Time

Chapter 6

"Why am I so nervous?"

"I am asking that same question."

"It's not our first date. This is like our 5th date."

"Seventh."

"Why do you know that?"

Bea shrugged. "I'm attentive."

Teegan sarcastically responded. "Right."

"Girl, look. You will be fine. You will step out of this room, looking amazing, head out with Arlo and have an amazing date."

"You're right." She admired herself in the mirror. She wore a simple black midi dress with spaghetti straps and a sweetheart neckline. Her hair curled and she wore black wedges. The make-up was kept to a minimum. "You are an artist."

"Tell me something I don't know." The doorbell was rung. "He's here."

As she stood, her nerves grew stronger. Something wasn't right. She couldn't shake that feeling no matter how hard she tried. The whole day, it was present. All their past dates, she'd never felt this way. "Something isn't right, Bea."

Bea placed her hands on her best friend's shoulders. "You will be fine. Stop worrying. Now go and enjoy yourself."

"Okay."

"Okay."

"Okay."

"Are we gonna stay up here and keep saying okay or will you head downstairs?"

Ignoring her friend, Teegan went downstairs. When she got to the top of the stairs, she paused. The young man at the bottom looked breathtaking. His mop of hair was left untamed, just the way she liked it. His grey eyes zoned in on her. A warm smile graced his face as he stared at the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. He wore a navy blue shirt leaving the first 3 buttons unbuttoned. His shirt was tucked into black dress pants. His feet were hidden by black converse. His left hand let go of the railing and instead stretched out for her to take when she made her way down the stairs.

"You look stunning, amore." he kissed her cheek.

"You do too." she smiled up at him.

"Bring her back by 11." Tomas sternly spoke.

"Will do, sir." They waved at everyone. The walk to the car was quiet. Arlo opened the door for her. Once she was settled, he made his way to the driver's seat. Turning on the engine, they made their way to the restaurant. Every now and then he'd look at her. She kept her gaze on the passing houses.

"You nervous?" He asked.

She turned to him. "A little." She admitted.

"Why?"

"I don't know."

Teegan felt a hand grab a hold of her's. "Don't be." She only nodded.

"So which restaurant are we headed to?" She changed the subject.

"Well, aren't the eager one." He chuckled.

"You've kept me in the dark for so long."

"It's only been a day."

"A day has 24 hours and that's long."

"Patience is a virtue, darling."

"Yeah, yeah. Now, will you tell me, please?" He kept silent. "Arlo?" He smiled.

Silence.

"Arlo?"

Silence.

"Don't leave me in the dark." He kept his mouth shut. She pouted and folded her arms. "You're mean."

"Only for you, baby." 

"That's not funny, Arlo."

"It kinda is." He laughed to prove a point.  "Did I tell you, you look beautiful?"

"You did, but it doesn't hurt to say it more often."

"I don't want to feed your ego more than I have already."

She flipped her hair. "It's a little too late for that."

They arrived at the restaurant. It was an Italian restaurant. Walking inside, they were escorted to their table, in the middle of the area. They placed their order and resumed talking.

"Have you decided which university you're going to?" Teegan had been accepted to multiple universities including the one Arlo was attending.

"No, not yet."

"Why not?"

"All these places are amazing and I really want to make the right decision." She tried convincing herself that that was the reason. However, Arlo knew she wasn't being honest.

"Nope, that isn't the primary reason."

"Ugh, I can never keep things from you." 

"No, you can't darling. Now tell me what the issue is." 

"I don't think I should be thinking about that." She placed her arms on the table.

"You don't want to go to university?" His eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"I do, but time isn't exactly on my side." She said in a daze. When she had her last incident, the doctor told her, her body was giving out. If she was lucky, she had a few more years. 

She knew better.

Arlo wasn't around when it happened. She begged everyone to keep it secret from him for the time being. It wasn't easy since he was always at her house.

He knew they were keeping things from him but he thought whatever it was a private matter. He never pushed anyone to find out.

"Everyone's time is limited. What's this about, Teegan?" He asked with slight concern.

Before she could answer, the waiter arrived with their food. She insisted they eat. They ate in silence. With every bite, she took she prepared herself to tell him about her illness.

It's time, she thought. I need to do this. He needs to know.

The more she tried to encourage herself, the more the fear rose. The fear of rejection. Him feeling betrayed. Him hating her for not opening up to him. 

He needs to know.

He needs to know.

He needs to know.

It's now or never.

"I need to tell you something." She looked at her plate, refusing to look at him. "You know I love you right?"

"I love you too, amore." 

"Please try to understand where I am coming from, okay?"

"Okay." He took hold of her hand to comfort her.

Suddenly, she couldn't breathe. She felt as her throat closed up. Grabbing her throat she tried to speak but she couldn't. 

"Amore, what's wrong?" Arlo stood up and was immediately at her side. He didn't know what to do.

Tears formed in her eyes. She tried gasping for air but the more she did, the worse it got.

"Somebody help!" He shouted at no one. A waiter ran to them and looked at her. 

Arlo and the waiter laid her on the floor.

"She's having an allergic reaction. Does she have an EpiPen?" He asked.

Arlo grabbed her purse. He turned it over hoping it would fall out but it didn't. "She doesn't have one." The waiter shouted to the other people asking for one. Another waiter showed up with one and jabbed it into her leg. She took in a deep breath. The feeling around her throat improved and she could breathe better but not well. Her breaths were shallow and uneven. 

The sound of the ambulance approaching grew louder. "Are you okay?" Arlo hugged her as tears fell. 

She fainted before she had the chance to respond.