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At six o'clock, I was all prepared, waiting nervously in the lounge. I had decided to dress up, my mum helping me to decide what to wear. I was wearing my new black jeans, a button-up collared white shirt and a black jacket; giving the illusion of a tuxedo. I hoped I didn't look too formal.

I caught sight of my reflection in the window and felt even more anxious.

"I hope this turns out ok... I feel like an idiot, getting all dressed up like this... I hope he dresses up as well; else it will be awkward... "

I then imagined myself getting picked up by a casually dressed John and then taken to a frequent teen haunt; only to have John get embarrassed by me and ditch me.

I gulped and watched the clock's minute hand tick slow around the clock, becoming increasingly nervous as it hit half-past and then quarter-to. At seven, I had taken to pacing up and down the hallway, glancing at the door; expecting that knock that would decide whether or not I would forgive John whether or not I would love him.

At seven-ten, I was starting to lose hope that John was indeed coming for me until I heard a knock at the door.

Feeling like a million butterflies were fluttering around in my stomach, I rushed to the door and opened it slowly. All my anxiety melted away instantly as I beheld a handsomely dressed John.

"Hey Damien." He spoke cheerfully, beaming widely. "Sorry I'm a bit late, my car wouldn't start." He explained, laughing slightly.

I smiled and nodded slowly, not really paying attention to what he was saying. I was busy trying to stop myself from running into the teen's arms to kiss him right then and there. I realized I was grinning stupidly and stopped instantly. I pulled out my personal organizer. Trying to put how I felt into words, I paused and stared at the screen.

"You look so... nice."

John chuckled when he saw this.

"And so do you. So, should we off now?"

I nodded, pushing the doorbell twice, I walked out the door. When John gave me a questioning glance, I explained;

"I ring the doorbell twice when I'm going out. It's better than searching for my mum just to tell her I'm leaving."

He nodded.

"Oh, that's a good idea... I guess you have quite a few little things like that to help you out, ehy?"

I nodded and wrote about the bells in my bedroom, bathroom and toilet.

"Wow." He breathed, staring at me in wonder as we continued down the pathway.

We walked through the little picket gate and to a gleaming green car parked in the gutter. John dug his hands in his pockets and brought out jingling keys.

"This is YOUR car?"

"Yup. Saved up all my money to buy it." John explained as he went around to the driver's side and unlocked it.

"Isn't it awesome? It's fairly new, has sub-woofers and shiny mags..."

I got into the passenger side and buckled up my safety belt, listening to John go on about the features.

"He must really love his car... I think it's just like other cars, only shiny..."

I thought, gazing at John as he started the ignition and pulled away from the curb, telling me about the engine.

"Man, I wish I could understand what he's saying... "

"... And it can play MP3...You look really hot tonight. Why aren't you wearing your glasses?"

Embarrassed, I wrote:

"I just need them for reading... I just thought..."

I stopped awkwardly. I didn't want to say it was because I wanted to look like someone else - someone hotter and sexier than I felt.

John didn't say anything more on the subject and we drove the rest of the way in silence. I liked it like this. Silence made me comfortable. When it was quiet, no one expected anything from me. I preferred it that way.

"May I die alone in silence..."

We pulled into an empty parking space right outside of the restaurant. I timidly peered around the street, eyeing the people around it. Expecting to see heaps of kids from their school, I was pleasantly surprised to see finely dressed adults going into the restaurant. I felt my apprehension turn to excitement. My face lit up as I grinned at John.

"I hope you like Chinese food."

We got out and John locked the doors. Together we walked up to the nondescript building. I gazed up at the painted sign that had a picture of a smiling sun: "Happy Sun" it said. I was too happy to answer John. I had never tried Chinese food before, so I was extra excited.

"I came here last year for my birthday. It's really good and hardly anyone from school comes here..." Johnr said as they walked through the tinted glass doors.

The room beyond was large and filled with tables and chairs. A large fish tank with massive black fish swimming in murky green water separated the entrance from the eating area. Three long hot benches laden with steaming food ran along the wall to the left, a bar was set in the far wall. Oriental decorations hang from the walls and ceilings and the carpet was red trimmed with gold.

"I love it!"

We were seated at a table set for two by the wall. The tables and chairs had red velvet covers and the wooden frames were painted gold.

I sat on the edge of my seat, staring around the room, taking in all the sights and smells of food. John was relaxed, fiddling with the fake flowers sitting on the table.

"So..."

I wrote, trying to break the uncomfortable silence that had sprung up between them, like some solid iron wall.

"Should we get some food?" John suggested, getting up and strolling towards the hot benches.

A bit taken aback, I pocketed my personal organizer and followed. I grabbed a small white plate from the stack at the end of the benches and moved along, looking at all the different dishes available.

I made my way back to the table with my plate of food. I sat down and waited for John to join me, not wanting to start by myself. I was becoming extremely nervous again, the awkwardness between us before had re-awoken it.

I stared down at my plate, not feeling very hungry. When John came back with his over-loaded plate, he glanced at the small amount on my plate then up to my frown.

"Aren't you hungry?"

Not wanting to offend him, I blushed and shook my head.

"You're not?"

John questioned disappointment in his voice. I nodded, got confused and shook my head again. John looked just as confused, so I took out my personal organizer and wrote an explanation.

"I am hungry... I was just thinking."

"About what?"

I shrugged my shoulders, not wanting to spoil the night. I started to eat, watching John wolf down his large helping. He was finished before me and got up to get seconds as I finished my first plate.

Once we both had eaten their fill (me = two plates + desert. John = five plates + three deserts), we sat in companionable silence for a while as I thought about the dinner and John watched me.

"What's on your mind?"

I started, and then blushed. I picked up my personal organizer to write a reply, but hesitated for a split second before writing;

"It's just this assignment for English... Speeches."

"That would be difficult, wouldn't it? You're doing the presentation one, aren't you?"

I nodded and wrote;

"I need someone else to read it out while I present it..."

"I'll be more than happy to do it for you."

Seeing the puzzled look on my face, he added quickly.

"Only if you want me to, of course."

I smiled and nodded vigorously, writing how much of a good idea it was. Grinning sheepishly, John fell silent again, watching me with this intensity that I didn't understand at all. I glanced away, not liking how he was making me feel. A few awkward minutes passed until John made a movement to get up saying that it was getting late.

"We've got school in the morning." He reminded, going over to the counter and paying for the meal.

I tagged along behind him, feeling somehow let down. I had half-expected something like this to happen, but still I wanted the night to go well.

"What's wrong?" John asked le as we left the warmth of the restaurant and into the cold night air outside.

I hugged myself, making out that I was cold, hoping John didn't think that I was disappointed.

" Are you cold?"

When I nodded in confirmation, John offered his jacket.

Blushing, I wrote.

"The cars just down here... I should be fine."

"You're so adorable...Have I ever told you that?"

"A few times, yes,"

I replied in exasperation as we got into the car. John chuckled to himself and started the ignition, buckling his safety belt. I smiled to myself. Even though the night hadn't gone exactly how I would have liked it to, I was content and calm. 

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