Break the Distance

Chapter 15

Saturday 27th of August, 2016

Wellington, New Zealand

Richelle Smith

I'm glad it's finally weekend, finally some time for myself. To save money for the TNS show, I quitted the dance class I always took on Saturdays. It was a hard decision, but I think in the end the best. I really want to meet Noah, so I'm going to make it happen.

The fact that he just talked to me this morning like it was nothing special makes me really confused. For me it's so weird that he actually responses and that he still knows who I am after not texting him the whole week, but I guess he thinks different about it.

I look at myself in the mirror. I'm so not looking forward to tonight, but money is money and I really need it. I put a nice dark blue plain dress on and curl my hair a bit. My jaw is only a little green, so that's one less thing to worry about. I put on a little make up and add a little lip-gloss to my lips when I hear the doorbell. "BYE," I yell to the house as I walk into the hallway to the door. Not that there's someone home, but I just like to say bye.

"Good evening," Dan says with a smirk when I open the door. "Hi," I say and smile slightly. I feel his eyes burn on my skin as he accurately looks at every single millimeter of my body. No, I don't feel comfortable at all, but it will just be a family diner so I won't be alone with him. "Let's go," he says when he arrives back at my eyes and I follow him to his car. "Why did you pick me up with your car?" I ask a little confused. He literally lives a street away.

"Don't want to let you walk," he says and opens the door for me. I have a weird feeling when I get in, but I've known him and his family for a long time. I'm just being paranoid. When he starts driving in the complete opposite direction I start to panic. "Where are you going," I ask scared. He just laughs slightly. "Don't be so scared," he says, "I'm not going to kill you." He keeps driving and driving and I start to panic more and more. "Where are we going?" I ask. "You'll see," is all he says. "Tell me where we're going!" I say and he can probably hear the panic in my voices.

"Okay I lied," he says, "I don't have a family dinner." Well that isn't calming me down. "I just wanted to go on a date with you," he says. "So you lie to me instead of just asking me out?" I ask. I'm still scared, but I'm not panicking as much as I just did. "Yea," Dan says casually and pulls the car in a parking spot. "Bring me back home," I say looking straight forward. "What? No," Dan says, "we're already here." I look and see the theater. "One date," Dan says. I look at him and literally see how desperate he is in his eyes. "No," I say stubborn. "30 bucks," Dan says after he took a deep breathe.

I look at him again. "One date," I say and nod after a while. Dan sighs relieved. "It's going to be fun," he says and smiles.

We sit in the back of the theater with popcorn waiting for the movie to start. "How're my projects going?" Dan asks all of the sudden after a long silence. "Good," I say, "just give me 2 more weeks and they're all finished. "Good," he says and eats some more popcorn. I'm not a big fan of popcorn, it always get stuck between my teeth.

The movie starts and I look around. We're the only ones in there and I even feel less comfortable than I already did.

Halfway through the movie, it's a good movie by the way, I feel Dan's arm suddenly around me. "What are you doing?" I ask sassy, I feel my body tense up. "What people do on a date," Dan says casually. I sigh loud and just let it be, knowing I won't win when I go against him. I feel him pulling me closer and closer and even though I don't like it at all, I feel kind of comfortable.

Then even more sudden than he laid his arm around me, he lays his other hand on my cheek and turns my head towards him. I push him away when I realize he's about to kiss me. "What are you doing?" I ask. "Kiss you?" Dan says casually. "Eh no," I say clearly and focus on the movie again, moving a little away from him.

"5 bucks," he whispers a few minutes later in my ears and it makes me shiver. I doubt for a while it sigh. "Fine," I say surly and turn my head towards him. Instantly he crushes his lips on mine and even though I don't want to enjoy it, he kisses pretty good and I find myself kissing back. After he pulls away he grabs his wallet out and gives me the promised 35 bucks. "Thank you," I say casually.

I'm happy with the money, don't get me wrong, but I feel awful. I feel so used, like I'm just some doll in someone's play. I'm never going to do this again.

"You can come over to my hous-" Dan says when he's driving me back home. But I cut him off before he can finishes his sentence. "No," I say clearly. "There's nobody home," he whispers, "you can earn some good money." "Oh my gosh," I say getting the hint, "I'm not a w***e!" "Sure?" Dan asks, "I'm sure you'll earn easier money than by selling your brains." "Let me out," I insist. "What?" Dan says. "LET ME OUT," I basically yell. "You want to walk home?" he asks. "Sounds good to me!" I snap. "Okay," Dan says instantly stopping making me fall forward, thanks to those seat belts.

As soon as I stand outside he drives away. That wasn't too smart, now I can walk another 15 minutes back home...