Love At It's Finest: Episode 5
I had an hour until Jason was supposed to be here. Once we'd found the perfect dress, Abby had located a couple of baubles and trinkets for me to wear around my wrists. After I'd arrived home I had scoured my room trying to find an old necklace I used to have. When I found it hidden in the deep recesses of my closet I'd tried it on to make sure it still fit. And it certainly did! It consisted of a delicate silver chain that dipped into a glowing amethyst; my birthstone. It added a nice effect, finishing the ensemble. Now, everything was safely stored in the garage and I sat waiting patiently. When the clock strikes six I slip outside. I had already told my mom I would be going out again later. It's a good thing our living room clock is about ten minutes fast; we all know it doesn't tell the right time, no one in my house has really bothered to fix it, though. Ten minutes is plenty of time to slip into the garage, wriggle into my newly acquired dress and slide on my new bracelets and old necklace. I hear a car pull up into the driveway as I exit the garage. I come around the corner as Jason is heading for the door. He hasn't seen me yet so I take the opportunity to get a good look at him. He's wearing a suit that seems to mold perfectly to his feline form. The suit is a midnight blue that appears to brighten the orange and gold of his fur and plaster his stripes prominently across him. His tail is twitching nervously back and forth and his brilliant blue eyes are reflecting the little light coming through the window of my very own room. I clear my throat once and he turns.
I see several emotions flicker across his face as his eyes widen. Shock, embarrassment, curiosity, and finally settling on admiration as he looks me up and down. He walks up to me and tries to say something. Emphasis on "tries" as his muzzle opens and closes. After a moment, he gives me a shy smile and says, "Hi."
I return the smile and his just gets wider, showing gleaming white teeth as sharp as razors. He holds out his arm and I take it and he walks me to his car. We get in and he pulls out of my driveway. It's only then do I realize that I have no idea where we're going.
"So, where are you kidnapping me to?" His whiskers twitch, but he otherwise remains silent. I put my head in my paw and sigh, glancing back over at him. Well, at the very least, he appreciates Dark Humour. I gaze out the window and let the lights and signs of buildings run together. One of my ears flicks back as he turns the radio up from its apparently mute status. I'm surprised to find it's on Radio Disney. Abby had asked what music I listen to and my reply was completely nonchalant. "I'll listen to anything but rap and country. I like a tad bit of Disney as well," I'd said. The last part I had said low enough so that Tyler wouldn't hear. Tyler was, of course, your typical jock. One thing I had picked up on in that school was that everyone associated the words "Disney" and "music" to Hannah Montana and Demi Lovato. And all those same people absolutely hated them in particular. I didn't count on Jason listening in at the time. Radio Disney was, currently, playing "Check Yes Juliet" by We Three Kings. Not one of my favorites, but some music is better than none at all, in my opinion. The hum of music and the flash of lights occupy me on our way to wherever it is we're going. When we pull into a parking space I pull myself out of daydreaming rather embarrassing thoughts.
As I look up at the restaurant's sign, I can't help but read the name aloud. "Arianni's Ristaurante Italiano." I add an Italian accent to my voice, force of habit. I've always used the accent of the country-of-origin for anything. That includes an English accent from the little voice in my head whenever I read Harry Potter.
"I told my dad I had a date and he took care of the reservations for us."
I raise an eyebrow. "You told your dad you were going out on a first date with a young, yet narcissistic fox?"
"I just told him I have a date. I want my business to stay my business. And you're not narcissistic."
His business to stay his business? I'm liking him more and more. I hate it when people try and butt in on your own life. It's especially hard when you're living with a grandmother who makes your business her own. I know I probably shouldn't say bad things about my own grandmother, but you try living with someone like that for seventeen years.
Jason grabs my paw and pulls me inside. When our paws made contact I felt a jolt like the first time I saw him and I thought, I want to feel that again. Once the maitre'd calls a waiter we're escorted to our seats and we skim over our menus. He orders a plain steak ("Behold the diet of the mighty predator;" Jason then bestows me with another of his dazzling smiles) and I order the filet minon. Whilst the waiter goes to get our food, we fall into a silence of companionship; each comfortable just being near the other.
When the appetizers arrive, we begin discussion on music. "So, who's your favorite singer?"
I hesitate then. Normally, I would just schmooze my way past that question under the pretense that I'll listen to anything that isn't country or rap, but... Do I really want to do that? Here; now? With him? All my life I dreamed of finding that one person that's right for me and all my life I've told family and friends that if you want true love you have to be willing to feel the pain of rejection and heartbreak. I am a tried and true Hopeless Romantic. Can I really take that chance? Out of everyone in my life only two people know the real me; my cousin Reyna and my best friend, Emilia (who I haven't seen or spoken with for three or four years). Can I take that chance now?
