Crystal Clear

Chapter Twenty Four

GABBY

I'm on Mauricio's porch, the night is even hot in North Carolina. I'm wearing just clear lipgloss, a little mascara and blush—though I probably don't need it since Moe makes me blush enough.

I didn't know what to wear so I had decided on a little red sun dress, with a sequined jean-jacket and metallic t-strap stilettos. Dee curled my hair for me. She painted my nails as well for me. Everything came out gorgeous, I had thought.

A young girl about the age of eight or ten opens the door. You can tell she's wearing a blonde wig, in braids that reach her waist. She has black jeans on and an over-sized white collar dress shirt that's tucked in but puffy on her frail body.

"Good evening," she sounds like a professional, "Miss Graise, follow me," I do as she says, as she leads me through the house to two French doors and opens them for me, into the living room. Instead there's just a flaming fireplace and a small circle table with Moe sitting at it. He's wearing the same thing as the little girl, except rolled up sleeves, a tie and his black hair is spiked up. I smile genuinely. All of this, just for me. Aw! Moe pulls out my chair for me and I sit down. Then he sits on the other chair.

"You look beautiful," he tells me, my heart racing and I'm blushing already.

First blush of the night.

"You look... handsome," I compliment. He smirks.

Then the little girl is back.

"I'm Ana, I will be your dinner server tonight. What do you like to drink? We have soda, sweet tea, lemonade umm... apple juice...?"
"Sweet tea, please," I tell her, smiling at Ana. She is very pretty.

"Make that two," Mauricio adds.

"This is really nice Moe...Mauricio. But isn't that child labor?"

"She's getting paid," he jokes, laughing, "Anything for my babe." She comes back with two sweet teas, two empty glasses on a tray. As well as a small pitcher of water. How professional is she, really, this is too cute.

"Thank you, Ana,"

"No problem. I will be back shortly after your salad," she turns on her heel, closing the French doors behind her when she leaves.
"You know, I think true love at first sight does exist. I mean, I fell for you quick." Second time he's making my cheeks turn red.

You know, I shouldn't be keeping track to how many times he makes me blush since this is going to go on the whole night.

"Stop being awkward," I can't handle the compliments. Or... the truth. He's giving me a crooked smile, then starts eating his salad.

"I can't express to you how you make me feel," he says, I lift my eyebrow.

"What do you mean? Why not?" I ask, a little flustered.

"Because... it's like... when I saw you, I instantly fell in love..."
"And I smiled because I knew," I finished. I'm grinning like an idiot right now.

"Ha, well yeah. But like... ever since I met you, nobody else has even been worth thinking about. This is just something I've never felt before..." I have butterflies in my stomach and my heart feels as though it's floating away.

The little girl—Ana—comes back and puts a platter of mozzarella sticks on the table.

"Are you trying to get me fat?" Moe rolls his eyes at me.

I've barely touched my salad, so I start to eat. So far at least it's all vegetarian, which is nice.

"You play football," I say. He nods.