Playing With Fire

Chapter 2: My First and Appsolutely Worst Date Ever

I quickly jumped out of the shower, gasping and shaking. What the heck just happened? This has never happened before. I changed the water to the coldest setting, thinking it was possibly too hot. I gingerly reached out my hand to feel the water. Just like the last time, as soon as my skin made contact with the water, it started steaming. A burning sensation shot through my body, and I quickly pulled my hand away.

Okay, until I can figure out what's going on with me, I will avoid water at all costs.

I went to find a towel, to only realize that I was already dry. At this point, I'm not surprised anymore. I changed into some clothes, took out my braids, brushed my hair, and made myself some mac 'n cheese for dinner. I settled down on the couch, ready to relax after the day that I've had today. Two seconds later, no joke, it was exactly two seconds later, the doorbell rang.

"I swear if it's those magazine people trying to get me to subscribe to their company again, I will personally see that they can't ring another doorbell again," I grumbled to myself as I walked towards the door. Wait, is that... Asher?

I opened that door, and sure enough, it was Asher, in blood and flesh. "Ash, how do you know where I live?" I asked.

"Well, I felt really bad 'bout earlier today. I acted like a complete jerk when something was obviously bothering you, so I talked to Cameron, and I came to make it up to you." He pulled out something from behind his back, and it was a bouquet of roses! "So, Briana Winter, would you like to go on our first official date?"

"Awe Ash, no way," I exclaimed, overwhelmed by the sudden sweetness. "Of course I'll go on a date with you."

"Yeah baby!" he yelled and wrapped in an enormous bear hug, while I was laughing. When he pulled away, his smile was then replaced with fear-struck eyes. "Holy crap, your hair is on fire!"

"What?" I turned to look at my hair, and sure enough, it was on fire, but I quickly squinched it out with my fist. How did that happen?

"Whew, thank God, I thought you were going to die," Asher said, putting his hand on his chest to steady his breathing, but I knew that was only for show. "Anyway, be ready tomorrow at seven, that's when I'll be picking you up. And don't worry, I already bought the-"

"Okay! We aren't going to go that far," I said, heat rising to my cheeks.

"Your right, we'll save that for our second date," he replied with a wink.
"See ya tomorrow Sunshine." With that, he turned around and walked off, and I closed the door. As soon I closed the door, though, I heard him scream, "YES!" outside, and I rolled my eyes. He really was a goofball, but an adorable one.
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"Dad, stop it. I'm not your little baby anymore," I said with a teasing tone.

"I know," he whimpered, with tears in his eyes. "It's just so hard to say goodbye. You grew up so fast."

"Dad, I'm going on a date, not off to college."

"I know, bu-u-u-t."

"Dad..." I said, in a voice that you would use to coax a scared bunny, and hugged him. He started shaking. "It's okay, you don't have to cry." He looked up at me, and he was laughing. Laughing!

"Haha, I got you good," he said with a grin.

"You're mean," I whined.

"Yeah, yeah what else is new."

"True, true," I said, and the doorbell rang. "Well that's him, I better get going. Love you, dad," and a gave him a big hug and walked out the door.

"You're looking smokin' like usual," Asher said with a lick of his lips.

"Ash," I warned, but he was right. I actually tried with my appearance tonight. I was wearing a white, sleeveless dress with a low, V-neck line, and it had huge sky blue and royal blue flowers on it. The upper half down to my mid-stomach was tight, and after that, it flowed out to just above the knees. Asher, on the other hand, was wearing swim trunks and a shirt with a tux on it. "Anyway, where are we going?"

"Oh don't worry, we are going somewhere fancy, this is just as fancy as I get. The world is not ready for Asher to be in a tux yet; all the ladies would die from the overdose of handsomeness, and I wouldn't want that to happen, now would I?"

"No, you wouldn't," I said while shaking my head at this. Of course, Asher would say something like that. Why am I even surprised?

We got near the restaurant, and it turns out it was Mandolas! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, yayayayayayayayay!!!! Mandolas is my absolute favorite!

"No way Ash, we're eating at Mandola's?"

"No, we're eating at Bob's Fishing Shop. Just kidding, we are. I knew it was your favorite, so I brought you here because it was my favorite too! We have so much in common. Let's go in and get our seats."

He got out of the car and started to walk away. Well, like I said earlier, why am I even surprised?

I got out, and I followed him inside, my arm hooked through his. We waited around for a waiter to come to seat us. One came, and we headed to our table.

"Um, I'm sorry waiter, but we can not sit here," Asher said.

"Why not?" the waiter asked.

"Yeah, this table is fine Ash," I said.

"Do you have eyes?" Asher said to the waiter.

"Asher!" I said, implying, don't be rude.

"Sorry, but he obviously hasn't noticed you. Sir, this lady deserves way better than this normal table. We need a new table."

"Yes, sir. Right this way," our poor waiter replied.

"Here we go," the waiter said.

"You think this will suit her? No way. Show me your best table."

"Ash, this is fine."

"Briana," Asher said to me. "I will not have you settle for this. Waiter, show us another table." So I kept my mouth shut for the rest of the time.

"Is this table okay, sir?"

"If this is your best table, we need a booth."

"Okay, how about this one."

"It's under the vent, do you want her to get sick?"

"Would this one suit you?"

"Next to the bathroom? My girlfriend should not be smelling someone else's diarrhea."

And it continued on and on, until we got to the 18th table, no joke I counted, for Asher to be satisfied with our table. When we sat down, I mouthed an apology to our waiter, hoping he would understand. He replied with a nod of his head, signaling that it was fine.

We ordered drinks, well, Asher ordered the drinks, I just got water, but he got Dr. Pepper. When it came, he chugged it in ten seconds, let out a huge belch, which made me wince in disgust, and asked a waiter, which wasn't our own, for a new soda. I'll say, it was a disaster so far.

When the waiter soon came around with bread a little later, Asher didn't even wait for him to set the bread down before grabbing a piece and shoving it into his mouth. I mouthed an, I'm sorry, again to the waiter, and this time he mouthed a, no, I'm sorry, back. Well, I can see where he's coming from. Asher was acting like an animal today. He even tried to continue a conversation with me which led to him spitting out pieces of bread.

When dinner came, he was the worst at dinner. He sent his food back saying, "I specifically asked for the sauce on the side. You can't expect me to eat this; I demand to speak to the cook."

"Asher! It's fine, give him a break and calm down please and eat your fish."

"Do you really think I'm going to eat this? It's a bunch of crap," he said, and I may add, while the waiter was still standing at our table looking very awkward.

"You will, or I'm leaving," I growled.

"You leave, and we're done," he challenged.

"Oh really," I said, raising an eyebrow, grabbed my purse and walked away.

"You're actually leaving? No wait, come back! I don't actually want to break up with you!" he called after me, but I didn't listen. I was done with that turd.

I was so fed up with him that I didn't realize it was raining outside, which led to a disaster.

"Bri don't do this..." he trailed off as he stared at my steaming body as it reacted to the rain. "Yo-yo-you're a monster."