Chapter 7 "More than friendship "

The first session ended and we went on a break "Let's go anf eat Ria'' she shook her head "I am not hungry, you go" I knew why she was denying to go to and I didn't like this type of Ria. I needed to bring back my chatterbox, that Ria who was carefree and shining like a morning light everytime. I grabbed her again "Oh, I am famished" she tried to pull out her hand from mine but she couldn't. We reached the cafeteria and thank God Jeff wasn't there but someone else. She exhaled, I've realized that she hasn't been breathing this whole time. We picked up some food  and sat down to eat, she was drinking a glass of water when suddenly Jeff intruded our peace. She almost choked up, I stroked her back "Come on, Ria you'll hurt yourself" she lowered her head down avoiding to face him, once she was relaxed she ran out faster, I shook my head. This has to stop I can't stand it anymore, I went to face Jeff "We need to talk!" I said firmly, he nodded "Okay, I'm listening" I sighed before continuing "Ria told me about it, she is just shy to face you after the deed, how about you go and talk to her" he laughed surprising me, I frowned at him. What was so funny here? "Well, I was planning to" I hit his back, pushing him a little bit "The go! What are you waiting for? She must be at the theater and you better solve this issue today" he walked out waving at me.

I stretched my hands so relieved before heading back to eat. Shortly Daniel entered, surprising everyone in the cafeteria by walking straight to me. I gulped as he sat facing me "Hello, Elina!" the students were even more concerned now that he came to sit with me and was even talking to me. I lowered my eyes from embarrassment "What are you doing here?" he rested his face on his hand looking straight at me "I just came to eat with my best friend" I forgot to breathe for a second and ended up coughing, he got up and stroked my back, now everyone stopped what they were doing staring at us. "Stop it! I am fine" I push his hand away, he sat back "Um...Elina, Ana asked me to bring you tonight for dinner" he spoke, rubbing the back of his head nervously. "What?" I blurted, he continued "Well you don't have to come if you don't want to" he lowered his eyes disappointed I shook my head quickly "No! I mean I'll go" he stood up smiling, he gave me his phone and took mine "Enter your contacts" We exchanged our contacts "Text me when you are ready, I'll pick you up" he left with his lips curved.

My mind couldn't function about what just happened and what made it worse was the conversations that I was hearing from my surroundings. "Wow! what did she do to get him?" ..."They must be dating" .... "They don't look good together " .... "She is such a b***h, she just wants his money!" The world was spinning before me, I've had enough. I got up and left heading anywhere to hide and relax my mind, I passed by the theater and remembered Ria. She hides here sometimes so I thought of giving it a try too. I entered and walked to the back seats to sit, with my eyes shut I leaned back, It was so dark and quite comfortable. 

Jeff and Ria settled their matter and decided to forget about it and go back to their normal self. I head back to the dorm, Ria hugged me once I entered the room "Thank you Eli, you are so kind to me" I pulled her back "Well, let's just say that I've missed my chatter box" we both laughed, I walked to the mirror "Ria, I....I'll be going out tonight" she cupped her face "Going where? With who?" I was contemplating on telling her or not, she'll probably be shocked she, never saw me even talk with him before. "With Daniel" her mouth hang open, she rubbed her ears "What! Are you too dating?" was the first sentence that came out of her mouth. I shook my head "No! we are just going to hang out, at his home." I didn't want to tell her in details and give her a heart attack when she just got back her senses from the sex accident. She narrowed her eyes "When did you two become close? I just can't seem to remember that" I smiled "I'll tell you everything when it's a right time, right now it's still complicated" she looked at me with a pleasant look "Well, I am happy for you no matter what" I opened my cupboard looking for something to wear my head was spinning "Ria were just friends" I made it clear because that was the truth, she chuckled "I didn't say you aren't, I didn't even say a word" she was impossible to argue with "Why don't help me out?" I asked, maybe she would be good at this unlike me, she walked to her cupboard and picked out a Red lace Bodycon dress and black strappy high heels "Here, wear this" I gave her a thumb "Thank you, you are the best" I side hugged her, she smirked "I know" I shook my head smiling. 

I washed  up and changed into them, she was sitting by the bed, waiting for me to come out. Once I stepped out she clapped her hands "I knew it! I knew it would look good on you" She cheered, I smiled "Really?" she walked around me and pulled me to the mirror "Elina look at yourself, you look gorgeous" I cupped her face "Thank you, it's all because of you Ria, I should get going now." She walked me to the door "He must drool over you tonight, trust me" I shook my head heading out and stopped by the stairs to text him "Hey, I am done" he texted back "On my way" I was surprised, does that mean we won't be teleporting tonight that was so unlike him.

He arrived in his Mercedes, I stepped downstairs heading to the car, he got out and opened the door for me, his eyes stared from my head to the toes. I bit my lips, he smiled "Don't bite your lips, please" I creased at him "Why? there mine" I protested "You'll ruin that red colour on it" I blushed and hoped in, he closed it before entering and stepped on the engine. We arrived by the entrance "Shall we?" he handed out his hand, I exhaled "I feel nervous, I don't know why" he smiled pulling my hand "Don't worry, you look good and Ana, she likes you and that is why you are here tonight" My cheeks became red, I nodded. We walked inside, the couple was waiting by the door "Wow! you look beautiful, Elina" she kissed my cheeks and then we hugged "Hello, Phillips" he took my and kissed my palm "Hello gorgeous, you two looks good together. Has anybody told you that?" my eyes went straight to Daniel, I was blushing hard and I had to prepare myself for more tonight. Ana held my arms and escort me to the dining room, it was simply elegant.

Daniel pulled out a chair for me before he went to sit too, the couple sat at the endings of the table facing each other, the table was full of variety of food. Six course meal, appetizers, soup, fish, main course, salad, coffee and dessert, I was awed. Did she cook all of this or just ordered? Ana served food to everyone before serving herself, we finished with dessert and sat at the sitting room chatting. Ana told me stories about her and Daniel since they were young, some were very funny that I couldn't help but laugh. And as of Daniel, he smiled at her sisters jokes, It was a memorable night to me, I never had a warm family dinner before as this one. "Elina come with me" she took me to her bedroom, first floor. She walked straight to her cupboard searching for something and I was looking at the pictures on the wall "You two are married already?" I asked. "Two years ago" She answered not turning to me, then a picture of the two of them when they were young catch my eyes "This must be you and Daniel" she turned "Oh yes! isn't he just so cute?" I nodded "He is" she walked towards my back and placed aside my hairs and put a necklace around my neck, I was surprised.

"This belonged to our mother, I was so happy to see Daniel smiling from his heart tonight. Thank you Elina." She stepped before me looking at thenm necklace, "But...I can't accept this,It's important to you" she held my hands, "You are special to us, it's a gift" I smiled touching it "Thank you".

It was an Emerald necklace, It looked old but that is exactly what made it very beautiful. "It fits perfectly on your neck." She held my hand heading towards Daniel's bedroom. "You've been here before, right?" I nodded "Yeah"           

"Wait here, I'll bring us some drinks" she left me in his room. I roamed around, It was neat and well arranged for a boy. My mind was taking in a picture above the bed, I walked closer leaning on the bed with my hand  to reach for it. A family picture of them and their parents, it made me stare at it for a while. I don't even have any memories of my parents. It looked cute.

Daniel came and cleared his throat, making me startled and fell on the bed, "Daniel!" he smiled putting the drinks on a table "What!" he came instead of Ana with cups of coffee, she was trying to set me up with Daniel, I couldn't believe it, I shook my head. just when I was about to sit he moved faster and pinned me down on the bed. I gasped as my eyes widened.