They stayed there for about two minutes with none of them moving a muscle.The atmosphere was peaceful as Daniel could feel the slow and steady heartbeats of Tara.
"Okay,so this is weird" Leyla interrupted.
"How did you get here" Tara said surprisedly as she removed herself from the hug.
"Girl,I've been standing right there.Y'all were just too caught up in the love shit" Leyla said,looking intently at Tara.
"I don't think so" Daniel spoke.
"Of course you don't" Leyla said,looking at him."You'll understand soon enough"
"Enough of the weird talk" Tara rose."Where's mum? I've had enough drama for today"
"I fear it may just be beginning" Leyla smirked as she noticed Julian walking towards them with a peculiar look on his face.
"What do you mean?" Tara asked ,but she got her answer very quickly.
"Tara" Julian called, walking faster.He reached Daniel and held him by the collar."What's this nerd doing here?"
"Please don't make a scene" Tara said, lightly holding Julian by the arm.
"Of course not.I just wanna ask the nerd a question" Julian said."Yo nerd,I thought you didn't like her?"
"Shit" Daniel thought."Saying I don't like her would strain my relationship with Tara.She might even believe it ,and that would be the end.But if I say yes,then Julian would be pissed I lied"
"What's wrong? Why are you silent?" Julian smirked."Nothing to say?"
"I like her" Daniel muttered
"What did you say?"
"I said I like her" Daniel said loudly.
"You liar" Julian seethed as he attempted to punch Daniel.
"What's the matter,boys?" Joyce said.
"Nothing ma'am" Julian said, quickly withdrawing his hand."Just a friend of Tara"
"Well, alright.We're done here,so you could follow us home" Joyce offered.
"No thanks ma'am.I came with my car" Julian said."A pleasure meeting you, ma'am" He said, walking away.
"I remember him" Joyce muttered as Julian walked away."Are you accompanying us,Daniel?"
"If it won't be a problem" Daniel said.
"Don't be silly.Get in" Joyce said.
Throughout the entire journey,Daniel and Tara didn't speak to each other.
Tara sat next to her mum who was driving while Daniel sat next to Leyla in the back.
Leyla said something weird before they got to the house:
"You're almost there"
"Uh?"
"Concerning Tara,you're almost there" She said before returning to her phone.
Daniel was wondering what she meant.
"Hey!" Tara called as they entered the house."Room now!"
"What did I do this time?" Daniel thought as he trudged the stairs."Yeah?" He said after entering the room.
"I like you" Tara said.
"What?" Daniel said,asking again."Did she really say what he heard?"
"Don't make me see it again.I said I like you too" Tara said,turning her back to him as she didn't know how he would respond."He should be happy,right?"
"Thank you" Daniel shouted.
"Relax,I'm not into you,yet" Tara said regally.
"Uhm,what does that mean?"
"I like you so what? You need to prove that you're capable of being with me"
"Uhm" Daniel scratched his head."I still don't know what that means"
"She means you should take her on a date,genius" Leyla said, standing at the door.
"Leyla! How did you even get in?"
"You left the door open" She said before leaving.
"Is that true?" Daniel asked.
"I don't know,get out" Tara said,quickly pushing him out of the room."Why did I do that?" She asked herself.She was fairly sure she liked him in some way ,but was that feeling intended for a relationship?
Daniel stayed at her door for some minutes.He didn't know whether Tara was serious about it or not.
"Maybe I should ask her?" He thought,placing his hand on the knob."No,I can't.I have to prove I'm worthy" He removed his hand from the knob and walked down the stairs.Although he didn't know what Tara's intentions were,the joy he felt was inexplicable.
Her saying"I like you" just kept playing on and on in his mind.
"Looks like someone had a good time" Joyce smiled as Daniel came down the stairs.
"Uhm—"
"Leyla told me all about it. We're all rooting for you" Joyce patted his shoulder and smiled.
"Rooting for you is kind of a strong phrase" Leyla spoke."Let's just say it would suck if you fail"
"I'll take it" Daniel smiled as the joy he was feeling doubled.He now had people on his side."I feel on top of the world" He muttered as he waved goodbye to Tara's mum.
Julian was seething as he entered the mansion.He couldn't believe Daniel lied to him.
"Here I thought I still had a chance" He thought as he threw the keys to John."Today was a bust"
"Julian" His father called,stopping him in his tracks.
"Yes,father?"
"Well,how did she take the news?"
"Really well.She was ecstatic that she could stay in America"
"What of the clause her father insisted?"
"She also took that pretty well" Julian replied."Uhm,I had a long day,so I'm gonna head up now"
"Alright" Julian's father replied."One" He called after Julian left.
"Sir"
"What happened?"
One told him all that transpired including Julian's altercation with Daniel.
"Oh,my son. That's how life is:You snooze;you lose" Julian's father said pensively.
Julian,on the other hand, didn't know what to feel.He felt deep down he knew Daniel liked Tara,but he didn't want to believe it.
"So stupid" He muttered.The truth was that he wasn't mad because of the lie ,but rather the fact that Tara seemed to like him back.He was watching how Tara related to Daniel,and he found it really peculiar. It was obvious her attitude to Daniel had changed.
"This is all my fault" Julian said as he shut his eyes.
Daniel got home with the same glee in his heart.He quickly googled "The perfect date"
"Take him or her to a place of enjoyment.It doesn't have to be a restaurant" Daniel read the results aloud."Uhm, what does she like? Amusement park maybe?"