The sun was spilling into the room, eating up the last bit of darkness left in the small rectangular space. Her mind was still in the tranquility state where she just forgets everything for a moment and it was as if she could start her day blank.
As blank as a new canvas.
But then slowly, memories of the previous night rushed back and she closed her eyes for just a few more minutes to savor the moment; the moment when her mind drifts back off to the memory as if it was happening again. It seemed too good to be true, that a random handsome stranger would want to take her out on a date. Arya would barely pass for your average teenager. Brown hair a little too thick which curls just below her chest, dark brown eyes people mistake for black and chubby cheeks that would give her off when she's shy. Her unimpressive height has been her concern growing up, but right then, she wasn't worried or concerned about anything.
Until she thought about what to wear.
It was just fifteen minutes to eight when she heard the doorbell. She had given her address to Elijah before they part the night before. She made her way to the door to answer it, a little slow considering the long red dress flowing down her body, which was restraining her from taking bigger steps. The heels didn't help either. She wasn't sure what to expect upon opening the door. Elijah stood there, in a suit and sleek hair, something different from what she usually saw him; messy ruffled hair, jeans and a shirt. But then again, she must look quite different to him too. His eyes caught her attention for they were wide in astonishment upon setting them on her. She blushed, adding more color to her already pink cheeks and she looked down at her dress to see if a piece or so was missing! Everything was there.
He chuckled softly and shook his head. "I'm sorry, but you look..." he paused, finding the right word. "Breathtaking," he finished with a sigh, as if her looks literally took his breath away. His eyes met hers after devouring her from head to toe and his lips curved into a genuine content smile. She had never felt more self conscious as she was then, but somehow, it didn't make her feel uncomfortable.
She returned his smile and looked down at her feet which was hidden by her dress. "Thank you. You clean up quite well yourself," she said, trying to sound as casual as she could.
A short laugh escaped his lips. "Thank you," he said before adding; "Are your parents home? I should let them know that I'm taking their daughter out."
"Ah, very traditional," she remarked with a sly smile.
He shrugged. "You could say that."
"Well, you're out of luck. They went out to dinner as well," she said with an apologetic look.
He shook his head. "I doubt it. I feel like I'm the luckiest man on Earth tonight," he replied with a soft voice, his eyes holding her steady gaze. And to that, he blushed. Something Arya thought boys wasn't capable of. "Shall we?" he asked after a while and offered her his arm. She got out of her reverie and took his arm, closing the door behind her.