When Night Falls

Banana Splits

*KADEN*

I checked the clock flashing back at me as I drove to Amaya's house. I was getting nervous thinking of what tonight could possibly hold. I hadn't been on a proper date since I got out of the Academy and even then, I found myself bored and not interested with the ones I had gone out with. The last girl I dated was not the girl for me. She was too much into herself to even notice me and I knew then and there that I wasn't going to fluff around on dates, I'd wait for my girl. Was I naive in thinking that? Maybe. But I knew what I wanted, why waste my time on other things. Seeing Amaya tonight was the first time I was excited for something that wasn't work related. When I drove in to her driveway, I could see her in her top window looking in her mirror. She looked beautiful from here, I couldn't wait to see her. I knocked on her door and stood nervously waiting and when she opened up, I was at a loss for words. She was beautiful and when she smiled, everything around us stood still. Time froze and all I could hear was my heart beat, this woman was going to be the death of me.

"Hi" she smiled shyly. No don't do that, I love your smile I wanted to say.

"Hey" I go in for a kiss on the cheek. She blushes at the contact and I swear I felt a sizzle just by being this close to her. "You ready to head out?" I quickly interjected before I do something stupid and just stare at her uncomfortably. I was trying really hard to calm this erratic heart beat of mine, I'm sure she can hear it. Anyone within a 5km radius could hear it! I headed towards the car with her in tow and opened her door. She looked at me surprised by the gesture and by the smile on her face, was very impressed with my chivalry. I heard a little 'thank you' as I closed her door and headed to my side.

I was excited to get to know her. I don't know why or what was happening but I knew tonight was going to be different.

We made small talk on the way to the restaurant where I had made reservations. I just wanted to sit and listen to her all night. If talking to her last night got me hooked, I can't imagine what listening to her talk every day would feel like. She was well set up for life and yet still works for her and Sienna. The thought of Sienna losing her parents, made my heart ache a little and I didn't know why it made the effect that it did. But hearing Amaya talk about losing all four of them, made my insides twist and turn and want to hold her again. She was strong and level headed. She could have just given it all up and let Gina have Sienna but she couldn't find it in herself to let Sienna go like that. Amaya had given up literally everything so that she could take in Sienna and there wasn't going back on that. Amaya has fought to be this woman and the fact that I get to witness a piece of her right now, I wasn't letting this one go.

"I remember the judge in court questioning me if this is what I really wanted to do? I was barely out of high school and he needed to be reassured that I was going to truly take care of Sienna. I think in all honesty, I needed Sienna with me. You know?" She realised she had talked for quite some time. "Wow, sorry. I didn't mean to just ramble on like that" she looked away embarrassed.
"Don't be sorry! It's admirable what you did" I reassured her.

When we arrived to the restaurant, we were in and seated almost immediately, our food ordered and before we knew it, we were eating and laughing along the way.

"You're doing great with Sienna, I don't have to know you to know that. I see it in the way Sienna talks about you at Gina's house. Although, I didn't know it was you" there she was again looking at me with those beautiful brown eyes of hers. My heart was being hijacked by this woman and everything in me was fighting. "You shouldn't look at me like that"

"What?" she was taken back a bit. "Like what?"

"You're looking at me like this and I'm fighting the urge to not kiss you" she shied away from me and I grabbed her hand. She didn't push me away or let it go. She kept talking about her job and her uncle who owns the company, he was giving her this opportunity to be the woman she needed to be and for that, I am grateful. She spoke with such softness and I didn't want tonight to end.