Dabbling in Danger

Young Adult

Malina

I stand at the mirror twisting side to side checking out the angles in my dress. My hair sits in a donut atop my head and I've put two curly bangs on either side of my face.

The necklace that rests on my neck glimmers. It's my mother and I's birthstone carved into a heart and a small diamond hangs off of it. Mom's birthday was the 31st of March.

The necklace was hers for a very long time, then on my eighth birthday, she gifted it to me in a velvet box. I think that's when she knew she wasn't getting any better. I had no clue, I was just thrilled to have the necklace I always admired, dangling around her neck.

She told me I couldn't wear it until something special came up. I kept the box close, for a while I planned to wear it on graduation day. Then I realized, my 18th birthday is special enough.

I continue staring at my reflection.

I feel good, I look damn good, but I'm still worried. Worried about what he'll think.

Then as if on cue, there's a knock on the door. I slowly pull it open and make eye contact with Adeen. He's dressed in a grey suit with a royal blue tie.

His smile lights up his entire face.

"You're beautiful," he says incredulously.

I suck in a breath and give a small smile.

"Ready?" He asks.

I nod, we head out the house and into his car.

It's silent at first then he asks if Sasha has the address to the reasturant.

I sigh, "she can't make it."

I feel Adeen's eyes on me for a short second, but I don't look.

He takes a deep breath, pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs.

We stop at a stop sign and Adeen fully looks at me this time.

"Tonight's not going the way we planned," he sighs again.

I observe the disappointment in his eyes. Hoping to put him at ease, I rest a hand on his.

"I'm not worried about any of that. I appreciate everything you've done for me. I wouldn't even be going out tonight if it weren't for you."

"I'm sorry you're deduced to just me as your company tonight."

I look at him straight on, ecstatic for this very thing.

"You're all I need to make it special."

We share a look, he slides his hand from under mine but gives a few squeezes.

Then he returns his hand to the steering wheel and begins driving again.

●●●

We pull up to a quaint spot, looks like a French art gallery inside.

We walk up to the host podium, a pale pasty brunette woman with plump red painted lips gives Adeen a sweet smile.

"Welcome to La Petite Fleur, how many tonight mon monsieur?"

Her eyes are all for Adeen until he looks away to me.

"Two," he replies and his hand reaches for mine. I step closer to him, his hand slinks around and rests on the small of my back, I freeze.

The woman's smile descends into a frown when she finally graces me with a glance. She looks me up and down then turns her nose up at me, leading us to a table without another word.