Chapter 13: The Date That Isn’t A Date

The next morning Aiden woke up early feeling particularly energetic. It was like one of those '00 movies or pillow commercials, the boy waking up refreshed and smiling as if he had had the best sleep of his life. Who the hell wakes up smiling like that? A man who finally accomplished what he had been struggling with for days, that's who.

Even though it took longer than expected and it didn't play out like he had imagined it, the outcome still was pretty pleasant. In the end, Ryder did become his girlfriend. Aiden finally managed to capture the girl. The days of suffering were finally over.

Now that Ryder said yes, what could that wild chihuahua do to him? It's not like Jasmine would stop them from dating, right? Thinking about this, the grin on Aiden's face just widened more and more to that extent that he was resembling that cat from Alice in the Wonderland.

Quite terrifying.

So, terrifying it scared his father when Aiden walked out of his room heading to the bathroom.

"Holy crap! What are you grinning like that for?” His father clutched his heart, looking at his son as if he had lost his mind, sighing inwardly. One crazy son was enough, why must the other become insane too?

However, nothing could ruin Aiden's mood. He ignored his father and went on in his merry way.

Behind the man, Jeremy walked out of Aiden's brother's room, carrying a bowl of cereals in his hands. His eyes focused on Aiden's back as he chewed on the cereals. "He must have gotten a new girlfriend." Jeremy said with a dull tone.

The man nodded thoughtfully when suddenly an ear-piercing scream came from the room next to Aiden's. The man's gaze turned ice cold, concealing his feelings in his heart but his eyes could barely hide the annoyance. "Why is he screeching like that again?”

Jeremy shrugged. "The usual."

"Give him some ice cream or something." The man said and walked downstairs leaving Jeremy alone in the hallway. Jeremy stared at the man until he left his line of sight, shrugged and walked inside the room the animalistic scream came from, inside Aiden's brother's room. "Do you want me to bring Leah to you for inspiration?” He sounded pretty cheerful but a book flew towards his head, almost breaking his nose. Jeremy chuckled as he shook his head.

Right at that moment Aiden walked out of the bathroom and sneered in annoyance. His brother was throwing a tantrum for nothing again. Not wanting to hear any of it he rushed back in his room to get ready and left the house with sigh. Once he got inside his car, the grin on his face appeared again. Grinning like that, he drove to Ryder's house.

At 12:00 precisely, Aiden parked in front of Ryder's house and rang the bell on the door. He was expecting Ryder to answer the door, smiling at him softly, even dared to imagine her throwing herself in his arms like in those movies. However, the daydreaming was ruined as a tall sturdy man answered the door, looking down on him as if he was lost.

"Who are you?” Henry asked the young boy at the door.

In those moments all Aiden could think about was why Ryder didn't tell her parents about him. Because, if she had told them about him, he wouldn't have been asked such stupid question. He wanted to arrogantly answer the man, I'm Ryder's boyfriend. He almost said it, but something in him stopped him in time as if sensing something.

“Is Ryder home?”

Henry eyed up and down the young boy and frowned. Why was this lad asking for his daughter? Instead of answering, Henry asked again. "Who are you?”

What was this answering questions with questions? Gash, so annoying.

Fighting the urge to roll his eyes, Aiden put on one of his dazzling smiles as he introduced himself. After all he has to leave a good impression. "I'm Aiden Caley. I'm…”

Right then a scream came from inside the house. "Oh my God, I forgot to wake up Ryder." Michelle exclaimed in horror and rushed upstairs in the same manner she always runs into the kitchen when she has forgotten something in the oven. When she was on the top of the stairs she yelled at her husband. "Honey, let him in. Ryder's going out with him today." After that she was gone.

Henry narrowed his eyes at Aiden like a carnivore looking at its pray, but moved aside eventually letting Aiden in.

Upstairs, in the midst of the darkness of her room, Ryder, who promised her "boyfriend" that she would be ready by noon, was still soundly sleeping. Just as her dream was getting very interesting, a loud bang woke her up as a scream left her lips along with a part of her soul. She was scared to death.

The bang was the door that was slammed open by Michelle who was gasping for air. "A… the… a handsome… boy is… waiting… for you… downstairs." Michelle barely managed to say in between breathes.

