"Would you give me the honor of bringing you out to dinner?"
"Are you serious?!" I lightly punched him against his chest, feeling glad yet annoyed by the fact that he almost scared me to death.
"Well, what did you think I was going to say?" He sniggered, leaning back as he folded his arms to get a clear view of me.
"I thought that you were going to bring up an issue that would take us back to square one."
His eyes softened at my reply before looking straight into my eyes, "I will never let that happen again."
"Pinky promise?" I held out my pinky to him. Nicholas on the other hand, looked amused yet unsure on how he should be reacting to my gesture.
I took his hand and grabbed his pinky, guiding it as I wrapped mine around his. "This is called a pinky promise." Nicholas nodded his head knowingly, still eyeing at our pinkies.
"What is the significance of this pinking-wrapping gesture? Is it not easier to just say 'promise'?"
I stoned upon his question, coming into realization that I did not know the mechanism nor how the pinking promise came about. "Now that you have pointed it out, I really don't know. I guess it's just a way to seal a promise between 2 people with a gesture."
"Oh," Nicholas answered before changing the topic, "so, about the dinner... will you..."
"Yes! I would!" I responded ecstatically.
"Great! That is really great!" He returned me with a warm smile which made my heart flutter once again, "I shall escort you at 6. Till then."
*
"Camille! Camille!" knowing that that was where I would find her, I rushed to the kitchen.
"Camille!" I pushed through the kitchen doors. My sudden outburst seemed to have startled Camille as she almost dropped a heavy pot of hot stew.
"My goodness, Abbey! Do not ever do that again!" She reprimanded, placing the pot on the kitchen top.
"Oops, sorry, my bad!" Feeling more overjoyed than guilty. "Anyway, you have to help me!"
"With what?" Camille stared at me, with a dumbfounded expression decorating her face.
"Come on, follow me!" I dragged Camille back to my room where I told her the whole story about Nicholas.
"He really said that?!" I nodded.
"Oh my! I am so happy for you, Abbey!" She gave me a tight hug before pulling back. Just then, Camille was struck with a sudden realization.
"Wait a minute, what time did you say it was?"
"It's at 6, but don't worry I've still got 2 hours before..." I said looking at the time, "shoot! It's already 20 mins past 5?!" Immediately, I jumped to my feet and scrambled through the wardrobe, trying to find the perfect dress for the night.
"Ok ok, relax, Abbey. I have it all under control. Meanwhile, all you have to worry is to ensure that you look fresh and clean before the outing." She winked, before rolling up her sleeves to indicate that it was game on.
I heeded Camille and headed into the bathroom for quick wash. Once I was finished, I headed out to see the most beautiful dress sprawled on my bed. The off-shoulder was made of red soft silk, with a white laced ribbon tied at the waist of the dress.
"Camille, this is beautiful." I gingerly took the dress into my hands, afraid that I would accidentally soil it. It was a perfect dress for the evening.
"Where did you get this dress? I don't remember seeing it in my wardrobe?" I continued staring at the dress, wondering how I would look in it.
"It is a gift from Christian and I." I looked up, standing there with my mouth widely open, trying to process whatever it was that she said.
"What?" I blinked a few times.
"Well, we were sort of anticipating that something would happen between the both of you. So, we decided to be prepared before that day arrived, and here it is!" she said, pointing towards the dress, "and we hope that this gift would appease for future happenings." She added, mumbling in a voice that was far too soft for me to make out and catch.
"What did you say?" I asked.
"I said, we hoped you like it." She replied, gleaming brightly.
"Like it? I absolutely love it!" I wrapped her into a tight hug, "but this looks like a really expensive piece of dress. Are you sure..."
"Oh! Do not worry about the cost, it is really nothing. Besides, ever since you came here, you have been nothing but a dear to both Christian and I, making it a real thrill to work here."
"Awhhh... but still, thank you guys so much!"
"Well now, enough with the thank-yous. This is not the time for chit-chat. You must hurry, it is getting really late!" I glanced back at the clock to see that it was nearing 5.45. Hurriedly, I donned on the dress, with Camille on the side to help me with my makeup and hair.
When it was done, Camille couldn't help but give a small sigh. "You look really beautiful, Abbey! I bet Nicholas will do nothing but stare at you the whole night." She giggled.
Truth be told, I knew that I was just a normal looking girl. But today, I couldn't deny that statement. I looked good.
The dress that hugged my body showed curves the I rarely knew, existed. My hair was tied up in a loose bun, with a few soft curls falling onto my shoulders. And for the final touch, Camille tied a red ribbon around my neck. It was certainly a simple, yet elegant way to start the evening.
"Oh wait!" I called out, halting Camille in her actions as I fished for the brooch that Nicholas had given unto me. "Pin this on."
"Where did you get this? I have never seen you wear it before."
"It's from Nicholas."
"Oooooo," she wiggled her brows before pinning it on the fabric of my right chest. "And you are all set!" I smiled at her enthusiasm, but quickly faded as my mind was flashed with worry.
"Whatever is the matter, Abbey? Are you not happy?"
"Well, I am happy, but I am afraid that something bad will happen during the date. What if we fight again?"
"There is nothing to worry, Abbey. I can tell that Nicholas really likes you. I believe that if he has the sincerity to get you back, he will certainly not blow this chance of trying to impress you." She comforted, grabbing my hand in the process to reassure Nicholas' feelings for me.
I nodded, deciding that I should learn to place my trust and confidence in him once more.
Knock knock knock
"He is here!" Camille exclaimed.
"Oh my goodness. How do I look?" I said, hyperventilating in the process.
"You look perfect! Come on, let us not keep the prince charming waiting!" She pulled me towards the door before she stood behind it herself.
I took a deep breath before opening the door, revealing a dashing Nicholas donned in a classic black tuxedo with his signature smirk that hung gloriously on his face. My heart instantly melted at the sight of him.
"Shall we go?" Sexiness dripped from his voice as he held out his hand to me.
Lord help me.
YOU ARE READING
Back In time
Romance"Well then, there must be a reason why you aren't able to keep your eyes off me in the market today, Miss Wellesley." He whispered in my ear, sending shivers down my back. "Don't flatter yourself," I took a step back, "it's just that you're the firs...
