Dark and Light

Chapter 4

"Hello and welcome to Andiamo!!” A smiling hostess greeted Chad and I as we walked into the restaurant. The lights were dimmed giving everything a dark blue shade. Music thudded in the background giving the restaurant a club feel.

  “A new date tonight huh, Mr. Chad?” She pried. I felt Chad’s arm tense around my waist. I felt stupid. I wasn’t the only girl he brought here. Which I guess he done often to be personally known by the staff.

 "That's not your concern anymore, Linda."Chad played off  her comment and asked for a table for two. Once we sat down he gazed at me with a huge grin. I noted that when he smiled large, dimples showed. Chad cleared his throat and picked up his menu. I studied his eyes as they darted back and forth studying the Italian dishes that filled up the pages. Chad’s eyes were green and glowed. I enjoyed watching them dance across the room.

  “What are you ordering?” His voice broke my trance.

  “Um, I’m not too hungry. “ I shyly replied. Which I wasn’t; I ate before I came hoping it would decrease the length of the date.

  “No, you’re getting something. Pick or I’ll pick for you.” His tone frightened me. Chad waved to waitress over to take our orders.

  “.... And what would you like sweetheart?” An older woman with her hair tied neatly behind her head smiled at me. I opened my mouth to tell her I wasn’t hungry but Chad but in.

 “She’ll take what I’m having. Oh and send out your nicest bottle of wine.” The women hastily wrote down Chad’s ordered and scurried off into the kitchen, afraid to make Chad wait a moment too long. I wondered why everyone was so willing to please him here..

  Chad scooted his chair next to mine. He placed his hand on my leg and moved it dangerously close to my sex. As he began to crawl his fingers closer and closer my body tensed up. No one touches me like this. He pushed my hair away from my shoulders and laughed. I assumed he was inspecting the hickey I was given by him the night before. I squirmed in my seat feeling very uneasy. Chad placed his lips softly against a sensitive spot just below my ear. I let out a light moan and quickly regretted it. People around us begun to flash  looks of disapproval . I felt dirty. This was not the time nor the place to being fooling around. I would have assumed Chad should have known better.

  I jolted up and grabbed my purse, “ I’m going to the ladies room, I’ll be right back.” I nearly sprinted to the bathroom. I threw my bag against a chair and paced back forth. I needed to get out of here. Chad wasn’t safe; he was a player. His intentions were clearly in one place and I didn’t want to go there. I leaned against the counter top beginning to panic.

  I was startled when door opened and it was our waitress. She had a sympathetic look on her face.

  “Hi are you Aubrey? The young man you’re with asked me to come and check on you,” she smiled.

  I felt like I could trust this woman, she resembled a close great aunt. “I can’t go back out there,” I choked back tears. Why was I crying? Damn it grow up, Aubrey.

  A look of concern crossed her features, “ Are you hurt? Did he do something?”

 Did he do something? What was she thinking he had done to me? “No, no, no, I just… I can’t do it. He scares me,” I whispered, afraid he would some how hear me.

  The women took in a breath and patted my shoulder lightly. “I’ll tell him you weren’t in here.”

  A weight lifted off my chest and I barely could speak, I mouthed the words “thank you” to her as she walked out to door.

  “WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE’S NOT THERE?” Chad’s loud voice boomed through the bathroom walls. The door to the bathroom burst open and Chad locked his eyes with mine. I gulped and my eyes expanded with fear. He looked at the waitress in disgust and stormed  into the bathroom, ignoring the “ladies room” sign.

  “I-I can expla-,”

Chad cut me off “ Are you alright? Did I upset you?” his voice was full of worry and regret.

For the first time I felt like I was talking to a sweet human being.  Chad sat down on the plush chair next to me. He buried his head into my shoulder and wrapped his arms around my torso. I didn’t know how to respond. I gently stroked his arm and took his presence in. The scent of his cologne had danced into my nose. He smelled nice.

  “Do I frighten you?” Chad broke the uncomfortable silence. I could barely make out his words though; his head was still buried into my shoulder.  I didn’t want to let him know the truth so I gave him silence. A deep chuckle vibrated off his throat and he looked up.

He aggressively cupped my chin and whispered, “I want you to…whisper dirty things...in my ear.”

  I shot up like a jack-in-the-box. I was appalled. He was so innocent, and then he had to make that suggestive comment.

  “Take me home.” I commanded.

  ‘This date isn’t over yet babe,” he smiled at me; that stupid cheeky smile.