The cognac eyes of Ryder widened in panic as she cursed at loud. "Why didn't you wake me up?”

"I forgot." Michelle cried guiltily.

Since Ryder almost never woke up earlier than noon during the weekend, she asked her mother to wake her up. No alarm on earth, no matter how loud and annoying it was would wake her up, so her mother was the best solution for she would most likely drag her out of the bedroom or pour ice cold water on her. So, Ryder didn't bother with an alarm.

Running around the room like a headless chicken, Ryder grabbed random clothes to put on. Michelle grabbed a sweater and threw it to her, helping her getting ready. As Ryder rushed to the bathroom to brush her teeth, Michelle chased after her with a pair of socks in one hand and a hair brush on the other. "I'm so sorry, sweetie."

"It's okay." Ryder grabbed the socks from her mother, deciding to don't bother with her hair. It's always messy anyway. As she rushed to the stairs while still trying to wear the socks, the tragedy happened. Right at the last five stairs, her foot slipped.

Screaming, Ryder fell down the stairs, terrified that she would break an arm or leg.

HOLY SHIT, WHAT IS THIS FUCKERY, I’M GOING TO BREAK MY BONES.

The stairs were right opposite the front door. Henry who was supposed to let Aiden in, "in" as in "in the living room", merely allowed the boy to step inside the house and pinned him down right on spot with a cold glare that made Aiden's blood run cold. So, the two had front seats view of Ryder falling down the stairs while screaming, a sock on her hand, the other half worn in her foot, as Michelle exclaimed in horror with a hair brush on her hands.

When the screams died down, followed by a pained groan, the three pair of widened eyes looked at Ryder as she muttered a "fuck" and stood up rubbing her ass.

Michelle experienced second hand embarrassment right then. For the love of God, that was so embarrassing. She almost teared up wanting to grab her daughter and hide her and herself away from the young handsome boy's eyes who didn't know how to react to such occurrence. Ryder looked and sounded like a monkey falling off the stairs. And she was rubbing her ass like a gorilla. Ryde, sweetie please, PLEASE, get yourself together.

"Are you okay?” Aiden asked hesitantly. His hand extended, ready to walk to her, when Henry pushed him away ready to steal the "knight in shining armor" moment from him, only to trip over air and fall on Ryder who had just stopped rubbing her ass.

Michelle felt like dying right on spot.

Henry felt like he almost died.

And Ryder? Ryder was dying from the lack of air. That clumsy father of hers knocked the air out of her. Her face paled and turned purple, but Henry failed to notice it. Failed to notice that he went from "knight in shining armor" to "Grim Reaper".

Seeing that Henry was suffocating their daughter to death, Michelle panicked and threw the hair brush to his head with a shriek so he would come to his senses, but the hair brush missed the mark and hit Ryder right on the forehead. The girl bellowed in pain and annoyance, sounding like an animal in the verge of lunacy.

Aiden was absolutely speechless witnessing all this chaos. And I thought my house was crazy…

"Dad… dying." Ryder choked and tried to shove away her father. Michelle, whose first attempt failed miserably, rushed down the stairs to pull her husband off her dying daughter.

Only after she could breathe again and after she sat up, did Ryder notice Aiden stare at her in bewilderment. Her face flushed a nice dark shade of red, wanting to dig a hole and hide herself there in embarrassment.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

This is so fucking embarrassing! Mom! Why didn't you wake me up in time? (T^T)

Showered in embarrassment Ryder stood up and endured the pain and fought the urge to rub any part of her body. With a shaky voice she greeted shyly the handsome young boy in front of her. "Hi~” Then because she couldn't bear the shame anymore, stood up and pushed Aiden outside. "Just… just let's go."

When the two got in the car and drove away, Ryder felt that she had wronged Aiden with her negligence and felt like she had to explain herself. "I'm not used to getting up early on weekends and mom forgot to wake me up. I'm sorry."

Aiden who was still trying to digest all that action he just witnessed, muttered a soft 'mum'. "It's okay. You didn't take long getting ready."

