Dating jitters
Bethany stood in front of the mirror comparing dresses now fluster she had no idea what kind of reservations were made . Sunny sat on her mother's bed confused at her mother's actions. She had never seen her mother act this way before.
Norma -jeans came out of the back room that was locked and presented Bethany with a necklace and a set of clip on earrings. Bethany tried to refuse them but Norma -jean wasn't going to have it.
" The blue dress with the high top." Norma-Jean chimed in. " Men should be left to the imagination on the first date . " She remarked.
" This is not a date it's a catching up." Bethany retorted.
" Catching up is coffee shop not a restaurant needing a reservation." Said Norma-Jean slyly.
" Oh my god it is a date. No.no I'm not ready to date. I'm not ready for this." She proclaimed.
" Bethany. Listen . We all move on. All the time I've known you have you ever accepted a invitation to any one elses request. I've seen single dads interested . Your pretty well put together for a mom. You not completely tragic. Live a little." Norma-Jean placed her sage wisdom upon Bethany.
" So the blue hight collar one ." Bethany confirmed .
" Yes . With these jewels . I haven't used these since Mr. Barry married me. We didn't go out a lot after James and Gertrude . Girty was my daughter . She lived until she was fifteen. It is why I don't drive. That's how we lost her ." Said Norma-Jean sadly reflecting her memory as she pawed the jewels looking in the mirror.
" Any how. Blue is always a winner on first dates ." She smiled snapping out of memory lane. Bethany wanted to console her friend but didn't know how to ease a broken heart.
Bethany put on the dress and jewels completed with heels and looked at herself in the mirror and Norma-Jean held her do her hair. Bethany never got to this part with her mother. Norma-Jean didn't realize how much this meant to her.
There was a knock on the door . Norma-Jean answered and allowed Axel to enter. He wore a simple blazer and slacks a white linen shirt slightly unbuttoned to show the top of his muscles chest. She whistled.
" Well don't you look handsome. " She remarked.
Bethany blushed as Norma -jean made the observation. Bethany stepped out and he swept his eyes over Bethany. She smiled like he used to when he saw her in her school days. Those penetrating eyes that can see to your soul.
" You look lovely." He said in awe.
" Thank you. You look handsome as well." She said blushing.
Norma-Jean looked between them two and guided them to door.
" You two go on . Have a good time. I've got Sunny .she said pushing them into the hallway. They walked quietly as they decided to walk since it was a block away. He arrived at the restaurant and opened the door.
The hostess was a leggy redhead with purple contacts. She leaned on the podium.dipping her low black dress top for him to notice her gifted chest.
" Hey do you have a reservation." She said flirting with Axel.
" Yes. Jing table for two." He said looking at Bethany not paying attention to the hostess. The hostess huffed and snatched the menus as motioned us to follow her.
Bethany went to sit down and Axel stopped her and pulled out her chair. She smiled and sat down as he scooted her in. The server came and food was ordered.
Axel leaned forward as he studied Bethany. Paying attention to every strand of her hair. The lining of her eyes the fullness of her lips. The high cheekbones and her delicate chin. He had always thought she was a beautiful woman, but she was so wrapped up in Gregory that he wouldn't allow himself to feel anything for her completely to prevent heart ache.
" Bethany ,I hate to be hasty about the conversation we had earlier . What ever happened to the guy you were supposed to marry?" He asked directly. Axel was very direct . It was a constant their entire friendship in school days. It's why Bethany trusted him.
" Oh we are doing this now.um.okay.hmmm." she cleared her throat at the offset question."
"Where do I begin? Well my father died a few years back. As you know he was the resident protector from the other two families. Like a mediator to keep them two from fighting on our middle territory. " She sucked in her breath before she continued.
" When he died the Toosley girl came in on a contract of a truce between the families. They played it off as a version to honor my fathers dead by a truce between the two." She scratched her neck aggervated . " The result of that was the Toosleys' offered their daughter to the Zehetii house in a union of marriage." She finished .
