Memory

Chapter 10

Jennifer P.O.V

The school day went by smoothly, which I was thankful for because sometimes the days were a little hectic, if not terrible.

Suddenly an unexpected visitor came by as I was about to finish tidying up my class.

"Hi, Ms.Gonzalez," Isabella waved, entering the classroom.

"Hey, Isa," I waved back when a sudden realization hit me. "Wait, where's your father"?

"Um, I don't know. My dad usually picks me up on time," she shrugged, utterly unaffected by being stuck at school.

Most students her age would have burst out crying or thrown a tantrum since that would mean they would have to wait longer to watch TV or play with their toys, but Isabella didn't seem to care, she seemed pretty okay with it.

"Can I do my homework here while I wait for him?" She asked, walking over towards her assigned seat.

"Yes, of course".

She gave me a bright smile, sat down, then pulled out several sheets of paper.

Once the room was spotless, I walked into the hallway to see if I could spot David, but there was still no sight of him.

Since We might be here for a little while, I took it upon myself to develop more lyrics for this song I've been writing for a while now.

I've only completed half of it, even though I've been working on it for four months. However, any progress is better than no progress.

Fifteen minutes passed, and David eventually appeared out of breath, with his face engulfed in guilt.

"I am so sorry, Jennifer," he said once he caught his breath. "I was having some complications with a customer and had to clear up the misunderstanding," he explained standing straight, straightening his shirt.

"It's okay, David. Isabella was a delight to be with, per usual." I smiled, realizing he didn't refer to me as Ms.Gonzalez but my first name this time.

Isabella was too focused on her homework to notice that he had arrived, so David and I coughed in unison, grasping her attention.

"Daddy, you're here," she squealed, jumping up from her seat and running into his arms.

"Hey princess," he crouched down, hugging her back. "Sorry daddy's late, I had some work issues," he explained, giving her a pouty face.

"I forgive you only because I had the opportunity to stay with Ms.Gonzalez longer," she said, letting go of him to retrieve her homework and bookbag.

He stood back up, looking in my direction, and for some odd reason, I looked away.

It's most likely because the news Manolo told me earlier was all I could think about the moment David walked into the room.

I could still feel his gaze burning a hole right through me, making the butterflies in my stomach do the tango, and my heart practically beat out of my chest.

I turned my head, looking back at him, and couldn't help noticing the look in his eyes.

It was a look I'd only seen in romance movies or TV shows, but once I confirmed what look it was, my heart was beating ten times faster than before.

It was the look of infatuation, something a man gives a woman when he finds her to be the most beautiful person in the world.

And that was precisely how he was looking at me.

I could feel the heat rise throughout my face, but at that moment, I didn't care if David noticed. A small part of me wanted him to know that his presence affected me.

I only wished for my presence to have that same effect on him.

That was soon confirmed when a smile so warm it could melt a glacier appeared on his face, along with a slight blush.

"I know that this may seem random and inappropriate, but I have a question I've been meaning to ask you for a long time now," he abruptly said, pulling me back into the real world.

I don't know how, but it felt as if only David and I were in our world in that precious moment.

No worries.

No fears.

Especially no Nicolas.

"Oh, um, yes, what's the question"? I grinned, noticing the sudden change in the atmosphere.

The question could've been about a hundred different things, like school or Isabella, but the way his demeanor changed told me it wasn't either of those subjects.

"Um, David"? I waved a hand.

"Shit, sorry, I sort of blanked out," he answered, fidgeting with his bracelet.

I saw a bit of worry on his face, making me more anxious to find out what it was, but I wasn't about to rush him.

It looked like he was struggling enough as it was.

Suddenly, he walked towards me and held my hands, finally asking the question that just might kill me from the pure happiness I felt.

"Would you like to go out on a date with me this Saturday, to dinner, to be more specific, at seven or seven thirty"?

I don't know what consumed me to do what I did next, but I do not regret it.

I jumped into his arms, repeatedly squealing yes like a high school girl being asked out to the prom.

David held me in his embrace, and lord, I must thank him for making him so well-built.

Being in his arms felt like I was being shielded from anything wrong that could harm me.

Was it wrong that I never wanted him to let me go?

"I would love to go on a date with you, and seven thirty works perfectly," I said as he held me where we were now face to face.

Gazing at each other, I could feel us returning into that world where it was just the two of us and nobody else.

"Ahem," we heard someone say, then realized who it was coming from.

Isabella stared at us with a smile so big I didn't even know it was humanly possible.

David and I pulled away from one another as she came towards us.

"Sorry, sweety, I was um," he paused, trying to figure out an answer to give her.

"You were asking my teacher out on a date," she gleefully acknowledged, standing by David's side. "Now that you're done being a "nervous chicken," as Uncle Jackson calls you, can we go home now? You promised that we could watch Trolls Two after school," she implored, pulling his hand.

"A nervous chi-" he paused, feeling utterly offended. "Yes, we can leave now."

They then waved me goodbye and exited the room.

A minute later, Manolo walked in with the hugest smirk on his face that would put the Grinch to shame.

"So," he paused, walking in and sitting at my desk. Let's discuss what I just overheard and what you will do on this date." He crossed his arms, still with that smirk plastered on his face.