Focused

The Not-So-Perfect Date

"Ouch. You almost burnt my ear." I rubbed my ear with my manicured nails. 

"Sorry. I'm just trying to make your hair look perfectly curly." Kary moved to the back of my head.

It was 3:15 in the afternoon and Carter was supposed to be here around 3:30. It takes over three hour to get to Tallahassee. I had a plain black dress on with black heels. My long brown hair was being partially curled to give it a wave look. Aunt Jade let me wear her diamond earrings and matching bracelet. I looked like I was twenty-five not seventeen. 

"Done!" Kary unplugged her curling iron and I looked in the mirror and smoothed out my dress.

Kary yelled up the stairs. "Lover boy's here."

"Okay. Let him in." I heard Kary greet Carter and let him in. I took one last glance in the mirror and grabbed my Marc Jacobs clutch and slowly walked down the stairs. Carter looked at me and smiled. He was wearing a black tux and his hair was smoothed down a little. 

I reached the bottom of the stairs and Kary told us to have a nice time. We both walked out of the house and onto the sidewalk.

"You look beautiful." He grabbed my hand. 

"You do too." We both laughed and I looked up and saw a long black limo parked in front of the house. 

"Wow. Carter, you didn't have to do this." I pointed to the limo in awe. 

"I know. I wanted to." the slim limo driver stepped out and opened the door for us. The limo smelled like new car and cinnamon. There were black leather seats, champagne, a small phone and a  fake burning candle by the champagne. 

"This is amazing." I scooted over and lifted the champagne out of a bucket of ice. 

"Want some?" He got two wine glasses in the side of the door. 

"Well, yeah." I nudged him. 

I took a sip of the champagne and instantly loved it. Carter scooted right beside me. 

"Marley, can I ask you something?" He stared into his wine glass. 

"Sure." I picked invisible fuzz off my dress. 

"Will you be my girlfriend?" He looked up and I could see the hope in his eyes. 

"I thought I already was." I kissed him and he held my face in his hands. 

"I wanted to formally ask you." He took another sip of his champagne. 

"Wait, why are we drinking if we're underage?" I looked over at the still pretty full bottle of champagne.

"My dad went and signed up for the limo. He put a check mark for champagne too. He said it was a gift for me." He smirked like he was a genius. 

"Your dad did that for us?" He nodded sheepishly.

We talked and sipped from our glasses. Turns out there was a little T.V too. We watched old school cartoons and ate little crackers that were sitting behind the champagne. We got to Tallahassee a few hours later. Carter broke the news that he made reservations at a fancy restaurant named Beau Jardins. Which is french for "Beautiful Gardens". So fancy. Right? 

We walked into Beau Jardins and it reminded a me lot of  The Olive Garden inside. The lights were dim and fake grape vines hung on some walls. There were paintings hanging on the walls and unique shaped sconces placed in the hall to the bathroom. Waiters wore white shirts and black pants with long black aprons. Waitresses wore black skirts and white silk shirts with short black aprons. A curvy hostess with big black hair greeted us and took us to a private table.