Brandon
We haven't been on many dates since paparazzi would always turn it into some sort of scandalous story. We'd be happy after the date, but then the only way we'd remember it is by looking back on how the paparazzi twisted it around. Nikki didn't want to make those kinds of memories and neither did I.
I was supposed to surprise Nikki tonight, but now that she knows she's going on a date, it's kind of ruined. I have the entire night planned out. And I know for sure that she's going to love it. Call me cliché, but her smile is really all I want to see. I love every part of her, but her smile is by far her best characteristic.
Nikki and her mom's relationship was kinda on thin ice, and they're still working on it. Tonight though, they put their differences aside. I told Nikki that I wanted this date to be as normal as possible.
"Normal is boring," she said earlier today when I filled her in with minor details. It may not be a surprise date anymore, but I'm gonna try to save as much of it as I can.
She succumbed to the idea of a semi-normal date. I told her that I'd pick her up from her parent's house at 4:45. (I know that's a little early, but I've got stuff planned.) She said she'll see me then.
When I got there, her father answered the door. As I said before, we were trying to have a semi-normal date. That means interrogation from Mr. Maxwell, and I really don't know what to expect.
"Brandon Nicholas Roberts," he says. It sounds as if he's almost disappointed.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Maxwell. May I come in?" I ask as confident as possible.
"You mean like how you did my daughter?"
"JOHN!" Mrs. Maxwell gasps. Her face is in a state of shock. I honestly kinda saw that coming.
"I love Brandy, I do, but I'd like it a whole lot better if my daughter was at least 18 before someone decided to take things to the next level."
"I'm really sorry, Mr. Maxwell. It won't happen again until we're married, I promise," I say before World War 3 takes place.
"You bet your buttons, you will." He pointed his finger in my face with absolute assurance that I wouldn't do anything with Nikki again. "What did you plan to do with my daughter tonight? I'm assuming it's not taking her back to your house the entire time."
"No sir."
"Then just what are your intentions?"
I whispered in his ear my plans for tonight ending my list with,"I just wanna see her smile."
I could've sworn I saw the corners of his mouth twitch a little, but I'm sure he was still trying to be intimidating.
"Nothing more than these plans; understand, Roberts?"
"Yes, sir."
Nikki came running down the stairs. Her clothes were simple, like I asked them to be. She was wearing jean shorts and a blue v-neck T-shirt.
"Alright, I'm ready. See you later, Mom. Try to sleep, Dad," she says giving them both kisses on the cheeks.
She intertwined her fingers in mine while I opened the door for her. Since I'm not old enough to drive yet, we were going to walk. I insisted that my grandfather drive us where we want to go, but she said it wouldn't be a date if we took Grandpa.
First we went to Fuzzy Friends and played with a few of the stray puppies that we rescued last week. I have my camera with me. Nikki doesn't know that I do, but I have it. I take a picture of her getting tackled by the puppies.
Next we go to In N' Out to eat burgers and drink milkshakes. She agreed to take a selfie of drinking her milkshake with me.
After dinner it was 5:30. We had to sprint to our destination in order for us to be there in time. Thank God, we made it.
"You made... Me sprint... To... The beach?" she asks between pants.
"Yeah, c'mon!" I grab her hand and pull her into the sand. I take a seat right where the waves end as they wash onto the shore. The sun was beginning to set, and the wind was starting to blow, making Nikki's brown hair flow lightly in the breeze. Perfect picture. This time, I let her see that I took the picture.
"Hey! What was that for? I wasn't even ready for that picture," she complains, playfully smacking my shoulder.
"What exactly did you need to fix? You seem perfect already." She bit her lip and blushed at my comment. I don't see why. She is perfect.
"How did I end up with someone as perfect as you? Sometimes I don't even think I deserve you." Her eyes were staring straight into mine. Yet another beautiful characteristic of hers.
"You've gotta be kidding me right now." I laugh at her. She seems taken aback by it. "We've both screwed up, and I honestly don't know who's worse than me. But it's not you. I know that for sure!"
I put a finger under her chin so she can look up at me.
"In a world full of truly screwed up people, Nikki Maxwell, you are by far the most perfect one I've ever met. I don't even care that I got you pregnant. Look at you; you're still standing. Even after the public slander, you're still freaking awesome, Nikki. I couldn't ask for anything more when I've got all I need right here."
"You're trying really hard to make me blush, aren't you? 'Cause if you are, it's working." Her face was red, and there was a tear threatening to fall from her eye.
"It's just another beautiful thing about you, so yeah, I'm making you blush."
She chuckles. "Sometimes I wonder if that's your life goal or something, turning me into some sort of cherry."
"What can I say? Every part of you is gorgeous."
"Alright, alright. Just kiss me already."
"That's another beautiful thing."
She rolled her eyes and closed the gap between us. There are still electric sparks and a nice warm feeling that I get when I kiss her. And I've kissed her plenty. You'd think that'd I'd be used to it by now, but each kiss still feels like a first one. And I hope it always feels like this.
"I feel like we're in some sort of movie with the sunset and us kissing on the beach," is the first thing she says when we come up for air.
"I hope the movie is a long one like Titanic."
"Funny you say that while we're right next to the ocean," she laughs. And I stare at her smile. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because you're beautiful."
She laughs again. "I'm not sure whether I should call you Jack or Augustus."
"Call me yours."
"Okay then." She nods. "You're mine." And her pearly whites were put on display for me to see again. Her smile is like a light , and I really do hope it never dies out.
She again takes my hand in hers. "Hold on to me, Jack," she says.
I laugh. "I'll never let go."
"Okay?"
"Okay."
"Oh my God, stop flirting with me!"
And I saw her wonderful smile again.
