~Tricked~

The day rolled into evening too quickly, the sky slowly swirled in rich and radiant hues of orange, purple and red as the stars slowly began to peek out for the world to behold. The sounds of cars honking from a distance, indistinct voices and the sight of various school of birds as they took flight back to their habitat announced to Dolores that soon, he would come for her.

She sat in front of the vanity, indecisiveness gnawing at her insides. She tossed a look at her bed where quite an option of wears laid; a short purple gown with purple frills at the hem , an oversized blue shirt and grey joggers, a black oversized hoodie and gray shorts and finally, a slim fitting black gown which came down to her knees.

'Make a pick, will you?'

She feared what would happened if Adelina walked in here and met her still sitting on the chair without yet making any decisions. Tried as she could, she didn't understand Adelina's obsession with keeping to time.

"You're only going out to get ice cream, right? Not to some outing. Besides it's not a date because Adelina is involved as well." She was saying aloud to herself when the door swung open and a voice shrieked aloud.

"WHAT? You're not ready yet? What the heck are you waiting for?"

Dolores paled when she saw Adelina's look of horror. She couldn't tell if it was because of the fact that she was still sitting down and looking undecided or because of time. Either way, she remained on her seat, chewing her bottom lip anxiously.

When Adelina crossed the threshold with her green eyes glaring daggers at her, Dolores thought the oversized grey sweatshirt, black joggers and black woolen cap, looked too good on the eighteen year old. As she walked straight to where the clothes were piled on the bed with her hand stretched, "What's this?"

Dolores gave a confused look. "Uh, my clothes, what else?"

Her dark hair tossed about as she shook her head. "None of those, sweetheart."

She walked into the closet and arrived a while later with a pair of a denim high waisted jeans, a blue halter necked crop top, and a pair of jeweled black sandals.

"Why should I be dressed like this when you're going to be dressed like that?" Dolores pointed between herself and Adelina.

"He's probably going to be paying you a lot of attention than he would me. Now, go, go." Her best friend shoved her through the open doors of her closet, ignoring her sounds of protest. "Go, get dressed." Adelina slammed a hand against her forehead realizing it would only be a few minutes before Nicolas arrived.

The brunette's re-entrance into the room drew her attention away from her phone where she was chatting with someone. Her gaze swept over her friend in awe at how beautiful she looked in just casual wear.

Dolores, however, was starting to feel squeamish at how snug the jeans were on her thighs and how they hugged her figure rather too perfectly. The halterneck revealed the skin on her arms and a bit on her back. The only thing she was grateful for was the black jeweled sandals she was wearing. She had feared Adelina would insist on heels like she had during prom.

"You look exquisite." Adelina finally said in a singsong voice earning herself an eye roll from Dolores which she didn't mind.

A brief honk outside made Dolores eyes widen in horror. "No, no. I can't wear this to the outing. You look really laid back and casual and I look like I'm desperately trying to get him to notice me."

Before Adelina moved to the window, she replied. "Who said his eyes would be on me throughout?" She turned to the window with a big wave and yelled. "She'll be with you in a minute."

She pulled the pouting girl to sit on the chair facing the vanity on the wall. Tugging her brown hair free from the rubber band, she applied an oil sheen spray then thoroughly combed it down until it tumbled in gentle waves down the girl's back.

Less than fifteen minutes later, Adelina was done and she stood back to admire her work. While Dolores was stumped at her reflection in the mirror, her anxiety increased double fold. Ignoring how jelly-like her feet felt, she let Adelina push her out towards the door.

As she walked out the door she saw Nicolas turn his head toward her and sit up in the driver's seat. Her palms became sticky with sweat but she wiped them quickly on her jean. When she got inside the car, which Adelina had opened for her to get in, she was handed her purse.

Dolores whipped her head toward Adelina in crippling shock as she stuttered, "What are you-- I thought we were supposed to go together."

"I thought so too but suddenly, being the third wheel didn't seem as appealing as it felt earlier today. So, enjoy your date."

