Chapter Seven

PIERRA'S POV

I kicked a stone off the curb and it went across the road almost hitting a pedestrian on the other side. I was waiting for Andrew to pick me up for our date and I should have thought twice about deciding to arrive early because it was not helping with my anxiety. I had actually thought he had forgotten about the date when I didn't hear from him all week but I had gotten a text the previous night with the time and location.

Honestly I had no idea why I said yes when Andrew asked me out. Every logical sense in my body had told me to say no but when I saw his smile coupled with the fact that the guy asking was the one I'd crushed on for years I had blurted out yes. I just wanted a taste of dating life with someone I actually liked no matter how short it could be or dangerous if Bishop found out. I hadn't even told Bishop for fear of his reaction but I honestly didn't care at the moment, I was too invested in my date.

The ringing of a bell attracted my attention and I turned my head just in time to catch Andrew riding towards me on a bicycle. I was both confused and intrigued as to what he was up to but I had to admit he looked good. He was wearing ripped black skinny jeans, a white t-shirt with a black leather jacket over it and white sneakers. He had a backpack slung over his shoulder with his tripod strapped to the bottom of the bag.

He stopped next to me and I had to take a step back so he didn't run into me.

"Good afternoon Pierra, ready to go?"He asked and I just looked at him with wide eyes.

"Are we walking there?"I asked.

"No we're riding. I was going to rent you your own bike but this was the only one they had left. Luckily it has a seat so saves us an awkward ride there if you had to sit on this metal."He replied tapping the bar connecting the handle bars and the seat.

"You're crazy if you think I'm riding on that bicycle in this outfit."I declared pointing at myself.

I was wearing a cropped pink hoodie, a matching short skirt that reached mid thigh and black heeled boots. My hair was in an afro bun and my make up was flawless.

"You'll be fine if you sit sideways. I promise not to drop you, I'm an excellent rider."He promised and I rolled my eyes at him.

"It has nothing to do with your riding skills, my skirt is too short, I might accidentally flash someone."I protested mumbling the last part.

"Then you'll be making their day."He chuckled and I felt myself start to get angry.

"You know what I'm done. Date cancelled, see you around Andrew, I'm going home."I sighed feeling disappointed that he had failed me.

I had been looking forward to going out with him all week, scratch that for three years then he had to pull such a stunt. I didn't even want to go out with him anymore.

"Pierra wait, don't go."He pleaded reaching out to hold my hand so I didn't walk away.

I looked down at my wrist and I didn't know if he knew that it was the first time we were touching after all the years we had known each other. I looked up at him ignoring my rising body temperature.

"I'm sorry, this is not how intended for this to go. A week ago I didn't even think this, us, going out was possible so I'm really freaking out. I'm nervous that's why I'm behaving so weird. I'd have driven you, I have people I can borrow a car from but I don't have my license yet. We were going to walk but I remembered a post you uploaded on Instagram a while back saying how much you miss bike riding so I thought it would be a fun idea. I'm sorry I messed up, we can ditch the bike but don't leave."He expressed himself and my heart softened.

I had misjudged him, he had gone to such great lengths to put the date together. He'd even confessed feeling nervous which put my mind at ease.

"It's very thoughtful of you but before I agree to actually continue with this date I want to make sure that you really do want to take me out and you're not doing this to prove a point to your friends. Do you want to take me out or did your friends make you?"I asked freeing myself from a question that had been disturbing me ever since I said yes.

I knew the note was written by Cass and not Andrew so I had been wondering if he really wanted to or was he forced.

"I'm here because I want to, not because anyone made me. Cass may have written the note but it was only because I was scared to ask you out. I'm still scared but I really want to do this."He confessed and I found myself smiling at him.

"Okay then let's go and please be careful. If you drop me then you'll really have something to worry about because I will personally tell on you to Bishop."I threatened playfully and he chuckled.

"I wouldn't dream of it."He replied and I smiled.

I had a small backpack that had all my stuff in it so I slung it over my back before situating myself side ways on the bike. I made sure I was not flashing anyone as I adjusted myself appropriately on the small seat.

"Ready to go?"He asked turning his head slightly to look at me.

"No but we better go before I change my mind."I replied and he smiled.

"Hold on tight then."He instructed and I didn't need to be told twice as my hands tightened on the metal bars of the seat.

He used his leg to kick us off and after we gained momentum we were off. I was scared that the small bicycle would crash under both our weights but even I had to admit that it was a sweet ride. Andrew really was as good of a rider as he had claimed to be. I had no idea where we were going but I trusted Andrew. I also made sure to enjoy the ride amidst my freak out session with the wind over my face and the afternoon sun shining over us. People were looking at us weirdly but I didn't mind them, I wasn't going out on a date with them but with the man peddling fast to our destination.

The area he was taking me started getting more unfamiliar and the road got rougher. When it got too uncomfortable for me to keep riding on the back Andrew noticed that and stopped the bicycle.

"We can walk from here it's not much further."He said getting off the bicycle and I jumped off too.

"Where exactly are we going?"I asked after walking next to him for him in silence for a few minutes.

"It was going to be a surprise but I might as well tell you anyway. I didn't have any good ideas on where to take you so Cass asked me a question; Where do you take the most beautiful girl? And I replied to the most beautiful place so that's where I'm taking you."He replied and I felt myself blushing when he mentioned the part about me being the most beautiful girl.

