Dusk Till Dawn

Dinnertime

Bella

"Jess! Angela!" I yelled, gaining their attention. They rushed back to me, the pronounced relief on both their faces simultaneously changing to surprise as they saw who was standing slightly behind me.

Jessica however, didn't hesitate to pull me into a hug. Her voice was coated with worry. "Where have you been? You weren't answering your phone and—"

"I know, I know. I'm sorry," I said. "I got lost...then I ran into Rosalie and we kind of lost track of time."

"Would it be alright if I joined you?" She asked in her usual lowly voice. I could still hear the slight tension in her words.

"Um, actually, Bella, we already ate while we were waiting— sorry," Jessica confessed, looking at Rosalie with a sort of smugness.

Rosalie then looked at me, not paying Jessica any mind. "Then if it's okay with you and your friends, I can take you home after you're done eating?"

Instead of Jessica, Angela was the one to answer. "That's totally fine, Rosalie!" She gripped on tightly onto Jessica's arm, pulling her to the car parked not too far away. Over her shoulder, Angela called out, "See you guys tomorrow!"

"Is Jessica aware that you guys aren't dating?" Rosalie mumbled, gently guiding me to the restaurant. "She's very annoying."

"Jess isn't that bad."

Rosalie only gave me a hopefully playful glare as she held the door open. Obviously, she didn't want to hear more of my friend's crush on me.

The restaurant wasn't crowded— it was the off-season in Port Angeles. The host was a guy, and I understood the look in his eyes as he assessed Rosalie. He welcomed her a bit more warmly than necessary. I could only scoff quietly.

"Table for two." I could see him blush under the dim lighting due to the sound of her voice. "Somewhere, private, preferably." His eyes flickered to me then back to the blonde standing next to me. The host seated us to a small ring of booths, all of them empty.

"Is this okay?"

"Perfect, thank you." Rosalie didn't give him a full smile, just lifted up one corner of her lips; that was still enough for him to stumble over his words and unsteadily walk away.

"Poor guy," I muttered to myself.

Of course, I forgot that she could probably hear better than most. "Hm?"

"The way you dazzled him, Rosalie. He's probably thinking of all types of fantasies now," I joked. "I mean, you have to realize the effect you have on people."

She answered easily. "Of course I do. I just never heard it in that way before; dazzle. Do I...do I dazzle you?"

I couldn't hide the redness on my cheeks. "All the time."

And then our servere arrived, who looked as if she would rather be anywhere other than here. While she did do a slight double take when she saw Rosalie, there was no other reaction.

"Hello. My name is Amber and I'll be your server tonight. What can I get you to drink?" Amber looked at me first.

"I'll have a Coke."

"Make that two," Rosalie said when it was her turn; her eyes didn't leave my face.

"What?" I asked when she left.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Rosalie whispered.

"I'm fine, really," I said just as softly.