A.N. I didn’t die – WOOT! I apologize for any grammar and spelling mistakes. I need a beta!

Chapter 9 – Apple Date: Part I

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Knock. Knock. Knock.

Go away…

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I want to sleep…

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Who in their right mind would be knocking on the door this late at night?! It has to be at least 3 a.m. and it’s a school night. What ever happened to common hospitality? Or just plain ol’ common sense for that matter. Oh geez...I really don’t feel like getting up. But if I don’t get up then who’s going to open the...

“Karen…” I whined as I opened an eye to look at girl who held a pillow over her head to block out the insistent knocking. “Go op-”.

“Open the door,” she shouted before grabbing her IPod off the nightstand and burying herself further into the covers. So much for that idea, there’s no way I can try to make her go open the door now.

Not fair.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

“Calm down! I’m coming!” Kicking my feet and flaring my arms, I felt slightly better throwing a little bit of a tantrum before getting up to open the door. I scratched my head and let out a loud yawn as I opened the door.

Big mistake. Right then and there, it was as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown over my head. Oh my... I heard myself release audible gulp as I stared into a familiar pair of flawless azure eyes.

“Hi there,” his tone was completely causal as he smiled sheepishly at me. It took me a second or two to fully take him in.

“Ty...” I blinked and rubbed my eyes a couple of times to make sure this wasn’t some sort of silly dream. “What are you doing here?”

When he didn’t answer, I frowned. Following his lingering gaze and felt myself blush profusely. Last night I chose to wear my favorite pair of SpongeBob short-short pajamas to bed instead of my normal sleepwear. The messy pigtails in my hair were just the overall added touch. I quickly crossed my arms over my chest.

He, however, looked completely amazing in his worn-down sweatpants and black t-shirt. It had to be a crime against nature to look that good all the time. Yet I had to be insane to complain about the view. Oh wow, bad thoughts bad thoughts...

Blushing, I glared as Tyler gave me a playful smirk. “Nice sleepwear you have on there.”

“Is that why you’re here? To find out what I wear to bed?”

“Nah, that’s just an added bonus.” There was a small glint in his eye as he said that. “Actually I have a surprise for you.” He reached in his pocket and retrieved a black handkerchief.

I leaned against my door frame. “What’s that for? Do you plan on blindfolding me or something?” I laughed teasingly until I saw the expression printed on his face. “You can’t be serious.” He tossed me the cloth as if it was a sufficient enough answer. “Are you at least going to tell me where you’re taking me?”

“Do you trust me?”

He so ripped that from Aladdin. Not that I’m really complaining. It’s one of my favorite Disney movies of all time. And I did always want to be Princess Jasmine.

Closing the door behind me, I sighed before turning around with the handkerchief over my eyes to let him tie it. His fingers slightly brushed over my neck as he made sure the cloth was firmly in place. My heart started beating just a little bit faster at the small contact. Damn hormones.

“If anyone sees me, you’re a dead kitty.” Apparently my threat fell empty at his ears because mister kitty simply laced his fingers with mine. He didn’t say anything, but I felt him tug me along at a slightly faster pace. He must be anxious. “You know it’s not very nice to wake me up in the midst of my beauty sleep and then not fill me in on where you’re taking me, mister kitty.”

“It wouldn’t be a very good surprise if I told you.” He chuckled as he continued leading me down to wherever we were going. “But how about we make a deal?”

“I’m listening.” I heard him sigh lightly.

“I’ll tell you where we’re going if you promise not to call me that anymore.”

By the tone of his voice, I knew exactly what he was referring to. Mister Kitty Cat. A small smile graced my lips. It’s funny how much he dislikes that nickname, yet always allows me to call him that on a regular basis. You would think he would have done something about it before now. I think it’s finally starting to grow on him: though he’ll never admit it.

“Uh...let me see...” I pretended to ponder for a minute. “No deal.”

He laughed. “I didn’t think so.”

