Broken

Chapter 12

I bit my lower lip and tried to keep my eyes to his. I didn't quite understand how he still made me feel so nervous around him.
"Nice game." I finally said when I released my lips.
"Come on." He groaned. "Use your own words Ronique."

Oops.. that was what Nina said last wasn't it?

I almost chuckled.
"You did do great out there." I rephrased and he smiled.
"Sounds better and thank you." I nodded.
"So.. have you uh.. had dinner yet?"
I shook my head.
"It's still too early to be home, you mind if we go eat somewhere?"
I smiled. "Sure."

We walked to his car and soon enough we were driving away from the game ground.
"I'm happy you came to watch me."
I smiled. "Can you turn your car stereo?"
He nodded and tried to turn it on with his right hand, the other one firmly gripping the wheel.
The voice of 6blacks Pretty little fears quietly filled my ear.
"Thank you." I muttered.

We finally pulled up at the famous Todd's restaurant. He opened the door for me which was kind of cute and we walked in together.

People were of course having dinner already on different tables.
I and Paxton chose an empty seat and sat, a waiter came around and asked us to look through our menu which we did and placed the same order.

When he left to get the orders, I looked around to savour the beauty of the place with my eyes and got back in time to see Paxton's eyes trained on me.

I lowered my eye gaze as I felt red burning into my cheeks.
"You like here, don't you?" He asked
"Guess I will decide when I have a taste of their food." I answered and he chuckled.
They was a little silence before he spoke again.
"You are really not the type to talk so much."
I shrugged.

The waiter came back with the orders, we both ordered prawn risotto and side salad.
He presented it with a practiced flair, while the drink steward topped our glasses.
"Thank you." I whispered to them and they smiled.

"So are you gonna go to college?" Paxton tried to make the conversation flow the moment the waiters retreated.
I thought for a while, my mind had never gone to that before.
"I don't know." I simply said.
"Seriously?" He had a look of disbelief. "Everyone is certain about the college they wanna go."
I furrowed my eyebrows. "I'm not everyone, am I?"

He gave me an eye scan and his face turned up into a smile.
"Of course you aren't." He picked his cutlery and started eating and I did too.

"So do you like the place?"
He asked me, the moment I put a spoon in my mouth.
I chewed dramatically and smiled. "The foods pretty delicious." I commented and he grinned.
"They sell mostly seafood here and it's like my favourite place." He explained and I nodded.
"Yeah...I was thinking I should pay for the food to congratulate you on your game."
He laughed heartily. "Its fine Ronique, I brought you here, I would have to pay, perhaps next time."
I just nodded.

"So why aren't you certain about college?"
Thinking about that now I think I found the answer.
"I'm not sure I could pass for college."
He raised a brow. "Why? You're like the smartest person I've met."
I smiled at his compliment but shook my head afterwards. "I don't think my mom could afford that."
"And your dad?" He asked.

I scoffed. "I would have been really better off without a fucking dad."
I regretted the seconds I said that. I really didn't tell much to people.
He held my gaze for a while. "That wasn't the nicest thing to say."

"Who cares?" I snapped suddenly getting annoyed. "Perhaps because you have a lovely.... " I was glad I stopped  before I could say something I knew I was going to regret.

I averted my eyes from him and donned down my glass of water.
He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Ronique..."
"I... I.." I cut him off about to apologize for my outburst but my phone rang.
I checked the ID, it was my mom.
"Excuse me." I muttered and stood up and went out.