Seeing that Aiden was calm and didn't appear to be annoyed, Ryder relaxed, but the reality was far from that. Aiden felt like he had seen a side of Ryder he had never seen before. The girl was a walking catastrophe and unlike the girls he knew, she didn't even brush her hair in the first date. Her hair was just simply too messy. The hair brush that was supposed to be used on her hair, ended up switching jobs and became a weapon in Mrs. Quin's hands.

Aiden had since long noticed that Ryder was too casual about her clothes and appearance, but this was their first date. Isn't she supposed to be a bit more thoughtful? In his heart, he felt truly disappointed, yet he forced a smile and relaxed his body to hide what harbored in himself. "You haven't eaten anything, right? How about we grab a bite?”

Ryder nodded, relieved that she had managed to shove a handful of money in her pockets when she wore her jeans. However, this relief was celebrated too quickly. Aiden was convinced that it was his duty to pay since it was the first date and no matter how much Ryder tried to argue and no matter how many bitter tears she cried in her heart, the dude wouldn't listen. And it wasn't only the late breakfast. He paid for the dessert, for the coffee and if all these weren't enough, he even wanted to buy Ryder balloons.

What the hell would I need the balloons for?

As time passed, Ryder was expecting Aiden to ask her a favor or tell her the reason why he called her today, what did he need help for. But the guy seemed as if he had no intention of doing so. He was just simply enjoying himself. The more time passed, the stranger Ryder found it. Yet as she pondered over it, Ryder thought that maybe Aiden didn't need her help, rather than needing her to take his mind off whatever was bothering him. Coming to such conclusion, she felt as if she had just solved some mystery, patting her back in pride for her wits.

On the other hand, Aiden noticed Ryder looking pleased with herself and thought the date was a success… in the end both parties were miles away from the truth and reality.

This went for quite a while. Soon it was getting late, the sun getting closer and closer to the horizon, but Aiden didn't show any signs of wanting to go back and Ryder simply couldn't do anything about it for she feared it would sadden him. She tried to swallow the discomfort Aiden unknowingly caused by spending money on her, but when she saw, that Aiden was trying to drag her into more shops, she couldn't handle it anymore. "How about we go to the park? The atmosphere there is pretty calming."

Aiden thought about it for a second then nodded. Casually, as if it was a normal thing to do, he grabbed Ryder's hand as they walked in the park's direction. The cognac eyes fell on the hands and a series of emotions stirred in Ryder's stomach, making her uncomfortable in a very weird and inexperienced way. Her face turned red and all she could do was to convince herself that this was normal and tried to ignore it.

But how could she just ignore it? Her line of sight would fall on the intertwined hands, as she chewed on her bottom lips, unconsciously falling in thoughts.

This isn't the first time Aiden grabbed her hand like this, in such a casual manner. Does this mean that this is a normal thing to do among friends? Thinking about this, her thoughts brought another friend in spotlight and Ryder slipped even deeper in thoughts.

Since that time, she grabbed Midnight's hand and he struggled out of her grip, Ryder hadn't dare touch him anymore. Even though during this week they got pretty close to each other, the distance between them getting shorter and shorter by every passing day as they both felt more and more comfortable with each other, Ryder avoided physical contact like touching his hands or any exposed skin, in fear that Midnight would react the same again. But God knows how much she was dying to hold that hand and touch the tiny mole on his thumb. It was much like with her cousin's dimples. The cousin was five years older than her but whenever they met, Ryder wouldn't even hesitate before ordering him to smile so she could touch his dimples.

It felt like the urge one gets when facing a big ass red button that says don't touch. They just got to press it. It feels like the urge will itch their soul if they don't.

But if Aiden can touch her hand so candidly, does that mean she could do the same with Midnight? Maybe she should give it a try tonight….

Aiden pulled Ryder inside the park and after a quick inspection of the place, he decided to sit on one of the benches around the fountain. Since it was getting colder by every passing day, there weren't many people around. Aiden couldn't be happier about this.

As the two sat on the bench, Aiden opened the tenth conversation so far. "I think I should give you a nickname."

Ryder was startled by such words. What nickname was this guy talking about? Why would he give her a nickname? "Why?”

"What do you mean why? Calling you just by your name makes it sound as if we're not close enough."

"Oh." Even though to Ryder this answer didn't explain anything, her heart warmed up as she thought about how Aiden had accepted her as a close friend. Little did she know that she was his girlfriend.

