21st Century Knight

Chapter 7 Make It Blue

The movie finished, its ending unknown to either of them. Brandon lay his head back, staring at the ceiling. He felt a movement near his leg and looked down. Her hand had flopped off the sofa and was dangling down across his leg. He lifted it back up and placed it on his knee, intertwining it with his right hand. He looked at his watch. It was five to seven. Would her ex show up now? he wondered. He waited unmovingly for a few more minutes. At two minutes past seven, he heard footsteps outside. The bell rang, its loudness sounding sharply through the room after the peaceful silence. He didn’t move. Gabriella woke up. Feeling groggy, she turned to her left thinking she was in bed. She almost fell out and got startled when she felt a hand catch her head and another around her stomach.

"Hey." Brandon smiled at her sleepy face.

"Hey! What happened to the movie? What’s the time?" She asked, feeling disoriented.

"Couple minutes past seven. The doorbell just rang. I think it’s –" but he got no further because Archer called out from behind the door.

"Gabriella, you ready?" Gabriella hastily got up and straightened herself.

"Oh no, Archer!" She whispered worriedly. Brandon gave her a reassuring nod and went to the door to open it.

"Hellooo—" Archer drawled but stopped short when he saw Brandon.

"Excuse me, who are you? I thought Gabriella Keller lived here." Archer said, frowning in confusion. Brandon smiled.

"Oh yes, she does. Let me introduce myself. I’m Brandon Whiteley. I’m Gabriella’s boyfriend." Archer blinked suspiciously.

"Is that so? How long have you been dating?" he prodded.

"Not long. It was pretty spontaneous when we met." Gabriella appeared at the doorway, biting back a smile.

"Gabriella and I had plans for this evening. You see, we’re old friends, and we were going to catch up over dinner." Archer insisted, hoping Gabriella would back him up. But Gabriella let Brandon speak, watching this little byplay in amusement.

"I’m sorry to spoil your plans," Brandon said cheerfully, "but I have my own plans with my girlfriend this evening. She wasn't aware of them when you asked her out. I'm afraid she won't be able to join you tonight for dinner." He made to shut the door, but Archer put his foot in the door, glancing at Gabriella.

"This really your boyfriend?" he challenged. For a moment Gabriella felt nervous that she might not look convincing. But Brandon easily wrapped an arm around her waist, drawing her intimately against his side.

"Brandon and I are dating, Archer. I forgot to mention it yesterday." Gabriella said, laying a hand on his chest. Brandon smiled widely at her before turning back to face a disgruntled Archer. He made a low noise in his throat and looked like he was chewing on his tongue.

"Alright, Gabriella, you win. I guess we’ll see each other some other time." He pushed a card into Gabriella's hand.

"She might need this, in case you dump her. She’ll need a shoulder to cry on." He winked slyly at Gabriella and left, whistling. Brandon shut the door roughly.

"He’s slicker than an oil spill," he said with a grim look. Gabriella agreed.

"I hope I never see him again! Anyway, thank goodness he bought our story."

"What do you mean? It wasn’t a story," Brandon said in confusion.

"Oh, right." Gabriella blushed, remembering that they really were dating. She stretched her arms.

"What happened? Did I fall asleep earlier?" she asked, feeling embarrassed.

"Like a baby," Brandon said with a secret smile.

"I’m sorry, I've been really tired lately. Did you enjoy the movie?"

"I wasn’t really paying much attention to it."

"Oh, was it too boring? We could’ve watched something with a little more action then."

"It was fine."

"Hey, would you like to stay for dinner? I mean, I do owe you for this."

"Thanks, I didn’t think you’d invite me for dinner so soon."

"Just to pay you back. What do you like? Besides pizza and hotdogs, I mean."

"What do you usually cook?"

"I spent half the day cooking yesterday so I have a lot of options." She said as she opened the fridge. Brandon came up behind her and peeked over her shoulder.

"I’ve got lasagna, shepherd’s pie, risotto, spinach casserole… or even tuna salad if you like fish."

"Wow, that’s a lot of food."

"What do you like?"

"It all sounds good. How about… the lasagna?"