Axel analyzed the information. Then pursed his lips nasty like he ate a bad taste. He sat back in his seat to process the information." This was the same guy engaged to you I take it?" He said collectively .
" Yes." She confirmed.
" And he knew of Sunny?" He quizzed.
" Yes." She replied.
" And he left you." He sucked in his breath ."alone?" He questioned.
" Yes." She said softly as it still hurts admitting it out loud.
" I see. " He sighed. " Well I have always thought he never deserved you." He finally said ending the question at hand.
" I'm so glad you thought that of me. It still hurts to waste seven years of my life to be put aside." Bethany expressed .
. " Seven years. What the hell!" Exclaimed Axel.
" That's is three years short of a decade to be committed." He pointed out.
Bethany scoffed." You sound like monogamy is a death sentence." She said blandly.
Axel realized his mistake. " No. I didn't mean it that way. I meant that was years you could have been making someone else happy." He explained.
The food came and silence halted . This was not the conversation to be overheard as the waiter set up the table. Axel was subtle like that. He knew when to talk and when to show discretion.
As soon as the waiter cleared hearing distance he continued." Now what about the ghost news broadcast?" He asked curiously.
" My half brothers idea to look like he possessed a soul . Bad press is still better than no press when the heiress to the Bruno and Gregori dynasty went missing. He of course pounced on my father's estates before he was cold in his grave." She said picking at her food.
" Gheesh." He replied.
" I know. That's not all." She continued.
" What there is more?" Expressed Axel.
" My lawyer is having an affair with Gregory's new bride. He has been stealing from me. He was the leak in my mother's company. I closed all the accounts associated with his access. So they are kind of well not happy with me at the moment." She revealed now looking into Axel's eyes. Trying to find the fleeing look. This surely will scare him off.
" And your landlady knows this? He mused.
" Well she knows I'm on the run and have a dangerous family. "She said softly.
" Bethany. This might be something she might actually need to know." He scolded now knowing the danger.
" I'm aware of that. I'm getting around to that." She confessed.
" Ok this dinner got heavy fast. Let's enjoy our meal . I'm sorry you had to go through that alone." He said finally.
I'm sorry you don't want to associate with me anymore. I'll cover my half if you want to end this?" Bethany said standing up.
" No.no.no. that was rude of me. I have dinner after all this is a date . " He pleaded.
" I don't need sympathy. " Bethany said firmly.
" I know you don't . You never have all the time I known you. Bethany I like you. I always have. It's going to take a lot more to get rid of me." He confessed holding her hand.
Bethany smiled as the continued to finish their dinner.
Axel leaned forward after settling the check. He looked around like he was part of an conspiracy.
" Hey Bethany you know what we should do for old times sake?" He sang.
" What? She said her eyebrows raised.
" Get some ice cream and go to the park. We can sit on the swings and eat ice cream like we use to do on our school days after exams." He offered.
Bethany smiled . She almost forgot her post exam ritual him and her did as a celebration of another exam down. She smirked.
" Axel, there are no exams to celebrate." She stated.
" Life is but an exam. We are constantly tested each day we wake up." He chimed.
Bethany forgot how philosophically charming he was. He always knew how to put her in a good mood. When he upset her Avery knew how to make him apologize later.
" What the hell. Why not. But I am kicking off these shoes and running through the grass down to the swings." She stated.
" Bethany you are a woman after my own heart . " He said." Only real women love grass between their toes." He jested.
Bethany and him grabbed ice cream and spoons . Then walked to a nearby park. She took off her shoes handing it to him as she raised her eyebrows and ran through the grass. Axel laughed and followed her walking slowly observing the care free Bethany he knew. She sat on the picnic tables as she waited for him to catch up.
He sat down beside her hitting her knees with his leg as the dipped into their ice cream.
" You know I was serious earlier. About telling your landlady the entire truth. She has to know the depths of what she is getting herself into." He advised looking in Bethany's eyes not wavering .
" Oh ok daddy." She teased.
