Turns out the reservation Brett made was at a five-star restaurant inside a fancy hotel his family supposedly owned. It was my first time being in one so you could imagine my jaw dropping to the floor.

The place was flooded with people and status, making me and my “borrowed” diamond sequins feel a little out of place. Everyone stared at us as we walked in, gawked even as this nobody strutted hand in hand with the "handsome" son of the hotel chain... again what am I saying? Why did I call this jerk handsome?

But I must admit he did look good in casuals. The way his collarbones protrude from under his fitted V-neck shirt and coat. His jeans-slacks, spotless though I knee he knelt earlier. His hair pulled back and perfectly groomed, emitted the same cool and collected student council president vibe whenever he was on or in this case, off-campus.

Still wrapping a firm arm with mine, he leaned down. If someone were to watch us from a distance one would assume he was brushing a kiss on my cheek, except he didn't... but it felt like it with the way his breath trailed against the bare patch of skin on my neck.

He breathes into my ears, words close to an inaudible whisper so that only I could hear, "they're intimidated," he explained, his former grip on my arm now snaking its way around my hip as it supposedly pulled me close, "it's not every day they see a Cinderella with this Prince..."

I strained a laugh, he's conceited I'll give him that, but not really a prince, maybe a prince turned into an ugly, ugly frog, sure.

"How do you know?" I peered around. A couple in their late forty-somethings was enjoying a slice of red velvet cake, without a care in the world and clearly madly in love. At another table, a woman is engrossed in a handful of papers while her male companion is eyeing another woman behind her. And at another table, a single man is sitting alone looking quite euphoric until I noticed a crème heel peeking out from under the satin tablecloth. Nope, didn’t see that. Now, where was I?

Oh, right. No one seemed to care that we were sticking out like a sore thumb amidst these rich old snobs.

"Just a hunch," he nodded but more of an inclination to the maître de hotel that was now approaching us. "Shall we?"

We followed the satin clad lad who led us to the designated table in the center of the room. Cursive letters that spelled Brett’s last name adorned its centerpiece.

"This is so many!" I gawked at the variety of meals and appetizers before me. At one corner was an eastern style course. At another Mediterranean, and there’s soufflé! "Can we finish all of this?"

"The world is your oyster Paige, eat as much as you like." He chuckled once we were both settled. Despite being rude and arrogant, I couldn’t help but notice his table manners as he easily picking the correct silverware as I dumbly followed suit.

He stared at me and feeling the pressure of his gaze, I nodded unable to decide what to eat first. Lamb. Soufflé. Buttered Lobster. Soufflé. Sashimi. Miso. Soufflé. Ravioli. Soufflé. Chickpeas. Red Wine. Soufflé. Pastries.

I must have been taking long because he looked quite irritable or maybe it was because the crowd was murmuring amongst themselves while we sat in awkward silence.

"How troublesome..." he savagely slices through a lean piece of lamb and placed it on my plate.

"It's been long since I've eaten good food,” He says grinning to himself as he began slicing a piece for himself. “So be thankful and eat."

“I will thanks!” I stuff some lamb in my mouth and immediately regretted it. Who am I kidding? I’m not a lamb person, despite the savory honey-glazed sauce and tender meat, it was disgusting (sorry lamb loving people out there, to each his own).

“You can spit it out you know,” he ducks his mouth against a pad of tissue and pats it close. “I forgot how gross that was.”

Doing the same, I bit my lip. The reason I agreed to this date was to ask him about the kiss. As stupid as it may sound, I was saving my first kiss with Jason so it really is important to me.

"About the..." before I could finish he stops me.

"Here let me." He leans over to wipe a rebellious dash of sauce at the corner of my lip.

My stupid heart skipped a beat.

Okay maybe he can be gentle, but I refuse to believe he stole my first kiss, well until he confirms it that is.

"Did you really?" I bit my lip again.

"Really what?" he swirled his glass. Glancing at his lip and back, he snorted. "What if I did?"

I, of course, being the rude person I can sometimes be, gave him a rueful smirk "I'll make sure to scrub it extra clean when I get home."

He muttered something to himself, but I only caught the words good and enough. I don't know if I heard that one right either.

"What did you say?" I picked on my platter, pushing the remnants of buttered corn around.

"It's nothing" was all he said for the remainder of our time there. No snarky insults or anything perverted, except the monotonous clanging of silverware and glasses that surrounding us.

It was annoying how it progressed from an awkward date to awkward times 100 with the tension and silence going between us. Usually, we'd snap at each other, but now, it’s so unlike him to keep his mouth sealed. It was nerve-wracking to the point that I was going insane if he hasn't spoken anytime sooner.

"Had I offended him? I must have offended him. He must really hate me now." Says my old friend's worry and anxiety. Pride and Anger are telling me, "but what do I care if he hated me?”

The silent treatment was unbearable. As much as I hate him spewing perverted nonsense, it was better than making me feel guilty for whatever reason I’m feeling guilty for.

My mouth opened to say something. I just wanted to break the silence you know? But before the words could even begin to tumble out, a girl pulled a chair to our table and sat beside Brett.

He easily lost his attention from the peas on his platter and began to look animated and engaged speaking to her. I picked up "on long time no see" and her whiny voice saying, “Why haven’t you been calling me?”

I wanted to throw up.

I'm not envious, in fact, I'm glad she came.

