"Don't you look spectacular".
I spun around just in time to see my dad walking past my door.
Thinking quickly I dropped my phone and rushed off to catch up with him. He was dressed formally and heading down the stairs with his briefcase in hand.
Flashes from two days ago when he had given the same briefcase to Jason ran through my mind and I remember the file that he'd given to Ariadne before Victor drove off with her to presumably take her home, but as for what I know so far that's only a guess.
Dad stopped at the peak of the stairs and gave me a once over, seemingly nodding in approval.
You do look really nice son. He offered but before I could feel too accomplished from his compliment he looked down at his watch.
Leaning against the wall I regarded him cautiously, "Is there somewhere that you need to be?".
He smirked at my curiosity, "As a matter of fact,there is. And I'm running late".
"Wait", I stopped him before he could even think of walking off, "I know we agreed I'd leave town on Sunday for Washington State University but I wanted to see mom before I just picked up and moved across the country. Again".
"Okay", he agreed immediately. I nearly took a step back out of sheer shock. But if you want to visit your mother you'll have to leave tonight. You can spend Saturday with her but come Sunday you will be on your way to Washington".
He was serious, of that much I was sure.
"I have the school dance tonight though", I could barely recognize my voice. I sounded so reluctant and weak. Why was I reacting like this?
Granted I'd been thinking of visiting my mom for a while now. She may not be my biological mother but we were family nonetheless and from the look of how things are going I doubt I'd get another chance to see her anytime soon.
He glanced at his watch again, "I'll call up the Jet and have it on standby until after your little school dance. Someone will take care of your luggage, when your event is over i'll have Victor take you to the airport".
After those words he was gone.
I finished getting ready.
*****************
I arrived at Nicole's address at approximately six o'clock. Tonight was more or less of a test, not that it would even matter anymore since I'm leaving anyway. But I was starting to realize that Victor was right when he had said that Nicole liked me.
In fact I was starting to wonder how I hadn't picked up on it until now.
I was wearing a maroon tuxedo picked out by my wardrobe team for this specific occasion. Then, I matched it with a pair of black formal shoes and black tie. My hair was styled. Well, Victor is the one who styled my hair so...
Don't ask.
"Here", he handed me a bouquet of flowers that was resting on the passenger seat in the front. I exhaled aloud and took the flowers from him. I hope that Nicole wouldn't mind that I brought a driver with us, technically the entire school thinks Vic is my cousin, but still...
Getting out of the backseat I walked up toward the front porch of the huge suburban house in front of me. Nicole's house was exactly the cliché white picket fenced version of perfection.
Taking one last deep breath I gave a firm knock on the hardwood door
Nothing happened. I glanced back at the car to see that Vic had rolled down the window asking me what the holdup was. I shrugged and was about to knock again when the door swung open and revealed someone I didn't expect to find here.
I unconsciously took a step back as she stepped outside, "Delilah, what are you doing here?".
Her head snapped up to meet mine. Based on her reaction I could tell that this was the last place she probably expected to find me as well.
"I could ask you the same thing", she glanced down at my attire and then the small smile that was beginning to tug at her lips slowly disappeared as realization dawned on her face.
I think she might have muttered, "You're kidding me", under her breath but everything faded away the moment I saw Nicole walking towards us
I sucked in a breath so fast and unperceived that I nearly choked. Before me was standing one of the most beautiful sights I had ever set my eyes on.
Her dress was black which contrasted my maroon suit but somehow I felt like we'd look perfect together. I could feel Delilah's heated glare on us the entire walk to the car but I somehow couldn't make myself care enough to do something about it.
"I'm sorry my parents aren't home. I would've introduced you", she smiled.
When I hadn't replied Nicole stopped and turned to face me with a questioning look on her face and I straightened up my posture immediately trying to regain my wit.
I cleared my throat, "Nicole you look amazing".
Her eyes widened a bit as if she never expected me to compliment her.
"Thank you Solace", she said with reddened cheeks.
******
When we arrive at the restaurant we are immediately brought to our table. The evening is spent talking about general things. I mean it's amazing the type of conversation that drums up when you place two nerds at the same table. I have to say that I enjoyed hanging out with Nicole and it was a bit weird but I found myself glancing at her boobs that were looking way too good in that low sweetheart neckline. Something I've never really paid attention to before.
"So, why did you agree to go with me to the dance tonight?", she asks out of the blue, stirring our conversation away from the very unrelatable topic of climate change.
Don't judge. It's an interesting topic.
Her question caught me off guard in the least and I found myself feeling caught in the headlights not knowing how to reply. Generally I'd just tell the truth but saying 'I just wanted to end our conversation quickly since my body guard was waiting for me' didn't seem like it would go over well with her.
She sighed and continued before I could formulate a suitable answer in my head.
"I know you don't really like me", her eyes were looking everywhere but at me now, "whenever I try to talk to you, you always try to end our conversation and get as far away from me as possible".
My jaw was nearly hanging open by her unrestrained confession. It took me a few moments to get my bearings straight and when I did I reached across the table and held her hand in mine, noticing the warm rush that passed over my body from the mere contact.
"I don't hate you Nicole, I swear I don't it's just", what was I supposed to say.
She slowly pulled her hand from mine, "You don't like me either", she concluded with a sad smile. I guess Ariadne wins again".
My heart skipped a beat at the mention of that name but I tried not to give myself away too much.
"Ariadne?", I asked, clearing my throat. "What are you talking about".
She scoffed at me but not in a rash way, "I know you like her Solace, it's hard not to with the way you're always staring at her.
I could've denied it but I chose not to, what's the point now anyway.
"Fine", I shrugged nonchalantly, "I like her. And just to clarify I do not 'not like' you. It's just that whenever we talk you never fail to remind me how great Ari and Mario are together". I muttered the last part but I knew she heard me.
She smirked, shocking me for God knows how many times since I've seen her tonight.
That little demon!
"You do that on purpose don't you?", I was sincerely amused now.
She shrugged and my phone vibrated in my pocket.
When I checked the message I realized that it was actually from Nicole's number that I had saved in my phone the other day. But it was weird since she hasn't been on her phone the whole time we've been here.
"Is something wrong?", she asked, bringing my attention back to her.
"Did you just text me?".
She eyed me cautiously as if it was a joke before she finally answered, "No, my phone has been in my clutch the whole time".
She opens her clutch which has been resting on the table in the same spot since we came here unmoved.
I glanced back at the screen with the contact that had been wrongly stored under Nicole's name and I read the message one last time in my head.
Nicole: Tonight's gonna be a real killer 😉