Beautiful Stranger

Twelve

"I have an idea!" She stood up and searched her bag. He sat up and scratched at his head. It was sexy, the gesture. Janie saw it in her peripheral view and she bit her lip. "Here." She handed him a book.

"I just told you how I hate these." But he took it.

"We won't be seeing each other, so." Janie looked down and for the first time, she really did look sad. "I just want to be remembered, you know."

Silence ate the both of them. Then, he started to remove his shoe. "I really don't want to go home on barefoot, but you leave me with no choice." He held the rubber shoes to her.

"Seriously?" He took it back and laughed.

"I'll think of something." He put them back. "This is a gift."

"Oh. Should we talk about-"

"No. This is our night, you and me." He was tying his laces but his face was a little too serious. Then again, they were enveloped by stillness. Sensing she felt a little awkward, he moved to her side and with his right hand, he leaned her face on his shoulder.

She looked at her watch. "Technically, it's midnight."

"What's that?"

"This is our midnight. It is 12 am."

He looked at his watch and smiled. "It is 11:48 pm." He stood and held his hand to help her stand. "You'll lose the beautiful dress soon aren't you supposed to run back to your pumpkin carriage?"

"I hate Cinderella." He asked why the moment they start walking.

"She's stupid." Janie could be cynical at times but he told her he didn't like her that much as well.

"Who do you like then?" She asked stopping near the streetlight.

"The Little Mermaid."

"The happily ever after or the tragic one?"

"Either of the two as long as Ariel wears nothing but seashells." She had this silly smile and she slapped his face playfully.

"Pervert."

"Hey, at least I answered honestly." He put his arm over her shoulders. "I would've answered Belle, if I want to look good and appreciative, you know."

I can hear her thinking if what she's about to do is right or wrong but she decided nothing could ever go wrong right there and then so, she slowly wrapped her arms around his waist.

"How about you?" He asked, trying hard not to smile as she embraced him but failed.

"Belle." They laughed.

"No, among the 'Prince Charming's." Before she could answer, his phone rang. "Hold on," he checked, "it's mom."

She removed her arms around him, giving him the privacy he need, but he didn't remove his around her. After their conversation, although he knew pretty well that she heard them, "She wants me to go home."

"That's sad. You're, what, 25 and she still treats you like 8." She teased.

"Well, I like being treated as a kid by my mom."

"I like treating people around me as my kids."

"I think we'd get along well, then."