The Midnight Series: Darkness Comes to Light

15. Date or Not

Friday came by pretty quickly, or it just seemed like time passed quickly for me. I have been having a good couple of days, since I have not had a nightmare. I was still adjusting to not having to get up early to take care of Lucy. Although I was getting to sleep in, I was really missing her and Jared. At least if I wanted to, I could call Danny and talk. The problem with calling Jared or the house phone I would have to deal with Katherine. I wanted to call and talk to Jared and Lucy, but I kept telling myself it would be better if I waited for a while. I also knew that if I called right away, then my mother would make a big deal out of just the one phone call.

My classes were fairly easy, and I only had a couple of assignments due next week. For English, I had to research different poets and their writing styles, and then compare the differences between the writing styles. The second assignment was to study French subjects and verbs. Other than those two assignments, I had no other homework due. I was free the rest of my weekend. Dan had to work double shifts on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, so I had the house to myself for the entire weekend. Dan said he would be home on Monday in the afternoon, telling me I should invite Kali over for the weekend, ‘sleepover’. I would be lying if I thought having Kali spend the weekend was a bad thought, but I did not want to bother her, especially if she had plans already.

I went to school on Friday, expecting to go home and have the house to myself for the weekend. The first three classes went by quickly, as well as lunch too. I sat with Kali and her siblings. I felt like the person who was left out while sitting at the table with people who she was friends with, only because everyone in the cafeteria, even the outcast nerds, were staring in our direction. Despite the staring, I am grateful I have made some friends at least. We sat at a circular table in the corner of the cafeteria that overlooked every other table in the cafeteria.

I sat on the end seat next to Jason, while Kali sat on the other end across from me. My palms felt sweaty and I had a headache. I felt a wave of dizziness hit me, but got a swig of the bottle of water, hoping it would help my headache. I hadn’t touched any food on my tray and could tell Kali and Jason gave each other concerned looks. I mean they had food on their trays and they did not touch any of their food.

After lunch, Jason and I walked to our science class together. We got to know each other. We bonded over everything with art and different genres of music. Jason would make silly cheesy jokes, which made me laugh till my stomach hurt. He would make me laugh just for his own benefit, but I did not mind, since it was him making the jokes. Genuine laughing and smiling were two things I have not done in a long time. Feeling happy was a great feeling.

I was in science class, sitting next to Jason. Everyone was waiting for the bell to ring to tell us to get to our next class. Some people were talking to each other and others were sitting in silence just looking at their phones.

The bell rang and I was about to dart for the door, when Jason caught my elbow as I got up off the stool. I turned my head around to look at him.

“Would you like to go somewhere after school with me?” he asked, his eyes glistening with hope. As I turned completely around to face him, he let go of my elbow.

“Sure,” I said, slightly flustered with confusion but interest. “Is this like a date?”

“Do you want it to be?” he asked, his lips pulling up on one side, into a smirk.

“Only if you want it to be,” I said, smirking back at him.

“It’s a date then. I will meet you after school by your car,” he said, giving me a winsome smile.

I returned the smile, before we walked out of the classroom door and headed in different directions to our last class of the day.

Sixth period was a drag. We did nothing, but had a free activity day. Some students played basketball, while some just stood or sat around the bleachers and talked. I walked around the gym, sling the boundaries of the basketball courts. Occasionally, I made small talk with Elizabeth Crowe, one of the girls in my class who I befriended on my second day in the class. Elizabeth was nice. She did not try to pry into my business or my personal life, which I liked. I am not keen about people who like to learn about a person’s personal life then gossip about it later. I like gossip just as much as the next person, but I do like having my own privacy and maintaining respect for others’ privacy.

Elizabeth was African-American, with black curly hair that she dyed the tips a dark green. She wore a lot more makeup than I would wear. She wore the latest clothing styles, which made her stand out with every student here. She was a pretty chill, laidback person. We were in the same grade and she played on the varsity volleyball team. She was a proud bi-s****l, not caring what others thought about her “lavish dating styles,” as she would put it. I liked how she was able to be herself and not care what others think about her. I envied that part of her.

Once the bell rang signaling the end of school, I went straight to my car. I walked out the front gate and to where I parked my car. As I was approaching my car, I could see Jason was waiting for me. He was leaning up against the back of my car.

Jason just stood there, a great big smile at me. I returned a shy smile.

“I’ll pick you up at your house at four,” Jason told me, flashing me a smile.

“Okay,” I said, my cheeks blushing red.

“Oh and Kali said she would stop by your place at three,” he shrugged.

“Okay,” I said, confused, wanting to question why but decided not to. I wonder where we are going. Hopefully not a fancy restaurant. “See you at four.”

I unlocked my car, throwing my backpack in the passenger seat before climbing into the driver’s seat and starting the car. I started heading home. The drive home was fairly short, due to there being less traffic getting out of the parking lot. When I got home, I went straight to my room. I had an hour before I needed to be ready and Kali was supposed to stop by in a few minutes.

