The Escort

Chapter Four- The First Date

Having spent the last four and a half hours in front of the mirror with an indecisive mind as to what to wear, Lia finally came to her decision. A pure navy colored romper decorated with a silver belt and matching purse had come to outline her body. Much to her liking, she found this tamed outfit to be rather fitting for this new persona she had began to run with. However, just as she could ignore her nerves, she found her phone to buzz with Cameron's arrival.

During her descent to the ground floor, Lia developed a mess of emotions before coming to the lobby. It had been a mix of excitement and anxiety with a touch of s****l tension. But with her goodie two shoes mentality and persona, she had to encompass and portray being the girl next door. With this in mind, she let out a deep breath before crossing past the others who were housed within this apartment before making her way onto the street.

“You look breathtaking…” Cameron spoke as she turned to face him and watched as his eyes seemed to drink her in. It was a way more than s****l, although that was on both of their minds. It had been in a way that was both sad and touching as he looked to her as he couldn't believe someone of her beauty would look at him twice.

“You look very handsome.” she spoke with a smirk and blush as her eyes focused to the chiseled nature of his jaw and light yet intoxicating eyes that lured her in each time she saw him.

“Thank you. Are you ready to go?” he asked while holding out his arm in the same way a Victorian gentleman would do for the woman he was courting. This moment didn't last long however as they called upon a taxi that forced then to part for a minute.

When sliding into the cab, Cameron gave an address she didn't recognize before the car set into motion and blended into the crazed city traffic.

“Am I allowed to know where you are taking me?” she asked anxiously. In any date in her past, it had either been too over the top or arranged by someone who only wanted her for the night. Due to these expected experiences, she wasn't quite sure what the night would entail. But when she looked into his eyes, she felt unexpectedly safe.

The majority of the ride to the undisclosed location had been in silence with the radio having given a background track for the twenty minute ride. When the taxi finally pulled to the curb, Lia was both ready and frightened as to what she was walking into.

She looked to the sign hanging over the building to try and get a read on the location but only grew more confused. “Johnny's?” But as the duo made their way to the front door, Lia caught a glimpse of Cameron’s childlike wonder that she admired.

“After how we met, I wanted to do something fun…” he commented before opening the door and showing her ahead to a small roller skating rink. The colors of the arena used to skate had been done in full blacklight with neon accent colors throughout the entire interior. Even the skates and blades themselves had been decked out in neon coloring.

“I hope this is okay….” he said nervously as her face didn't show either happiness or sadness, just contentment. “it's…so cool!” she exclaimed as he let out a sigh of relief and brought her to the counter to get her size blades.

“15s.” he ordered as her brows raised. She thought of the ancient saying if a man's foot size was large than that meant he was well endowed. Even though this thought had been on her mind, she tried her best to hide it as she then smirked to him and ordered her petite 6 1/12 shoe size.

Within a matter of seconds, their blades were set on the counter before them and Cameron took hold of both of them before leading them to a small table shaped bench that was decorated in black velvet and splattered with neon coloring. As Lia moved to take her skates, Cameron kept them from her like an annoying sibling with the television remote.

“Allow me.” he spoke as he knelt down, almost as if he was going to propose, before sliding her red heels off and setting them neatly beside her. As he held her foot in place for the skate, he seemed to fumbled his fingers as he didn't want to hurt her by forcing her foot where it didn't want to be.

“Thank you.” she said as she moved to stand before he stopped her. “When's the last time you went blading?”

“Ummm….never?” his eyes grew wide. “Never?” he repeated in disbelief. She nodded as he finished the laces on his first shoe. “Maybe we should get you a training cart-”

“I'd rather have you teach me.” she said with a slight batting of her lashes. This seemed to make his speechless as he simply stood and moved to the wall right before the entering of the rink.

“You might have to hold onto me…”

“There are worse ways to learn…” she teased as he blushed and moved onto the rink. She found the ground below her to be like ice as a 1980s rock song came over the deafening speaker. “Hold on tight.” he instructed as he then led her through the opening and fully onto the rink. As they turn their first turn, Lia felt a pit to form in her stomach as she was fearful to wipe out. But when she felt Cameron guide her around the rink-almost effortlessly, she began to enjoy the rush of it all.

Within the matter of an hour, she was skating without pulling his arm from its socket. She was rather proud of herself as she even sped up and got away from him in a few instances. He was quick on her tail however, as he saw the many sets of male eyes following her, just waiting for that opportunity to get her alone.

