21st Century Knight

Chapter 3 What is This, a Date?

"Madison Blake, long time no see." Brandon rolled his tongue disinterestedly. Gabriella thought he looked like she had some infectious disease and wanted to avoid her. But Madison didn't notice.

"So hilarious running into here! What a coincidence! It's like fate. We always run into each other." Her voice was way too affected like she put it on and slid up and down like a kazoo, Gabriella thought.

"You don't say." Brandon drawled. Madison caught sight of Gabriella just then.

"Who is that, the new help your dad got? She should at least wear a uniform." She looked disdainfully at Gabriella.

"No such thing, Madison. This is Gabriella, my date." Gabriella herself was stunned to hear that and could not mistake it this time; whereas Madison looked like didn't comprehend what he just said.

"Are you playing a game Brando? Ok I'll play along."

"No game," Brandon said curtly. Madison blinked, as though trying to understand a foreign language. Brandon didn't wait around for her to understand. He walked toward the counter with a nonchalant 'see you later', pulling Gabriella with him.

"Wait! You can't be serious." Gabriella protested, finally getting her own brain to wrap around what he just said. He quickly gave his credit card at the counter, obviously in a hurry to get away from the store.

"Thank you for shopping with us, come again soon," the attendant said. Brandon grabbed the bag and strode quickly to the door, forcing Gabriella to scurry after him on her shorter legs.

"Brando, will you be at the party this Saturday?" Madison called hurriedly before he could get out, determined to get an answer from him.

"Maybe, maybe not. I haven't decided yet." He said carelessly and walked out. Madison still went on talking with a petulant face, feeling put out at his lack of cordiality.

"Fine, I'll see you later Brando!"

"She seemed desperate, did you have to cut her off that rudely?" Gabriella asked as they walked to the car. Brandon ignored her, too intent in thought. Gabriella made a face behind his back. He sure has bad manners, she thought. And not just to me. Looks like he treats all women he doesn't like like that.

In the car, Brandon turned the radio loud, blaring a dance pop song. Gabriella could sense he didn't want to talk so she settled back and enjoyed the song, which she happened to like, her foot tapping on the rug to the beat. After a few seconds he came out of his thoughts and noticed her.

"You like this song?"

"Sure." His gaze flickered to her occasionally from the road.

"What?" she asked, noticing his eyes.

"I didn't think you were the kind of person to like this kind of a song, or any music for that matter. And I was also wondering what happened to that girl from half an hour ago, who looked like she wanted to throttle me." Gabriella bit back a smile. It wouldn't do to let him see that he made her smile. But he caught it.

"Was that a smile?" he asked, with a grin.

"No," she said, turning to look out as they slowed to stop at the signal.

"I think it was." He took hold of her chin with his free hand and turned her head slowly toward him. Noticing she was biting her lower lip to keep from smiling, he pulled it out from under her teeth with his thumb.

"Hey!" she said, surprised at his presumptuousness.

"You got real pretty lips. Don't ruin them by chewing them off." he stated as-a-matter-of-factly. Gabriella lowered her gaze, suddenly feeling abashed.