Rachel Stanton and The Darkest Night

CHAPTER 4: FIRST DATE

4. FIRST DATE

“You still mad at me?” Jared asked with an encouraging smile on his face.

I was walking toward the cafeteria when he went to join me. He poked my arm as he arrived and popped that question immediately.

I did not answer. Jared already knew what my silence meant.

“Do you want me to stop bothering you?” he inquired. “Do you want me to go away?”

I glanced at him and made a face.

“No. Don’t,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “Or I’ll tell Christian you’ve stopped guarding me.”

He smiled and laughed at my answer. “Alright,” he just said.

For a second there was an awkward silence. I looked down at my feet and waited if he was going to speak. He wasn’t, so I glanced at him and took a deep breath.

“Can I ask why you were late?” I asked. He already knew what I was talking about.

“I was in my Spanish class,” he began explaining. “I had a conversation with the teacher after class.”

“Conversation about what?”

He pursed his lips. “Actually, she wants me to come to her house.”

I frowned. “What for?”

“I don’t know.” He shook his head and shrugged. “She didn’t tell me. She said she’s just going to tell me about it when I get there.”

With that, I nodded. I took a deep breath again and started asking him another question. “Were you late a while?”

“No. I ran after you got inside the building. I was in my class before time.”

I smiled a quick smile. “That’s good, then.”

“Yes. It is.”

We got in the cafeteria in less than a minute. After catching sight of our friends eating their meals at the third table, we began making our way to them. Kathleen looked surprised when she saw us coming. She ordered us immediately to sit down because she had to tell us something really important.

I narrowed my eyes at her. I never questioned anymore and just did what I was told. I walked to the bench and sat, staring at Kathleen and waiting. She was looking at Allison with wicked eyes, as if it were all about her and she were still asking permission whether to say it or not.

“Would you like to do it, then?”

Allison took a shaky breath. She arched an eyebrow at Kathleen and never said a word. For a second, there was silence. Every eye was fixed at her. Then she nodded.

“Okay.” Kathleen sighed and smiled.

“Well,” Allison began, her voice shaky and nervous. “I know it’s kind of embarrassing to tell you this, guys. Actually, I was planning to tell this to you sooner but I really can’t wait. I guess you have to know it now.” She paused for a second. Everyone was waiting for her next statement.

“I’ve already answered Fredrick to be my boyfriend.”

“Really?” was Camille’s response, her face surprised.

“That’s awesome!” Kyle commented.

While everyone was reacting about it, I was just looking and smiling at how happy Allison and Fredrick were. Allison had a massive smile on her face; Fredrick was thanking those who were congratulating him. The girls were so in love; their cheeks were blushing and the smiles on their faces was the widest smile I had seen from them.