Chapter 7 - Is it Love?

I put my best look and I even went to the salon to fix my hair. All of it because I asked Eliza to have a dinner date with me, and she agreed. Now I have to put aside what happened on the restaurant earlier with Dad and look forward on this date. I brought Eliza on a restaurant and as expected, she wore simple a black dress and it even sparkles, I can't take my eyes of her while walking towards me.

"Sorry I'm late" she said in a soft voice.

"Oh no, I just got arrived too"

"Mr. Darcy, isn't this restaurant too expensive for us? she whispered. "Look they even played violin for us" she added. I just smirked and laugh a little.

"No, I availed their promo card" I said while showing her the card and she laugh.

"That's cute, you know this is just my second time dining in a fancy restaurant, thank you for the invitation by the way."

"Well thank you for coming too, can we order now?"

We delightfully eat the steaks we ordered, she smiled at me while eating, I smiled too, we are making fun of each other at the table without saying a word because we sre still eating, I can feel that the other customers are watching us, but who cares? I saw that some couples are dancing in the beat of the musicians, after we ate, I asked her to dance, the melodic music are so calm and satisfying. I held her hips and she held my shoulders, I noticed something on her right cheek, a bruise.

"What happened to that?"

"Don't mind that, I accidentally hit my face on the door last night" she smiled.

"You know, this the first time I'm dancing with someone, you're my first of first, I tried my first dance with you, you are the first girl I asked to date, I mean, this is the first time I did romantic stuff" I said in a low voice while dancing.

"You're kidding, even in High School? You didn't dance with girls? How many first time that you'll try on me?" she laugh

"I'm not kidding"

"Mr. Darcy, you never had a girlfriend before?"

"I thought I never gonna fall in love in a girl, but then you came into my life....I realized that I'm wrong"

"What do you mean by that?"

"I think..I think, I'm in love..with you" I stumbled saying those words, its embarrassing you know.

"Mr. Darcy, are you really serious right now?" I can see that she's blushing.

"Yes I am" my lips is closing to hers and I was about to kiss her, we closed our eyes, but I forgot that we are dancing and we didn't noticed that my butt bumped into other customer's table, the table fell on the floor along with the drinks and foods on it.

"Oh shit!" I was frightened.

"What the hell are you doing boy?" yelled angry the customer.

The drinks that have been spilled went on the other couples that are dancing and they slipped, they also knocked down other customer's table, the whole restaurant turn into chaos because they are yelling to each other and even had a physical fight, other customers joins the fight too, throwing foods to each other, the guards can't do anything because of the mad customers, the musicians continued playing but this time it's also chaotic. To avoid blaming, we immediately went back on our table, grab our bag and rushes outside. We ran while laughing and stains in our clothes because of the food wars at the restaurant. We stopped on the coffee shop and drink there, we still laughing about what happened.

"I thought that bald guy will throw his bottle on me" I said while laughing

"You have ketchup in your forehead" she said while wiping it.

There is a moment of silence for almost 10 seconds.

"Ms. Cleaver, look I'm sorry for rushing, I can't help myself" I said while nodding my head down.

She held her hands on mine.

"Mr. Darcy, it's okay, I adore you anyway, buy only I'll accept your love if you'll also accept me as I am" she said while kissing my hands.

"What? You love me too?" I asked with a big smile. "I will love you as you are Ms. Eliza Cleaver" I added with a kiss in her hands.

"Mr. Darcy, don't get this in a wrong way, but I'm scared, I'm scared if you will know who I am, you'll leave me"

"You remember the first day I met you?"

"Yes, that was so cute of you" she laugh

"And you asked me what's my problem? So that you can help me at least, but I refused because I thought you can't"

"Did the cola helped you?" she jokes

"The next day I looked into other girls at school, then I realized those girls is nothing compared to you, I got an advice from a friend that girls like you are hard to find." Actually I still stumbled saying those embarrassing words in front of her."

"Oh really?" she smiled

"Ms. Cleaver, please give me a chance to prove to you that I wont leave you if I'll get to know what or who you really are.". Now I'm getting nervous, I don't know what I'm saying. "Well except if we're somewhere relatives". I joked and she laughs.

"Of course Mr. Darcy...Of course." she held my cold hands tight. "But you have to promise me one thing, you have to remain as my Mr. Darcy Jr. I saw on the road." she said and rubbing my cheeks.

"Does that mean yes?" I asked in a smile

"Yes Mr. Darcy".

Maybe that was the happiest thing that happened to me, the very first girl I adore is finally mine. So I hugged her and was about to kiss her, but suddenly her phone rings, that her boss is calling and want her to report back. I asked to fetch her there but she insists, doesn't want to bother me. I told Zelbert and Gerald about it, and they want to see her soon.

Weeks has passed, we do what couples do, we date, we ate together, just living the moment. When Eliza finally agreed about meeting my best friends, we decided to invite Eliza on my apartment, Gerald and Zelbert helped me clean the whole apartment. Those weeks, I never talked nor call dad, mom's birthday is tomorrow, waiting if she'll invite me, or maybe they wont be having a feast because of their big plan on Grandpa Eddie's fancy birthday next week.

"What should we eat for dinner?" Zelbert asked while cleaning the dining table.

"I think we should order some food instead of cooking, Ms. Cleaver might run away if she tasted our dishes" Gerald joked.

"Yes, I already ordered and the delivery guy is on his way here." I said.

"You do think that Ms. Cleaver will like us?" Zelbert asked.

"I'm sure she will, she is more kind than you think, just behave with manners.". I replied.

