Chapter 4 The date - Part two.

It had been nearly a whole week since the rugby game and meeting Nathan, we'd spent the week texting back and forth and it felt easy and tonight I was seeing him for our first date.

After coming home from my shift at the gallery, I had a shower and was rummaging through my wardrobe trying to decide what to wear, he said we were going to a restaurant so I wanted something tidy but sexy... several outfits later and I'd finally decided on my black high waisted trousers, cream long sleeved off the shoulder crop top and stilettos, I curled my hair in loose waves and did my makeup with a touch of Smokey eyes and dark brown lipstick, grabbing my black jacket, I packed my few bits into my handbag and headed down the stairs, he'd be here any minute..

I went into the living room to say goodbye to my parents, as I walked in their heads turned to face me, Sam and Layton were there too and straight away I noticed Layton frowning at me like he saw something he didn't like...odd what the hell is his problem... I decided to ignore it as I looked to my mum and dad "well I'm off, I won't be home too late"

Mum "Ohh don't you look gorgeous honey" she said getting up and coming over to me giving me a hug and a peck on the cheek.

Dad "hmmm, he better not try any funny business and if he does you be sure to give him a nosebleed Lelanna"

Lelanna "Daaaad, jeez ease up" I groaned with a smirk.

I gave them a wave as I turned and walked out of the house, seeing Nathan pulling up, I got in the car to see him looking at me grinning...

"Wow you look hot!" he said raising an eyebrow cheekily, earning a little smile from me

"Thank you, you scrub up well yourself" I complemented as I gave him a playful wink.

We headed off toward the restaurant which he said was in the main part of our town near a cocktail bar which he suggested we should visit after our food...generally I love cocktails but I also knew how fast I drank them and the last thing I wanted was to get drunk on our first date, so I made up the excuse of having to train early.

We got to the restaurant which was dimly lit with romantic candles on the tables, the hostess showed us to ours and gave us our menus, when she asked what we'd like to drink Nathan answered for us both and asked for two Vodka's and Tonic water.

'okaay'.... I thought to myself feeling a little annoyed, mean I don't mind a little vodka but I've never really had it much as I don't like the taste, but I shrugged it off reminding myself he was just being a gentleman, we enjoyed our short conversation while looking at our menus when a waitress returned with our drinks..."can I take your food order, if you're ready"? She asked as she swayed staring only at Nathan

"Uhh yea were ready" Nathan answered as he grinned widely at the waitress, and I didn't miss the seductive smile she was giving him. I smirked to myself and quickly tried to decide what I wanted to have. "we'll both have the duck and vegetables please?" he said as he handed his menu back to her and taking mine to hand over.

"Oh, I was going to order the Cannelloni!" I informed the waitress, but her smile vanished from her face as she glared at me I annoyance.

"It's ok darling we'll both stick with the duck, thank you" he smiled and winked at her as she looked back to Nathan and bit her lip

"Ok, I'll be back shortly with your meals" the waitress smiled as she walked back to the kitchen and Nathan looked at me as I raised an eyebrow "what?"

"Huh, good thing I like Duck, isn't it?", I said with a grin trying to be light hearted but wanting to get my point across.

"Umm, well... the Duck and vegetables is better for you"

"And why is that?" I said with a nervous laugh feeling a bit uncomfortable

"the Duck is better... less carbs" he said without a hint of humour.

I was taken aback by his bluntness and the nerve he had to decide what I ate and drank "maybe to you... but I do like to choose my own meals and I happen to enjoy carbs".

"Well, I'm paying, so stop being ungrateful" he said frowning at me as he swigged his drink

I raised my eyebrows at him in surprise..! "Well then don't pay for me tonight, not if there's terms and conditions to you taking me out... and I'm not being ungrateful at, but I do think your being rude right now"

We had a bit of a stare down for a few moment before he looked away, his eyes flittering around the room before looking down at his drink looking bored. Great this is going well! only just got here and already I want to go home! I decided to lighten the mood and chat to him like we did when we first met, how easy it flowed.

I asked him about his plans for the rest of the weekend, then we discussed mine, and it actually lightened our moods and the vibe got better between us, we were actually smiling again as we spoke.

Our food come, and we ate as we carried on talking, the conversation was flittering from subject to subject as we talked about our

hobbies and work. I told him how I loved art and he talked about his love for playing hockey and football.

When I finished my food I sat back in my chair, finishing the last of my drink... "mmm, that was yummy, but wow I'm full".

"Good, so perhaps next time you won't winge when I pick a meal for you".

Now usually I would have given a sarcastic laugh and made a little joke back but the look on his face didn't show that he was trying to be funny, it looked serious as he ate the last part of his meal... but I chose to pass it off just in case...

" Look I'm sorry if it came across as ungrateful but you can't decide for someone what they can and can't eat" I said with a smile "anyway let's just drop it, ok?"

He frowned before answering me "Do you always have to be sarcastic?"

