Chapter 5

Degradedly I go to open the door thinking maybe Luke forgot his keys, I would never put it past him. One time in high school he managed to lock himself in the janitors closet and let me just say finding him after 6 hours in there was not a pretty sight.

I unlocked the door expecting his punch able face but instead got the shock of my life.

Standing on the other side of the door way was the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, clad in designer washed jeans and a burgundy bralet. Lila. Fuck me!

Our eyes met and I was rendered mute. All memories of last night came to me all at once. Her coming to my room, the kiss and finally me running out of the room like the coward that I am. What is she doing here?. I didn't remember Luke mentioning anything about her tagging along with us. Perhaps she'd left something of hers here last night.

Not wanting to make myself look anymore of a fool than I did last night I schooled my face to look unaffected by her.

"Lila, Hi?" I attempted at greeting her but instead it came out as more of a question than anything else.

She smiled at me and yet again leaving me panting at her wholesome beauty. "Hey" she greeted back for some reason she also seemed nervous but I was not entirely sure. Reading girls emotions never were my thing.

We continued to stare at each other, none of us brave enough to say more. After a few depressing seconds Lila recovered and gave me yet another one of her swoony worth smiles.

" umm.... can I come in?"

Stupid, Stupid. I mentally scolded myself . I'd been standing there like the creep I am of course I should have invited her in. Any normal teenager would have, but not me. God why was I such a nervous wreck every time I was near her.

Not wasting any more time I stepped away from the door allowing her to enter. She sauntered in her, steps calculated so perfect and I was reminded that she was after all a model, and a successful one at that. She came in and went to take to seat on the couch.

"Can I get you something to drink, I think there's some beverages left from last night" I asked her my voice somewhat more decent now. She nodded and didn't say more.

Thanking God for my attentiveness on her last night I knew she only drank cider the whole night. Yes I was creep. I got one for a her and a beer for me from the freezer. Went to take a tall glass from the cabinet to pour her cider in it. My mother would have been so disappointed in me if I gave it to her in the bottle. She prided her self in the correct etiquette. And had branded it to my brain at a very young age.

And that's how she found me. With my hand stretched out to reach the upper cabinet. Could I be any more embarrassed I felt worse as was. But I pretended to haven't sensed her in the room and went take the glass before turning to face her.

She flushed when she realized what I wanted the glass for, " You were taking too long to come out so I thought I should come and help you" although she was trying hard to look straight at me I notice her red tinted cheeks. She was she blushing because I poured her drink in a glass instead of just giving it to her as it is?

I decided to not ask her about it and handed her the drink. "Thank you ".

I led us back to the living room and sat down besides her.

"So ahhh, what brings you here" I enquired while taking a sip of my beer. She looked up at me and smiled her long lashes flattering " Luke told me you needed a ride and here I am"

And my mood deflated again, of course Luke sent her. He was just hell bent on embarrassing me. Pinching the bridge of my nose I went to stand up and opened the door for her. I didn't need this, especially today of all days.

Lila looked up unfazed by my actions, she didn't move from her sit. But I stood my grounds holding the door open for her. "You should leave Lila, I don't need a ride. I can fend for myself"

She still didn't make a move to stand she just stared at me as if I'd grown a second head. The whole ordeal started to frustrate me. I was not used to talking to people and the way she was looking at me made me feel as if I was the one doing something wrong. If mom were here she'd be very disappointed at me. But I really needed her to leave. Here presence unsettled me, made me feel things I never wanted to experience. She made me feel like I could be normal. But I know I couldn't. It was impossible.

"I'm not leaving Mike, you might as well come sit back down. You look ridiculous just standing there" she pointed out with the cutest pout I'd ever seen. As if in trance I went back to sit next to her. My hand shaking with embarrassment. I could feel my throat constricting, my breath were labored and if I didn't calm down soon I'd have my second panic attack. Before I could even think about retiring to my and try calming myself, her hands fell on my lap.

I starred at our joined hands, hers looking so small compared to mine. Then she started running her thumb on the back of my hands soothingly. "Calm down Mike" it was more of a command than I statement and somehow my body listened and obeyed her.

We sat like that for a few more minutes. It was silent but comfortable at the same time. I felt like I could breath freely in a presence of someone else other than my mom and dad.

Finally having calmed enough I turned to look at Lila and again I was dumbstruck by her beauty, her blonde pin straight hair with not even one hair out of place. She had minimal make up and her full lips were painted in a very pale pink. I could tell she wanted to ask me about what just happened. But I couldn't bring myself to tell. I couldn't stomach torturing her with my sob story. I converted it on my face and just prayed she got the message and accepted it.

Luckily she gave me a look that said she understood and I couldn't be more grateful. "You don't have to tell me, no yet." She said playfully nudging me. I smiled at her but not forgetting the yet.

She looked ethereal, entrancing, my eyes were glued to her and I couldn't look away. "Now will you let me give you a ride" her voice sounded so sweet like heaven melody and I just couldn't bring myself to decline her. She was like a drug and if there was one thing I couldn't ever resist it was the thrill of drugs. I was addicted.

I somehow end up riding shotgun in her neon pink Ferrari. We drove to the dealership and sort out everything. Since the payment had already been made all I had to do was get my car. I had gotten my license during the holidays so I could drive myself back. Seeing this Lila's mood immediately deflated. She gave me her cute pout as she complained about who was going to keep her company if I was riding in my own car. Again I let her get away with it and the dealer promises to have someone bring my car to the apartment.

So again I founded myself in Lila's car. Instead of her heading straight home she convinced me to treat her to an ice cream date. I wanted to tell her that this wasn't a date far from it but I reframed. In the little time that I'd know her I noticed that she didn't like being corrected or told what to do. So I assumed it must have came with the 'bratty princess ' protocol, again I didn't point this out. I didn't like confrontations so I avoid them at all costs.

She parked by the ice-cream truck and I went out to buy both our treats. There wasn't any line at the truck so I just went to order. " Good evening, what can I get you?" the lady behind the counter enquired. She looked like every typically ice-cream lady overly sweet with a heart shaped face. " Can I get one scoop peppermint and a two scoops of chocolate ice -cream, please"

After collecting the treats and paying the nice lady leaving a very generous tip, another one of my mom's teachings I went back to the car.

I had suggested to Lila that we eat out ice-cream at the back but she'd refused too much humidity for her hair and she didn't want people recognizing her because she claimed she was not in the mood to pose for pictures. I accepted her reason they were valid considering she was every teenage girl's dream and every guy's wet dream, me included.

After the 'date' we went back to the apartment. Once we parked at the underground lot I looked around and saw that true to their words my car was parked on its spot next to Luke's but his car wasn't there. In the apartment complex parking lot all the residents had their own park spaces on one side closer to the door leading to the apartment. On the far left was the lot for visitors. Luke had applied for mine two months ago.

"Would you like to come inside"