Shadow

Fact: Strawberry Ice Cream is Gross

    "Let's go on a date."

    I choked on my lemonade and just happened to spit it all over Cameron. She puffed out her cheeks in annoyance and squeezed her eyes shut so it wouldn't get in her eyes. I smiled guiltily and put a towel in her outstretched hand. "Was that really necessary?" she muttered as she wiped it down her face. "It's barely eight o'clock in the morning and you've already made it a terrible day, Kiera."

    "Sorry," I mumbled, looking down at my Eggo waffles. But my heart was pounding and my thoughts were elsewhere. Did he really ask me on a date? Did he finally ask me on a date?

    Cole smirked at me when I looked up at him. My surprised gaze turned into a glare. He knew what effect he would have and he still did it. "Is that a no?" he asked, trying to hide his snickers by turning his back to me.

    I frowned. That annoying little . . . "I dunno. Depends if there's food involved."

    Cole laughed outright and I smiled a little. Cameron just rolled her eyes. "Sure, there can be food involved."

    Cameron narrowed her eyes at him. "You mean you don't already have the date planned out?"

    Cole shrugged. "It just occurred to me that we haven't even really been on a date yet. I just asked as soon as I thought of it." He cleared his throat. "Making sure you don't have plans with anyone else today."

    Cameron threw herself back in her chair. "Oh come on. Her life practically revolves around you nowadays. Like you don't already know where she is and who she's with at all times." She narrowed her eyes at Cole. "And it's not like she would say no to a date with you. You might as well get married now."

    It was Cole's turn to choke on his drink. Orange juice, this time, was sprayed all over the young girl's face. She shrieked in frustration. "Is there a sign saying 'spit on me' or something?!"

    Cole's face was completely red and I couldn't hold back my laughter anymore. I knew I was blushing too, but I hadn't seen Cole turn this red in a long time. Cameron took back her towel and wiped the juice off of her face for the second time. She finally picked up her plate and put it in the sink then headed for the door. Then, she thought twice and turned back around. She pointed a finger in Cole's red face. "I want her home at an appropriate hour or I'll be the one spitting juice in your face. Am I clear?"

    "Crystal," Cole choked out.

    I was still laughing. I couldn't take Cameron seriously in her Minions pajamas and unbrushed hair.

    Cameron flipped her hair over her shoulder and strode out of the kitchen. Cole took a deep breath when she was gone. "That was not how I imagined that going. Given, I had just planned it five minutes ago, but I would not have thought a nine-year-old girl could embarrass me like that."

    I stood up with my plate and patted his shoulder as I passed. "Don't worry. I thought it was cute." A small smile lit up his face. "Correction: I thought she was cute." His smile dropped and I laughed again.

    Cole took my hand and turned me around to face him. "So will you?"

    "Go on a date with you? Of course."

    His shoulders relaxed and he smiled again. "Awesome. Be ready in ten minutes."

    My eyes widened in horror. "You can leave in ten minutes, but I'm not leaving for at least an hour. It takes more than ten minutes to make this face pretty."