"I wasn't being sarcastic, but do you always have to be so serious?"

"You're being a drama queen!"

I scoffed... "So, because I mentioned I liked to order my own food THAT makes me a drama queen does it... well your rude, and now you're pissing me off"

"And I'm wasting my money on taking you out" he said with a shitty look on his face.

"WOW", I said looking at him with my eyebrows raised, what a jerk! with that I stood up, grabbed some cash out of my purse and chucked it on the table..."no you didn't, but unfortunately I've wasted an entire evening on your stuck up ass!!"

I turned away and left the restaurant, I walked down the street until I was out of view from his car in the car park and called for a taxi. When I got home, I changed straight into my pj's and into bed with a cuppa, ready to text my girls about my crappy date. I'd already told them earlier in the week about Nathan, I was so excited about seeing him again, but he was so different tonight he went from easy going to arrogant and pushy!

Lelanna " Hey girls, so the date was an absolute bust"!!

Lola "what! why?"

Maisie "No way!!"

Dakota "aww girl, what happened?"

Lelanna "just turned out to be a bit of a jerk we actually had a tiff, on our first date how pathetic!"

Dakota "Aww sorry to hear that hun".

Lola "Don't fret, he doesn't deserve you then".

Maisie "Hey, how about we meet tomorrow, for lunch at Maz's, tell us everything!... sound good girls?"

Dakota "oh I'm in"

Lola "Yeppp I'll be there"

Lelanna " :) Thanks girls, see you tomorrow"

Just as we finished texting and I had my eyes on my tv deciding what to watch when my phone pinged... I looked at it to see I had a message from Layton.

Layton "hope you enjoy your date!!"

huh? random and why is he texting me that now its nearly ten at night. but I text him back anyway

Lelanna "haha, noo, I've been home for an hour now, it sucked!"

he replied straight away. "Oh really, how come?"

Lelanna "He got arsy with me cos I didn't like him choosing my meal and ordering it for me :) I tried to lighten the mood, but we just ended up having an argument, so I left"

Layton "wow he chose YOUR FOOD!! wow he doesn't know Lanna and her love for food very well ha, ha"

Lelanna "ahh can't help it, it's just not for me"

Layton "well I'm glad your home safe, and If he wasn't nice to you, he clearly didn't see how lucky he was to have you all to himself on a date"

Lelanna "awe thanks Layton, that's nice of you to say"

Layton "well I mean it, any guy would be lucky"

Lucky? Would you feel lucky? I thought! I took a deep sigh, I love talking to him, I love having him as a friend how we can just hang out, or chat away and text like this whenever we want, but I always got pissed off with myself for overthinking whatever he said or wishing he meant the things he said in a romantic way.

I missed the days where it felt so much easier, before I had any feelings for him, where I literally just looked at him as good friend of mine, Sam's friend... the guy who's always at our house hanging around like It was his own.

We used to walk home together from school most days, sometimes with Sam and sometimes just us two and it was just as if he was my best friend... why did I and how did I let that change, and I couldn't avoid him or ignore him because I didn't want him catching on that I had feelings, THAT would be too embarrassing and awkward so I just had to do my best to act normal like nothing was different.

I looked back at my phone to reply "haha, I'll keep that in mind, and thank you...have you had a good night?"

Layton "yea was alright, just chilled at yours with Sam then came home, got to be up early though, my dad has started getting me involved in his duties... trying to prepare me".

Lelanna "wow, that'll be interesting, and nice, you'll get to have more time with him"

Layton "yea true, would be nice actually...Suppose I should enjoy it really"

Lelanna "yes you should :) well I'll let you get some sleep then... goodnight, Layton, and thanks"

Layton "ok well, goodnight, Lanny"

Layton " Lanny..."

Lelanna " Yes?"

I stared at my phone as I waited for his reply, but after a few moments he hadn't messaged back so I assumed he'd mistakenly sent that last one.

PING.... and up came his message

Layton "sweet dreams Lanny"

hmm that's it?... took that long just to write that? ok then!

Lelanna "sweet dreams Layton"

I put my phone down finished my Cuppa and snuggled in bed, eventually falling to sleep looking forward to seeing my girls the following day.

I was the first one at Maz's and ordered us all a round of hot chocolates when the girls all eventually turned up one by one all demanding exactly what happened on my date, when I finished telling them, we all laughed at the sheer joke of how different me and Nathan turned out to be, and how different It was compared to when we met on the field.

Dakota "Well, never mind, plenty more fish in the sea... not that you should bother looking"

Maisie:" They're not all bad D"

Dakota laughed "you're only saying that Maise cause your all loved up!"

We all looked to Maisie grinning at her as she blushed. We were all chatting away and laughing when all of a sudden, I noticed someone hovering by us feeling eyes locked on me... I looked over to see Zara... giving me one of her "I hate you" stares. The girls all turned to see who I was looking at to see Zara and her weasel friends staring at us.