After a long preparation, Eliza finally arrived. The guys are more excited than me, I wonder what will happen next if Eliza will know how clumsy my friends are. While I walk Eliza in the stairs, Zelbert and Gerald is smiling waiting up, things got weirder and more awkward when they are getting near to each others. We designed the living room with a gloomy theme, played some classic music in the radio and flowers in every table, mostly red, I don't know what are the names of those flowers, I just bought them without naming. My dining table's shape is square, so the four of us sits in every side, I can't picture out Gerald's face, he's like going to laugh but he's holding it.

"So... you're Ms. Cleaver" Zelbert shyly asked.

"Yes, and you must be Mr. Collins" she responded.

I just let them talk and I'll just listen and smile, my goal here is let them get to know each other without me interrupting.

"Just call me Zelbert"

"Okay...Zelbert, how long have you been friends with William?"

"We've been for over 3 years" Gerald interrupted.

"Oh..."

"Me, Zelbert and William first met at the registrar's office, when we are processing our papers for scholarship. I'm Gerald Bingley by the way nice to meet you Ms. Cleaver, I'm from Liverpool, I came all the way here to run away from my family." he nervously shaked hands with Eliza. Now that's cute for Gerald, I just laugh secretly, he got nervous, I got him this time.

"Oh yes, I remember that day, we almost got lost in the school because we don't have maps." Zelbert quickly responded.

"Then I also remembered that I only have a 50 pounds that time because my gig didn't pay me, so I have to borrow to William even if we are just strangers that time" we all laugh.

"But I didn't hesitate to lend you a few quid that time" I said. "I love those days that you still return the money you lend to me." I added and we all laugh.

"Surely the three of you get along immediately after getting to know each other" Eliza said while chewing her food.

"We are once an outcast in the campus, we've been called weirdos, not until Gerald published a news in the campus about bullying and where it leads, he got recognized and received awards because of that, then the bullying issues in the campus was lessen including us" I explained to Eliza how Gerald saved us from being an outcast, thanks to his writing skills.

"Basically the three of you are all run away?"

"Kind of, that's the three of us main thing in common, that's also the reason why the three of us understand each other genuinely." Zelbert said while drinking his juice.

"And we struggle to prove to our parents that we can achieve our dreams without them." Gerald added.

"You're so lucky William to have them, I wish I had a friends like yours." Eliza said with hope

"Well we can be your friends too, a friend of our friend is our friend too" Zelbert said with a huge smile.

The dinner end up well good and adorable at the same time. Eliza really liked them, well who could resist my friend's clumsiness and cuteness at the same time. I walked Eliza outside and asked her to fetch her to her apartment but she always insist. After a kiss on thebcheek, I went back up.

"Why'd you back so quick? You're suppose to fetch her" Gerald said.

"Yeah, but she always insist, she doesn't want to bother me."I replied.

"So, you think she liked us?" Zelbert asked.

"Obviously, she liked the two of you, but she's still shy, but I'm sure you'll get along comfortably in the future." I said. "I got some can of beers in the fridge, let's drink it." I added.

"Dude I have a quiz tomorrow, but I'll drink anyway." Zelbert said while going to the fridge to get the beers.

While we are having fun watching a movie and drinking a beer, I got a text message from Mom.

"Junior, if you have spare time tomorrow at dinner, can you come to my house? We'll have a little feast here, Grandma Emma will be expecting you here."

Nah, she's using Granny to make me come to her birthday. But I'll come anyway, it's been a long time since I last visited St. Albans. I don't have work schedule on Monday and my class on Tuesday starts at 3PM so its a flexible time, I can stay at Grandma Wilma's house at Hampstead, London and take my time there.

"This movie sucks!" shouted Zelbert

"No, I think the movie is good, but it's quite boring" replied Gerald and was about to fall asleep.

"I'll go get you guys some sheets at the room, it's clear you that can't walk already." I said while heading to my room to get them some sheets.

"Here's your sheets, don't pee on it or I'll kick you butts." I threw the sheets on them.

Zelbert and Gerald dragged me on them and hugged me tight that I can't move.

"You're sleeping here with us, in case we peed, you're still responsible" Gerald joked and we all slept at the living room.

The next morning, I was at the library alone, not cleaning but reading books, this is my new secret hideout since no students coming here. I thought I can be at peace there, but I heard a bump in one of the shelf.

"Who's there?" I asked.

It didn't respond, so I went near... Lucas surprised me and I was completely annoyed.

"Lucas what the fuck!?" I shouted.

"Did I surprise you?" asked Lucas while laughing.

"Of course! What are you doing here?"

"I followed you."

"No doubt, and why is that?"

"I heard from Gerald that you already confessed to Ms. Cleaver."

"What's that on you?"

"Uh... Nothing, I'm just happy for you."

"If you're thinking of what I am thinking, well that's not it."

"What?... It's true I'm happy for both of you."

"You followed me here just to say that?"

"Um..Yes? What? You want me talk about how'd you confessed to your Dad?"

"What the hell? How'd you know that?"

I was completely frustrated so I turned around and went back on my table where I am reading earlier, but Lucas followed.

"Your Dad told my Dad and he told me... I'm just glad that you finally opened up with your father."

"Yeah and it's a total whoreshit... What's with you guys? Why Dad keeps giving you information about me?"

"Because we are the only one that your Dad can freely open up."

"After what your Dad has done to my family..Dad still want to meet with your Dad? Yes Lucas, Dad told me how my parents broke up, and your Dad is the reason."

I stand up and was about to leave him on the table but he hold my hand.

"Wait..." he said.

I immediately removed his hand on my hand.

"You don't know about it all." he added.

"I don't care...Gotta leave you here, I still have somewhere to go."