She Won't Be Lonely Long

Chapter 5: First Date

                The next day was pretty similar to every other day at school. Sienna headed to lunch after Spanish class, she didn’t have anyone in this lunch she was even slightly friends with. Usually she sat at the edge of the cafeteria at a table alone, her head in a book listening to music. She was halfway through her lunch when she glanced up to see him sitting across from her.

                “I am not sure I have ever seen someone so engrossed in their lunch,” Jaden smirked at her.

                “How long have you been there?” She pulled out a headphone, displeased by the surprise. She hated surprises.

                “Long enough to know you should pay better attention to your surroundings,” he replied, twittering a cigarette liter in his fingers.

                She rolled her eyes, looking around the cafeteria. Sienna felt like high school cafeterias were like zoos. Teenagers throwing food, having inappropriate groping going on everywhere, and bullying other students. She preferred to block it all out.

                “Did you search me out just to give me a lecture?” Sienna asked, hoping he’d get to the point. This was more attention than she was used to at lunch.

                Now it was Jaden’s turn for an eye roll. “I’m gonna sneak out for a smoke. Come with me?” He nodded towards one of the exits.

                “I’m going to pass. Cigarettes are bad for you.” Sienna said, flipping to the next page of her book.

                “Don’t you ever just want to live a little?” he eyed her from beneath his long lashes.

                Sienna really did want to live a little, but she was pretty sure Jaden was the wrong guy to trust.

                “Smoking kills you slowly, so really you are asking me to die a little.” Sienna quipped back, she wasn’t going to let him know he’d hit a sore spot for her.

                Jaden stood up. “You are going to die of something regardless might as well have fun doing it. See you later, friend.” Winking at her, before he strode away.

                “We are not friends.” Sienna said louder than she meant to, attracting stares from the students at the tables nearby. She knew they should not be friends. She was also pretty sure if she wanted anything with him, it was to be more than friends. She scowled at the thought. Sienna did not want to be another notch in his bed post.

Sienna didn’t see Jaden the rest of the week. She assumed he was still grounded, and Brody had said he liked to skip school. Another Friday night at home, her mind wondered if she would see Jaden tonight. She kept telling herself that she needed to get over this crush or whatever it was. It was silly. Sienna went up to her room to put away laundry before bed, as she had folded it on the bed.

Ding! The sound of her getting a f*******: message. Picking up her phone, she didn’t want to admit to herself who she hoped it was from. Jaden.

Jaden:  Hey, you. Want to meet me at the mall tomorrow?

This was dangerous territory. She was sure her brother would say she should not go. And the unmentioned girlfriend he may or may not have was weighing on her mind. Sienna would not be the girl a guy cheated with.

Sienna:  What about your girlfriend?

Jaden:  Broke up.

Sienna was not sure he was being truthful.

Sienna: Honest?

Jaden: I swear.

Sienna: Okay.

Jaden: Okay, you will go?

Sienna: Yes

Jaden: Meet you at 11, food court.

Sienna was excited and nervous. She was not 100% sure why she agreed to go. Something about him was drawing her towards him. Sienna tried to shake her wondering thoughts out. She actually had something to do on a Saturday besides play softball. She laid in bed, running through possibilities in her head of what the next day would bring, before finally drifting off to sleep.

Sienna arrived at the mall fifteen minutes early. She disliked being late for anything. Fiddling with the edge of her jeans, hoping she was not about to be some elaborate prank or something. She parked by the food court entrance towards the back of the lot, just in case she changed her mind and made a run for it. Anxiously, she watched time tick by slowly until it was five minutes until eleven to head into the mall. Once inside the food court she decided to just keep moving and wandered between the different eateries. She walked past the Panda Express, took in the amazing smells of the fresh baked pretzels from Auntie Anne’s, and was perusing the cookie cakes at Mrs. Fields when someone grabbed her shoulders from behind. She squeaked, ducked, and whirled around. As she turned, she saw Jaden laughing. She glared as she tried to calm her rushing heart rate.

                “Not cool.” Sienna muttered.

                “You scare so easily.” Jaden grinned at her.

                “It’s not funny. I think I almost had a heart attack.” She replied after taking a couple deep breaths.

                “Kind of funny. Come on.” He said, starting to walk away. Sienna scrambled after him, wondering if he really even wanted her to follow. Was this some ruse to embarrass her or could he potentially like her?