. But I didn't start it again as I remembered my grumbling stomach and the cafeteria in front of me. I made my way to my table as I found myself wondering what the hell I just signed up for.

Sure enough, after school, he had driven us to his place and I helped him study. That was one of the things that I have always loved about him. He always keeps his word.

I remember that night he tried to kiss me when he dropped me off. I had said no though because my rule was at least one date first. But, if I had known what my life would look like in 3 weeks I would've had a different reaction. That night he asked me out and the next we were eating dinner at the local cafe after hours.

I was so caught up in the memory that I didn't even realize that Laurent had returned and was about to sit down.

"What are you smiling about?" He asked with amusement as he grabbed two Tupperware bowls out of the basket.

I shrugged and smiled at him as I responded, "Nothing, just thinking about that night at the cafe." I grabbed a bowl from him as he grabbed the drinks from the basket. Inside was still-steaming spaghetti with garlic seasoning. He handed me a can of lemonade next as he opened his Dr. Pepper. He walked the empty basket to the controls and started the Ferris wheel. With what looked like a remote in hand he came and sat next to me again.

"I didn't know you knew how to run a Ferris wheel." He just smiled back down at me and shrugged his shoulders. Wrapping his arm around me he pressed what I could only assume to be the GO button.

I laid my head on his chest as the ride jumped to a start. He handed me a fork as he opened our bowls.

We sat there in peaceful bliss as the wheel went around and around and around again. Laurent put our empty bowls and drinks back in the basket as we finished them.

These were the nights I loved most. Nights when he'd find some magical place to watch the stars with me in his arms. He smelled like he always did. Mint from his shampoo and vanilla from his body wash with a hint of campfire from somewhere else. It was calming, the mixture of sharpness and soft homeliness all in this handsome man. When he first started dropping me off at home after school I tried to use mint and vanilla candles to substitute for him. It never worked which only led me to cherish moments like these even more. In almost every single romance book I've read the lead female had made some reference to the calming nature of their partner's scent. I had never understood it though until I met Laurent. After our first date at the cafe, I understood everything in my books. From being able to see his emotions in his eyes to falling asleep thinking about him.

Maybe I was falling dangerously hard dangerously fast but I didn't care.