"Sure. I’ll warm it in the oven. It’ll be ready in fifteen minutes." She pulled out a large dish covered with cling wrap and shut the fridge. She turned on the oven and waited till it was hot before putting the lasagna in. She had already pre-baked it so it took only a little while before it was ready.

"Mmm, that smells good." Brandon sniffed as she served it.

"Thanks. I’ve got some pudding for dessert. Would you like some?"

"Definitely. He cut a big slice of the lasagna and sampled it.

"This is delicious! You’re a really good cook." Gabriella looked pleased.

"I love to cook. If I had to have a dream, it would be to be a caterer."

"If you had a dream?"

"Well, between work and earning a living, there's little time for castles in the air," Gabriella said reasonably.

"I see. But, why a caterer? Wouldn’t a chef be better?"

"No way, too hectic. And too much competition. And I prefer to work at my own pace."

"Right. So you wanted to be a caterer."

"But it wasn't my only option. I also would have liked to be a wedding planner."

"That’s… unusual."

"Is it? I just like the idea of organizing events and making everything perfect," Gabriella said modestly.

"That fits."

"Why does it fit?"

"Because you are a very detailed person. A wedding planner would need to be thorough and make sure everything was perfect."

"How would you know that I’m like that?"

"I can tell."

"Psychic." She joked and they both laughed.

"What about you? What’s your dream?" she asked after a thought. Brandon considered.

"I never really had a definite dream per se, but my dad already has plans for me to take over his company, so I didn’t feel the need to want to do anything else. But I could say that I always wanted to find love. If you can call that a dream." He glanced at Gabriella to see her reaction. She was observing him with interest.

"That’s your dream?"

"Well, after I find love, marriage would follow, naturally. My parents also hope I get married soon."

"Why haven’t you?" Gabriella asked matter-of-factly.

"I guess… I haven’t found the girl I’d want to spend the rest of my life with – yet." Gabriella bent down over her plate, noting the 'yet'. She wished she hadn’t asked that question.

"Are you still looking?"

"Not anymore."

"Why not?" She blurted without thinking.

"Because now I’m dating you." He answered as though it was obvious. Gabriella laughed nervously.

"Right." She took the plates after they finished and dropped them in the dishwasher. They ate dessert in silence for a while.

"Do you have work tomorrow?" Brandon asked finally.

"Yeah."

"I guess your ankle’s better."

"Hmm-mmm." Gabriella wondered why he sounded so curt all of a sudden. She found out when he spoke again, in a rush, as though he'd been holding it all in.

"Gabriella, there’s a party I have to go to this Saturday. And I was hoping you'd be my date?" Gabriella looked up quizzically.

"A party? What kind of party?"

"Oh, it's one of those annual soirees that clubs hold to celebrate their anniversaries."

"A soiree? With high society and all?" Gabriella asked with raised eyebrows.

"Yeah, something like that." Gabriella looked unsure.

"Brandon, I’m not sure I’d fit in at something like that. I don’t even have anything to wear to a party."

"I’ll take care of that."

"You don’t mean you’re gonna buy me another dress?" Gabriella asked with a horrified look.

"Think of it as a gift, from your boyfriend," Brandon replied with a smile.

"Look, I can’t let you keep spoiling me like this."

"Please?" He asked, coming up to her and holding her hands. She leaned against the front door as he came near. "Pretty please? You'd be doing me a huge favor if you say yes."

"Well…" Gabriella hesitated. She did owe Brandon for helping her get rid of Archer, but to go as his date at a fancy-schmancy dinner party with the cream of the crop of society?

"What about Madison?" She asked suddenly. "She mentioned a party too… sounds like she'd like to go with you." Gabriella gauged his reaction and was pleasantly surprised to see him shudder.

"Definitely not gonna happen. And besides, I'm dating you, not her."

"Well… Alright. I guess I could come. But what if I stand out? I mean I won’t know anyone and it’ll be all haute couture and stuff."

"Don’t worry about it. I didn’t fit in that world too long ago either," Brandon said furtively. Gabriella looked puzzled.

"I’ll tell you about it another time." He picked up his coat and opened the door.

"I’ll pick you up at six next Saturday, okay?"

"Okay."

"Goodnight, Gabriella."

