Now In Command

Rejected

I could tell from the look in her eyes, she wanted to say yes. She so badly wanted to say yes to me.

It didn't matter how long we knew each other; there was a certain connection between two mates that you couldn't resist even if you were a human.

I was just waiting for her to open her mouth to accept my dinner invitation.

"No." She said rejecting me. I tried to smile through her answer but how could I?

I was rejected.

"Can I ask why?"

"My BF wouldn't like it." She replied honestly.

"BF as in boyfriend?"

She laughed softly at my question before brushing her beautiful black hair behind her ear. I simply couldn't help glancing at her as she did this. Couldn't help glancing her long slim fingers, her cute shaped ear, her smooth looking milk chocolate skin...

"No BF as in best friend. I promised her that if I was dating, she would have to meet the date first." She said shyly.

"Have she ever approved of her any of your dates?" I asked curiously while trying to keep the jealousy out of my voice.

"I never been asked out before."

"Then let me be your first." She turned away from me pretending to keep herself busy but I heard her heart racing. I smiled internally that I made her feel that way.

"She picks me up at the end of my shift, when the diner closes."

" Then I shall wait." I said getting up.

"You don't have to do that." She said quickly. "Just come back at ten."

"No. I want to stay with you. I'll be at that booth watching you." I winked at her before walking back to Robino's table. I felt like slapping myself because that might have came off as extra creepy. I sat across from Robino and he gave me a questioning look. I ignored it and turned to my phone to sent a text to Alerick, Kent and Erica that I would be staying in the village for the day.

"So what did she say?" The look on his face made me know that he already knew what she said.

"You were eavesdropping?" I asked. He was unbelievable.

"Okay. You know its not exactly I can help." He answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Then why did you ask?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Just in case you wanted to talk about it."

I shook my head at him.  "No, I don't want to talk about it."

"You're a confusing guy Gary. I hope you're not like this with Evan."

"How am I confusing?" I asked outraged.

"See, this is what I'm talking about. One second you're charming and sweet and the next you're all like 'Don't call me that.' and 'I don't want to talk about it'." I stared at him in disbelief. "Bipolar! That's the word I was looking. Gary, you my man, is bipolar."

"First of all, you can't just go around calling people bipolar. That's a serious disorder. Secondly, did you just call me sweet?"

"You're welcome babe." Robino said winking at me. I laughed at his outrageousness. I finally realized he reminded me of myself and this was probably why Kent and Alerick had to be the strict and uptight ones. It was because they had to deal with my child like behavior.

I honestly cannot remember the last time I was serious for this long. I was probably still upset with my family. 

"Alright. I'm sorry Ode. I guess I'm not myself today."

"Too late Gary!" He said in a high pitched voice. "Its too late to apologize." I laughed again at his antics. We could use someone like him around the castle. "Plus I got to return to my Robino Ode duties."

"You mean your Robin Hood duties?"

"You heard the butcher. I'm your modern day Robin Hood." He said rubbing his scruffy beard.

"Alrighty. If you ever want to visit the castle, just tell them Matthews sent you." He nodded in acknowledgment  before he got up and pretended to flip a cape behind him before running out the door. I was laughing the entire time even after he left. That was until I turned to see his bill. At that moment, my face fell flat.

I turned to the counter to look for Evan and notice she was missing. It was getting dark outside. I checked my watch.

7:04 P.M.

I didn't realized I was in the village for almost five hours.

"I was wondering if I could sit with you." I looked up to see Evan standing over my table. "Usually I would spend my lunch breaks with Mr. but he said he was busy today. He said I should sit with you. I'm not sure how he knew you were still here but obviously he knows you from somewhere. I don't think he would tell me to sit with a stranger. He takes of me like a father so he wouldn't put me in danger. Not that you look dangerous or anything. You just look like..."

I realized she was babbling and even though I wanted her to sit with me, I wanted her to continue with this cute rampage of words. Finally I decided to stop her misery.

"Yea join me. This can a pre-date." She opened her mouth and I could tell where it was going. "Pre- Hangout?". Instead of answering, she lifted the burger on her plate to her mouth. I looked at the fries on her plate and swiped one. She chewed angrily while staring at me and I just smiled.

"What's your full name?"

"Why?" She asked scared.

"Just a question. I want to get to know you. Something people do when they...hang out."

"Evan Ann-Marie Thorn. Yours?"

"Just Gary Matthews. No middle names. Got any siblings?" I asked.

"No. It's just me and my best friend against the world. Her family is like my own."

"Where is...?" She looked at me with curious eyes, wondering if I would finish the question. I could hear her heart beating fast again. I would save that question for another time. "What is your best friend name?"

"Diane. Actually it's Diana but she changed it on her twenty first birthday. Said it was more exotic." She smiled at the memory. We spent the rest of her thirty minute break getting to know each other. Simple things like favorite childhood memories and such. It was really nice getting to know her and it made me even more excited for our upcoming date.

It almost like I was never rejected.