The Adventures of A Fat Girl

11. The Date

Today is Thursday which means that I am going on my first ever date with Leo. In school Leo has been really sweet and attentive since I agreed to go on a date with him. He always walks me to my classes, steals kisses on the cheek or forehead as he knows I am not really comfortable about kissing him in the public yet. Nina, Harriet and Priya are at my house right now choosing a dress for my date while my mom is doing my hair and makeup. Linn couldn't make it today as her boyfriend came a lot earlier than expected and I cannot be more happy for her. She told me she missed him alot and now that he is back for good, she is on the seventh sky. 

"Okay honey I am done with your hair. Did you girls choose a dress yet? She has an hour at the most", mom asks while the girls just nod their head absentmindedly. 

"Girls, I am talking to you?", mom goes towards the closet and shakes their shoulders breaking their concentration. 

"Aunt Carla, give us a minute more. We are confused between these two dresses or better yet you can choose one", Nina says while looking at my mom. 

"He told you to dress casually right?", mom asks me and I nod my head. 

"Fine then. Let's go with the blue one. Its neither too casual and is perfect for the first date. What do you think?", she directs her attention at me and I beam at her. We always had the same choice when it comes to fashion.

"Okay then. I will do the makeup first then you can wear the dress", mom says and she starts doing her magic. When it comes to makeup, no one can beat my mom. She is amazing at this stuff and I am so glad she decided to come early today just to help me get ready. She even cried a little yesterday when I told her about the date, She always thought I would never go on a date due my insecurities about myself. She tried to coax me to go on dates when we were back in California but that time I wasn't confident like I am today. Leo makes me feel wanted and I feel like I can be myself when I am with him. I don't have to pretend to be someone else. 

"You're makeup is done love, now go wear that gorgeous dress", she pushes me towards my walk in closet while the girls give me encouraging smiles. They know I still doubt myself sometimes and still have those insecurities, even though it is not as bad as it was before. 

I take the dress from Nina and go into my closet to change. The dress is really beautiful. It is burgundy coloured is completely laced with a satin inner giving it a classy look. The sleeves are laced too and it reaches just below my knees. Mom let my hair down in beachy waves with a side braid which she pinned with beautiful flowery pins. As for my makeup, she kept it natural. A little foundation, matching eyeshadow and winged eyeliner with nude lipstick. 

I wear the dress and cannot help but stare at the girl standing in front of the mirror. She looks so beautiful and confident than she ever was. I feel so comfortable in my skin and for once I am not afraid of people judging me because of my weight and even if they do, I know I wouldn't give a damn because the way I have grown in the last few months is just astonishing for myself. My train of thoughts was cut short by Nina yelling for me to come out. That girl has zero patience, I swear. 

 I open the door and I hear a collective gasp by all of them. The girls stare at me with open mouths while mom looks so happy and I see the tears that form in her eyes. She knows what I have went through and I know she is proud of what I have become today. I go straight to her and hug her tight while she sniffles. I hear a click and turn to see Harriet had taken a picture of us. 

"I swear, this is the sweetest picture", she says and shows us and I agree with her. We look so happy and the way mom is looking at with pure love and pride in her eyes that makes me tear up a little. Mom hands me the tissue while the girls aww. I just laugh and dab my eyes carefully. 

"Let's go. Leo and the boys are down already", Nina says and grabs my hand in hers. 

"Why are the boys here?", I ask, a little confused. 

"Don't worry, we are not going to sabotage your date. We all are going to dinner tonight", Priya explains while I laugh and nod my head. The girls leave me and go downstairs while I catch my breath before going down. I am nervous as hell as this is my first date ever. Mom had told me its okay to feel this way. 

As I descend the stairs, I hear dad and Leo talking while the boys are laughing silently. I am sure dad is giving Leo the speech every father gives to their daughter's date. I chuckle and reach the end. The talking comes to an abrupt stop and I lift my head up to see everyone staring at me.  

"Sweetheart, you look so beautiful", Dad exclaims as he hugs. I hug him back while my eyes find Leo staring at me with awe. 

"How can I let you go out looking like this huh?", dad groans while I laugh with the others. 

"I promise you I will take of her sir", Leo says with a firm voice and my dad nods at him in approval. 

"You have got no other choice son", dad says and another round of laughter erupts through the room. 

I let go of dad and approach Leo who offers me his hand and I take it without hesitation. 

"You look gorgeous Hazel", he whispers in my ear while I blush hard. 

"Okay, I need pictures of you two", mom says and we both pose while mom clicks about thousands of photos of us. The girls, Ace and dad also click some with me. 

After promising my dad that we will be back before midnight, Ace finally leads me to his car and the others leave as well. Harriet and Nina make me promise to call them after I get home as they wanted all the glory details. I just laugh and promise to call them. 

Leo being the gentleman he is, opened the door for me to get in and that definitely earned him brownie points. I blush again, which I have been doing alot today, got inside while rounded to the driver's seat. 

"You aren't going to tell me where we are headed, are you?", I ask him and he just laughs. 

"No I am not. I know you hate surprises but you are not going to get any answers out of me", he says with a smug smile while I just shake my head in disbelief. 

"Oh come on Leo, just tell me already", I wine like a child who is denied of candy which just makes him laugh louder. 

"You are adorable, but no", he says while laughing and I sit back in my seat knowing I can't make him budge. 