I look up into his startling blue eyes, my muzzle slightly open and about to answer him with my usual remark. Those blue eyes I feel like getting lost in every time. But I stop again, this time for a different reason. For the entire part of my life since I've known what love, true love, is, I've believed it would forever be my destiny to read about it, see it happen, but never experience it for myself; because I knew how stubborn I am. I knew it was completely impossible that I would ever open myself up enough for someone to know, to love the real me. When Jason looks at me with those eyes, however; something inside me just clicks. Something comes to life within me. The choice is now or never, literally maybe. Do I open myself to Jason, or should I not?
"My favorite artists are Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana." I let it all out in one breath and wait for his response
He raises an eyebrow. "You like Hannah Montana?" I can see the smile playing on his muzzle, but I bristle anyways.
"No. I don't!"
"You just said you did."
"And you don't listen do you?" I snap at him. "I said she was a favorite artist. I like her music. I'd rather get to know someone before I decide to like them or not."
His smile warms as he says, "That's a pretty smart thing to do." I couldn't believe it. More than three-fourths of our entire school would've laughed their eyes out and mocked me to no end and he thinks it's a smart idea. I couldn't help it; I give him a radiant smile as our dinner arrives.
After I let out that well-kept secret, others follow soon as well. And I'm not the only one spilling his most intimate thoughts; Jason is also. I find out that he will, honestly listen to anything except country. When I asked him about pop/country, he said it would depend on the artist. Once the conversation shifts from music, I begin telling other things about myself. Why my favorite color is purple; some beliefs say, as black represents protection, purple is said to stimulate the imagination. That my goal is to look as much like an anime character as possible; strange, I know. In turn, I learn his favorite color is red, a very blood-red. When questioned about it, all he does is shrug. I learn his favorite shirts to wear are all one that feature his favored bands. Over the course of dinner and dessert we talk about movies and food. TV shows and religion. My favorite movie is Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, his is The Dark Knight and we argue about the worst and better aspects of each movie ("Okay, so you say NBC is too creepy of an animated movie but you'll watch The Dark Knight, which is the creepiest batman movie I've ever heard of," I exclaim with an enormous smile dominating my face). I'll only eat food I discover for myself (like the delicious filet minon of Arianni's), he'll eat just about anything. My all time favorite TV show is The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy; crude, I know, but it's one of the only things that makes me really laugh. As I figured, he likes Family Guy the most, though he does agree Billy and Mandy is good. He asks if I like Family Guy as well and I say yes.
After all that he asks me if I believe in God with a sly tilt to his smile. By now I know what that means. He doesn't care what the answer is, he just wants to know because its one of my opinions. The guy's out for my heart for sure. I still scrutinize him for a full two minutes though. 'Old habits die hard' after all. With any other person I would give a bland "My beliefs are my own" and tell them to butt out; just, y'know, in a much nicer, yet frostily given, sort of way. So I tell him, in the best way I can, what I believe in.
"I don't think any gods or goddesses are real because that would be giving too much power to one source. I just believe in the creatures of Earth and the magic of this world. And, yes, I said magic." That brings me a twitch of his whiskers. "What about you?"
He gives another noncommittal shrug and says, "I'm just a guy from your average Christian Family." Of course I read more into that shrug than he probably wants me to, but I let out discussion take another turn.
We talk and talk endlessly and, before we know it, the clock is striking nine. "Well, it looks as if that is the death toll for this evening." But I smile, I can't help it; I've had more fun in these three hours than in, I'll admit it, four or five years. Sure, there're video games and TV, but that only replicates fun; it's not real. And, as we're leaving I quote Grim from Billy and Mandy, bringing a smile to not only my muzzle but to Jason's as well. And to add a little flare I mimic Grim's voice. "'Do not ask for whom the bell tolls,"--perfectly on cue, the restaurant's clock strikes nine again--"it tolls for thee."
The ride home feels shorter, like Time itself is rushing us to the day's close. Before long, Jason is already pulling into my driveway. I open my door to find he's there, ready to pull me out. I give him a small smile and that's when he takes me by surprise. This kiss is different from the first. It's a question, filled with possibilities, and I answer with all my heart, body, and soul. I'm willing to feel pain and heartbreak. I'm willing to risk everything, if I can just catch a glimpse at love. Too soon we have to pull away. He drives away and I walk up to my house, daydreaming of things to come.