I'm glad she did, it would have been awkward sitting with him for another hour with others staring at us.

But for some odd reason, I felt irritated. I felt like a third wheel tagging along with them as they practically dove into some passionate conversation they were involved in - something about their trip to Bali. They probably had passionate sex under the moonlight at the beaches of Bali.

I was just an outsider, I thought, glancing at the two. Compared to me, she seemed more fitting for his taste; probably someone passing by would have thought she was his date and I was just their escort with her undeniably rewarding model feats, long blond wavy hair, a cupcake face...

... and he… he seemed like he was having a blast with the light chuckle he was giving her after she said something I didn't find funny or at least didn't care to listen to.

She was getting all touchy now and he was actually going on with her act, he literally forgot I was there right in front of him!

Her hand fell dangerously low on his lap, the least they could have done was told me to leave and get a room.

I’m so out of here, rage is telling me and I got up ready to run for it. He wouldn't care, right? Envy chimed in. Right now, I'm not the center of his attention and I'm not his slave.

He definitely planned this. How stupid can I be to believe he would actually ask me to date him?

He's just lucky I was wearing heels, I could have thrown it at them and walked away, but I was the mature one here. I wouldn’t want to disturb their interrupt their intimate moment and draw attention to myself.

Without excusing myself, I power walked the hell out of there, but I didn’t even get that far when I tripped on his stupid stilettos and into the warmth of familiar arms - Jason's I later realized as I looked up.

Thank god for that.

It's been a long time since I've seen him, although that's not true since I just saw him at school and we're practically neighbors, it just feels so nostalgic.

When I was nine, a boy asked me to marry him. He even got me this stupid orchid that he picked from our garden. When I said yes, he laughed at me and said in my dreams. I cried and Jason was there to pick a fight on him, my knight in shining armor. It feels like that now.

Worry was set in his features. But why was he here? Was he on a date with the history teacher? A little birdie told me they had a think. And well so did other rumors about the geometry teacher and the biology teacher. Needless to say, all the female teachers and students had the hots for Mr. Sean.

He must have been curious to find me at a place like this but didn't bother asking. Instead of pulled me in for a hug, stroking a hand through the locks of my hair.

I wanted to cry, soak his tux, and I didn't care if I looked uglier than I already am. I almost did except I held them down.

I told myself I wasn't going to be weak. I won't cry over that stupid guy. And Jason just stood there, rubbing my back as I went bubbly with snot and hiccups.

I was trying to sober up in his arms when Brett recklessly pulls me away.

"Long time no see Mr. Sean," He cleared his throat. "Thanks for saving my date... how troublesome." He turned to face me "Are you alright dear?" He drapes an arm on my shoulders. I shrugged it off irritably.

"Shut up." I hissed between my annoying sniffles, did I mention I whimpered?

"I'm guessing she's upset..." Jason joked all the while looking stern. I could tell he was in his protective big brother mode because his fists were pale holding back a punch.

Brett craned his head towards me again, his jaws set and looking just as serious.

"Really?" he pursed his lips "are you upset my beloved? Shall we go home then?" Not cute at all, his tone wasn’t very respectful.

Jason too was irritated by this and I swore he was close to his limit, ready to tackle him down like a quarterback in the middle of the football field.

"Brett, just leave me alone," my eyes narrowed as I searched for the girl that was previously flirting with him

"Besides, your real date is waiting," I muttered. I must sound pathetic for being jealous and to this, Jason showed a hint of smug triumph at Brett's defeat.

Brett, however, didn't take this lightly, frowning he grabbed my arm so hard that I winced.

"You're my date."

"Let go of me." I groaned shaking his grip off.

"I think she doesn’t want to see you at the moment," Jason added and I'm surprised both guys hadn't gone murdering the other with the intense glare they shot each other.

Brett of course stepped closer, shoving me behind him. "With all due respect sir," the sir was added more of an afterthought rather than out of respect, “but this has nothing to do with you so if you could just mind your own business..."

"It does..." Jason cut him off, he too took a step forward, but there wasn't any air violence intended in his actions, he looked more like trying to create a resolve, pacify the boy an inch shorter than he was.

"Really?" Brett chimed back sarcastically "Care to explain?"

Right, I forgot he knew my relationship with Jason, he knows that Jason values his job and if the school finds out that we had a relationship, if there were any, it would be the end, he'd be fired.

"I'm both of you little children's teacher." he forced a smile "It doesn't matter whether we are in school or outside, as long as you are within a two-mile radius, as a role model it is my business to make sure that you two are guided safely."

"That's funny," Brett barks back, "I expect more than that, but obviously this has nothing to do with you, Mr. Sean..."

Before Brett could say more I tried to wedge myself between them, this has to stop. One more word and it is game over with his reputation as the oh so nice and perfect school president.

"Stop it! Brett, please stop..." I cried tugging on his shirt, the two were staring each other down, in the same manner, in a position of what looked like they were close to breaking out into a brawl.

"I'll go with you," I continued, "just stop."

At this, he smirked. Pulling me close he escorted ourselves out of the area.

I glanced back at the lonely Jason for the last time. The crowd who had loitered to see what was happening surrounded him.

I understood that look in his eyes really well, the eyes of a defenseless puppy who couldn't do anything.

He wanted to save me, but he can't, he was sad that he couldn't and my heart went out for him.