"problem, Zara?" I asked with my eyes raised.

"Yea, you're here, I mean they clearly just let any old riff raff in here don't they"

"What the fuck! Who the hell do you think your talking to?" Dakota snapped angrily

"Oh don't worry D, Zara's obviously got nothing better to do in her life that she has to walk in here and spend her time staring at me" I said loudly looking at Zara with a grin

She sneered back at me "Well I was hoping to get a coffee...but I thought it smelt like rat soon as I walked in and look, your here"

"well you better walk back out then and take the rat smell with you cause it smelt fine in here before you came in... think your catching your own scent there Zara, but I mean your wolf does look more like a rat"!

At that the girls laughed making me smirk at her. Zara and her friends just scoffed and turned to walk out of the door her eyes still on me... "till next time bitch"

"perhaps you should find something better to do" I called as they walked out of the door.

Maisie "wow what the hell is her problem?"

Dakota "I know what's with you two, why is she always sending you daggers?"

Lelanna "honestly, it beats me...It's like she woke up one day and decided to start hating me...I barely even know the girl"!

Lola "well, maybe..." she said looking thoughtfully

Lelanna "what?"

Lola " well... It's just I've noticed a few times like, when we've all been at a dance or at the lake or a party, the way she looks at Layton. Especially when he's chatting to you. It's like... well I suppose like she's jealous".

Lelanna "jealous of what? It's not like anything has happened between me and Layton or ever would...anyway I've never seen her even talk to him, I doubt he even knows her"

Lola "well actually the last few weeks I have noticed her approaching him when we were all at the opening night for that new bar on the high street, she talked to him then it looked like she was introducing herself and just here and there I've noticed it, literally two days ago I drove past and saw her going over to him and chatting".

Lelanna "really?" I asked taken by surprise...

Dakota "why would he be talking to her?"

Lola "I don't know." she shrugged "I mean he didn't look excited or happy to see her or anything, it was her running over to him.. but maybe she likes him and doesn't like that you and Layton are friends, I mean you two have known each other for years"

I just nodded in agreement...shit, what if...what if she's the special girl!! No way, he could not have been describing Zara, or maybe he knew her differently side to how I did... either way It made my stomach feel queasy. If they were to get together, there's no way she'd be ok with me and Layton being friends and talking a much as we do, and Zara out of all people!

After we all left Maz's I walked home slowly thinking about what Lola had said. they all knew very well that I had feelings for Layton, so I know it wouldn't have been easy for her to bring it up. I thought back to the night at the field when Layton pulled me away from Nathan looking like he wanted to tell me something. Shit maybe that's what it was... He said he'd tell me when he knew how 'this special girl felt' maybe that was him trying to tell me... I mean he knew me and Zara argued and that we didn't get on maybe that's why he found it hard to say... I really didn't want to discuss Layton's feelings that he had for some other girl, but I needed to text him, I needed to know more about this girl, to know if it really is Zara, he likes or not.

I felt my heart pumping as I got my phone out to text him...hoping I was getting it all mixed up and creating something out of nothing.

Lelanna "hey Layton, how's the duties going with your dad today?"...start off easy I thought.

Layton "hey you, yea just on a break now actually, how are you? feeling better today?"

Lelanna "oh yea so much better now, glad things are going well today, bet your dad loves having you with him"

Layton "ha,ha that's my girl don't waste time thinking about him...Yea to be honest it's been good and interesting, there's a lot more involved in being an Alpha than I thought, so it's good he's showing me the ropes already.. easing me in"

Lelanna "awe well he wants you to feel secure, you know your dad is a good man and Alpha and your mum makes a perfect Luna"

Layton "aww I'll let them know you said that haha, let their ego's get big"

Lelanna "haha they deserve the compliments, anyway, how's things going with this girl you like?... any luck?"

Layton "umm actually no"

Lelanna "how come?"

Layton "well I tried spending time with her but it kinda backfired the other night at the game"

Lelanna "Ohh, sorry to hear that... so you going to tell me who she is now then? ;)" But come to think of it I don't remember seeing Zara there, but then I suppose I was too distracted talking to Nathan.

Layton "haha nice try...but no, I'm not giving up on her yet, not until I know for sure how she feels"

damn it!!

Lelanna "so no hints as to who it might be?... come on you usually tell me everything"

Layton "I know Lanny...but this is one thing I can't share with you...just yet"

"Anyway, I got to head back to the office, I'll speak to you later, keep smiling my girl :)"

Lelanna "ok mr secretive, have fun! :)"



and with that.... end of conversation and it gave away nothing... except from the fact that he liked her enough to keep trying to get her attention! Well, I suppose if it does turn out to be Zara and she tries to keep me and Layton from being friends then I guess it's up to him to decide what to do about that. I shouldn't be thinking about it as my problem and if he's happy then who am I to stand in the way... I'll just have to let it go and see what happens... I tried to push it to the back of my head and convinced myself to not fester on it.