Falling In Love With You

Chapter 2. The First Date

Bex held her plastic lunch tray and looked around the school cafeteria. She was searching for Bowie while trying to remain nonchalant. Maybe he'd changed his mind about eating with her, or had never even been serious in the first place?

Emily was already at their usual table, along with a few of their other friends.

She was just about to give up on Bowie, and go over and sit with them, when she saw him across the cafeteria. He saw her too. He smiled, waving her over.

She held up her finger to tell him she'd be right there, then she rushed over to Emily's table.

"Hey, baby." Joel Tan reached out and slapped her on the butt. "I saved you a seat." He patted his lap.

Bex ignored him. He was an idiot. She went to Emily and leaned down to whisper, "I promised someone else I'd sit with them today. I hope you don't mind. You can sit with us if you want," she added as an afterthought. Though, she secretly hoped her friend would refuse.

Emily shook her head. "You go ahead. Someone needs to stay here and keep these losers in line." She smacked Joel across the head playfully.

"You're the best, Em," she said. "See you in gym."

Smiling, she hurried to Bowie's table. "Hey!"

He flashed his Gap model smile. "Hey, you. I was getting worried you were gonna stand me up."

She sat down across from him. "I wouldn't do that to you."

"So, was that your boyfriend?" He glanced over at Joel.

"Joel?" Bex exclaimed, laughing. "Not if he were the last guy on earth!" Bex had known Joel for years, since their moms worked together, but she didn't like him very much to be honest. She simply tolerated him. He was immature, always full of sexual remarks and dirty jokes. The rest of the guys were good people though; skaters and punks, misunderstood like her.

Bowie's smile instantly became brighter. He honestly had the most expressive face Bex had ever seen; his smiles went all the way to his eyes. "I've been looking forward to this all day," he told her.

She blushed a little. "You have?"

He snorted. "Um, yeah!" He gestured to his tray. "It's pizza day!"

Bex wilted a little, looking down at her own square of doughy cafeteria pizza. "Oh. Yeah. Who doesn't love pizza?"

Bowie laughed. "I'm just messing with you, Bex."

"Good one."

"I really have been looking forward to talking to you again," he told her. "You're my first friend in Shadyside. And you seem fun to hang out with."

"So do you, Mister Rock Star," she teased, taking a bite of pizza.

He chuckled. "I wouldn't say I'm a rock star yet. Maybe a rock star in training?" He nodded to her. "I don't want to talk about me, though. Tell me everything about yourself."

"What?" She set her pizza down, surprised. No one had ever asked her that before, and his question had come out of the blue.

"I want to know all about you," he said. "What's your family like? Do you get along with them?"

Bex picked at her black nail polish nervously. "Next question."

Bowie groaned. "I blew it already, didn't I?" His gorgeous hazel eyes were suddenly serious. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked something personal."