Before I pulled out my sketchbook to draw, I went to my closet and looked at every dress I owned. I only had about three nice dresses that I only wore on good occasions. Out of the three dresses, I was wondering which one would be decent enough for the place we would be going. I pulled the three dresses out and laid them over the chair at my desk.

I had a couple of minutes before Kali was coming over. I sat on my bed with my back against my pillow that was propped up on the headboard. I was sitting on my bed thinking about different places, just tapping my pencil on the cover of the sketchbook, when the doorbell rang. I had been home for only about ten minutes. I knew I had ten or twenty more minutes till Kali was supposed to arrive. I would not put it past Kali to show up early though. I let out a heavy sigh, setting my pencil and sketchbook on my bed, and jumped to my feet to answer the door. I walked down the steps at a steady pace and pulled the door open. Kali was still in the same outfit from school and she had one solid white garment bag in her hands.

“Come in,” I said, waving her inside and opening the door all the way to give her enough room to fit herself and the garment bag through the door at the same time.

“Thank you,” she replied.

“Follow me,” I said, as I made my way up the stairs, with Kali following right behind me. When we walked into my room, I let her roam freely. I went and sat on my bed. She had laid the white garment bag on the bed then took a quick look around my room.

“What’s in the bag?” I asked, curiously, getting up off the bed to close my bedroom door.

“It is a dress for you.”

“I do have dresses. You didn’t need to bring me anything,” I assured her.

“Yes, I know. Just consider this as a best friend present,” she stated all giddy, her voice going up an octave as she smiled at me.

“Thanks, I guess,” I said, not sure if thanking her was a good thing or not.

“Do you like school dances?”

“Umm..dancing is really not my thing,” I mumbled. In all honesty, I am a horrible dancer. I never liked school dances, and truthfully, I was never the type to go to any such events hosted by a school. I knew that I would have the time to argue with Kali about not going to any school dance, but at the moment I had to get ready for my date with Jason.

“Well, I will have to change your mind about school dances,” she stated.

I rolled my eyes and went to look out the window facing the backyard.

Kali continued to look around my room, moving from my closet, my desk, and then my bed. I did not notice that she grabbed my sketchbook off the bed and was flipping through it. I was too busy trying to distract myself from the awkward silence.

“Emma, these are AMAZING.”

I snapped my head towards her to see her holding my sketchbook. S**t, I should have put that away! I liked to draw, but I never thought of my own drawing as museum worthy. In my opinion, my drawing was anything but doodles. At least that was my opinion. Everyone else loved my artwork, but me.

“Oh, thanks,” I replied with a lack of confidence in my art skills. I quickly changed the topic from my drawings, “Do you know where Jason is taking me?”

“You’re going somewhere special to Jason. I am confident you will love it as much as he loves it. He has been wanting to take you to this place since last week. Oh, and he won’t shut up about you. He likes you more than anyone I have seen throw themselves at him.”

I blushed at the very thought of him talking about me. Jason was taking me to his favorite spot. He doesn’t stop talking about me? I wonder what he’s been saying? I was very curious as to what this spot looked like. As I stood there deep in thought, I wondered how many girls had thrown themselves at him. I felt a bit jealous that girls would look at him in a sick-love puppy way. He must not give them the time of day, hence the extra effort to get his attention. The main thing I am for sure one-hundred percent positive of is that Jason is sexy as hell, so I am pretty sure there were a number of girls who were lined up wanting to date him, especially at our school.

“EMMA! Are you even listening?”

“Sorry, what did you say?” I asked, shaking all the thoughts that were running through my mind like crazy.

“You have to go soon,” she said as she walked over to the bed. “Jason will be here soon, so here is the dress.” Kali unzipped the garment bag and took out a dress. The dress was a baby blue color, knee length dress with long sleeves, and the neckline was bateau making the dress look stylish with a sophisticated look. The whole dress was covered in a floral pattern. The floral pattern is filled in with white with a black outline. The dress looked absolutely beautiful, it looked like it should be on display, not to be worn. The dress was mesmerizing and beautiful.

Kali handed me the dress and I took it. I went to the bathroom to change.

I took my clothes off and slipped the dress on over my head. I looked in the bathroom mirror. I saw a side of myself that I did not think I could look like. I was speechless. The dress fit perfectly, the hem hit right at my knees. I looked pretty, but then again I rarely looked in the mirror to see my appearance. I only looked at the mirror to cover any marks on my face. Besides, I can not remember the last time I dressed up this nice.

I bent down and picked up my clothes off the floor and headed back to my room where Kali was waiting for me. Kali was sitting in the window nook, looking out the window at the backyard.

“What do you think?” I asked, setting the clothes I had changed out of on the floor.

“Oh my goodness! You look absolutely stunning,” she said, standing up and giving a cat call whistle. I blushed. “I will see you tomorrow. Text me or call me. I am expecting details.”

“Okay. Thank you, Kali,” I told her, giving her an awkward hug. She hugged me back, before heading for the bedroom door.

“Have fun!” Kali yelled, waving her hand in the air to say goodbye, as she headed out my bedroom door and out the front door.