Dream Date (6 page)

“Oh,” Nathan said. “Then I’ll let you finish your errand. I’m going to be looking forward to see you again.”

“Me, too.”

“See you,” Nathan said. Amanda turned and walked slowly away. Nathan watched her go. She turned to look at him, and smiled. Then she continued on.

“Who was she?” a familiar voice asked. Nathan turned around, finding himself face to face with Kayla. He couldn’t read her expression, when usually he could read her so well.

Nathan feared that Kayla might have seen something he didn’t want her to see.

Kayla was looking at Nathan, waiting for his answer. He still couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

“That was someone I haven’t seen in a long time. She went to the same high school as I did.”

Kayla looked surprised. “Both of them?”

“What do you mean? Oh, no, just the blonde. I didn’t know who the brunette was.”

Kayla arched an eyebrow, reading his expression.

“It’s funny that you should run into her here. Aren’t you both from Illinois?”

“Yes.”

“Did you call her here?”

“No. We hardly even talked in high school, but we still know each other.”

Kayla frowned, narrowing her eyes.

“They’re both very pretty.”

Nathan stifled a scoff.
What an understatement.

“Yeah, I guess they were,” Nathan agreed, running a hand through his hair absentmindedly. “Is Claire ready to go?”

“Almost. I just came here to look around,” Kayla said, walking forward. Nathan hoped she wouldn’t act jealous. “Did you find something you like?”

I certainly did.

“Um, yeah. I didn’t realize that I was in need of new clothes. I haven’t bought any in months.”

Kayla laughed at that. Nathan calmed down a bit. She seemed to be acting her usual self.

“I could help you pick something good while Claire is busy back there,” Kayla offered.

“That’d be great.”

Nathan followed Kayla to the men’s section. He was glad that she hadn’t picked up on his attraction to Amanda. Kayla selected a jacket she thought would look great on him. Nathan commented on it.

At around 10 p.m., Nathan drove back to his dorm after dropping off Claire and Kayla at their places. As he walked up the stairs, Nathan saw a student in wrinkly clothes and messed-up hair. She walked past him and down the stairs without meeting his gaze. Nathan saw she was blushing.

Ashton.

With an amused chuckle, Nathan walked into the dorm he shared with his friend. Sure enough, Ashton’s appearance looked much like the coed Nathan had just spotted outside.

“I gather you were quite entertained while I was away,” Nathan said, making Ashton turn. He was in the kitchen, preparing something to eat. His hair was messy.

“You’re back,” Ashton said, surprised. “Uh…how was it? Did you fall asleep?”

“No,” Nathan replied, laughing. He sat down on the couch. “You’ll never guess who I just ran into.”

Ashton walked into the living room. Or at least, that was the closest term for the main living area of their dorm. Nathan’s bedroom at home had been bigger.

“Who?”

“Amanda.”

Ashton’s jaw dropped to the floor.

“Amanda? She’s at Johnson City?”

“No. She’s here, in Ithaca.”

“What?” Ashton asked in disbelief. Nathan sighed.

“Imagine my surprise when I saw her.”

“What did you do?”

“I talked to her. When I approached Amanda, the look of surprise on her face was priceless.”

“Man, I wish I’d seen that.”

Nathan nodded, remembering the moment.

“Did Claire and Kayla see her?”

“What? Oh, I was so distracted by Amanda that I forgot they were there. Kayla saw her, though.”

 “Uh-oh. She didn’t make a scene, did she?”

“A scene? Have you even met her? Kayla thought nothing of it. I told her Amanda was just an old…friend.”

“Well, it could have been worse. Kayla might have seen you drooling while you were ogling Amanda.”

“Ha ha.”

Ashton laughed.

“This is serious, okay? Don’t you see that Amanda being here creates a dilemma for me?”

“It doesn’t have to. What are the chances you’ll run into her
every
day? If you want to forget her, just do so. You’ve got Kayla.”

“I’ve got no chances of
not
running into Amanda. This town’s so small everyone knows each other. Hell, Cornell makes up
half
of Ithaca.”

Ashton thought for a moment.

“You could always transfer, you know. It’s early in the semester, and you’ve completed your basics.”

“Kayla would
definitely
get suspicious if I suggest that. I’ll just stay here and let things run their course.”

“And be haunted by the memory of your first love?”