"Fine have it your way", I say and fiddle with the radio while he smiles knowing how much this is getting to me. 

We continue talking and I tell him about all of my favorite things to do when I am alone or just want to relax and he too tells me the basic things about him. Most of our hobbies our similar except I love dancing and drawing while he enjoys playing violin. When one of my favorite songs Midnight Memories by One Direction comes up, I start singing. I am terrible singer and I know that and even then I enjoy it. I glance at Leo who is driving with a small smile on his face which in turn makes me smile. 

"You know you are a really bad singer right? No offense", he says and I laugh. 

"None take and of course I know that but I still enjoy it unless I am irritating you with my howling?", I ask him while laughing and he just shakes his head. 

"No you are not", he says and I nod along.

After around half an hour he parks the car and we get out. There is a trail in front of me and I look at him, horrified. 

"Please tell me we are not hiking?! I am wearing heels Leo", I look at him with huge and alert eyes and he just laughs. 

"No Hazel we are not hiking", he says and holds my hand in his and starts walking. 

After fifteen minutes or so we stop walking and the view in front of me leaves me speechless.  

In front of is a clearing which is decorated using fairy lights, a table is set in the middle for the two of us, the tree right behind the table has different coloured lights hanged on it which makes it look really beautiful. I turn to face Leo who looks a little nervous. 

"From what all I know about you, I know you won't want to dine in an expensive restaurant and would much rather prefer something like this. I really hope you like this or if not we can go somewhere else if you want", he looks at me with hooded eyes and I swear it was really hard for me to not cry right in this moment. 

"Leo, this is the best and sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. I swear, I would much rather spend time with you in the vicinity of such beautiful scenery and stars twinkling above us. Thank you so much, this has always been my dream", and then I surprise us both by kissing him on the lips. This is the first time I have initiated the kiss. He is taken aback for a moment but kisses me back and we stand there for a few minutes just enjoying the moment. 

 "So you like this?"

"I love this Leo. 

"I am glad", he smiles softly and takes my hand in his and pulls the chair for me to sit. I thank him while he sits opposite from me. 

"I know you are vegetarian so I made us some white sauce pasta which I know you love with garlic bread and fried rice. For desert we have nutella ice-cream and chocolate dipped strawberries", he says while smiling. 

"How did you know these are all my favourite dishes?", I ask him with narrowed eyes with a soft smile playing smile. 

"I won't disclose the name of my agent, Ms. Campbell", he says with a smug smile and I laugh. It is either Harriet or Ace who told him. He won't ask my parents and the others don't know this much about me. 

We eat the delicious food that he really cooked himself and talked about anything and everything. He told me about his parents controlling ways but not that he finally broke up with Stacy and talked to them, explaining everything she did, they understood him and let him be. He asked about my life in California and I don't know why but I ended up telling him everything. Maybe its because I feel safe and I also know that he won't ever judge me. When I told him about the bullies I swear I saw his eye twitch in anger and he really held back whatever he wanted to say and I am sure those were some really colourful words.

We then decided to lay down on the shawl that was laid on the grass. The sky was full of stars. You cannot see this kind of view if you are in the city and I am grateful that he brought me here. 

"How did you find this place?", I ask him, still looking at the sky.

"I was 13 when I first came here. I was really angry with my parents so I drove aimlessly till I came across the trail and then ended up here and since then this has been my place. Whenever I want to think things through, I come here but more specifically for the silence and warmth that surrounds this place", he tells me and turns towards me.

"I hope you enjoyed today Hazel because I sure did", he says while looking at me in the eye and I blush again. 

"Of course I did. Very much so. Thank you so much for bringing me here Leo", I say and hold his hand in mine.  

"I really like you Hazel Campbell", he says in a very soft voice. 

"I really like you too Leo Ford", I say with a cheeky smile and he wraps his arm around my waist and I scoot closer to him, resting my head on his forearm, both of us happy in our little perfect bubble. 

"Hazel, we are here", I hear Leo's soft voice which wakes me up from my sleep. 

"How did I get in the car?", I ask still half asleep. 

"I carried you after you fell asleep in the clearing", he says and I blush freaking again. 

"You could've woken me up Leo".

"I didn't want to. You looked very peaceful" he says and I smile softly at him . 

"Today was the best day for me since a long time. Thank you for doing this".

"You deserve this and more Hazel. I really hope we can go on that second date you promised me".

"Of course but this time I am taking you", I say and he nods happily. 

"I will come with you", saying so he helps me out of the car and make our way to my house and ring the bell. 

"You are right on time", dad says as he opens the door but something tells me he was waiting right behind it, pacing and looking at the clock more than often.  

"Yes sir. I will be leaving now. Have a good night", saying so he turns to leave but I stop him. My dad goes inside and waits for me to come. 

"I had a great time today", I say kissing his cheek. 

"Me too. Good night Hazel", saying so he kisses my forehead and leaves. 

"How was it?!", mom asks as soon as I enter. 

"i will tell you everything but tomorrow. I am really tired and half asleep already".

"Okay baby. Go and sleep. Good night", dad says and kisses my forehead and mom does the same and they retreat to their room while I message put girls chat that I will give them the details tomorrow. I get ready for the night and lay on bed thinking about Leo and our first date until I fell into the deep slumber.