Love Burns

Chapter 12

Quinton

I don't think I've ever been this nervous in my entire life. It's just dinner but I don't know why,  my heart is beating so fast, at this rate, I'm probably gonna get a heart attack. I didn't think she'd say yes. I mean, she did ask for a date. But, I didn't think that it would happen so soon. I might've gone a bit overboard and reserved a table at one of the best sushi places in the city, but for her, I'd walk through fire.

I make it on time to her house but I don't see her out yet...where is she? Maybe I should call her-Whoa. After what feels like an eternity she steps out wearing this beautiful yellow dress with white heels. Her hair is in perfect curls and she has that adorable megawatt smile of hers plastered on her face. I find my eyes fixed on her, following her every move until she makes her way to me. "You look good." Is all I managed to say. I wanted to kiss her, but I could see her aunt and her cousin staring at me. Shit. I should've probably introduced myself. "Just stay here for a bit okay? Let me introduce myself to your family."
"Oh..you don't need to do that.."
"It'll only take a minute."
I make my way towards her aunt and cousin standing at the doorway assessing me.
"Good evening Ladies."
Her cousin smiles at me and says, "Good evening to you too Demarco. Listen if I see her crying when she comes back, I swear I-" her words get interrupted by the older woman standing beside her "Now Tati, where are your manners? I'm sorry, my daughter can be a little..protective over Olivia sometimes. That makes it the two of us, she means well. We love her a lot y'know..After she lost her parents and everything..I've tried to take care of her as my own... Anyways, bring her back before 10, and no funny business, young man." She loves her? From what I've heard from Ashley, it's quite the opposite. But who am I to judge? I assure her aunt that I'll bring her back on time and try to ignore the heated glare her cousin sends me. I like her cousin. It's nice that she has someone who cares about her around here. I finally make my way back to Olivia.
"Ready to go, princess?"
She laughs, god I love that sound. "Ready to let a man spoil me? Honey, I was born ready."
That makes me laugh too, she looks a little surprised and says, "You should smile more, you've a really pretty smile."
Calm down, Quinton, she's just being nice. "Are you flirting with me, Carter?"
She smiles again, "Is it working?"
She had no idea.

We arrived at the restaurant, and I could see the gears in Olivia's head moving as she tried to process how I got a reservation at this restaurant.
"How did you even-"
"I have my ways."
"Do I even want to know?"
I smile, "Depends. I just had to make a couple calls. No big deal."
She looks at me wide eyed, "Wow. You're like rich rich."
I smile, sometimes, being rich has its perks.

The waiter arrives at our table, and takes our order, Olivia orders a bunch of things and as the waiter is about to leave, she stops him, "Just a minute." She turns to me and asks, "Quinton aren't you gonna order anything?"
I turn to the waiter, "I'll have whatever she's having."
The waiter looks at me perplexed, and asks, "All of it, sir?"
"Yes, all of it."
He nods and leaves, "What was that all about?"
"What do you mean?"
I can see a hint of red on her cheeks, "Why did you just order 12 different sushis? I know that you hate seafoo- I mean, I don't know, that was just...unnecessary."
Huh.Looks like I'm not the only one who's down bad. "I'm flattered that you remembered that. Thank you Olivia."
That comment only made her blush more and I love it. I wonder what else would bring out that same reaction. "I-anyways, why did you choose such a fancy restaurant for a first date? Isn't a first date supposed to be a little...casual?"
"Well, nothing about me is casual now, isn't it?"
"I-okay you have to stop doing that."
"Stop doing what?"
"Saying things like that! It's so...cheesy and it sounds like it came straight out of a rom-com."
I laugh, I like seeing her flustered.

Finally, the food comes out and her eyes light up. Damn, if sushi was the way to this girl's heart I wouldn't have waited this long to bring her here. "That good, huh?"
"As a sushi connoisseur, this is amazing."
"Well, I'm glad you like it."
I pick up one of the 12 different sushis she ordered and before I eat it, she stops me, "Whoa, whoa, how can you eat sushi without dipping it in soy sauce and wasabi first?"
"Wait, is that what these are for?" I say pointing at the two plates beside the sushi.
She takes another piece of sushi and demonstrates how to eat it. "There we go." She points her chopsticks with the sushi towards me. "Now, it's perfect. Here." I eat it, and unsurprisingly, she's right. It tastes much better this way, but right now I'm thinking about is Olivia feeding me. Isn't that what real couples do? Just shut up just enjoy the moment. I tried to focus on my meal, but how could I? When Olivia was sitting right infront of me, smiling so brightly? At that moment, I knew, that every penny I spent here was worth it.

After dinner, Olivia suggested we go out for a walk at the beach. I wasn't really in the mood to walk today, but of course, I'll happily go walking with Olivia.
"See, I told you, a walk was the perfect way to end the day.And you get a pretty sunset too."
I didn't give a damn about the sunset she was going on about, my entire focus was on her, the way she looked when she was looking at that sunset and how adorable she looked while taking pictures of the beach and the sunset. It felt like a blessing just to be around her, just to live and breathe the same air as this woman. "Yeah, you're right. It is beautiful."
She rolled her eyes, "Did you even look at the sunset?"
"No, I was looking at something even more beautiful."
She swatted my arm, "Whatever Shakespeare, it's time for me to go back home."
"Already?" I check my watch, and it's just 5:00 P.M.
"Well, I haven't slept in 4 days because of this history assignment and since tomorrow's the formal, I wanted to get a good nights sleep so that I don't show up with looking like a panda huge under-eye bags."
I hadn't noticed her eye bags until she mentioned them. She was right, she did look tired, didn't look any less attractive though. I added.
"I don't mind your eye bags."
"Well, of course you won't, you're like in love with me or something." She says and then winks. Which sends me into cardiac arrest.
"Feeling cheeky now, are we?"
She smiles and her eyes light up with mischief, "Learnt from the best."
"Well, you-" My words get cut off by Olivia screaming at something behind me.
"Look! It's one of those vintage photo booths!Let's go and take pictures!"
She grabs my arm and drags me into the tiny booth, "Okay, what the hell is that pose? Relax your face a little and keep your expression natural. You look like you're being held hostage or something." I try to follow her advice and pose, unlike me, Olivia's a natural at posing and after a few minutes, our pictures are disposed out. "I wonder how they look!" Her excitement rivaled that of a little kid going to Disneyland for the first time. As expected Olivia looks amazing and like she's actually having fun meanwhile in almost all the pictures I'm staring at her like an idiot.
"They came out really good! Don't you think?"
"Does it matter what I think?"
She laughs, "Nope."

After forcing her to walk with me at the beach for longer I finally decide to drop her off. As soon as she gets out of the car, I start feeling empty, but as soon as she got out, she turns around and says, "I had fun today. You were a lot more...different..than I expected. I can't wait to see you tomorrow! Good night!" she really thinks that I'll be able to sleep after she smiles like that at me? I am screwed. So freaking screwed. But I don't have it in me to care right now. Cause all I see is this beautiful, charming girl in front of me.