LOVE OR HOPE?

Chapter Eight

To: Havanaoluwa
For your constant support.♥️🖤

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"One dinner won't hurt, Alyssa." Mia pleaded for another number of time that I'd lost track of counting.

"Please?" Norman pleaded again.

"It's a school day. Who goes out on a date on a Monday night?" I asked. I was so fucking irritated, I didn't want to go on a date with Norman, I don't want him anywhere near me and accepting to go on a date with him could make him think that I might eventually have feelings for him.

I would never have feelings for Norman, I was already dead inside.

"We." He dumbly answered my rhetoric question. "We could go out on a date on a Monday night. Please Alyssa." Norman said again,we've been on this particular spot for almost an hour talking about some useless date that I wasn't interested in and Mia was being so fucking hard,It looked planned though. "Okay just view it as a friendly date,You Know? Just two friends having dinner at July's Cuisine"

Christ. July's Cuisine?

I totally didn't see that coming. July's Cuisine was one of the restaurants whose food has transformed from being delicious to being exceptionally glorious. And no, it's not a restaurant that opens only in July but just originated from the founder's name,July Reynolds, Bless that woman!,her brainchild continues to delight the stomach of everyone all over our little town.

Over the years,the cuisine has made such a huge mark on us that it seemed like at some point or the other, everyone had developed a little love affair with it and even July, herself.

"Well okay,as friends" I replied quietly,Norman clapped his hands in victory and gave me such a huge smile that I doubt I had ever seen on anyone before,Mia also sighed in relief . "Just as friends." I repeated,just to be clear.

Hands down,going to July's Cuisine was the best way to kickstart my night. The restaurant was made with low effort but the food there is luxurious,It's the most perfect restaurant for a hearty dinner.

"I'll pick you up at six."

"Now,you are starting to sound like it's an actual date." I raised an eyebrow.

" Okay,no. I mean as a friend,I'd really like to pick you up at six and as just friends,you might like to dress up a little bit" Norman added,I could feel the nervous humor in his voice.

"I'm not doing that." I blurted and walked away, I could have sworn that I saw Mia give Norman a thumbs up before trailing behind me.

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"You look so beautiful." Norman commented for the third time tonight.

"Thank you again,Norman." I replied,letting go of my hand that he had entwined in his. He wasn't looking so bad either,He had his Blonde hair gelled to the back and it was glistening more than usual. "Just as friends, remember?"

"Definitely" He smiled and led me into the restaurant. God,I took my time to inhale the aroma of every goddamned food that was resting on each table. It is proof that God loves us and really wants us to be happy.

We got to our seats and we were soon checking the menu,I was grinning behind the paper menu at every ravishing food that my eyes was moving across,I looked sideways to check around for the waiter and was suddenly met with green chilly eyes that I couldn't have mistaken for someone else.

He must have noticed my irritation and rising anger because the smile that plastered on his face suddenly turned to a frown when he locked his eyes with mine.

I saw the redhead who was sitting opposite his table glance towards my direction after laughing hysterically. How many weeks has he been here and he's already on a date with some fake hot chick who looked like she told unreal funny stories for a living? And why the hell do I care about whatever he was doing with his life?

"You know that guy,Alyssa?" Norman asked curiously after he dropped his menu. How long have Harold and I be staring at each other that I was unaware of the time Norman had called a waiter?

"Uh-" I stuttered. "No,I don't" I quickly went through my menu again.

"I would like to have Fried Chicken with Waffles" Damn,I could literally taste it already.

" I would have Chicken Burger" Norman said, smiling at me.

" Drinks?" The waiter asked.

" We would just have coke?" Norman asked,staring at me. I nodded,chilled coke should do the trick.

And it did. I took a bite of my fried chicken and closed my eyes to savour the whole taste and when I opened my eyes to take in another bite,I saw Harold smiling. Why does that smile seem to come with so much mimick? This was going to be a very uncomfortable dinner.

"Thanks for coming out with me tonight,Alyssa. It means a lot to me." Norman said as he brushed his already gelled hair to the back again. I could tell that he was just trying to ease the dramatic and startling silence that was going on between the both of us.

"Sure" I muffled with a whole lot of waffles stuffed in my mouth,I sipped my coke and nodded again.

The sound of Harold's redhead laughter echoed loudly through the restaurant. It was fucking annoying and you could literally see the glaring hint of fakeness that followed with it. I had this urge to strangle her if I was given the chance and I honestly don't know why,She hasn't done anything wrong to me. She was only on a date with my weird looking and asshole neighbor,so where was this feeling coming from?

Everyone looked at their direction. Harold glared at me cutely and acted like he needed help,I honestly don't know the humor I saw in that but I laughed and he laughed too.

But it escalated quickly like he was going to be cursed if he should laugh for too long,his face was soon back to his registered expression and his eyes remained as chilly as ever.

Almost the same time,we were all going out of July's Cuisine. I got to admit that even if I wasn't happy with Harold's presence at my dinner tonight,I still enjoyed myself.

"Need a ride home?" Harold called unexpectedly from behind, I could see him clearly now,he was wearing an oversized black shirt and jeans,his green dyed hair was fading and it was revealing a little bit of brown hair here and there,his hands were firmly dipped into his pockets while the redhead's hand was strongly wrapped around his left arm.

"She's with me,bro." Norman strangely wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

I flung his arm away. "He's taking me home and why do you care anyways?"

"I don't." He tried to sound as cool as possible but I could still see how dissapointed he was.
Why? He walked to where his Ford was parked and soon drove away.

If this was his way of apologizing to me,I greatly suggest that he steps up his fucking game.

"You know him." Norman stated as we got closer to his car.

"Yes,I do."

"Why did you lie to me?"

"He isn't someone that I'm proud to know." I opened the car door and waited for him to come in.

I couldn't wait to be home,I wasn't ready to get my night spoilt with some kinda drama that happens in a relationship that I'm not even in,not after eating a whole lot of fried chicken and waffles.

Not by Norman.

And not by that son of a bitch.

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