Shadowheart

Chapter 21

7:00pm. Dahlia did everything she could to make the house shine. Went through the mail, cleaned the whole house, threw the trash out... Now it's time for her to shine. She wore her favorite V-neck blouse with a dreamcatcher design. She also wore a loose skirt with shorts underneath and a pair of short, black suede boots which she rarely wore. Dahlia looks at herself in front of her mirror, from down up. Beautiful. She never thought of herself that way. She would often think of herself as cute, messy, or plain tomboyish, but never beautiful. She couldn't help but smile, and stroke her gentle skin, admiring herself.

Knock knock.

She quickly turned her head, smiling ever so widely. Running down the stairs she nearly trips because of her boots' heels. As she got back on her feet, she breathed slowly as she approached the doorknob. She turns it, opening the door.

-"Hello, Dahlia..." Daniel stood on the other side.

-"Hi... Dan..." She shyly smiled, looking at Dan. She looked at his laceless shoes, dark blue jeans, a light grey buttoned shirt, and his smile. That handsome smile she always admired... Infectuous as well as she smiled back wider than before.

-"Wow... Dahlia..." He looks down and up at Dahlia as well.

-"What is it...?" She looks down -"I know I could have maybe... Straighten up my hair or-"

He grabs her hand, cutting her off. He pulls her close, sliding his other hand to her waist.

-"You're looking great tonight." Looking straight at her eyes, he moves his hand up to brush her hair back.

-"R-really?" Dahlia's cheeks slowly go red.

-"Yeah... Honestly you do... And the fabric of this shirt is so good." He pinches her sleeve to feel the fabric. -"Like goddamn, where'd you get it?"

Dahlia laughs while blushing. She looks down to cover herself.

-"So... Are you ready to go?"

-"Well.. are you? It's just the fair, nothing fancy."

-"I know... And yes. I'm absolutely ready for it. I'll kick your ass at skee-ball!"

-"What? Come on, that's not even a challenge for me." Daniel laughs as he playfully punches Dahlia.

-"Ow! Hey, that's assault what you just committed, you psycho!" She smiles playfully.

-"Holy geez that hurt?"

-"Well... Does this hurt?" She playfully punches Daniels shoulder, completely forgetting of her augmented strength.

-"Ow! Damn, Dahlia, cool it off!"

-"Oh, crap! Sorry!" She quickly grabs Daniels arm and kisses it three times. -"I'm sorry, Dan..."

-"Not sure if I can forgive tha-" As he looks down at her, she's looking at him with sad doe eyes -"That..."

She sniffles, hoping Daniel would forgive her. -"Please? Pleeeaaase?"

-"Dammit... Fine! Only if you buy me a corn dog I'll forgive ya."

-"Square deal!" Dahlia smiles again, then looks at a Toyota pickup truck in front of her house. -"That yours?"

-"Yep. Dad gave it to me on my birthday. Pretty sweet, huh?"

-"Yeah, it is... Funny you said that."

-"What? That it's my truck?"

-"No..."

-"That I got it on my... Wait..."

-"Mhm! It's my birthday, actually." Dahlia shyly smiles.

-"Are you sure? Or is this just to get away with the corn dog deal?"