14. 11:11

A.N To the side is Brenna, who is featured in this chapter.

Chapter 14 - 11:11

"Come in!" My Dad gestured his hand.

It was clear that Rian wasn't expecting that, just by how his smile dropped. I felt terribly bad. Alex was forcing him go through this painful event.

"Let's go to the living room." Derek suggested.

Rian gradually nodded his head and nervously shoved his hands into his pockets. My dad and Derek walked in front of us. Rian and I make the slightest bit of eye contact, worried was all over his face and probably mine as well.

"We need to make this believable." He said into my ear.

I nodded in an agreement after we sat down on the couch. The ceiling fan was the only thing that broke our silence. It was like the quietness in a doctor's waiting room, an odd awkward silence.

I peeked at Rian, and then at Derek and my Dad, who were sitting across from Rian and me. Then I waited for the questions that I knew were about to come towards Rian. I already had my lips sealed shut and there was an awful feeling filling into my veins.

My dad was the first to speak, "So where do you plan to take Laila?"

Rian hesitated, not knowing what to say.

"Dinner." He nodded his head in a fast motion, with his hands anxiously rubbing against his jeans.

Derek was barely buying it, eyeing me suspiciously.

"How did you guys meet?" Derek rubbed his chin, eyes squinting.

Rian's short answer to the question was, "School."

Now, I had the urge to curl up in a ball. Everything was taking a turn for the worse.

"Laila said you guys met at the local library?" My Dad frowned, confused from hearing two different stories.

"Oh uh we know each other from school but-" Rian paused. "we met at the library." His eyes narrowed, and his statement was chopped up, making me clench my hands into fist. The sickening feeling arose in my stomach and my palms were sweaty already.

"Well, just have her home before twelve." My dad sighed with a smile.

I hurriedly stood up, not wanting to waste another minute in this living room. Rian grasped my hand, and I lead us outside. His car was parked in the driveway. Rian so kindly opened the front passenger door for me before entering the car himself. I groaned, relieved that the nightmare was over with. Rian turned on his headlights after starting the engine and pulled out of the driveway, "That was so awkward." He breathed, giving me a sympathetic glance.

"What took so long?"

I jumped instantly in my seat from the unexpected voice. I whipped around in a panic, only to find Alex sitting back up from hiding. My first response was slapping him for scaring me. A small 'ow' left his lips, but his smirk afterwards had made it so tempting to slap him for a second time.

"Well your girl needs to be home by twelve." Rian responded in a snarky tone to Alex.

I involuntarily grinned from what Rian said. 'Your girl'. I didn't know why but something about that made me feel all weird inside. I had never been called anyone else's and it was all back to it being so fresh and different to me. I liked the sound of it though. Alex's girl. It had a nice ring to it. And with all honesty, I wanted to hear it more.

"Are you kidding me? If I went in there I would have been so good that they would let her be with me all night!" Alex out cried, resting his arm on my seat.

I rolled my eyes. His ego was getting bigger as his unbelievable plans are working (with luck). Rian eventually drove off to the side of the road near the local store, which was where Alex's car was parked.

"Thanks for doing this, man." Alex messed with Rian's hair before getting out. I follow his lead in the cold weather, stomping my feet behind his tracks. My outrage on the situation was boiling inside me, ready at any given moment to burst, which it did once we settled into his car.

"Why did you do that?" I snapped, glaring at him with my eyebrows knitted and lips pulled into a serious straight line.

"What? This is your first date. I want you to have the experience of your parents meeting a boy." He teased with a smile, slipping his cold hand into mine.

My chest tightened, hearing 'my parents' hit me like a stack of bricks. I missed my mother, even if she hadn't bothered to contact me. It still hurt to know that I was motherless. But either way she was dead to me at this point; just like how she saw me too.

"What's wrong?" He momentarily drifted his eyes off the road to look at me. His lips were partly separated and chapped and his hand softly squeezed mine.

"It's uh parent, Alex." I informed him uncomfortably, shifting in my seat as a sudden heat flash attacked my body. It was no surprised to me that my entire system was going into some sort of lock down mode due to the conversation of my parents rising. It was the usual when it came to this.

