Hated, Dated, Fated

Chapter 24 - Dated

ALEXA

Sharp raps on the door made me jump a mile high in the air, but before I could do anything, Riley burst in, a million watt smile planted firmly on her face.

"When do you ever knock?" I asked, laughing as I shut my laptop, turning towards her.

"You will not believe what just happened!" she squealed, her eyes dancing with excitement.

"Hmmm.... Let me guess, Josh finally grew some balls and asked you out?" I said, a smirk coming onto my face.

"Yes oh my god and it was so amazing, and romantic and perf­-" She gushed ecstatically, then paused and narrowed her eyes. "Wait. How the hell did you guess that? Alexa Michaela Ryans what are you not telling me?" she asked, slowly advancing towards me, like a prey and its predator.

"Nothing, chillax girl. Of course I know, Josh came to me like a week ago asking me what you liked and where and if you'd go out with him," I said, laughing, then shrieked when she tackled me onto the bed, trying to tickle me. We messed around and laughed our heads off, playfully pushing and shoving with blankets and pillows and pretty much anything we could get our hands on. We were so into it we didn't realize the boys were standing at the door, with twin looks of amusement on their handsome faces.

"Well, don't let us interrupt you. Girl fighting is seriously hot," Caleb said, winking at me, his eyes dragging down my body as he checked me out.

I glanced to Riley and we smirked for a second before attacking our boys with the pillows in hand and ear splitting battle cries. Josh didn't react fast enough and ended up in a heap on the floor with a giggling Riley on top of him and Caleb caught me just in time, spinning and pinning me onto the wall before kissing me deeply. Well, as deeply as he could with my giant pillow stuck in between us.

"No fair Lexa, you get the one with good reflexes," Riley complained, pushing up from the floor.

I laughed and he set me back onto my feet, one arm firmly round my waist.

"Go change into something warm I want to take you somewhere," he whispered then let go and left my room.

Skipping over to my closet I pulled out a cream coloured sweatshirt and my jeans, wrapping myself in my leather jacket and knee high boots, and loosely wrapped a scarf around my neck in case the temperature dropped further. It was the beginning of October and the beginning of my favourite season of all time, Autumn. It was so good to photograph and the colours were warm and inviting. Then of course, there's thanksgiving and the food was to-die-for. Mom made the best pumpkin pie in the history of pumpkin pies and I couldn't wait to taste it again. I hurried out of campus and into Caleb's car, excited as to where we were going.

"Do you trust me?" he asked nervous but excited at the same time.

"Of course I do, unless you're planning to kill me then no," I said, smirking slightly.

He laughed and pulled out a blindfold.

"Oh no now I'm really beginning to think you're kidnapping me to kill me," I said jokingly, but let him blindfold me anyway.

Caleb chuckled again but didn't say anything.

We drove in companionable silence, well, until I started the interrogation out of boredom.

"Are we there yet?"

"Where are you taking me?"

I had asked the same questions over and over, trying to annoy Caleb enough into telling me.

I heard a thump and a groan and snickered.

"At least one of us is having fun," he grumbled, but I could hear the smile in his voice.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, we pulled to a stop. Where we were I had no idea, obviously because I was blindfolded. Duh.

Stepping out of the car I took in a deep breath and sneezed. The air was crisp and it smelled so woody.

"Where are we? Seriously Caleb," I asked, waving my hands around me like a mad person trying to find him.

I heard the crunch of leaves to my right and swiped the air blindly, finally coming into contact with a warm body.

Correction, a hard warm body.

"Relax baby girl, it's a surprise. Come on we need to walk a little further," he said, taking my hand and wrapping an arm around my waist, guiding me gently in the right direction.

The smells of something sweet were wafting in the air and I sniffed, sighing as I smelled cinnamon.

He sat me down gently and took off the blindfold. I winced at the sudden light, trying to get my eyes to adjust even though it was pretty dim. My eyes adjusted quickly and I gasped at my surroundings. We were at a clearing overlooking the entire city. The lights twinkled and sparkled in the light, cars zoomed along the streets and it was absolutely stunning.

"How did you find this place?" I asked, still in awe.

"By luck. I was driving along the highway and my car broke down. So I stopped and wandered around the area, waiting for the tow truck to come. Then I literally stumbled onto this place, and trust me beautiful, I had the same expression the first time." He explained, and I heard a rustle behind me but ignoring it for the breathtaking view.

"Come here," he asked, tugging on my hand to turn around, wrapping his arms tight around my waist.

"Lexa? Can I ask you something?"

"Hmm?" I said distractedly and he moved away from me.

"Caleb what are you - oh my god what are you doing?" I asked, panicking.

He had let go of me to kneel down on one knee.

"Oh my god Caleb we're too young for this! I mean not that I don't want to marry you but jeez we're so young and oh god, do you think I'm pregnant? That's why you want to marry me? Cos I'm definitely not and- why are you laughing?" I paused, mid-panic attack, narrowing my eyes at him.

"Your... face... haha!" He choked, clutching his stomach as he laughed.

"Not funny!" I pouted, somehow disappointed yet relieved at the same time.

"No Lexa, I'm not asking you to marry me," he said, composing himself and taking my hands in his. "But, I am asking, if you'd go to the anniversary with me? Even though we're like organizing everything I wanted to ask you, like formally," he rambled nervously, releasing one of my hands to run it through his hair.

"Caleb, of course I'd go with you. I'd love to," I said, smiling widely now, leaning up to kiss him.

"But you're so in trouble for that prank."