"So how should I call you?” Aiden thought at loud with a playful smile hanging on his lips. He was finding all this pretty amusing. Even though Ryder had been quiet for most of the time together, he didn't mind for he had her all for himself and he actually liked to talk a lot.

On the other hand, Ryder blushed in uneasiness, that was taken as shyness by Aiden. What the hell was this question? How should I know what nickname you should give me? Isn't my name good enough?

"You can call me Ryde like Jasmine?” She offered hesitatingly.

Aiden pursed his lips in distaste. How can he call his girlfriend the same way that chihuahua calls her? Are they in the same level? Of course not! Hmph!

"No, no. It won't do. My nickname for you should be more special than that… hmm… how about Ry?”

When she heard that, Ryder felt as if hit by lightning and a sour feeling took over her body. Wasn't this how Midnight called her last night? Didn't he call her Ry with a low soft tone that hid a smile? He was the first one to call her that, and it made her heart jump and feel warm. Not knowing why, Ryder felt slightly angered with Aiden for trying to steal this name from her Midnight. She didn't want anyone else to call her that but Midnight.

And so, she answered firmly, her tone holding a hint of impatience in it. "No." It took Aiden by surprise, but he didn't think too much about it. She probably doesn't like being called like that. With this reasoning he waved this off, the smile on his face not wavering at all.

"Oh, I got it. I'm going to call you, my queen."

This sentence took Ryder by surprise as if hit on the face with a brick. Her face turned red again and she almost died on spot.

Where the hell did that come from? From what dark corner of hell did it crawl out of?

Yet Aiden confidently thought that Ryder was being shy and got flustered by the nickname he found and couldn't be prouder of himself.

“I don't think…” Ryder tried to oppose, but the moment she opened her mouth Aiden interrupted her, blinding her with those dazzling smiles of his.

"You don't need to be so modest or shy. I think it suits you very well."

Who's being shy and modest? That nickname is a nightmare! What queen? Where does this guy sees a queen in me? In my bird nest hair? Or dark circles under my eyes? Aiden, bro, my good friend, are you blind? Should we go see a doctor?

How is 'my queen' a suitable nickname for her? How?

Ryder tried to oppose again but it still remained a failed attempt. Aiden just wouldn't take no for an answer, unwaveringly thinking Ryder was too shy to accept such a cool, high and well thought nickname.

Ryder sighed in her heart. Just then, maybe because this day was fated to be damned from the beginning as if someone had cursed it, it started to rain. Heavily… the clouds came out of nowhere, hiding the sky like a dark curtain. It was already getting dark as it was, but now it looked as if the night fell upon earth along with the rain out of nowhere.

The moment the first raindrop fell on Ryder, Aiden frowned. When the second one fell on him, he cursed under his breath. And then when the shower like rain started suddenly, he looked so angry, it was good that Ryder couldn't clearly see him because of the heavy raindrops hitting her eyelids.

Aiden grabbed her hand and both of them started to run, seeking for shelter. Truth be told, Ryder doesn't mind the rain that much. She actually liked it pretty much, however now it wasn't the time to be that guy who dances in the rain. So, she hurriedly followed behind Aiden. They ran for the car that was parked at the entrance of the park, but just as they got in and Aiden tried to turn on the engine, it made a very alarming sound as if it was dying, then it stopped making noise at all.

"What the fuck?”

This was the first time Ryder saw Aiden lose his shit. His face twisted and he looked as if he about to explode. She felt sorry for him. Her hand rested on his back as she patted it in a failed attempt to comfort it. "It's okay. We can call a tow truck."

Aiden nodded and took out his phone, only for the screen to light up, showing that majestic 1% battery sight and then die right in front of him. Seeing this, a fit of coughs violently hit Ryder as she tried to don't laugh. "It's okay we can use mine." She quickly took out her own phone before Aiden would snap and throw a fit of anger or cry because of frustration.

After making the call, it was quiet inside the car. Aiden was trying to calm himself down, but his hands had grabbed the wheel in such a tight grip that if it was alive, it would have choked to death already.

"I had fun." The words came out of her mouth slowly and softly, but her eyes were on her wet hands and clothes.

