Looks Can Be Deceiving

Chapter Seven

Stella and Richard had been forced to go onto another public outing, except this time it was meant to be a real date. Hugo and Ali told them they were only meant to look like they were maybe dating and the kiss pushed it so far that they now had to look like they were definitely dating.

Stella sat in a small booth towards the front of the ice cream store and Richard slid in next to her. Their date could not have looked more like a movie set up if they had tried. They were sitting in a booth together sharing a milkshake. Richard wouldn't let Stella choose the flavor and she was frustrated by his lack of care for anyone except himself.

"You have to try it." He pleads, "Come on Mamita." He pushes the milkshake towards her and holds the straw up slightly out of the glass.

"I don't want a caramel milkshake." She grumbles.

"Fine, I'll go get you a different one." He begins sliding out of the booth but Stella feels guilty and sighs.

"I'll try it first." She rolls her eyes and he smirks sliding next to her again but this time a little closer. "It's not bad." She comments. In truth, she loves it but after all her sulking, she's too embarrassed to admit it.

"Liar. You love it." He laughs. "I've known you for five years Stella, I know when you like something."

She laughs but more so because he could never tell when she liked him and the irony in what he just said wasn't lost on her.

"Yeah whatever." She takes another sip.

"Don't take it all." He teases and pulls the straw from her mouth and putting it in his. He does this so quickly some of the milkshake ran out of the top of the straw and down Stella's chin. They can't help but laugh together. "So tell me," he starts, "did you enjoy the performance?"

"It would have been better if you didn't make me fall."

"Oh but that's my goal." Richard has a double meaning in his words but Stella just squints her eyes in anger, giving him a dirty look of anger.

"Give me that back!" she takes the straw.

"I'm pretty sure Ali and Hugo thought we would do one milkshake with two straws and get some cute pictures." He laughs, "I definitely don't think they expected this." He looks down at his shirt and Stella realises she flicked some of the milkshake onto his white shirt.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" she tries to hold back her laughter but fails.

"Oh you think that's funny huh?"

Richard jumps up and gets another straw, dips it in the milkshake and flicks it in Stella's direction. It lands in her hair and she does it as quickly as he did it the first time, this time it lands on her face, lips and dress.

"Richard!" she squeals jumping up. She grabs some napkins and tries to clean herself but every time she does Richard just waves the straw around some more. "Oh come on! Help me clean this mess." She laughs, cleaning the table and herself.

Richard looks at her and for a moment he forgets she's Chris' sister.

"You missed a spot." He says causally pointing to her face, Stella wipes her cheeks but there's still the tiniest amount left just next to her lips. "I got it." He leans forward and presses his lips to hers. Just a peck but enough for the oxygen to leave their small booth. They look into each others eyes and takes all of Stella's self control to not lean over a push her lips into his.

"Uhh." She stutters out. "Do we think the paps are coming?" she tries to change the subject ignoring one of the most romantic moments of her life.

Richard snaps out of his trance and turns his head to the window and surrounding people in the store. "Probably not. We can just head back."