" Well since you said it like that. I can dig that. If your into that kind of stuff. I might even use a belt if you want to go that far." He said both trying not to burst into laughter.
" What. No. Just. No" Bethany replied.
" Darn. I was looking forward to it. You know it's cruel Getting my hopes up like that." He held his heart .
Bethany smiled faded as she looked at Axel.
" Oh now it's your turn to go heavy on ." She said seriously now.
" Go on." He said stiffly ..
" Your mom how is she?" Bethany pursued her question from earlier that day .
" She is living her best life ." He said sour.
" Axel." Bethany insisted on an answer more demanding.
" Dad died last spring. As soon as she could she skip the entire continent . Like she couldn't get away from us fast enough. She didn't even see him off at the funeral." He said staring ahead now uneasy.
" That's rough." Bethany replied.
" We expected it. Constantly searching for the stars in broad daylight . No goodbyes just an empty bank account and a mortgage left behind. Avery and I had to pick up where she left off. She took everything and didn't even say a word . Just poof reality snap." He said now standing up to pace.
" I'm sorry ,Axel." Bethany said .
" What are you sorry for . You didn't do anything to me." He snipped.
Bethany understood his reaction. She should have left it alone. But since tonight was baring their souls night she wasn't going to be spilling life stories alone.
" We both hanging on by a thread aren't we." Bethany continued.
He then turned and looked at her in the most peculiar way. Then something snapped for split second and a devious smile rose on his face. Bethany knew that look. She took off running to the swings . Axel long legs picking up pace as he passed Bethany.
" That's not fair. I'm out of shape. I don't train like you. Disadvantage." She yelled coming to the swings. They both sat on the swings in silence rocking slightly.
" I wasn't lying . I have always liked you. I just respected you had a boyfriend. " He confessed.
" Why? Not why that way .but you know what way." Bethany said flustered now no wording it right.
" Because I wouldn't want anyone to do that to me. If your involved ,then your involved. Stealing someone isn't stealing them or giving them options. It is setting yourself up for failure. No one can steal a person from another person. That person wanted to leave already they just needed the opportunity." He explained.
" I didn't want to steal you. I didn't want to make you feel like you were an option on my agenda. I wanted you to chose me not run to me escaping someone else." He said deeply.
" I appreciate that. I really do." Bethany said both now looking into each other's eyes.
" But don't put it past me I will kidnap you." He jested as he tapped her knees with his leg.
" Isn't that the same as stealing?" She said amused.
" Technically yes. Except one you don't see it coming . The other you do. Got to choose the lesser of the two evils." He smirked.
" I like you too. I use to wonder why you never dated in school. Don't get offended okay." She asked.
" When someone says don't get offended it universal reason to be offended. You are setting me up to be offended." He smiled.
" Well I thought you were well anti-girls." She said embarrassed looking up .
" Anti - girls? Is that even a word ?" He said confused.
Then he closed the distance and kissed her . Bethany didn't realize what was happening until it was too late. But she came to her own conclusion he definitely liked girls. The kiss lingered and his hands went in her hair as he depended it both on the edge of the swing teething on their seats. They broke apart and Bethany stood up and began to walk off. Axel was confused why went wrong.
Then she looked back and smiled.
" I'm not letting you win again." As she took off running. How did he fall for that. She used to do that at school. Pretend to be sad and get a head start run. Axel caught up to her and gently tacked her to the ground using his arm to cushion the fall as he leaned over staring at her laughing.
" I don't want this date to end ." He confessed.
" Well technically you squeezed three dates into one date. Most guys have to go on three individual dates to accomplish what you did tonight." She teased.
" Third date that means I get to go inside for a home cooked meal right?" Axel teased her wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
" Wow . That is your plan all along. I've heard of the five date rule then you might get some action. Three dates seem a bit presumptuous don't you think?" Pointed out Bethany .
" If your up for it . " He smirked playfully.
" Whoa Casanova . One kiss and three combined dates and now we are serious. " She replied.
" One day I would like to be." He said as he leaned down to kiss her once again.