In all the years I had known Andrew he had never shown interest in me then he just shows up out of nowhere and asks me out. I was really happy about it but I couldn't help but wonder if he had some ulterior motive. Had he always liked me, started to like me or was it all games to him? I was really invested in starting something with him so I hoped he felt the same way.

The road thinned out the more we walked and finally there was nowhere further to walk as our way was blocked by a barbed wire fence overgrown with vines.

"Are we lost?"I asked looking around and I noticed that there was no form of life anywhere around us.

"Nope."Andrew replied popped the p as he parked the bike next to the fence making sure to lock it around the wire so it was safe.

He walked a little further down and disappeared around the corner "You coming?"He yelled and I skeptically followed him.

I found there was a hole in the fence so taking a risk and hoping I didn't get mauled by wild animals I pushed it aside and walked through. What I saw made me glad I took the risk. When Andrew said the most beautiful place he had understated it's beauty. It was a huge vast compound that had obviously been abandoned for years. There was a rundown mansion that still looked stable but hadn't been lived in for years. The front was overrun with wild flowers making the place so beautiful and serene.

"This is beautiful."I breathed turning around in circles as I took in the beauty of the place.

"You haven't seen the best part yet, come."He requested walking around the house and I followed him.

At that point I could have followed him anywhere just so I could keep admiring the serenity of our environment.

"The house has been boarded up so we can't get in. Cass and I tried once but it was all dusty and full of cobwebs, nothing interesting."He explained as we walked "But this, this is the real prize."He announced as we walked past some over hanging vines.

The area opened up to reveal what had once been a very neatly kept garden but was now unkempt, overgrown and abundant with natural beauty. It had an aesthetic look to it that immediately captivated my attention. There was a creek running through a pond so the water was clear revealing a school of fish. My favorite part was the field of sunflowers that were in full bloom at the far end of the garden.

I watched Andrew scrap off moss of two garden chairs and the table. I walked towards him and took a seat not caring if I'd soil my clothes. I'd roll in the mud if asked, there was just too much beauty to enjoy for me to be caring about my clothes. While Andrew started unpacking his equipment and whatever else was in his bag I took off my bag too placing it on the table before continuing to admire the place. A thumbs up to Andrew for thinking of such a place for our very first date, it was perfect.

The click of a camera attracted my attention and I turned to look at Andrew who was smiling at his camera.

"What?"I asked wondering what he was looking at.

He didn't reply just turned the camera so I could see. It was a picture of me bathed in sunlight, the end of my hairs glowing and eyes sparkling in awe of all the beauty around me. It was one of the best pictures ever taken of me.

"Pure beauty, no filters or edits needed. You're really beautiful you know that."He complimented and I smiled looking at him.

"Thank you."I replied soaking in the compliment.

He proceeded to take more pictures of me and since I'd overcome my camera shyness ages ago I posed for him.

"You do know people are supposed to eat and talk during a date right?"I asked and he looked up from behind the camera to look at me sheepishly.

It had been twenty minutes since we arrived and we'd barely said anything to each other, just taken photos.

"I'm sorry you're right. I just get lost in my own world, once I start clicking away."He confessed.

"It's okay, I admire that, it shows you love your work but I can leave you and your lenses to continue with this date."I suggested jokingly.

"No don't do that, I want you to stay."He claimed putting the camera aside and taking the seat next to me for the first time since we arrived.

"I did bring food, just not the conventional food one is supposed to have on a first date."He said pulling out a smaller bag from his backpack and opening it.

Peering inside I notice that it was full of junk food and snacks. There was biscuits, soda, cookies, sweets, chocolate, potato crisps, fruit salads in two individual packages and my favorite snack of crunchy corn. I guess he had picked up on my love for them seeing as I was always munching on them.

"I like breaking rules. This is perfect."I assured him reaching out for the packet of crunchy corn puffs and digging in.

"You sure?"He asked looking unsure of himself.

"Yeah it's great plus you got all my favorites."I replied and he visibly relaxed.

It made me smile that he was worried that I wouldn't like it. Honestly he'd have brought water and a banana each and I would have loved it. I just wanted to be there with him, everything else didn't matter. Hanging out with Andrew was something I had been looking forward to ever since I laid my eyes on him. He however looked jumpy and uncomfortable and I knew it had to do with the fact that he was afraid of Bishop. I wanted to erase that mentality in him but he had to meet me halfway.

Deciding to take matters into my own hands I took the camera from him and took a picture of him. He was definitely not expecting that and when I lifted the camera to take another photo he covered his face with his hands.

"Awe is the photographer camera shy?"I teased.

"No I just prefer being behind the lens and not in front of it."He explained.

"Why when you look so handsome?"I complimented showing him the photo I had taken.

It was not as great as the one he had taken of me but it wasn't so bad either.

"Thank you."He mumbled and I smiled.

"How about I make you a deal? We take turns taking photos of each other and for each picture you take you get to ask a question. After all a date is about getting to know each other."I bargained and he was about to deny my request when I interrupted him again "If you say no I will not let you take another photo of me today and you haven't even seen how good I look in a sunflower field."I bargained with a smile and he chuckled.

"Okay you win. Just give me that camera, use this one."He requested getting a smaller camera from his bag and handing it to me.

We swapped Cameras and began getting to know each other as we took photos of each other as we moved around the compound so we could get different angles. It was turning out to be the perfect unique first date and I found myself falling deeper into the hole that was Andrews charms. He loosened up the more we talked and I mentally patted my back for my good idea. Being with him was effortless and I was loving each minute of it. I finally got my date with my crush of three years and it was a dream come true. Definitely better than I could have imagined.

😝😝