--

“Where am I?” I looked around the coordinator I had never seen before. It was covered in lit candles and smelled oddly like vanilla. My favorite scent. “What is this place?”

He twirled the blindfold around his finger before stuffing it in his right pocket. “It’s a secret,” he simply said while smiling kind of bashfully. He looked cute, more than usual if that was even possible.

“What are you? A mysterious mister kitty cat now?”

“Keep calling me that and I won’t give you what I got you.”

A present...for me?!

I stretched out my hand and wiggled my fingers. “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme!”

Tyler fidgeted on his feet for a second or two before finally grinning at me and reaching into pocket. He held out a small black velvet box in his hand and flipped it open. The moment he did, I felt something inside me burst. Beautiful couldn’t even begin to describe what I was seeing. The chain necklace sparked even with the dim lighting, but what had me utterly speechless was the charm attached. A simple silver colored apple with a green jeweled leaf. He remembered. It was so long ago that I had honestly forgotten the silly exchange of words. Not that I ever thought he took me seriously.

I blinked at him, completely stunned with what I was seeing. “An apple.”

“The fruit of forbidden love. You said it was appropriate, remember?” I nodded. He shrugged. “And well, seeing as we’re going on a forbidden date and all I thought it fit the occasion.”

“Is this really for me?” I swallowed hard.

“Yeah.”

That single word was all it took for the tears to start streaming down my face. I couldn’t help. Never mind that it was the single most romantic thing anyone has ever given me, it proved that he cared. About our relationship. About me.

“This is the part where you kiss me.”

I didn’t need to be told twice.

--

“How do I look?” I spun around a couple of times in front of the mirror trying to examine even the smallest of details. Everything had to be perfect. The black and yellow floral print dress was the fifth outfit I was trying on in the last hour alone. This was beyond nerve-wrecking. Casual wear was the key for a date at Nicky’s, but at the same time I also had to dress to impress. It was a delicate balance most teenage girls had perfected by now. I, on the other hand, spent way too much time with my head in books to even realize the complications of a date. Agreeing to this date had to be the single biggest mistake I could have made. But it was way too late to be backing out now. “Do you think this dress looks good on me?”

“You look stunning.” Karen commented. I turned around to give her a grin. “Is that a new outfit?”

“Uh...” I bite my fingernail. “It’s new to me.”

She stared at me blankly for a few seconds. “I hate you,” she finally said as she realized what I meant.

Karen tossed a pillow at me, which I managed to dodge right before it impacted with my face. I jumped on the bed and lay back while taking a deep solid breath. Now that I had the outfit picked out, the nerves were simmering down just a bit. Not much though. The palms of my hands were dripping with sweat and I could feel my heart doing flip after flip inside my chest. Biting my fingernails, I let my mind wander to the possibilities of what the night might hold on store. Tonight was a defining moment in our relationship. Our first public outing together...this meant he wanted us to be more, right? Unless he wanted us to go out in public just to prove how wrong we were for each other. Oh no. I could feel a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I can’t handle this. I think I’m-

“I’m going to be sick.” I sat up and looked at Karen. “My stomach really hurts now. Maybe I’m coming down with something.”

“You’re nervous and cut that out already,” she scolded me as she reached over and removed my hand away from my mouth. Her dark eyes narrowed and focused on my neck. “I’ve never seen you wear that necklace before.”

“Yeah.” I held the apple-shaped charm between my index and thumb. “Tyler gave it to me last night.”

“I’m surprised.” I cocked an eyebrow at the tone of her voice. She sounded weary. “It’s nothing.”

Did she know something I didn’t?

Karen sighed and picked up her bag from the door-hanger. “I just remembered I have something to do.” Her eyes flickered towards mine for a second before averting her gaze. “Have fun on your date tonight...” She paused. “Just be careful.”

And with that she was gone.

--

“Are you nervous?”

“Terrified,” I confessed. There was no point in lying about what I was feeling. He was holding my hand while he drove and it was most likely dripping with sweat. How embarrassing. I slowly pulled my hand away and held it to my chest before bringing it down to casually wipe it on my dress.

