Chapter 104: Chapter 104

Chapter 104 Will you dance with me?

"Do you like it?" He asks from behind me, standing in the doorway.

"I love it, Colton. Thank you so much, you really didn't have to do this-"

"I-I owe you, Lily. You've been nothing but here for me and I take it for granted....you deserve this." He says quietly.

"Don't feel indebted to me, please don't feel like you have to pay me back. Thank you for this, though, I haven't received a gift for I don't know how long."

"T-the occasion for the dress is because.....there's somewhere I want to take you tonight and it's a bit of a fancy place. Fuckers charge as much as they possibly can, fucking rich people.....but I figured that you would like it. Girls like these places....I think. Girls like romance, right?" He asks, the look on his face is comical.

I laugh, "Yes, girls like romance."

"Then it should be worth it."

"Is this a date?" I ask before I have the time to think about my words. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Embarrass yourself while you're at it, Lily.

His shy tendencies kick in - that small dashing smile and the way his ears turn red. His hands twitch and he looks at me. "I guess it is."

* * *

We walked down the sidewalk side by side, Colton dressed in dark dress pants and a collared shirt. He complained to me about it, saying how the collar itched his neck and that he hated buttons. He looks quite handsome, even though he whined to me at first about his clothes like a five year old.

But all I had to do was stroke his ego and tell him that he looked like a model, and his frown turned upside down. Sometimes I'm convinced that men are like children sometimes, and that thought amused me.

Our hands were close to each other, brushing up against each other every step or so and at first, I fought the urge to hold his hand. I didn't want to be too pushy, I feared rejection. I had a feeling, though, that he, too, was sensing the slight awkwardness of having the urge to hold my hand just like I was.

To hell with it. I lock his hand with mine and all he does is smile and give my hand a reassuring squeeze as we continue walking down the sidewalk.

I look to my left at the shop windows to hide my blushing face. I hear him chuckle, so I know he's caught me in my attempt to hide the redness.

Which just made me even redder.

I clear my throat. "Where are you taking me?" I ask him to break the awkwardness. I was also genuinely curious, too.

It was exciting to be going on a date again, it made me feel special because someone out here in this cruel, cold world actually cared for me. It was a nice, comforting feeling that made me giddy and want to jump up and down and giggle like a little girl.

Of course, I would never admit that to anyone.

"Do you like pasta?" He asks me.

"Is that even a question? I love pasta. In fact, my food group consists of the three main foods: Food, food, and food. Of course, I can't always afford quality food, but food is food and food is life, so yes, of course I like - no, love pasta." I ramble, stealing a glance at him.

He looks amused.

He probably thinks I'm a pig now. I roll my eyes at the thought.

"I mean....pasta sounds nice." I flash a large toothy smile at him.

He laughs, shaking his head. "You are too cute" He coughs, almost embarrassed at himself that he actually said the word cute, "I mean funny. You're a funny one." He corrects.

"Ah, ah, ah, mister," I tease, slapping him playfully on the arm, "Don't think I didn't hear what you first said."

"I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about." He jokes back.

"Sure you don't. Pretend all you want that you didn't just call me cute but you and I both know what you said, and you know what?" I ask.

"What?"

"I think you're cute too, and I'm not afraid to admit it." I reply.

He laughs, shaking his head in disbelief as we continue to walk hand and hand together. The night is waning and a nice breeze has set in, fanning my face as Colton led me to the restaurant. I felt too spoiled, Colton didn't need to spend money on me, I'm fine with something simple. Of course, that didn't mean I didn't enjoy these types of things, I just felt bad that he was spending the little money he actually did have on me.

The restaurant he took me to was nice, it wasn't too fancy but it wasn't casual, either. There was a dance floor, too, and I already knew what I was going to make him do later on.

We sat down in a booth, he sat across from me. Our booth was also a window seat, which proudly boasted greenery and shrubs as its view. Candles were lit, they glowed fiercely in the dim lighting and produced a romantic atmosphere.

Colton looked out of place, as if he didn't feel comfortable doing this type of thing, but he still put effort into making me happy and I appreciated it.

A waiter tended to us, we ordered our food and drink, and we ate out food over small talk. It was comfortable small talk, not awkward at all as we bathed in each other's presence. The night had just begun, though, and after we had finished eating, I had something else in mind.

The dance floor had opened up and already, there were a few couples slow dancing with each other over gentle, romantic music.

I asked him the question with hesitance, the nagging voice of rejection sat in the back of mind, telling me that nobody would ever want me. That voice always seems to linger there, probably instilled by the various different, cruel people who have told that to me all my life.

But I brush it off and ask him any way.

"Will you dance with me?"