Nathan’s lips formed a thin line.

“No matter what…all I want is to not hurt Kayla.”

After they finished their shopping, Amanda and Judith returned to Lansing West Apartments, where the former was staying. It was nearby north of Cornell University. The location was convenient, as she could get to classes in time without being in a hurry. And the apartments were the best she’d found in the area. Amanda had liked them after she was given a tour.

“
Go get your messenger bag, then,” Judith said, leaving her purse on Amanda’s sofa. The two were going to study together.

“
Let’s first get something to eat. I’m starving, and most likely Kellan is, too.”

Amanda exited her apartment. A few seconds later, she returned with Kellan behind her.

“
Everything’s all clear, Ms. Tilley,” he said in an authoritative tone. “If you’d asked, I could have taken you both to go eat somewhere.”

“
We don’t have much time,” Amanda replied. “We have to study. I’ll fix you dinner.”

Kellan grabbed Amanda’s arm when she made to go to the kitchen. He shook his head.

“
Allow me,” Kellan asked her. Amanda pursed her lips, and then nodded. She then went to get her bag.

Judith wouldn’t stop staring at Amanda when the latter sat down next to her in the sofa.

“
What’s the matter?”

“
Kellan,” Judith whispered, looking in the direction of the kitchen. She then looked Amanda in the eyes. “It’s kind of hot. The way Kellan would do anything for you without your even having to snap your fingers.”

Amanda sighed.

“
He’s my bodyguard, not my butler.”

Judith giggled.

“
I know. He’s too young for the Alfred thing.”

Amanda reached into her bag and pulled out her notebook. Judith turned pensive.

“
The guy you met at the show,” she said.

“
Nathan? What about him?”

Judith raised her eyebrows.

“
You’re into him, right? I can see it, girl. The way your eyes shone right now.”

“
Ha. Judith, I just met him.”

“
And love at first sight is a myth?”

“
Oh, you and your romantic little head,” Amanda said, shaking her head.

“
He’s no Jonathan Clayton,” said Judith, referring to Amanda’s handsome fitness trainer, “but he’s not bad-looking. And there’s something about him.”

Amanda shrugged, looking through the notes she took in class that day. Then she removed her MacBook Air from the messenger bag and set it on the table.

Kellan called from the kitchen.

“
You can come here now, girls. The food is ready.”

Judith smiled at the term ‘girls’. She stood up and walked to the kitchen, followed by Amanda.

“
Paninis,” Judith said, raising her eyebrows. “You can cook, Mr. Hughes. That’s so nice.”

“
Thanks,” said Kellan. He then helped Amanda onto her seat.

“
I didn’t know you could cook,” Judith told him as she grabbed two glasses from a cupboard.

“
Oh, he can,” Amanda said. “By the way, Hughes. Do you remember the guy we saw at American Eagle?”

Kellan nodded.

“
His name’s Nathan Ferland. Let Grayson know that he’s okay to approach me whenever he likes. Grayson’s quite intimidating. I’d hate to think of him having to restrain Nathan.”

“
I’ll tell him,” Kellan assured her.

“
I know how dedicated Grayson is about my safety, so if he happens to run a check on Nathan, I want to know nothing about it. Okay?”

“
Sure, Ms. Tilley.”

Kellan finished the plates for Amanda and her friends. He put them on the table in front of them.

“
You’re welcome to dine with us, Hughes,” Amanda said, waving to a chair. “And thanks for making dinner.”

“
Anytime,” said Kellan. He wrapped his panini in a napkin and sat down. The three began to eat.

For once, Nathan was glad that he had no classes to attend. Tuesdays and Thursdays were free time (apart from work), so his mind could occupy itself on other things. Translation: he could make it harder to think about Amanda. Having stuff to do helped.

Nathan worked part-time as a cashier at the local Home Depot. As a student, though, he had a flexible schedule. Being a cashier wasn't too mind-intensive, but it kept Nathan busy. And he only let himself think about Kayla. They had a date that afternoon.

Once his shift ended at five, Nathan felt relieved to go. He stopped by his dorm to catch up on his homework a little before going to Kayla’s dorm. Ashton was nowhere to be seen by that time, which meant he was most likely hitting on women someplace.

After Kayla took her seat and closed her door, Nathan drove forward to their destination.