Sofia: Phoenix Rising - Fire Within! Book 1
Chapter Eight

Thursday and Friday seem to fly by and before I know it, I am getting ready for my date with Blake. Standing in front of my mirror, I turn back and forth critiquing my appearance, trying to determine if I should pin my hair up or let it flow loosely down around my shoulders. Sighing, I wish Lori were here to give suggestions but for some reason she is busy and hasn’t told me what she’s up to.

Since I had a black miniskirt and form fitting pink tank top on, I decided to leave my light-brown locks loose and throw a mid-drift black jacket on, completing my look and not a moment too soon. The doorbell chimes and I dash down the steps to answer it. Throwing the front door open my eyes fall upon Blake. His sandy-blonde hair is slicked back with hair gel making it easier to see his beautiful hazel/green eyes and this close, I can see flecks of gold and green within them. They seem to sparkle as he looks me over and a blush tints my cheeks, but I smile through it. His appearance is casual with a white cotton tee shirt, black jeans cuffed at the bottom and black Chuck Taylors, reminding me of a ‘greaser’ from the 1950’s. I can state for a fact that he did not look ridiculous in his attire at all! Quite the opposite, making me want to watch that movie ’Grease’.

“Hi,” I manage to squeak out, my voice seemingly pulls him from his daze, and he grins in response.

“So, are you ready to go?” He raises an eyebrow giving me a questioning look with his eyes. I nod my head yes and he takes my hand, leading me out of the house and over to his monstrous black truck. Once we are settled in his vehicle, he glances at me; “you look hot by the way,” he exclaims causing me to giggle. “I was thinking we could stop at the pizza shop get a bite to eat and then go watch that movie that everyone has been talking about; what do ya say?”

“Oh, um, yeah. That sounds cool.”

About twenty minutes and a few different moments of awkward silence later has us pulling into Buy the Slice! pizza shop. Not one to wait for assistance, I open the passenger door, and hop down to the ground just as Blake comes to help me out.

It is another typical Friday night, a huge majority of the student body is crammed in booths and around tables, some even are lounging against the bar/counter, just milling about. As we enter, it feels as though most of the place goes quiet and I start to chew on a fingernail, a nervous habit since childhood. I feel like a spotlight was turned on and is pointed right at me. All eyes are on us, and I shift my eyes to Blake. “Um,” I begin hesitantly.

Before I can say anything further, he takes my hand in his once more and walks us over to the one and only empty booth. “So, that was weird, right?” I look at his chiseled facial features as I watch to see how he will react to the comment. He shrugs nonchalantly as though he gets that type of reaction whenever he walks into any room. We slide onto the benches, sitting across from each other giving each other little smiles here and there while pretending to look at the menu. Shyness wants to take hold of me, and it feels like a battle of wills within as I grit my teeth in determination to not let myself become that timid little dormouse! I am bound and determined to fight it this time and am finally able to push through the feeling of being scared, shy. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the Find ɴøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Of course though, as soon as I am ready to ask him the question that has been burning in the back of my mind; the waitress shows up! Blake orders a medium pizza and a Coke, and I ask for water. Once the girl meanders away, I look Blake in the eyes, and with nerves of steel ask; “what made you decide to ask me out? I’ve been curious since the moment you did so.”

His eyes go wide at my unexpected question, his eyebrows raised so high they are nearly hidden by his wavy locks of hair that have begun to fall around his face. As I continue to watch him, I swear it feels like I’m actually able to see the wheels turning in his head as he tries to conjure up an answer that he thinks I’ll believe. “I uh, what do you mean? You’re gorgeous. Why wouldn’t I want to ask you out?”

I shrug in response, the thought that he did not actually answer my question, swirling around in my head. Before I can say as much or even reply to him; the waitress returns with our drinks followed by three of Blakes buddies.

I would give you their names, but I honestly don’t know them, just another group of jocks amongst the vast population of jocks in this place. I offer up a half-hearted smile as they gather round and pretty much take over our table. Blake grins at me as though he sees nothing wrong with the current situation, causing me to scrunch up my nose in disapproval.

Sighing I perk up slightly as I see the waitress walking over with our pizza. This excitement is short lived as he and his buddies grab every damn slice from the tray, leaving me empty handed! I nearly growl in frustration. I claim to need to use the restroom and push the guy next to me out of the booth slightly rougher than I meant to, but I was freaking starving! Making my way to the ladies’ room, I immediately pull my phone out of my back pocket and proceed to pull Lori’s name up:

Me: S.O.S.!

Lori: Where R U?

Me: Buy the Slice.

Lori: Okay, be there in five!

God, I love that girl. I manage to hang out in the restroom until my phone chimes announcing Lori’s arrival. I then run out into the packed dinner to see if I can locate her.

“Hey Chicka, what’s up?” Lori looks at me with questioning eyes. My response it to tip my head to the right a couple of times indicating for her to look over my right shoulder. She arches an eyebrow and looks at me perplexed. “Um, is there something I should be seeing?”

I look over my shoulder and roll my eyes. Of course, she wouldn’t know what I was trying to show her, the entire booth was crammed full of Blake’s friends, Blake somewhere in the midst of them all. I let out a sigh and then taking her hand, I drag her outside to the sidewalk that is in front of the pizza shop.

Some poppy music crap is blaring out from the speakers that adorn the entrance to the shop and I have to shout to be heard. “Didn’t you see the crowded booth of jocks? That is where Blake and I were sitting. We didn’t even get to eat our pizza together before he was bombarded by all those guys.” She wraps me in a bear hug and says she is sorry for how my night has turned out before suggesting that we should ditch Blake and go get ice cream. I nod my head in agreement and we leave the chaos that is the pizza shop.

I know, who in their right mind would want ice cream in the middle of October, right? Well, I for one love ice cream and can eat it any time of the year! Plus, the ice cream shop we go to has an amazing frozen hot chocolate drink.

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