Ch.16

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Ashleyonna's POV

Jessica's question about whether Stefan knew I was a virgin caught me off guard. I quickly closed the door behind me and pulled out my phone to text him.

Me
Gimme a sec please.

Stefan
Sure thing.

I slipped my phone back into my pocket and turned to face Jessica. "No, he doesn't know," I admitted, feeling a tight knot form in my chest.

"What if he wants sex?" I asked, my voice rising in panic.

Jessica stepped closer and placed her hands on my shoulders. "Ash, breathe. It's your first time doing this, and you don't have to do anything you're uncomfortable with."

I took a deep breath and nodded, starting to calm down.

Jessica's face softened, and she gave me one last supportive hug. "You've got this. And by the way, tell Stefan that if he messes with you, I'll make sure he's a dick-less teacher."

I couldn't help but chuckle at her playful threat as I hugged her back, feeling a bit more reassured.

Stefan's POV

As I watched Ashelyonna and Jessica's conversation from the car, I couldn't help but chuckle at Jessica's playful threat.

She's quite the witch, that one. It's impressive how she's managed to stay composed, especially as a newbie. All those spells and potions she's picked up—damn, she's good.

When Ashelyonna walked out of her house, Jessica followed, and I noted how smooth her driving was for an 18-year-old. I gave her a nod, and she shook her head, probably still amused by the earlier conversation.

Ashelyonna climbed into the car, her backpack on her lap. I took it and tossed it onto the back seat. "Cute," I muttered, referring to her outfit, but then suggested, "But how about we change into something more comfortable?"

With a snap of my fingers, her outfit transformed. Her initial look shifted into a lavender knitted sweater and a white pleated skirt that rested just above her knees. I paired it with white and lavender socks and replaced her pink and white Adidas with lavender and white sneakers. Her hair was fine as it was, so I left it untouched.

Ashelyonna's eyes widened in awe at the magic, and she bit her lower lip, clearly impressed and a bit speechless.

We hit the road, and a comfortable silence settled between us. I broke it by asking, "Have you eaten?"

Ashelyonna slapped her forehead in realization, clearly having forgotten.

Ashelyonna's POV

Stefan's request to open my mouth left me feeling puzzled and a bit uncomfortable. "Why?" I asked, but he just told me to do it, so I hesitated.

Fortunately, before we could go further with that conversation, we pulled up to a charming diner called Waffle Paradise. I followed him inside, still feeling a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

The moment we walked in, a blonde woman with long curls behind the counter looked up and her eyes widened. "Welcome to Waffle Paradise, may I take your—" She stopped mid-sentence, her gaze landing on Stefan. "Stefan?"

"In the flesh, Monique," Stefan replied with a chuckle.

Monique's face brightened, and she hurried out from behind the counter to hug Stefan warmly. "Wow," I murmured, taken aback by their friendly interaction.

Monique then turned to me with a welcoming smile. "And who's this?"

"This is Ashelyonna," Stefan introduced me. "She's new around here and has a bit of a sweet tooth."

Monique extended her hand to me. "Nice to meet you, Ashelyonna. I hope you're ready for some of the best waffles in town."

I shook her hand and smiled. "Nice to meet you too, Monique."

As we settled into a cozy booth, Monique handed us menus. "Let me know if you need any recommendations. We've got some specials today."

I glanced at the menu, trying to settle my nerves. The place was quaint and inviting, with the aroma of freshly made waffles filling the air. It was a comforting setting.

Stefan took his seat across from me, his eyes gleaming with a hint of amusement. "So, what do you think of the place?"

"It seems really nice," I replied, feeling a bit more relaxed. "I didn't expect such a warm welcome."

Stefan smiled. "Yeah, Monique and I go way back. She's a bit of a local legend."

As I reviewed the menu, Stefan's earlier comment about showing me something private lingered in my mind. I wondered what he had planned for the day and hoped it would be as intriguing as the diner's atmosphere.

.
.
.
.

As Stefan and I walked out of Waffle Paradise, I couldn't help but glance back at the diner, still intrigued by the history and the warm atmosphere. The photos on the wall were a fascinating window into the past, and the one with Stefan in it was particularly captivating.

Outside, Stefan led me to the car and opened the door for me. As we got in, I noticed he was still in a good mood, his eyes reflecting the pleasant conversation he'd had with Monique.

"So," he said as he started the engine, "what did you think of the waffles?"

"They were delicious," I replied with a genuine smile. "And the history was really interesting too."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," he said, giving me a knowing look. "There's a lot of history around here, and it's all connected in some way."

I nodded, feeling a mix of curiosity and anticipation. "What's next on the agenda?"

Stefan's smile widened slightly. "We're going to take a little detour. There's something I want to show you that ties into everything we've talked about."

As we drove through the winding roads, my mind raced with possibilities. What could be so important that it needed a special trip? I glanced at Stefan, who was focused on the road, and wondered what secrets he might reveal.

The drive was serene, with the landscape changing from urban to more rural as we ventured further out of town. I could feel the excitement building, and I hoped that whatever Stefan had planned would answer some of the questions that had been on my mind.

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Pt2 coming next... Enjoy!

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