I arrived at Mia's place, feeling a bit nervous about spending the evening alone with her. Kira was out on a date with Jack, so it would just be the two of us.
As I rang the doorbell, I heard faint footsteps approaching and a faint voice saying "I'm coming." Mia opened the door, and I froze for a split second when I saw her.
She was wearing a camo-designed, armless top that showed off her toned arms and a pair of jean shorts that hugged her curves.
"Hi," I finally managed to say, reaching into my breast pocket and pulling out a rose that I had brought for her. "I got this for you since we are, um, kind of dating now," I added, feeling a bit awkward.
"Awwww. That's so sweet of you," Mia said, taking the rose from me and inhaling its fragrance. "Sorry. Please come in," she added, opening the door wider to let me in.
She closed the door behind us and led me to the kitchen.
As we entered the kitchen, I could smell the aroma of freshly baked cookies and other snacks that Mia had prepared for us while we worked. I helped her set out the snacks on the kitchen table, and we soon got started on the project.
We chatted a bit in between, mostly about school. Three hours later, I could say we had accomplished a lot. It was getting late, so we started wrapping up.
"Can you handle the rest? Kira isn't back yet and I don't feel like eating dinner all by myself. So I want to quickly set up the table for dinner." Mia said while standing up.
As Mia stood up, I couldn't help but notice the way the light from the ceiling caught the highlights in her hair, making her jet-black hair have a golden glow to it. She was a beautiful, fragile creature, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of protectiveness toward her.
"Okay. Go on," I said, as I finished packing my bag and joining her in the kitchen in less than 10 minutes. The smell of freshly cooked pasta wafted through the air, making my stomach growl in anticipation.
We worked together in silence, moving around each other in an easy rhythm. I grabbed the plates and set them on the table, while Mia dished out the pasta and sauce. We sat down at the table, the clinking of forks against plates filling the room.
For a while, we ate in silence, each lost in our own thoughts. I couldn't help but wonder about Mia, and what was going through her mind. She seemed distant and moody at times, and I wanted to know more about her, to try and understand why she was sometimes so withdrawn.
"A penny for your thoughts?" I said, breaking the silence.
Mia looked up at me, her eyes sad. "Nothing much. Just thinking about my friends I left behind to start a new life here," she said.
I couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity, and I decided to ask the question that had been on my mind. "I hope you don't mind me asking, but why did you decide to move?"
Mia hesitated for a moment as if she was trying to decide whether to open up to me or not. Finally, she sighed and spoke. "Well, my mum and dad are very busy with work, and they said to avoid being lonely, I should move in with Kira."
I nodded, not wanting to press the issue further, but eventually I couldn't help myself. "Is that why you sit in silence at times, looking moody?" I asked gently.
Mia's eyes welled up with tears, and she nodded. "Well, yeah. Partially. Another reason is I think my parents are going to divorce. I don't know for sure, but I just can't help but notice their arguments getting more and more heated. They finally decided to send me over here while they sort things out."
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I couldn't help but feel compassion for her. She was going through so much, and yet she was still trying to be strong. I reached out and placed my hand over hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"I hope they settle things quickly," I said softly, trying to reassure her.
"I hope so too," Mia whispered.
We continued our food in silence for a while, until my phone rang.
As I reached for my phone, I noticed Mia's eyes flicker toward me before returning to her plate. The sound of the ringing filled the room, disrupting the peaceful silence between us. I glanced at the caller ID and saw that it was my mom.
"Hello, mom," I answered, trying to keep my voice as low as possible.
"Ray, where are you?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
"I'm at a friend's place, we're working on a project" I replied, glancing over at Mia. She seemed to be paying more attention to her food now.
"Can you come back home as soon as you can? I need to discuss something urgent and important with you."
"Sure, mom. I'll be there soon," I promised, feeling a sense of guilt wash over me.
"Okay, see you soon," she said before hanging up.
I placed my phone back on the table and turned to Mia. "I'm sorry, but I have to go. My mom sounded urgent on the phone."
"Come on Ray, finish up with your food." She pleaded with me.
"I'd have loved to but from the way my mother sounded, I guess it's kinda urgent," I said feeling dejected I had to leave her.
"Alright then," Mia said, forcing a smile. "I understand."
I stood up and started gathering my things. "I'll see you soon. Thanks for dinner, it was great."
"You're welcome," Mia said as she walked me to the door.
"I'd love to continue this conversation over dinner. That's if you are free tomorrow." I asked after battling with it in my mind.
She stopped and looked at me.
"Are you asking me on a date?" She asked like she was surprised.
"Emmm…. Kind of….., Maybe? Yes. Will you go on a date with me?" I replied.
"Sure."
"Great. I'll pick you up tomorrow by 7 pm."
"Okay, then. Have a good night." She said as we got to the door.
"And you too," I replied before stepping out into the cool evening air.
As I made my way home, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness about leaving Mia behind. I enjoyed spending time with her and I was looking forward to our date tomorrow.