THE OXFORD BET *VirginityGames*

Chapter 14 The start of Everything

Francesca

I looked across the table at Daniel, and watched his every move. The boy was up to something, I just knew it. I mean, I couldn't find a reasonable explantation to why we had went to dinner together. Why had I agreed to this again?

What possible intentions could he have planned by taking me out for dinner...

I decided to just try and enjoy it, however brief it was. Maybe we would become best-friend afterwards? I doubted it but stranger things have happened. So I observed his features closely and realised that there was no escape to the natural beauty of his face. His hands curled around the piece of card like a cat curling up in the afternoon sun. I must have been staring at him too long, because I had to go back to my menu card when he noticed me over his menu. Maybe he didn't realise I had been watching him...I was sure I had been caught out when he raised an eyebrow and gave me a quizzical look as he set his menu down on the white table cloth. I glanced around in the most casual manner. Then returned my gaze on him when he wasn't looking. I analysed him again. His face was tense, defensive. He shifted his weight, as he pulled his phone from his pocket and I stole glances at him while he turned it off. He laid it down on the table. Then he sat back. His middle finger slid up and down the silverware slowly like it was self soothing. Watching Daniel was like watching a documentary on Nat Geo Wild.

"You keep staring at me Francesca?" He said as he spotted a waiter pouring some wine on a table next to us. "Something on your mind?"

"I was just now realising you have a rather pleasant smile - " I blurted out. Had I just said that? I took a  moment to compose myself and chewed my lip. I tried my best at looking more nonchalant as I added impassively, "just from an observational point of view, of course."

He smirked and sat back in his chair. Again he smiled, he was assuming I was giving him a compliment. "Of course. Well thank yo- "

" - That's probably because hardly anybody ever sees you smile." I quipped back,  cutting him off. I was pleasantly aware my voice had a slight edge to it too. I suppressed a smile as his mouth pressed back into a hard line. "See what I mean."

"Point taken." He retorted.

"Here you are," Said our chirpy waiter, popping up from nowhere and breaking the tension between us on our table. "My name is Jean and I am your server tonight."

"Thank you Jean. May we have two glasses of Château Bélair-Monange please."Daniel looked back at me for confirmation. "Is that alright?"

"Sure." I laid my hands on my lap and smiled at our Waiter.

"What year is it?"

"2017, Sir."

"Very good." 

Jean nodded cheerfully.

"Thank you" I murmured.

"Brilliant. Thank you." Daniel added politely. Jean nodded again before slipping away from us gracefully. Daniel was either a marvellous actor or he actually had always had these manners and seemed to forget to use them most of the time he spent in a social environment. Both irritated me equally. Luckily, we ordered our first course and our food was delivered to the table speedily. 

"Madame," Jean said as he set down our dishes. Just staring at the steaming food had my mouthwatering.

"Still ravenous?" Daniel asked with a glint in his eye.

I snickered. "Yeah."

"Good. That makes two of us."

We dug straight in.