“A date?” I mirror his words, unable to believe I heard him right. Brody continues driving, his eyes firmly fixed on the road ahead of him. I want him to stop and turn around, explain his words further but he doesn’t. My body feels exhausted from the humiliation and all I want to do is go home, curl up into a ball and sleep.
“Brody, you don’t have to take me on a date,” I mumble, feeling extremely awkward.
What do you do when the only boy who speaks to you watches as you’re publicly humiliated and then offers to take you on a sympathy date?
“I know I don’t have to, I want to.” Brody explains, his eyes fixed on the road ahead of him.
“You really don’t have to, I’m fine.” I push him, my voice wobbling. I sniffle and tug at my hair desperately, wishing I hadn’t thrown away my hair tie. I feel so embarrassed thinking Clayton might have found me slightly attractive.
People like Clayton and Brody find people like Beatrice attractive, not me.
“Bella I want to take you on a date so I’m taking you on a date.” Brody repeats, turning around. His eyes burn into mine and I still from the intensity of them before tearing my gaze away.
“I’m not a charity case, you don’t have to feel sorry for me.” I tell him quietly, feeling myself grow smaller and smaller. I’m so mad at myself and knowing Brody is probably feeling sympathetic towards me is making me cringe in embarrassment.
The car suddenly comes to a halt in the middle of the road, the tyres screeching underneath me. I let out a little shriek, my eyes wide as I stare at Brody who’s turned around, glaring at me.
“Brody! What the hell?” I shriek, my body frozen in shock. Brody simply stares at me, his right eyebrow raised high.
“Let’s get something straight Bella. I’m not taking you on this date because I feel sorry for you, okay?”
My eyes widen further and I feel my throat dry up instantly as I study Brody’s intense eyes that are serious, challenging me to protest.
Well, okay then. . .
I nod immediately, my head resembling an annoying bobble head on a car dashboard. I can’t bring myself to say a word because let’s face it, Brody’s actions made me speechless. A car behind us beeps its horn and I can hear the driver yelling profanity at Brody, urging him to go.
“Erm, Brody?” I mumble, motioning at the car behind who’s getting very impatient very fast. Brody sighs heavily, turning around in the seat. The car starts back up again and I blow out a sigh of relief, thankful Brody has seen sense and isn’t about to get us both killed.
The remaining time of the car journey is spent in complete silence, leaving me wondering what the hell I’ve just gotten myself into. . .
*****
“Come on, hop out.” Brody instructs me firmly, holding the passenger door wide open for me. I swallow the lump in my throat, staring up at the burger restaurant ahead of me.
“I don’t think this is a good idea.” I mumble, feeling nauseous. My stomach is swirling around in nerves and I’m worried I’ll end up throwing my guts up. . . In front of Brody.
“Why not? Don’t you want to go on a date with me?” Brody asks, frowning and leaning against his car door. He folds his arms over causing the muscles in his arms to tense, defined and strong. My eyes linger on them a few seconds too long before I drop them to the floor.
I can’t resist staring at a human being who’s been created to absolute perfection.
“This is my first date and I’m nervous,” I answer truthfully, my voice timid. I close my eyes and mentally groan, knowing I shouldn’t have confessed to my lack of dating experience.
“This is your first date?” Brody answers, his tone sounding shocked. I open my eyes and frown at his reaction. — “Why are you surprised?”
“Because you’re beautiful and I never would have guessed this is your first date.”
I stare back at Brody, completely taken aback from his response. If I wasn’t sat down right now, my legs would have probably buckled underneath me. My stomach flutters with butterflies at his words and I drop my eyes from his intense gaze.
“Do you really think that?” I whisper, my hands trembling. I can’t bring myself to look at him properly and I silently wish I wasn’t so nervous around him.
“Yes I do,” Brody says softly, his voice low and quiet. A wave of emotions runs through me and I have to swallow a few times to force myself not to cry. Despite every brain cell telling me not to believe his words, I can’t help but feel like he’s being truthful.
I may not be beautiful to everybody else but maybe I’m beautiful to him. Brody holds out his hand towards me, waiting for me to take it.
“Are you coming? I don’t know about you but I’m starving, I could kill for a burger.”
I nibble on my bottom lip before nodding slowly. I haven’t eaten all day and a burger sounds great right now. I reach out and grip onto Brody’s hand, wary of my sweaty palm against his cool smooth skin.
His hand tightens around mine and he gives me a wide grin, tugging me out of the car. I gave him a small smile, my cheeks burning bright red at this point.
“So Miss Winters, shall we go eat?” Brody asks lightly, holding out his arm for me to take in true gentlemen style. My heart lurches and I open my mouth like a goldfish before snapping it shut again. I nod at him in response, silently screaming inside my head.
The moment is like a scene from one of the endless amount of romantic chick flicks I’ve watched.
“After you,” Brody smiles, a faint dimple appearing in his cheek. I nervously rest my hand on his arm and he nods reassuringly, green eyes shining down brightly at me.
“Thank you,” I murmur as we head towards the entrance to the restaurant. Brody turns to look at me, his green eyes focused on my face —
“What for?”
“Just being you.” I tell him, feeling my nerves disappear slightly at his presence.