I Need More Time

Chapter 6

  My dad walks to the front door, unlocks it and pulls it open. Driss stood in the door frame as if he was just about to knock again, but quickly put his hand down as my dad reached his hand out for a firm handshake.

"Welcome to our home young man, thank you for coming," My dad says putting a hand on Driss's shoulder leading him in.

"No problem Mr. uhhh-," Driss says clearly not knowing our family last name.

"Wahalo. It's Mr. Wahalo. Come sit at the table, My wife made dinner for us and I'm sure it's done by now," My dad states heading towards the kitchen.

Driss begins to follow him, but looks up and finally notices me at the top of the stairs. I was still frozen in the same spot since he had rung the doorbell. He stops walking, just smiles at me and mouths, "get down here princess," while gesturing his hand towards himself.

I shook my head, and didn't move. No way do I want to have dinner with him. He's such an ass.

Driss just smirks at me and walks through the kitchen doorway leaving me still on the stairs. I hear my mother start to chat with him, while plates start clinking as they are being set down.

Do I really have to go down there? Damn it I just want to be in my room. I'm so sick of this.

Reluctantly, I walk down the stairs quietly and head towards the table. Everyone is already sitting down which leaves me the only seat right next to Driss. I sit down and scoot my chair up while tucking some hair the fell out of my bun behind my ears. My mother across from me clinks her glass, ready to make a toast as if we were in a room full of hundreds of people.

"We just want to thank you Driss for being there for Lola when she needed it most. We are so thankful because we weren't there to help her but you were. Not one of us could have expected this to happen to Lola but we are grateful for you to have been there when you were," My mom says teary eyed," and thank you Lola for being our beautiful daughter. We are so grateful to have you in our lives and nothing in the world could change that."

I look at my mother while biting my lip. I feel one tear go down my cheek, as this is the nicest thing she had said to me in years.
My heart felt full for just that one moment.

"Thank you Mrs. Wahalo I was just in the right time at the right place," Driss says nodding his head.

'I second what she says, as I have a beautiful daughter and I'm so grateful for you Driss as you took care of my baby girl even though you didn't have to, cheers to that!," My dad says raising his wine glass.

I look down at our set places to see wine in my glass as well. Well at least there are some perks of having a brain tumor. I grab my glass and raise it to clink for the toast. After my sip, I feel slightly nauseous so I quickly put the glass down. I ball one of my fists up to concetrate on not throwing up. A minute passes and the feeling goes away, but I feel someone's gaze on me again. I look to my right directly in to Driss's eyes for just a moment to signal to him to leave me alone.
He stares back without a word, just a look of concern.

After a while of my parents talking to Driss and getting to know him, I find out a couple of things. Well, not without my parents sharing personal stories about me with him first. I guess he's from Brooklyn, New York, and he was raised by a single mom. They moved here because it was to expensive to continue to live in New York, so they chose to move here. Driss also mentioned he never really saw his mom because she was always at work so most of the time he was alone. My mom then offered for him to be able to come here anytime if needed anything. Driss nodded back, agreeing.

Throughout dinner I just sat listening, barely talking. I just didn't have much to say. As it was time for dessert, my parents both got up to go to the kitchen to cut the pie my mom made.

Now it was just me and Driss. I feel a warm hand on my thigh under the table. I turn to Driss with a puzzled look. I push his hand off and look back at my plate.

"I want to say I'm sorry for how I've been acting with you," He says now turning his whole body towards me, "I just don't know how to handle situations well."

"Thank you for apologizing, I just didn't like you always jumping to leave," I said still looking down, but now at the spot he had placed his hand on my thigh moments ago.

"I'm not looking to leave I just don't want to be a weirdo always popping up to save you or whatever."

"Driss, it's fine. You actually are very sweet for helping me and making sure I was ok. I mean no one else did. No one else cares. But it seems like you do how come?", I question him.

"Princess, from the moment I saw you when I walked into that room. I couldn't stop thinking about you. You were in your own world, not caring about anyone or anything else. I could see how different you were. I like that."

Wow that's what he really thinks of me? I thought he  didn't like me. What does this mean, I've never had a boy talk to me like this?

I felt his warm hand back on my thigh again causing my heartbeat to accelerate. I looked at him wondering what he was thinking. And right then he gave me my answer.

"I think your special Lola. Trust me I won't let anything happen to you. I'll always be here if you let me."

"I'll let you," I whisper out.

His hand starts to move up and down my thigh rubbing it. He looks into my eyes as if you wants to kiss me. Something inside was screaming to just let him do whatever he wants.

"Desserts ready!" My mom yells coming into the room. We both jump at her voice and Driss puts both hands in his pockets.