baby [h.s.]

seventeen

            Six rolled around, bringing Riddle with it. With a simple text, I was alerted that he was awaiting me in the lobby.

     Taking a look in the mirror at my outfit, I nodded. My hair was messily piled atop my head and I wore a long, black blouse with an elegant skirt. I looked strikingly like my mother.

     I bit my lip and looked away.

     The elevator ride was spent thinking about how awkward this could potentially be for the both of us. I didn't particularly want to go, but I felt it would be rude if I were to say no. I could only assume he was doing this out of kindness.

     Riddle looked a bit neater than the last time I had seen him. His strawberry blond hair was slicked back and he was dressed in a button up and slacks. Though he still looked rugged, this was a much more approachable look.

     "Hello," I said with a smile as I walked up. I stuck my hand out and he softly shook it.

     "Good to see you again,"

     "You as well," I said, awkwardly shifting my weight from one foot to the other. We were sort of just standing in the middle of the lobby.

    "Uh, to the car, shall we?" he said, scrunching his eyebrows and turning his body towards the door.

    "Of course," I said. And we began to walk.

    His car was just out front. It was a sport's car, looking very clean and expensive.

    Once we were both inside, I realized the inside was just as nice. The leather interior had not a smudge or speck of dirt.

    "Is this car new?" I asked. I found it odd that it was so clean.

   He shook his head. "A few months old, but I like to keep her clean,"

   "Her?" I raised an eyebrow.

    A smile formed on his face and he nodded. I just shook my head.

   After nearly ten minutes of a stiff silence, the car pulled into a parking spot and we got out.

   This was a restaurant I had been to before. One Parker and I had visited often while we were together.

   "I find it hard to believe you have no better plans on a Saturday night," I said, looking up at him with a smile.

    He smiled and shrugged. "Work trip was cancelled last minute, I was supposed to go with Styles, but they sent someone else,"

   "Oh," I said, looking down.

   He held the door open for me as we walked in and the familiar scent of Italian food wafted over. Thinking about it made me smile.

   "Two, please," he said to the hostess. She waved her hand and escorted us to a table before handing us two menus.

   "Have you been here before?" I asked Riddle once she left.

   He nodded. "I come here every once and a while,"

   "I used to come here quite a bit,"

   "Used to?" he said, looking up from his menu.

   I pressed my lips together. "It was a place my ex-boyfriend and I used to visit often,"

   "So then you know what's good," he said. I laughed and nodded, being thankful that he made light of it. Parker wasn't what I wanted to think about.