Chapter 14 - Peonies, Italian Food & Abundant Apologies
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Being the girl that I was I didn't accept simple apologies. I believed that if the person was truly sorry for what they had done to the victim they would do anything to earn the forgiveness and trust of the person they hurt once more.
Brandon Hawthorne had ignored me for two weeks after the Gala we had both attended. He'd then walked into my office drunk out of his mind and fell unconscious. I then rushed with him to the hospital where I happily found out he was okay. He'd apologized but as I explained earlier I believed people should work for forgiveness which is what exactly Brandon had been doing for the past few weeks and surprisingly he had been a good sport about it.
This had been going on for a week or so give or take. Today, I would tell him that I have forgiven him. Tonight we were going out to Bellas an Italian restaurant where the elite people normally dined. According to Brandon, it was a restaurant that I would absolutely love and then proceeded to give me today off, hence why I was staring at my closet in wonder.
"Just pick something Ash!" I hissed to myself.
"Are you seriously talking to yourself?" A voice from the corridor asked causing me to jump with fright.
"Grandma!" I whined, "You scared the hell out of me."
"Well that's good," She winked, "No granddaughter of mine should have hell in her anyways,"
"Grandma you're here!" I yelled and flung myself at her, "I didn't know you were coming!"
"Oh, Ash! You're going to break my frail bones!" She laughed as she patted my back gently, "I am here for a short while. I decided to surprise you. I planned all of this with Sam and your friend."
"I'm sorry. Did you drive here by yourself?" I asked her, "I am so excited to have you here!"
"Oh definitely not! Sam drove me here. These eyes are useless these days, especially on the roads." She announced.
"Is he here?" I asked.
"No. He dropped me and my bags off because he had to rush to an important meeting that was a long drive from here and the friend of yours - Marnie - let me in the house and helped with my luggage," She responded gesturing to the two duffel bags she has placed in my room.
"Her name is Melanie granny!" I laughed.
"Would you like to take a selfie with your lovely grandma?" She asked holding out her phone.
"I look horrible!" I laughed.
She shook her head, "No one is going to see them beside me!"
"Sure!"
My grandmother then proceeded to help me get dressed and ready for my date.
"You look amazing!" She grinned as she studied me.
I blushed, "Thank you!"
"Now go have fun!" She winked as she ushered me out of the house and I saw Brandon waiting outside by the door. When he saw me, his jaw dropped and he walked over to me.
I heard my gran giggle and then shut the door behind me.
"You look absolutely amazing!" He whispered and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek.
"So do you." I grinned.
"I parked down near the entrance," Brandon informed me pressing the down button in the elevator.
"You drove?" I asked him.
Brandon nodded, "Yeah, I did."
"I just assumed you-"
"Had a driver to drive me here?" Brandon said.
"Yeah," I nodded.
Brandon shook his head, "I don't lack the ability to drive. Come on you've seen me drive! Remember all the late-night drives in the city we used to take?"
"Back when we were friends?" I said as nostalgia hit me.
"Yes, exactly those. Best nights of my life!"
He helped me get into his car before he walked across the front of the car and got into the driver's seat and put on his seat belt.
"You look beautiful," He whispered as he took me in again.
I smiled, "Thanks, you already said that though."
"I could never tell you that enough." He grinned.
"You're so cheesy!"
"Shall we get going? Our reservations are in thirty minutes." Brandon explained offering me his arm.
I nodded, "Let's head out."
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"Thanks for the night, the food was absolutely delicious," I told Brandon.
He smiled, "Of course. The night is still young and we have somewhere else to be."
"Where?" I asked him.
"It's a surprise, beautiful," Brandon winked and started the engine.
The whole night had been amazing. Brandon had been the perfect gentleman and he was just all in all amazing. Brandon had been dressed in a charcoal black suit with a red tie and polished black shoes. I was dressed in an inky blue dress that had diamantes on the bodice forming flowers and patterns. I had black stilettos on and my hair had been done by my gran who had pulled my brown hair up in a bun and left a few tendrils to frame my face.
"You know I hate surprises!" I whined.
Brandon rolled his eyes, "That's what makes me want to give you an awful lot of them,"
"Are you sure the way to earn someone's forgiveness is by giving them something they hate?" I asked peering at him from the passenger seat.
Brandon laughed, "Well no. I do know for a fact that you secretly like them and you just won't admit that fact out loud Miss Hayes," Brandon laughed.
I huffed, "That's not true!" I gasped and smacked his arm.
Brandon winced, "Do you want to kill us?"
My face immediately went pale at the word kill. Images of my parents flashed through my mind as my breathing began to constrict causing me to gasp for air as I tried to stop the dizziness that was overtaking me.
"Oh, my word!" Brandon gasped, "Ashley I'm so sorry! I didn't mean it!" He apologised frantically.
I wanted to calm his fears but my mouth had clammed up and refused to open again as beads of sweat rolled down my face. Brandon stopped the car on the side of the highway and got out. He ran to my side and opened my door before removing my seat belt gently and brushing my hair.
"Ashley breathe," Brandon commanded as he brushed my hair with his fingers.
In and out. In and out. I repeated the mantra in my head. In and out. That was the mantra the psychologist I had visited had taught me. As my breaths began to regulate themselves once more I heard Brandon breathe a sigh of relief.
"Ashley - I'm so sorry, it really was very insensitive of me to say that to you even if I meant it as a joke," He apologized pulling me to his chest and allowed me to breathe in his scent.
I nodded, "You're fine. I overreacted anyway," I said and wiped my forehead.
"You didn't!" Brandon insisted, "I shouldn't have said what I did."
"It's fine. Really!" I said and gave him the best smile I could muster.
Brandon sighed before kissing my forehead. He shut my door and walked quickly over to his side and started the car.
The car ride was silent. Not an awkward silence but rather a comfortable and gentle silence. The radio played as background music and the lights illuminated the roads. My mind took me back to my parent's death in a way, I truly wasn't over it. Even if all these years passed. When the car stopped in a dark parking area I uttered put the words that have haunted me for so long.
"I think it's time I told you about my parents, Brandon," I said.
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Hey Guys!
I'm so sorry that I have taken forever to actually update but here is the update as promised!
What do you think of this chapter?
I'm going to create a part two to the date so you'll get to see more Ashley and Brandon time!
Ash: You just had to do that to me!
Author: Of course not!
Mel: That's my BFF you're torturing!
Author: Whatever!
Brandon: Leave her Mel, she's mean!
Author: I am not!
Brandon: You are too!
Author: I'm not playing this game with you!
Brandon: Whatever!!!
Alessio: Since you guys are otherwise occupied I will say the line! Comment your thoughts on this chapter and don't forget to please vote!