A new world called California Part 22

CHAPTER 22

After showering and getting dressed the feeling of intense anxiety in my stomach would not let up. I sat down on the couch and took three very deep breaths trying to relax myself. I looked at the clock 8:15 it said. There was no doubt about it I was going to be late. Would he still be waiting for me when I did get there was the question that was plaguing me. So I stood up and made my way out the door and into the unknown.

When I walked into “Our” restaurant I felt so under dressed in my low rise jeans, white flip flops, black strapless shirt, and my white DC shoe company jogging jacket. I sighed and told the host I was there to meet Justin. He must have recognized me because he scowled at me before pointing me in the direction of Justin’s table. Dirty looks were something that I had grown accustomed to after the articles in the magazines had hit the shelf months ago. I made my way towards Justin, but I noticed his back was facing me. I touched his shoulder and he whirled around to face me. “Hi.” I said embarrassed, “sorry I’m late.”

A sad smile formed on his face. “I didn’t think you were going to come.” he confessed.

“Well,” I began, “at first I wasn’t, then I was, then I wasn’t, and well, I’m here now.”

“I’m glad you came.” he said as he touched my arm very softly.

As much as I did not know him, I did know that he never acted shy around me before, which is exactly what he was doing. I figured he was either nervous or something was wrong. To satisfy my curiosity I asked, “Is everything ok?”

He hesitated, contemplating and answer. “Well I hate to admit it but,” he said running his hand over his five o’ clock shadow, “I’m just really nervous.”

“Oh,” I said. So I was right I thought to myself. “Well, don’t be it’s completely unnecessary.”

“I know, but I am just worried about how tonight is going to go.”

I smiled and lightly touched his hand. “If you’re afraid I’m going to scream at you either in public or in private. I promise you I wont.”

He laughed and then seemed to relax a little. We ordered our food and exchanged uncomfortable small talk. After out food arrived we ate in a very awkward silence. The tense feeling at our table was annoying me, but even in my naivety I knew it was for the best. Who knew what kind of people were in our company. We didn’t was another news stand incident. So It was understood that the less that was said about why we were here together the better. We’d leave it up to them to speculate.

When dinner was finished a very huffy Justin let me pay for my half of the bill and we snaked our way through the crowded restaurant to the exit, ignoring all the stares in our direction. Once outside in the parking lot he looked to me and said, “What now?”

“I think we should go somewhere that we can actually talk, unless when you said you wanted to see me that you meant it literally.”

He smiled, “No that sounds good to me. And I know the perfect place so I will drive.”

“Ok.” I agreed, linking my arm through his. His smile grew wide.

“What are you so happy about?” I asked curiously.

“It’s just good to know that you don’t hate me anymore.”

I stopped dead in my tracks. “Justin look at me.”

He turned to face me and his eyes trailed over me and met my own. “I never hated you, ever.”

As we stared into each others eyes his left hand slid onto my face and the other went around my waist and I felt myself falling for him all over again. When I realized he was about to kiss me, I stepped away. “So where’s this perfect place we’re going?” I asked.

He made a quick recovery after being turned down and said, “Just hop in the car and I’ll take you there.”

“Ok.”

A frown flickered across his face. I sighed. I did feel bad for shooting him down, but I just wasn’t sure about what I wanted to happen yet.