The death grip on the wheel loosened and a smile lifted the corners of Aiden's lips as he shifted closer to Ryder. Even though this rain ruined everything, he was confident that his goal to make this date unforgettable was achieved. How could Ryder not have had fun?

"I had fun too." He whispered and Ryder felt her legs turning to jelly. He is so close. Way too close. Is this sanitary? Or normal? What is happening? Why are you whispering? What is this situation? Are you so cold you need me to hug you warm? But that would be awkward…

The hermit Ryder didn't even realize that dear Aiden was trying to finally get that smooch from her. And that's the part where she sneezed from the cold.

Aiden: I don't know why am I still trying.

When Ryder opened her eyes again, Aiden was looking at her with his face scrunched up and looking so done. Can't blame him though. What's next? Shitting on him? She totally fucked up. Why would she fuck up?

"You will get sick." Aiden's lips were in a frown that if Ryder would look closely would notice that it looked quite a lot like a scowl.

Ryder blushed in shame, but feeling relived that Aiden had shifted farther away as a result of the sneeze. That proximity was making her feel uneasy.

Aiden took off his jacket and threw it over her shoulders. Even though it was all wet, somehow Ryder felt warmer immediately or maybe she felt like that because the blush reached her head and now, she was imaging things.

She looked outside the window at the sky and saw the rain that hadn't stopped and didn't have any plans to. The tow truck was surely taking it's time… Ryder sighed and looked at the time on her phone. It was getting late. Too late…

Ryder started to shake from the cold and frustration. She should have been home by now. What if Midnight came and she wasn't there? Would he even come with this rain?

Aiden looked at Ryder frowning and slowly shifted closer to her again. After that sneeze he wasn't in mood for smooches anymore but he had other tricks up his sleeves. Before Ryder could react, his arm wrapped around her waist, confusing the hell out of her... "I'm sorry for tonight. It didn't go how I planned it." His voice was low, almost husky… Hehe, she surely will regret now for sneezing on my face.

"I... didn't lie to you when I said I had fun." It's a white lie. It doesn't count right?

Aiden smirked. Of course, she had fun. He didn't even question that fact. "Are you feeling warmer?"

So that's why he wrapped his arm around me. Ahaa… okay. Understood. Realizing this, Ryder felt more at ease and her body relaxed a bit. However just as she had finally relaxed Aiden hit her with his words.

"You are cute." He whispered in her ear and a shiver went down her spine. Her body tensed instinctively trying to shift away, but Aiden wouldn't let her.

Jasmine never did this to me. Is this normal? He's too close. Too close. Too close… Is he that cold? Why doesn't he turn on the heater? Is it broken?

Why the fuck is he calling me cute out of nowhere?

Not knowing what was the proper response to such compliment, Ryder decided that she should at least return the favor? "You are cute too. I mean you are handsome. No, I mean you are okay too. No wait. I didn't mean that. You are more than okay, because okay, means ugly. And you're not ugly."

Nailed it.

When is that tow truck coming? (T^T) Please someone come and save me!

But no one came to rescue. Quite the contrary, Aiden seemed to be determined to destroy her brain with all sorts of attacks. She hadn't gotten over all that babbling she just did when a pair of lips pecked her cheek and gave her goosebumps.

"I like it when you blush."

BUT I HATE IT!

At least Aiden finally withdrew with a teasing smile on his lips, feeling pretty pleased with himself, while Ryder could just sigh in her heart, relieved that it was over. She just couldn't understand what was he trying to achieve by acting in such way.

Thankfully the rain stopped, but the tow truck still had to arrive. Ryder was getting more frustrated the later it got, but in Aiden's eyes she was flustered and shy because he kissed her cheeks and called her cute. As they waited for the tow truck, Michelle and Henry called her a couple of times worried as to why she hadn't come back yet. Ryder was crying in her heart: I want to come back too (T^T)

In an hour the tow truck finally arrived and the two called a taxi home. Ryder almost cried tears of joy when she got in the taxi. When the taxi stopped in front of her house it was already eleven o'clock and all Ryder had in her heart was fear and a bit of hope that she wasn't too late, that Midnight had waited for her.

But when she finally waved a quick "goodbye" at Aiden and rushed to the backyard, there was no one there. She had come too late.