'F*ck you bra. Now she probably thinks I'm a pervert or man-whore who sleeps around with girls he just met. Fuck you.'
'Hehe, that's what you get for driving my date off when I was so close.' Leone thought, almost as if he could read Mateo's mind.
With an innocent smile on his face Leone turned around and headed in the direction Anabelle went, seeing if the date was still salvageable and scheduled for a happy ending.
"Don't worry, he was just kidding. I'm not gonna do anything with you."
"Huh, sleep with me who thought about anything like that, definitely not me."
"Right, then why is your hand in your bag, probably looking for pepper spray or something. "
"Umm err I- I was just taking my glasses case to put my glasses in, yeah that's what I was looking for."
'Hah, she's a really bad liar. But she looks so cute when she tries. Pull yourself together Mateo, don't reveal your desires and come off as a pervert. Deep breaths, deep breaths.'
"So, were you going to introduce yourself or would I have to call you a nickname. How about kitten."
"Ah yes introduce myself, I'm Amber, Amber Woode. Also a student , I'm not rich like Ana and my background isn't as fancy. I live with my aunt and five dogs. Work as a part-time waitress in a diner. Umm I'll be 18 this year, in three months and –"
"Whoa whoa TMI, Amber. I just wanted to know your name, I'm not interviewing you for a job."
"Sorry, I'm a bit nervous. Ana usually does the talking for both of us since I find human interaction weird and stressful."
"Ana, she usually hogs all the spotlight huh. And what do you mean you find human interaction weird, you an alien or something."
"Me, no I'm full human, unfortunately. And Ana doesn't hog the spotlight. Hogging is bad. She rather protects me from the stares of guys who look at me like they want to eat me whole, kinda like the look you have on your face right now."
'Ah shit, my intent leaked. But it's not my fault, she's just too cute in a hot kind of way.'
"Ah, sorry about that. You're just too cute and I feel like patting your head. Maybe I should."
"Hah, Leone was right, you truly are shameless. Other guys try and save face by leaving or denying it outright yet here you are doing neither and going even further to ask to pat my head."
"Hehe, what can I say, I'm built different. So about the head pat…"
"NO, I'm not a pet and I'm still 17. Try it and I'll sue you and you'll be known as a child sex offender." Amber said with a serious expression that only made her look cuter.
"Sheesh, this little kitten had the claws of a tiger. Respect. By the way what kind of books do you read that make human interaction weird for you." Mateo asked, steering the conversation.
"Umm, fantasy, romance and fantasy romance." Amber answered.
"Ah, those Werewolf Alpha and Luna lovey dovey weird kind of books, am I right." Mateo took a wild guess.
"How, how did you know. Is it that obvious?"
"Eh, you can chalk it up to a senior's intuition, but damn your taste in books forces me to see you in a new light. You're not as innocent as you look."
Having been found out and being accused, Amber felt a blush creep up her neck all the way to her cheeks, her light chocolate skin and the disco lights of the dance hall doing well to hide it.
"What do you mean I'm not innocent, wait a minute, do you also read those kinds of books."
"Me, my lips are sealed and I'll take my secret to the grave."
They both burst into laughter at Mateo's exaggerated expressions, before Amber continued conversing, even closing her book and giving Mateo her undivided attention.
"You're funny. But I never took you to be the reading type."
"Why, because I'm a muscular six foot tall afro-latino black guy. "
"Well no offence but yeah. I thought you'd be into football or basketball or some other dumb sports. "
"First off, offence taken and I'll only forgive you after we have our first date. Second, yeah I'm into rock climbing and martial arts, if you consider those as dumb sports."
Amber laughed at his blatant move, a sort of sarcastic one that managed to tickle Mateo's heart anyway.
'Haah, who knew such refreshing girls existed. I thought they were all copies of each other with hororscopes as their game and money as their main aim.'
"You sure are confident, I'll give you that but you made one teeny tiny miscalculation. I don't really need your forgiveness, if anything you need mine, for upsetting my friend."
"Uhm, I forgot about that. How about you let me make it up to you with a date. You get to pick the location, anywhere in this world."
"Woah, are you trying to bribe me. It looks like Mr Mateo really wants to go to jail. First was child sex offence and second was bribery, by the time we're done I'll find out about your connections to the mafia."
"Looks like I'm not the only funny one. But I'm actually serious. Anywhere in the world you wanna go for a date I'll take you there."
"Okay Mr Richboy I'll check my calendar and see if I can squeeze you in."
"Ooh, miss business woman would have to squeeze me in, how lucky am I."
They both burst into laughter and continued chatting, enjoying each other's company and hopefully setting the groundwork for something grander in the distant future.
"Heyy, Amber the chauffeur is here let's go."
Anabelle basically shouted while speed-walking to their seat, heels which would usually restrict others now acting subservient under her feet.
"Huh the chauffeur, he's early. I thought he was supposed to come at seven o'clock." Amber responded, stuffing her heels in her bag and swapping them for sneakers, earning an approving nod from Mateo.
"Yeah, it's past seven. 7:19 according to my phone."
"Ohh, damn. Where did all the time go. I wanted to finish this book today and im barely halfway through."
"Hehe, you lovebirds were lost in your own world you didn't even move out to see the first sunrise of this year." Leone said, secretely winking at Mateo.
"Wait, I don't have your number."
Extending his phone for her details Mateo was embarrassed when his screen refused to turn on, probably dead.
Motioning for hers, Mateo was met with a smile followed by, "Sorry, battery's dead."
Looking at his last hope, Leone he was once again met with a helpless smile, forcing him to consider the last possible option, Anabelle.
'So either I swallow my pride and apologise when I did nothing wrong, or lose out on a potential girlfriend. F*ck. Well they said sacrifices are needed in every relationship so…'
"Hey Ana, sorry about what I said about your dad, no hard feelings right." Mateo said with a weak smile.
'Bruh what sort of wack ass apology was that. Guess I gotta save the situation, like always.'
"Ana forgive this idiot on my behalf. I promise I'll reward you again." Leone whispered in Anabelle's ear, causing her to visibly shiver in pleasure under the fake gagging sounds she was being given by Amber.
"Sure baby." Ana whispered back, basically moaning in Leone's ear.
"Great, so umm can I put my details in your phone now."
"Tsk, fine. Here"
Receiving the sleek looking and obviously expensive phone, Mateo quickly saved his contact.
With Amber done packing and the whole contact situation sorted out, the four walked out of the now empty dance hall, through the lawn and to the car park, where a white luxury sedan was waiting for them.
Mateo and Amber were forced to listen to sappy words and goodbye kisses on the short walk while they just stared at each other, awkwardness intensifying till they eventually reached the car.
"So umm, try and stay out of jail Mr. Criminal."
"And you try and rest a bit, madame businesswoman."
They both laughed at their shared inside joke and shared a hug, a totally normal and platonic one.
The other couple also broke up after being stared at by three pairs of eyes, the driver's being the new pair.
The car screeched out of the compound, and the tiredness that had been pushed back by Amber's smile finally hit Mateo, giving him a new mission, sleep.
With a nod he bid Leone goodbye and rushed to his room where he collapsed on the bed, darkness claiming him.