"Your mother isn't in the picture?" He curiously asked. His eyes were now focused on the road and the left turn he was making.

"She hasn't been since first grade." I faked a small shrug. It was about time that I got over the way I felt when telling someone this. If Alex was able to tell me about his parents then I can tell him about my mother not being in the picture. "Where are we even going?" I asked, glad that I switched the topic.

"It's a surprise, Angel." He said. A flash from a headlight from another car shined in the car, allowing me to see what Alex was wearing; Fitted jeans, a dress jacket, and a black shirt underneath.

"Well, don't you clean up nice." I teased, elbowing him light.

"Says the one who looks and is absolutely stunning." He squeezed my hand gently.

"That was really cheesy of you." I stated, trying not to grin like a fool.

"Hey, I'm new to this. I have no idea what I'm doing." He admitted bashfully. His cheeks heated up to a rosy red.

"You've never took a girl out to a date?" I was utterly shocked by his statement. It's a known fact that Alex had a past with girls, just by how he acted so coolly in intimate situations gave it away. And maybe even those damn condoms...

"I've never took a girl out on a date. Just been too much of a douchebag I guess." His shoulders shrugged. I couldn't keep my eyes off of him.

And I didn't for the rest of the ride. You know how there's a certain time in your life when you can't keep your eyes off of someone? Either an utter stranger or someone you've known for a long time or even a short time? But something about them just fascinates you and captivates your attention for an unknown reason and it takes your breath away.

That was how it was and felt. If there were ever be a moment in my life that I will always cherish, it was this one. Alex no longer didn't speak for the rest of that car ride, neither did I. I think I was too wrapped up in the moment to even come up with a word.

And to be quite honest, there was no longer a need to have to speak or come up with a conversation. It was finally a moment were we relaxed and didn't have to feel like there was a need to say any more.

But once we pulled up to the designation, I couldn't help but laugh the air straight out of my lungs. My laughter filled the car for a good two minutes.

"It's where a kid can be a kid!" Alex exclaimed, turning the engine off.

"This is great. Brilliant." I stared at the place in awe, shaking my head.

"I treat my ladies right." He wiggled his eyebrows before getting out of the car.

We walk up to - you guess it, Chucky E. Cheese.

Alex Gaskarth, the only boy that was able to sweep me off my feet by his charm, took me to Chucky E. Cheese for our very first date. And I wouldn't have thought any better way than this.

The place was filled with games, playgrounds, and anything that looked fun, name it and it was here. There were kids of all ages running around, and even the parents were also getting on the action of the excitement.

"Do you want to eat their very delicious pizza? Or play some games first?" He slipped his hand into mine, for the second time tonight. This had been a record of time for any guy to hold my hand, besides my dad when I was little of course.

"I don't know I've never been here before." I confessed, still looking around.

Alex randomly erupted his walking. With his jaw ajar and his eyes directly staring into mine, he stood there astonishment.

"You haven't been here?" His jaw yanked wider, shaking his head out of disbelief.

"Stop that!" I pouted, despising the irking expression on his face.

"In that being said, I'm going to make sure tonight will be the best time of your life."

And he did. He kept that promise.

We played almost all of the games first, with a bunch of giggles and pushing each other around playfully as if we were nine year olds. Seeing the way Alex was being like a kid again and so lively was more than just a sight to see. To see him with no guard, it seemed like there was no mysteriousness attached to him for once.

This was the type of boy I wanted Derek and my father to think of when the name of Alex Gaskarth got brought up. The way his smile lit up the place was something else. It could be seen for miles just by the naked eye. And I wanted to see it forever.

"Hey, Laila." Alex grabbed my attention, away from my deep thoughts.

"Hmm?"

"Look at that douche bag guy." He pointed over to a man, with a big gut and major hair loss. He happened to be chasing down his wife, who looked simply annoyed in her 5 inch heels.

"Imagine if that was us in like ten years." His raspy voice sent the not-so-but-yet-could-be infamous shiver through my body. It didn't fully occur to me he had just mention a future for us, but his quick change in topic left me in a jumble mess. "C'mon, you gotta try the pizza here. It's amazing."

