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Thirty Five

A date.
I am going on a date! Someone actually and willingly wants to take me on a date! It's finally happening! After all those years of thinking that I'll never get to experience something like that in my entire life, someone is taking me to get lunch. Together.

Now what?

Of course I'm excited. I'm smiling randomly and sometimes, I space out and start imagining what it's gonna be like being on a date. How will it be? Will it be like the movies? Do I have to dress fancy, to impress my date?
What about my make-up? Jeanette isn't even here!

"I can hear you thinking from over here," Zion laughs and shoves another pancake into his mouth.

"You can't blame me," I finally put the mirror down after inspecting how much acne I have to cover up to look perfect for my date. "I've never been on a date."

"Me neither," Zion shrugs

"You can't be serious," I point an accusing finger at him. "You can't sit there and tell me that you've never been on a date!"

"It's true."

I can't believe it. He is handsome, rich and can be charming if he tries. Why has he never been on a date?
"Why?" I can't help but ask.

"I've never dated anyone."

"Again, why?"

"I've never been interested in dating," he shrugs again. "Or, maybe I hadn't met anyone who interests me enough to take her on a date."

"Not even Aimee?"

He chuckles and takes a sip from his glass of juice.
"Not even her," he affirms. "But I have to admit that jealousy is a good look on you."

"I'm not jealous," I look away, "I am just curious. You could be lying for all I know."

Zion frowns. "I swear I'm not lying. But if you still don't believe me, you can ask Riley, he will-"

"Take a joke, Thompson," I exit the living room while chuckling at his attempt to prove his innocence.

I find it hard to believe of course. He is Zion Thompson. If you knew him, you would doubt him too.
But it warms my heart that he wants to prove himself to me - which he doesn't need to but it's a sweet gesture. At least, he is trying to get my trust.

"Where are you taking me for lunch?" I yell from the kitchen

"Why do you ask?"

"So I can dress accordingly. It's general knowledge!"

"You don't need to dress accordingly, I don't mind whatever you put on as long as it's you."

A light blush cover my cheeks but I don't need to hide it this time because he can't see me.
"You are just a sweet talker. Tell me where we are going."

"Remember the fast food restaurant we went to last time?" he asks and I nod. Then I remember that he can't see me and I answer him verbally. "You still wanna try their pilau rice?"

"Yes!" I immediately agree. "I can't believe you remembered."

"I'd say something cheesy but I don't want your cheeks to burn. I know you've been blushing the entire time," he teases.

*****

Unlike last time, Zion makes an effort to open for me the car door when we arrive at the fast food restaurant. Let's not forget the fact that he helped me with my make-up because he used to help Julie - his sister - all the time.
In the end, he messed it all up and since we had no time to redo, I washed everything off.

So, here we are. Zion looking as glamorous as a model out of Vogue and poor Natalia looking like a beggar from the streets - maybe that's exaggerated but you get the comparison really.
I wore the red dress from wine tasting - because I am an outfit repeater and Jeanette said that men get attracted easily to women dressed in red.

"Come on," he offers his hand for me to take and I do. But inwardly, I'm screaming. A man is actually taking me on a date!

We enter the restaurant and sit in the booth far away from the door and distractions, make our orders and before I can order the drink, the waiter brings with him a glass of apple juice.

"Hmmm," I nod my head in approval. "This tastes so good."

"I remember that too," Zion drinks from his sparkling water. He really likes it too. "You said that apple juice tastes like introverted alcohol."

"It does!"

"Whatever you say. Today is about you, milady," he winks. "So, apart from everything I know, tell me something else you are good at."

"Uh, not so much really," I shake my head. "But I'd love to start a clothing store one day and make clothes myself. I mean, I can sew a little, I'm not a professional."

"Then, have you considered ever becoming a professional?"

"I can't. Have you forgotten that I didn't go to university?"

"Look," he reaches for my hand on top of the table. We are sitting opposite each other, so, we are making eye contact. "You don't need a university degree to be a professional. There are institutions that give professional certificates and I'm sure you qualify."

"I don't think-"

"Just think about it, okay?" he squeezes my hand and I nod. "I know a couple we can apply to and you'll be a professional in no time."

We?

I don't get to respond or ask what he means by "we" because the waiter decides to ruin my moment and bring out our food.
It tastes as delicious as I remember.

Even though it's a place we have been to before, it feels different. For starters, he isn't paying me for being here. Secondly, we are having a serious conversation and the fact that he is trying to get to know me is also an added bonus.
Let's not leave out the fact that he remembers my favorite drink, the joke I made about it and this restaurant having good pilau rice.

I didn't think he'd remember.

When we exit the restaurant, I expect him to drive me straight to the theater for work. Instead, he leans in and helps me with my seatbelt and whispers in my ear.
"Do you want to get some dessert?"