Happiness Unending

Chapter Fourteen: A Real Date?

We drove quietly along the road until we pulled up to a clearing in the forest and a small gravel parking lot came into view.

"You can't really see it until we actually walk there, but I'm kind of done being wet and cold." Jordan whined. He parked anyway and I strained my neck to look out at the clearing. Just beyond my vision there was a large lake that sat pretty down a steep mountainside and fog seemed to roll in like waves from the mountains around us. It was very pretty and I would have loved to go check it out a bit better, but I had to agree with Jordan on that one. I was also still hungry.

"It's gorgeous either way. Thanks for showing me this place. It's really neat." I commented timidly. I was still burying my face in his sweatshirt and I stopped for a second to speak. He was giving me a look that was new to me and I raised an eyebrow. "What?" I asked again.

"You're hilarious you know that?" Jordan teased, shoving my arm playfully and I smacked it away just as playfully.

"Whatever. You didn't answer my question." I looked back to the trees, admiring how tall they grew here. I had a number of parks and innumerable amounts of forests back home, but nothing really compared to the ones here. So grandeur and majestic. All of a sudden I felt a hand grab mine and I felt a light squeeze which got my attention again. I looked down and he hadn't let go. Brain can not compute. He's...holding...my hand. MY hand. What do I do? My heart was sent into overdrive and my brain could not come up with a single word to say.

"I think you know as well as I do that I'm not very good when it comes to expressing emotions. And we only met as of yesterday...but I can sense that there's more to this than I realize." Where was this coming from? This was definitely unlike Jordan.

"Well no duh Sherlock. You wouldn't be holding my hand if there wasn't." I retorted sarcastically. Immediately his face flushed and I laughed in response. For a brief moment, the rain spoke for us. I was starting to also realize the tension that was starting to build again. I glanced at Jordan and a serious look was on his face. He appeared to be concentrating on something. Again memories came flooding back to me from yesterday and how his hands felt. Just thinking about it made me blush.

"True. I just keep thinking about yesterday. I may have acted a little rashly from my intoxication. I do apologize for that. Really." His serious look grew more grim and now I was starting to think this was what he was concentrating on. He was trying to find the right words to say. Finally I can get some answers about what really happened! I sat sideways on the seat, facing Jordan. My mindless daydreaming had come to a complete and sudden stop.

"I...don't think you have to apologize for anything. All we did was make out in your pool. Right?" I raised an eyebrow, worry starting to set in. My words were slow in coming and I was also trying to prepare myself for whatever else he was about to say next. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair which was never a good sign. "Jordan...what happened?" The panic and worry clear in my voice.

"I swear it's not what you think. I just wanted to apologize for my behavior. I may have jumped the gun too soon. I don't want you to think I was taking advantage of you or make you feel like you were liking someone for who they aren't." Oh. My panic dissipated and I sighed  in relief. My mind had assumed the worst again and here it turned out to just be a minor misunderstanding.

"Oh. I was expecting something much worse but I appreciate your apology. For real though can we go someplace to eat? I'm starving." I changed the subject abruptly but Jordan didn't seem to mind. My stomach growled at that exact moment as if agreeing with what I was saying. Finally he let go of my hand long enough to take the car out of park and we started moving again. He grabbed my hand immediately again. It distracted me long enough to glance at him again. A smug grin donned his gorgeous face.

"Of course. Did you have something in mind?"

Uh oh. More decision making. I shrugged and looked back out at the intense storm. "As long as it isn't sushi, I'm fine." I stated, making a gross look at Jordan. He couldn't have been any more surprised.

"What? Really? How can you not like it? It's literally the best thing ever besides pizza." I loved his enthusiasm but when it came to food, I was pretty picky. I knew what I liked and you can't judge me for getting the same thing every time, okay?

"I'm sorry, but the texture of it gets me every time. Well just everything about it grosses me out." I shot back. Since we're spitting out opinions here, might as well make mine well known.

"Huh. Texture is important to you? That's funny. I suppose everyone is entitled to their own opinion. What about pineapple on pizza?" Oh the ever ongoing debacle of pineapple on pizza. I shook my head at his question.

"Oh please. Don't even get me started. You're going to hate me for it." I admitted reluctantly. I turned on the radio and went back to staring outside. We were speeding along, passing other vehicles that couldn't seem to go fast enough. As much of a safe driver he seemed to be, I still felt nervous going at this speed.

"I highly doubt it. It's just your opinion. The worst that could happen is me getting more opinionated." He teased, giving me a wink. Oh brother. I rolled my eyes at his complacency and I leant my head on my hand against the window.

"Personally I find it absolutely disgusting. Pineapple on its own is great as is pizza, but together? Absolutely not. There's not enough money in the world you could pay me to eat that." Jordan burst out laughing at my comment and I raised an eyebrow. His laugh was pretty hilarious in itself since it wasn't consistent. It was always an outburst.

"Are you sure? There's way weirder things out there. But I guess that's your opinion." He went silent for a moment, something brewing in his mind. I could tell he was going to bombard me with more nonsense questions like the previous ones, but I didn't mind. It kept the conversation going and I didn't feel awkward any more. Our conversations kept going until we reached a modern looking restaurant. Even then, we kept talking until we were greeted by a hostess and led us to our seats. I didn't even really look around, I just kept thinking about how lucky I was to be here. And I was with Jordan. Nothing else really mattered. I never thought this could happen to me and yet here we are, sitting across from each other, glancing at each other over the tops of the menus.

"Will it be the usual today, Jordan?" I heard a soft voice ask. Thanks for disrupting my daydreaming!

"Um, you know what? I think I'm going to try something different this time." I hid behind my menu, unable to decide. Also I was hiding for the partial fact I didn't want to be called out for being on a date. If this even was a real date?

"Of course! What would you like?" Her tone of voice changed, somehow emboldened by the fact I was staying quiet. Also, I was probably a mess from being in the rain for so long. Oh god. My makeup. I sincerely hoped it hadn't run down my face and turned me into a raccoon. I was so caught up in my own worries that I hadn't heard Jordan ask me what I wanted.

"What?" I peeked up from the menu and blushed. Both the waitress and Jordan were looking at me. I ordered a simple salad quickly and was sad to see the menu go. It was my hiding place! Now I had to actually face him. I sighed when the waitress had finally left us alone.

"You don't go out very much, do you?" Jordan teased, raising an eyebrow. I folded my arms across my chest and rolled my eyes.

"Oh shut up. I probably look like a mess." I grumbled. Jordan did the same and gave me the same grumpy look I probably wore on my own face. I narrowed my eyes and he did the same. "What are you doing?" I asked, hoping for a response.

"Making fun of you. You're adorable when you're angry." I wanted to slap him but not because I was upset.

"Shut up. I am not." I retorted, trying to hold back a smile.

"Don't smile..." Oh god. He was going to try and make me smile. Nope. I must not show any emotion. Stone cold. No emotions. Game on!

****Sorry it's been so long since the last chapter! I've been trying really hard to find inspiration for this story. Hope you're enjoying it so far! Thanks for reading and look out for a possible new story coming!****