"Goodnight Brandon." Brandon quickly leaned in and pecked her cheek before strolling off with a satisfied smirk. Gabriella blinked. She hadn't expected that but she didn't find it altogether unpleasant. She shut the door. Maybe dating Brandon won't be so bad after all.

Two large aqua-colored gift boxes all done up with yellow ribbons arrived for Gabriella early Saturday morning. Curious, but guessing they were from Brandon, she sat on the carpet in her living room and opened the bigger one first. She gasped when she saw what was inside. A shimmery pale blue dress with off-the-shoulder tiny sleeves, a straight-cut neck, and a floor-length train that cut off at the knees in front fell from her hands as she held it up at arm’s length. There was tiny metallic rose gold detailing around the bust, set in a pretty floral pattern. It was gorgeous. And extremely elegant. Gabriella was stunned. She had never worn something this exquisite or expensive in her life, not even to her local high school prom. She hunted through the dress for the price tag but Brandon had cut it off. Great, she thought, he wouldn’t let her return it. A pink card lay in the box, face down. She lay the dress on her bed and read the note.

Dear Gabriella,

I hope you like the dress. Don’t be mad at me for getting it for you. I hope the shoes aren’t too high for you. I don’t want you to have any more tripping accidents because of me. Love Brandon.

Shoes? Gabriella opened the other parcel. She opened it and pulled out two pretty rose gold strappy stilettos with open toes. They had modest but delicate heels, tall but comfortable to walk in. Gabriella tried them on. They fitted her perfectly. She wondered how he found out her size.

She had the dress and shoes; she wondered what to do about her hair and decided to go to the parlor half a block away. Might as well give Brandon her all.

She checked the clock. She could leave at four and have enough time left to dress. She admired the dress a little longer. It was so soft and light. Brandon certainly had good taste. Even the color would suit her amber-colored hair.

At five she arrived home, her hair in a delicate bun with curls crowning it, her front hair waving to the side and tucked behind her ear. She looked at herself in the mirror. Yes, it was good enough for a fancy party. She started to dress. The dress was also a good fit. The neckline made her blush a little, but it wasn’t too low. She just never wore something off-shoulder. She had just put on a little makeup when the doorbell rang. She furrowed her brow. It was only five forty-five. Brandon was early. She went and opened the door.

"Hello, Gabriella. Are you…" he stopped short when he saw her, his jaw dropping open.

"Gabriella… you look amazing. That dress does look good on you." She smiled.

"Well, you picked it out. But thanks all the same." Brandon gawked at her in admiration for a few more seconds before shaking himself.

"Ready?"

"Almost. You are a little early."

"I came to give you the finishing touches. Turn around." She obeyed, wondering what he was going to give her. He put a necklace around her throat. Gabriella felt it with her fingers.

"Oh, Brandon, you’ve already given me a lot!"

"The dress wouldn’t be complete without this. Besides, this is my mother’s. She let me give it to you. So I didn’t buy it." Gabriella looked worried.

"Why would you give me something so important?"

"My mother wanted my first date to wear this," Brandon said with a soft smile. Gabriella felt it with her fingers, feeling honored.

"Tell her thanks for me." She surveyed her necklace in the hall mirror. It was delicate and pretty with tiny stones.

"Are these… no way, these are real diamonds!"

"Yeah, so?"

"I’ve never worn something like this, I’d be too afraid of it getting stolen or damaged!"

"No one is gonna come near you with me here, trust me. And diamonds are pretty resilient." Brandon joked. Gabriella laughed at that.

"So are you ready? Where are your shoes?" Brandon asked, noting her bare feet.

"Under the coffee table." She went and sat down to put them, but Brandon got on his knees and started putting them for her before she could do so.

"I can do that," she protested.

"It can’t be easy to bend in that dress. I’ll do it for you." he held her foot in one hand and slipped the shoe on with the other. He looked at her when he finished.

"Done. Now let me see the complete outfit." She stood up and blushed as he appraised her.

"Wow, Gabriella, you look perfect," he said with shining eyes. Gabriella smiled shyly.

"So do you. That tux suits you." She grabbed her purse and stood by the door.

"Shall we?" Brandon asked, taking her arm.

"I'm ready for the fancy-schmancy." She took his arm and they went out.