One mate and a Rejection

Chapter 8

PART 1 Chapter 8

He rolled his eyes,’ Smart ass."

My mom stood,leaning on the edge of the kitchen door,watching us,her eyes teary and sad.

"Mom?"

I muttered.

She shook her head and exited the kitchen,going upstairs.

"She's just worried,she might lose you Em."

I smiled,"

Go comfort her for me."

"Got it."

I headed to our living room and smiled at Ben,taking a hold of the roses in his hands,touching only the

plastic wrap.

Little did he know I was allergic.

“Thanks,"

I smiled,laying them on the couch,’ They're really nice."

Ben smiled,revealing two deep dimples,’ thanks,you look really nice."

“you too."

I couldn't help but think of the tulips Jared always used to get me.

The pretty white ones because he knew they were my favorite,but they were hardly ever in the market

here so he'd drive all the way to the next town over for about an hour and half to buy them.

I let my eyes trail to the ones he'd bought me a couple of weeks ago that lay in a vase of water.

"Ready to go?"

I asked him,ripping my eyes away.

"Yeah,let's go."

He led me to a nice gray car that I knew belonged to his mom,"

where are we going?"

"A really nice restaurant my parents used to go to,’ he answered,getting inside.

Again,I couldn't help but compare him and Jared.

Jared would have eased whatever tension was in the car and found a way to make me laugh.

He also would have kept where we're going a secret just to keep me interested.

It was annoying sometimes but I loved him for it.

We reached the restaurant after about thirty minutes of an awkward silence,the only sound being the

healthy roar of the engine and the classical music coming from the radio.

Ben parked his car in the tiny lot and exited,running over to my door but I had already opened it.

I gave him a sheepish smile and stood up,pretending not to have seen his flushed cheeks of

embarrassment.

We went inside and I discovered that the restaurant was actually an old diner.

It wasn't bad though.

It looks homey and comfortable.

I was glad I'd dressed up so casually.

We walked across the red and white checkered floor,making our way towards one of the corner seats.

Ben pulled out my chair,refusing to meet my eyes.

Confused,I took a seat and watched as he did the same.

I looked out the window.

It wasn't a very nice viewjust an empty street,a couple of trees and a light post.

“So,"

Ben muttered, picking up his menu,"

what will you be having?"

I picked up my menu and gazed at all the foods.

They served breakfast,lunch and dinner whenever you wanted.

"Um,"

I muttered,"

the pasta looks really good."

He smiled,"

it is,and try the apple pie after,it's amazing."

I smiled,"

Do you come here a lot?"

He shrugged,"

Like twice every week.

My mom used to bring me here as a kid.

It was my favorite place and also the only place I knew that had banana ice cream."

I laughed,"

Are you ordering that? Cause I wanna try it."

"Alright,order the pie and I'll order the ice cream.

We'll share."

I nodded, letting my yes drop back to the menu,"

sure."

I was suddenly ambushed with the memory of me and Jared's last date.

He had said the same thing.

‘Order the lobster and I'll order the steak,we'll share.’ Well,that was before and I have to move on.

But was it wrong that I still had hope? I snapped my menu shut and watched as a middle aged waitress

approached our table.

"Hey Ben,whos your friend?"

she asked.

Ben blushed,"

That's Emerald.

Emerald, meet Jane,the best waitress in town."

"Hi,"

I smiled,shaking her hand.

“You're a pretty one,aren't you? Are you ready to order?"

she asked.

"Yes,"

replied Ben,’ the usual for me,and pasta number three for Em.

For dessert we'd like some banana ice cream and a slice of apple like pie."

She wrote it all down before he even finished talking,which I didn't think was possible.

"Got it? she smiled and walked away Ben,noticing my shocked face smiled and said "

told you she's the best waitress in town."

The food arrived a couple of minutes later,still hot and fresh from the stove.

“Smells good,"

I muttered, inhaling.

“Tastes even better."

I began to eat the heaven before me,moaning in satisfaction.

"This is amazing,’ I said through a full mouth.

Ben chuckled,taking a bite of his own.

We talked until our plates were empty,and then dug into the desert.

"I've probably gained like ten pounds,"

I muttered.

Ben laughed,"

it's work,don't worry though,everything is made without all the greasy stuff so it's not fattening at all."

“Whoa,this has got to be the best diner ever!"

"They really care about their customers."

We left the diner a couple of minutes later,walking towards a park.

"Lcall a swing!"

I yelled and began to run.

Ben laughed and called out,"

There are two swings!"

"Yeah but one is broken!"

I replied.

He approached me a couple of seconds later and saw that I hadn't lied,so he ended up taking a seat

inside the baby swing.

“Does it hurt?"

I asked after a while.

"What does?"

"Your butt."

He shrugged,’ Kind off.

I think the metal is giving me a bruise."

I burst out laughing,finally realizing that maybe I can move on from Jared.

I looked at Ben and saw that he was okay looking.

With his glasses and braces,you really couldn't tell at all how cool he really was.

But sadly,I couldnt see him as anything more than a friend.

I couldn't possibly ask him to help me shift without offering him some sort of relationship.

I sigh and decide to enjoy my time while I still have it.

A sudden movement within the trees woke me up from my daydreaming.

"What was that?"

I asked Ben.

He shrugged again,"

Probably a squirrel."

We decided to leave the park about an hour later,the time being 11:10.

When we neared my house,I asked Ben to take a turn.

“But your house is the other way,’ he said.

"Yeah,but I gotta pick something up from a friend's house,can you drop me off here?"

I lied,attempting to erase all worry off my face.

“Sure,do you want me to drive you back?"

"No it's fine,I'm staying for a while so she'll drive me back."

He shrugged and parked the car.

"I had a really nice time, I said.

He blushed and smiled,"

me too."

"See you Monday."

"See you."

I shut the door,waiting until his car was out of sight before I began to walk.