"Wait!" Dolores yelled. "My jacket!"

"What does he have a jacket for?" Adelina rolled her eyes at her friend's cluelessness. "Lock the door, Nicolas." When he did, she sent an air kiss toward her before the car drove off.

As she stared at the departing vehicle, she wondered what Dolores's reaction would be when she finds out that they planned their date already before it happened. She knew the date was what her best friend wanted but needed the right push at the right time.

The weekend before, Nicolas had called personally to seek her permission. Even went as far as stopping by her house under the guise of an unknown number just for Dolores. She reasoned since Dolores was already in love with him, there was no need holding anyone back. The only thing she didn't do was tell him how to plan the date or what thing to do to make the girl happy.

If he indeed loved her, he would find them out in due time.

A feeling of guilt gnawed at her heart but it was shortlived. She attributed it to the fact that she planned the date while keeping her friend in the dark but she realized the poor girl was wallowing in self-pity day by day, still feeling the loss of her late Mom, and she needed to do something at least special for her.

'She'll get over it.'

°°°°°°°°°°

As the car sped along the freeway, silence from the two people engulfed the atmosphere in the car. While Nicolas fixed his eyes on the road, Dolores had hers stuck on her phone's screen. She was chatting with Adelina and with super quick fingers, she sent curses after curses to all which her friend replied with laughing stickers.

Lina👯: Focus on your date and have fun.

Then, she went offline to her dismay before she could refute her words. Now, Dolores was stuck with no choice but to converse with Nicolas, an activity she wasn't prepared for yet.

Finally, after much restraint, she let her eyes wander to where he sat, driving. He was in white hoodie, a pair of jeans which was ripped at the knee and white sneakers. Brown glistening curls sat atop his head causing Dolores to wonder if he loved to shampoo his hair as much as she did.

"So where are we going to? I know we're just going to get ice cream and all but with the way you're dressed, what's the occasion?" The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them.

"Somewhere I know. We'd soon be there. Just be patient." He replied sending a sunny smile her way.

"I have the faintest inkling that you both planned this. I don't know how but if it's true, then I'm going to have her killed."

He laughed suddenly and Dolores thought it was the sweetest sound next to music. "If you find out that's the truth, then you can put the blame on me."

She let her gaze roam about them. The car baffled her to no small extent. It reeked of nothing short of style and wealth. She concluded in her mind that he must have come from a rich home.

'Why then was he so humble?'

He caught her lingering stare on the dashboard and replied the questions she probably was scared to voice aloud. "It was a gift from someone."

"I take it you are super special to that friend. Right?"

He slightly stiffened, then shook his head slowly from left to right. "Nah. It was more of an appease offering."

If only she knew.

"But isn't it a little too expensive?" She thought out aloud.

He smiled. "It was a birthday gift actually. At first, it looked too much but now I think I've gotten used to it. There's nothing to worry about." He found himself lying fluently.

Her gaze swept over him again. "Right."

Soon, he pulled up at somewhere she had never seen before except on TV. It was the new commercial building launched last week by some business mogul. She and her dad had intentions to visit the place but they always got too busy with work and school respectively.

"No way."

"Yes way."

"This place is cooler in person than on TV." She took the arm Nicolas stretched out for support as she alighted from the car. The look on her face was priceless as she stood in awe of the building.

"It's only nighttime. Wait till you see it in the daylight."

"I bet it'll look more magnificent."

He pressed a button on the car's remote and when the car gave a satisfactory beep, he pulled her gently along. "Come on. Let's go see what it's like inside."

~~~{•}~~~

Dates, dates, dates.
I don't remember the last time I went on one
Maybe it's because I'm often too busy for that *shrugs*

But wait...
Adelina be doing the most. LMAO!
She pulled a fast one on her best friend

Yak-yak-yakity-yak
If you loved this chapter, please give it a star... It's just below your screen

~~Chignature~~