It took her more than an hour to get ready. She put on some makeup and fixed her hair while waiting for him to arrive. She slipped into her new sparkly black heels but didn’t think she was beautiful. She waited outside the house while shaking her legs nervously, hoping he wouldn’t be late.
“Would you like to go on a date with me, Bella?” Kaden asked her when she was walking to the library after school. “If you are not interested you-”
“Sure,” Bella cut him off.
“Really?” Kaden asked in disbelief, surprised that a popular girl in school would go out with him. “I’ll pick you up on Friday night at seven.”
“Okay.”
“Is it okay to just go for dinner and ice cream?”
“Sounds like a good plan,” Bella nodded. “My ride is here. See you.”
That was how Bella got a date. She didn’t think of going out with Kaden, but he was a decent person. Kaden was one of the top students, and he did a lot of volunteer work. He was brought up that way, so Bella thought she’d give him a chance. It was just dinner and ice cream. After all, the person Bella wanted to date was Jason as she had a crush on him for over a year.
“I’m going out on a date this Friday,” Bella informed her sister when she got home from school. Camille was five years older than Bella, and she was already in college and working part time. “Can I borrow some of your makeup and accessories?”
“Yes, as long as you put it back,” Camille replied looking up from her laptop.
“Are you free to help me get ready?”
“Always,” Camille nodded with a smile on her face.
On Friday evening, Camille watched Bella as she beautified herself after helping her to braid her hair. They spent hours trying out different clothes before finally choosing a flowery blue dress. Her little sister was no longer the little girl who ran around the house with colourful ribbons in her hair. She was at the beginning of a new chapter in her life. She was a young lady, ready to take on the world.
Bella decided to wait outside on the wooden bench for Kaden while Camille observed her sister every once in a while. Their parents had a business meeting that night, so they were alone. Camille can tell that Bella was getting anxious, and it made her feel that way too. She had never met Kaden or heard about him from Bella. All thoughts disappeared when a black car pulled up in front of their house. Kaden got out of the car and walked towards Bella. Camille observed and waved to them when they saw her.
“Drive safe,” Camille advised awkwardly.
Bella and Kaden headed to a diner that served all sorts of foods ranging from fast food to seafood. They got to know each other and found they were alike. To Kaden, Bella was unique while Bella found Kaden interesting. After a satisfying dinner, they walked to the ice cream shop across the road. They each ordered mint and chocolate flavour and continued their conversation.
“Look who’s here!” somebody said loudly behind them. It was a group of teenagers from school. Both of them knew that Jason was there. Bella’s heart drummed loudly in her ears, and for a second she was embarrassed to be with Kaden.
“Bella, I didn’t know you do charity,” Jason sneered referring to Kaden.
“I am not a charity case,” Kaden stood up, facing the group of them.
“Kaden, don’t,” Bella stepped in trying to stop a fight which would start in a matter of seconds.
“Kaden, don’t,” one of them mimicked Bella’s words and voice.
“Your girlfriend asks you to sit down because she knows you can’t fight us, loser,” Jason tried pushing Kaden.
“Back off, Jason,” Bella warned. “I thought I liked you but I must’ve dodged a bullet because you are a bully. Get out and leave us alone.”
“I came over to rescue you but now, I think both of you belong together. By the way, you are not my type. You only date losers.”
After Jason and his friends left, Bella and Kaden burst out laughing at what just happened. They continued devouring their sweet, smooth and silky treat while talking about the latest incident.
“So are you my girlfriend?” Kaden asked at the end of the night before walking Bella to the door.
“We’ll have to see.”
That was ten years ago. Bella was on cloud night when she came home from her first date. She told me in details about her date with Kaden. It didn’t matter that Kaden was a loser because they fell for each other.
Today, I helped Bella with her makeup and fixed her hair before she walked down the aisle to marry Kaden. Again, I realised she was at the beginning of a new chapter in her life. She is now not just a daughter and a sister but also a wife.
Carina Lim bears different messages through her fiction. These messages could be useful in life. She can be contacted at mermaidgal103@yahoo.com