We sat down at a red booth to the side of the restaurant. I was across from Alex, only for the simple fact of wanting to see his face.

"What would you guys like to order?" The brunette waitress asked, her hair was to her shoulders and had highlights throughout it. She wore a green apron, with a Green Day shirt underneath. Even her hands were accessorized with cute little rings on each finger.

"Brenna!" Alex smiled once he looked at her, making me feel at a disadvantage for not knowing who she was.

She returned the smile sweetly. "Hey, Alex. What can I get for you two?"

"We'll have two slices of pizzas each. Cheese, please. And she'll have lemonade and I'll have root beer." He ordered for me, remembering what I liked for a drink.

"Oh and this is Laila. Laila this is Brenna." He introduced me.

"Nice to meet you." She beamed, nodding her head. She unexpectedly whispered something into Alex's ear, so quietly that I couldn't hear it and then she returned to the kitchen to place our order.

"Are you a personal pizza? Cause you are made for me." He winked at me, with a cheeky smile.

I checked if anyone else was around. Our table was in an excluded corner, giving me the comfort to speak.

"Oh my god, Alexander." I whispered. It had to been the most terrible pickup line known to mankind. I loved it.

"She told me to say it." He laughed. "She's Jack's girlfriend."

"That's not surprising." I retorted.

"How so?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Jack, the goof ball of our high school is dating the girl who happens to work at Chucky E. Cheese. It's a match made in Heaven."

Alex didn't bother to say another word because I was exactly right. He nodded his head in agreement and that was that.

Shortly afterwards, another waitress served our drinks.

"I'm going to be honest with you." He paused and sipped his beverage while I chewed on my straw. "I don't know what to say or do."

I grinned midway bite on my straw. From that day forward, it still shocked me to remembering that I had Alexander Gaskarth at one point not knowing what to say or do, and at the time, I hardly believed it.

I snorted, "That's a lie."

"I've never told a lie." He raised his eyebrows.

"And that makes you a liar."

Our pizza came and cut into our conversation, and it was exactly what Alex said they were to be. Amazing.

Alex moaned as he bit into his pizza, only to be followed by laughter from me when he couldn't rip off the cheese that was sliding off the pizza.

"Fuck." I murmured. I hadn't realized that I forgot my purse until now, and I needed to take my medication.

"What?" He knitted his eyebrows as he wiped his mouth his napkin.

"I forgot my purse." I sighed, sinking a little into my seat.

"I'm that boring to the point I have you reaching for your phone?" He playfully teased.

"No, I just need to take my medication, that's all." I wasn't too worried about it. I've been able to be perfectly fine without it when I forgot. And now that I had thought about it, I didn't remember exactly why I had to take it. I had been on it for so long.

"Medication for what?" He was skeptical of me, it was all in voice.

"I don't even remember it. The doctors prescribed it to me a long time ago." I tried to explain.

"That's weird-" Alex was interrupted by a crying toddler, who was having a melt down next to us, while the parents were arguing loudly and doing nothing about the child.

After a long and painful five minutes of the child screeching, the parents walked her out of the building, and of course, still yelling viciously at each other.

"And that's why I'm never going to get married." I blankly said.

"What? Why?" Alex was looking at me like I had six eyes, for the second time that we've known each other.

"After my parents split, I just never really believed in that."

"What marriage?" His eyebrows do the thing, and by 'thing' I mean knit into a frown.

"Well that, and love. Never really believed in love after seeing my parents." I admitted, for the first time.

"Then I'm determined to call you bluff." He cheekily smiled.

It sent butterflies throughout me, like it always did. There was no way to deny that they were there anymore. I didn't just adore him anymore. I liked him, that was something I was positive on.

"Love is over rated." I declared, swirling the ice cubes in my cup.

He huffed, "I say it's complicated."

I didn't have anything to say after that, only because there was nothing to be said. He didn't speak up until a few minutes later. "We should leave." He suggested. "It's 11:11."

"Oh quick! Make a wish!" I quickly shut my eyelids closed, wishing to have more moments like this.

When I opened my eyes, I was left to find Alex giving me the most dumbfounded look of them all. "You, Laila Rose, Tinkerbell, Angel, and all the other nicknames I have for you, makes wishes when the clock strikes at 11:11?"

