LOST SHADOWS - A Broken Lie

Chapter 13

"It's not a date!"

Dawn hissed into the phone at his sister at the other end. His face felt like it was on fire. She had been lecturing him for 20 minutes on how important a 'first date' was and all the do's and don'ts. Why must she tease him so?

"The two of you, alone, getting ice cream, spending time just talking? Sounds like a date to me!" Milly cued  through the phone's speaker.

"YOU were supposed to be there too!" He was starting to get really annoyed. The plan was going to be that the two of them were going to take her out for ice cream and ask questions about what exactly happened earlier. Instead, Milly's job called her in to pick up a shift so there mom, the manager of the company, could come home to relax and sleep some before dinner. She really has been overwhelmed lately...

"Yeah, Yeah. I gotta go. Good luck lover boy! Bye!!!"

"ITS NOT A DAMN DATE!!!"

'Click.'

Dawn stared at his phone screen after she hung up. What had his life come to? He had zero social skills, was nothing close to intimidating, and was about to interrogate his rescuer. Yeah. Totally not screwed at all...

A deep sigh left Dawn as he entered the local ice cream diner. It was the agreed meeting place, Milly's suggestion. Glancing around he noticed that Elaina wasn't there yet. Relieved, Dawn walked over to a far window booth and sat down. He ran a hand through his hair nervously fixing it. It's not a date... right?

His head shot up as he heard the door bell ring. Dawn felt like his heart was going to stop. There stood Elaina, long hair down and wild, sporting a blue skater dress, a loose gray jacket, knee highs, and those old looking boots. Meeting his eyes she shot him a warm smile, setting his face on fire.

ITS NOT A DATE RIGHT?!?

"Hey! Sorry I made you wait!" She called out as she walked towards him. Dawn was starting to have second thoughts about the whole thing.
"N-Not at all! I just got here." God did he try his best to not sound so awkward. He noticed that she was scanning around the diner.
"Oh ok. Where's Milly?" She sounded a little on edge.
"Work. She got called in." He didn't want to go in detail about the situation, he was here to find out more about Elaina's life, not the other way around.
"I've been on that boat more than once." Dawn stiffened at the remark. Welp. Better now than never.
"Yeah... about that..." God he felt like he was going to pass out.
"Hm?" Elaina cocked he head slightly curiously. Dawn summoned his courage.
"Could you explain exactly what it is you do?" She leaned back a bit and a sly grin glittered her face. She raised an eyebrow as she spoke.
"You that interested?" Dawn couldn't help but get excited about finally getting answers.
"I have so many questions!" He felt her hand on his shoulder, it felt completely cool, colder than he expected.
"Alright, let's order something and I'll answer your questions the best I can."
"Ok..."

As they approached the counter, Dawn's heart was practically beating out of his chest.
"Hi, I'll take a single scoop vanilla please." Oddly simple...
Dawn just ordered his favorite.
"I'll take a chocolate malt."

They took their ice cream and sat down in the booth Dawn picked. Elaina took a bite of her ice cream and locked eyes with him. Dawn gulped.

"Now, what'd you like to know?"