Beneath the Surface

Chapter 5

I stood out in the cold for 20 minutes while I waited for Arnesto. Of course he was late.In those 20 minutes, I mentally began to question his intentions. Maybe he was just standing me up?  Maybe it's all a joke? Maybe somebody told him to ask me out as a dare? Why am I even doing this? Why should I even go through with this? What a waste of a perfectly good Saturday. I rarely get days off during the season so I would totally prefer to be at home eating chips.

Just as I was having second thoughts and thinking I should have someone come pick me up,  Arnesto pulled into the school parking lot in a nice little car. It was a black prius. He pulled up and smiled at me through the window. I take a deep breath realizing this is my last chance to back out.  I end up reaching for the handle and open the door. I climb into his car, thankful for the warmth.

I shiver a little as chills go up my spine after I close the door."I never knew November could get this cold," I said. I place my hands in front of the heating vent.

 Arnesto let's out a nervous chuckle, squeezing the wheel with both hands. "Technically, I never knew it got this cold. Period." He responded.

"Oh yea! That's right you're not from around here." I said. How stupid am I? I'm making jokes that he probably doesn't understand yet. I'm already off to bad start. why do I feel so nervous? I'm not even sure I like him. I guess I should just try and play this one off. " Well you'll get used to the cold eventually. And if not? Well it's Cleveland. And as we like to say, if you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes, it'll change."

He laughed a real laugh this time. "So I hear. " He started to pull out of the parking lot and made a left turn down the road, which was pretty empty of cars. "So would you like dinner or the movie first?"

I put my hand on my chin and begin to think. "Depends. What kinda food are we talking here?". In hein sight, I probably shouldn't let my stomache do the talking since it can be a little rude when it's hungry. Then again, I'm fairly sure I'm always hungry so I guess it doesn't matter what my brain thinks.

"There's an Olive Garden up the street," Arnesto suggests. 

My stomache growled in approval (or possibly longing). "You know my weakness." We laughed and then it was awkwardly quiet.

We parked the car right out front of the restaurant and went inside. The wait was short, so we practically just had to walk in to be seated. We were lead by a nice waitress  to a nice cozy table for two in the far corner.

We stared at the menus in silence for awhile. I already knew what I wanted since I come here all the time, but I knew I would feel less awkward if I held the menu up until he finished looking.  All I can think right now is to do it for the food. This night will be over soon enough.

The waitress came back and took our order. She came back momentarily with our drinks, salad, and breadsticks.

 Once everything was placed on the table, we said thank you. Once she left, Arnesto started to talk to me. " I hope that maybe one day, you'll look at me the same way you look at those breadsticks."

I laughed and looked him in the eyes. "Good luck buddy. Nothing compares to my one true love: Italian food."  No point in setting his goals too high. Not now at least. It's like what my grandmother one said to me as a little girl when I told her the boy I liked pushed me in the mud at recess: 'Boys will break your heart, that is inevitable. But I guarantee a bowl of pasta won't ever break your heart. Now which sounds better?' You can't argue with Granny. 

He laughed as we began to fill our plates. When I had a nice plateful of salad to go along with my breadsticks, I asked him about himself. I figured that would give me time to stuff my face. And of course give me the details that the girls are practically dying for. Plus, I really don't now much about this guy.