They continued to make rounds until growing hungry and finding a small eatery in the center of establishment, off of the rink. A set of tables overlooked the rink as some kids who didn’t skate had taken hold of scooters that they took down a ramp and turned before repeating the process. As Lia focused on this, she neglected to notice that Cameron had left her for just a second. As she turned to speak to him, she found him to return with a number card from placing an order.

“What did you order?”

“You'll see…” he said excitedly before making small talk about how she felt about rollerblading for the first time. She couldn't hide the joy and adrenaline in made her feel as a smile spread wide across her face as she spoke of it.

By the time she got done with this, a server-dressed more like a cliche skater girl, had moved towards them with a small tray of food items placed in 1950s paper containers.

“I haven't met a single person on this planet who doesn't like pizza...so I thought it would be a safe bet…” he spoke as the aroma of sauce, cheese, and crust surrounded them. Usually, the grease heart attack waiting to happen would be something she wouldn't be caught dead with. But she was fighting hunger as well as wanting to show Cameron that she wasn't like other girls. And so, she picked up a bite and as the cheese attempted to slide from the crust, she took a big bite.

“So….?” he asked as he waited anxiously for her verdict.

“What is in that?!” She asked as she found an unnaturally delicious blend of spices to go perfectly to the joy of her taste buds.

With the food now served and them both starving from skating, little conversation was set between them. Instead, they allowed the music and laughter of those nearby to fill this silence. Cameron collected the paper containers and set them in the trash as he caught Lia eyeing the small arcade on the far left of the establishment.

“Wanna play?”

“I...I've never…”

“You've never played an arcade game?”

She shook her head as she found his excitement to be amusing as he pulled her towards the machines lit bright with varied names.

“This one is one of the best!” he spoke with a gleam in his eye before giving her a hand of quarters. “There's a trick to these you know…” he spoke in reference to the claw game that they both found themselves feeding quarters to.

“What's that?”

“Teamwork…”

“I thought claw games were a solo endeavor…” she teased.

“which is why many bad mouth them.” he brought himself to the side of the machine and towards the glass as he began to instruct her. “Which one looks good?”

“This one…” she pointed out as she was then directed to achieve it. She focused harder than she did at the skating as the very top of her tongue escaped from her cherry red lips. It was something she didn't even notice she did, but something that made Cameron smile. It had taken two sets of quarters until the stuffed puppy she had her eye on had found its way into the mouth of the claw and then into her grasp.

“There you are.” he presented it in a way that made her feel like he had won it for her. She smiled as he led her around the arcade, finding a grand enjoyment in being able to teach her how the other half lives.

With this time together now having surpassed to the closing time of the establishment, they had no choice but to bring themselves to the streets of the city and try to find a taxi.

“it would probably be faster to walk…” he commented in reference to the incredible traffic abreast them.

“It sure is beautiful…” she commented at the sky as it appeared as though heaven was behind the dark sky and the world below was given a glimpse of its beauty and light in the form of stars.

“Here…” Cameron said while setting his sweater over her arms and watching her eyes look to him with appreciation.

“So, what is it you do?” this question in specific had frightened her above all else. This was because she feared that her response would be one he would see right through. “I work from home...what about you.” she did her best to evade his question as he seemed unfazed by this. “Construction.” she suddenly understood the incredibly tan and muscles he had.

“Do you have family in the city?” she asked, curious to know if he was close to anyone in particular.

“Actually yeah. My younger sister lives at the Catholic Boarding school just off of 22nd.”

“I wasn't aware this city had a boarding school….” She voiced allowed before smiling. “What about you?” he asked as she hesitated for a moment. “No.” she lied, knowing it was easier if he didn't ask any questions or learn anything further in regards to her family.

“Thank you for tonight…” she said as she slid his sweater from her shoulders until it was now back in his grasp. “I don't think I've ever had that much fun...or done so many new things…” she spoke honestly as he smiled wide to her.

“And I was honored to be able to share them with you.” he said nervously, obviously contemplating if he should risk it all and kiss her. He slowly brought his hand to reach her cheek but retracted in wanting to remain a gentleman.

“Are you okay?” she asked as she found his eyes to fixate on her lips.

“Do you ever feel stuck between doing the right thing and doing what you want?”

“Of course ….What seems to be troubling you?”

“Nothing...I'm sorry…” he spoke nervously before leaving her on the steps of her apartment, confused and disappointed.