Tyler tugged the hem of my dress teasingly, I glanced over at him. “What?”

“You look beautiful.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m serious.”

How could he say that?

“Eyes on the road...” I put a finger to his chin and swayed his head forward. “...mister kitty.”

“The guys aren’t that bad. Besides the girls will be there too. You have class with Kate and Sarah; you’ve talked to them before, right?”

“You mean before or after they shoved past me to get to their seats.”

“Okay. Point taken. They really are nice once you get to know them.” I rolled my eyes. He obviously didn’t understand the girl hierarchy in highschool. Kate Tunney and Sarah Wenham were the lions and I was the ant they squashed while chasing after their real prey. “Don’t worry. You’ll be having fun before you know it.”

The odd behavior Karen displayed early flooded my thoughts in that instant. Was her behavior a sign of what was to come tonight? Maybe like a bad omen or something.

“Let’s hope you’re right about that.”

--

By simply taking two steps inside Nicky’s, I could already foresee the mistake this night was. It was packed. Way more than it usually was, just my luck. It seemed the entire school had come tonight. More people to serve as witnesses when this night turns into an epic failure. Including all the Sons. Not that I’m surprised that they’re here. This is the notorious teenage hangout spot in all of Ipswich. I was bound to see them tonight. Because the underlying purpose of the date was to hang out with them, I suppose. It was downright ridicuolous how much the pack stood out – even in this heavy crowd. And then there was me. Plain ol’ me was supposed to ‘hang-out’ with those dazzling creatures and live. Oh, I think not.

“Ty...can we-”

Mister kitty gave my hand a light squeeze. “You’ll have fun with them, I promise.”

Not likely.

Sighing, I nodded my head. The very least I could do on my part is try. Chances are they probably won’t like me and I’m already 100% ready to face that conclusion. Well...more like 70% ready, but still. I can do this. For his sake anyway. Besides the odds of them not liking me are about 50/50. Maybe 70/30. Okay so odds may not be in my favor either.

Must not think. Must remain calm.

“Let’s just go over there before I pass out,” I mutter to Tyler who just smirks in response. Damn those good looks for getting me into this mess to begin with.

Mister kitty enclosed his hand over mine as we walked over to the table where the infamous Sons were united. I sometimes forgot he was part of them. It was easy to do so though. I didn’t have much interaction with the others. But seeing them up close was a different.

“Hey guys,” he greeted as we stood now only a few inches away from the curious eyes. “I have someone I want you to meet.” Tyler placed a hand on the crook of my back, giving me a light push so that I wasn’t standing behind him anymore. “This is Julia.”

I felt myself inwardly flinch from not being introduced as his girlfriend. But I couldn’t voice any complains since I was the one that pleaded with him not to. It would have been weird and awkward if he had. This ‘going public’ needed to be taken on slowly, if it didn’t want to be thrown in our faces. People needed time to get used of the idea of mister kitty and me being friends first.

“Julia, I want you to meet Caleb and his girlfriend Sarah…” Tall and broody with blond and giggly. “Pogue and his girlfriend Kate…” Biker boy and prissy princess. “…and this is Reid.” At the introduction of his name, the blond displayed a full on mischievous smirk.

“Yeah. I remember you…” He tapped his fingers against his lips and wiggled his eyebrows. “…cherry.”

Sigh.

My previous predication of this horrid night has just ten-folded. Something tells me this is – unfortunately – going to be a heck of a memorable night. Beyond what any words could possibly describe.

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Author notes:

I’m surprised you guys haven’t stoned me to death. While I may have had this chapter mapped out, I had no inspiration in writing it. As much as this sucks to say...I am over the Covenant fandom. Don’t worry though I do plan on finishing this story and all my other Covenant stories. The only thing that pushed me to write this chapter was the incredible amount of reviews – THANK YOU!

All those who are kind enough to leave a review will receive an exclusive sneak peek into the next chapter!