"Yeah doesn't everyone?" I said, thinking it was an obvious question.

"Let's go." He smiled and shook his head, sliding out of the booth.

"Everyone does, right?" I mumbled to myself with uncertainty as I followed him back to the car.

It was long quiet ride until we arrived at vacant parking lot in the middle of nowhere. It was far away from the lights of the suburbs.

"What are we doing here?" I examined around the eerie appearance of the area. "Is this were you are going to slaughter me and show your real colors?"

"Very funny, you dork. C'mon." He opened his door and turned off the engine. I watched him get on top of the hood of the car. He waved his hand, signaling for me to come out.

"Oh what the hell," I mumbled. Taking off my seatbelt, I get out. "You do know it's, I don't know? Kind of freezing?"

"Just lie on top of the car and look at the damn stars that are twinkling for you." I watched him lie back, with his hands being in his pockets as he looked up at the sky.

"Twinkling for me you say?" I lied right next to him, shivering as the wind picked up a little. I could hear the loud katydids chirping away with the sound of leaves rustling in the breeze. It was peacefully soothing while I kept my eyes on Alex.

He looked at me with his crooked smile ear to ear and the wrinkles forming near his eyes, it was hard to see him with only the moon being the only source of light. But I could still notice that his hair was a tousled mess.

"Look up at the stars, Angel." He lowly said.

I hastily looked up, and with that, my breath was taken away. It was like as if the sky was a dark black hole but yet was wearing millions of diamonds. I've always have been fascinated by space and galaxies, and this just made myself more engaged in it. With being in the middle of nowhere, away from the city and suburb lights, the stars were showcased all around.

It was as if the sky was a navy blanket and it was stitched with a fabric in all of the perfect places.

At first, I wasn't sure why on Earth Alex would bring me here, but now I knew why. It was this. It was a heart-stirring sight to see.

"Is this where you take every girl you have?" I jokingly said, but deep inside, I secretly wanted to know. I glanced at him, only to realize he was already staring at me.

"You're the first girl that I've ever brought here if that makes you feel any better." His eyes returned to the sky, his lips parted. "Just because you can't be my first kiss or first for things that you'd want me to be my first, doesn't mean there aren't other things."

Side note – Later on - much later on-, I read his journal again. He wrote, "She looked up at the stars while I stared into her dreamy eyes that had the reflection of the twinkling stars. In that moment, I realized she wasn't my world and she wasn't the center of the universe either. But she was the literal universe. Her blood was the galaxy. Her heart was the stars, fuming with love and lust. She was my universe."

Afterwards, we sat there for however long we did – I can't remember. But now, we were speeding just to get me home. It was past my curfew, and I couldn't afford for it to be any later.

"Can you like, floor it?" I screamed at Alex. I was beginning to hyperventilate. There was no doubt in my mind that I was going to be in trouble.

"Unless you want me to crash, then fine." He retorted, placing his elbow on the car door.

Finally, we pulled into my house driveway. The lights were turned off inside which was a good sign.

"Alex you can't follow me." I said when I took notice of him getting out the car.

"I'm going to walk you to your door whether you like it or not." He smirked with his eyebrows raised.

I rolled my eyes with a sigh exiting my lips. There was no point with arguing with his stubborn self. We both walk up onto the porch and we stopped at the white door, staring at each other.

"Well you made it. This just so happens to be the door." I pointed, laughing from my corniness.

He stepped closer to me, whispering onto my lips, "You know this is usually about the time the guy kisses the girls in those stories."

Leaning in, eager for a kiss, the front door was abruptly yanked open and the porch lights turned on. I was harshly jerked inside, and Alex was grabbed by the collar of his jacket by the fist of my dad.

"What do you want, huh?" My dad spat into his face, his fists locked on Alex's jacket. "You need to stay away from her."

Right away, I panic from the sight of Alex's hands turning into the fist.

Oh no.

_______

a.n

To the side, once again, is Brenna, she's my best friend and a writer who I cherish, and so that's why I'm dedicating this chapter to her! 

Also, if you guys could vote or even comment, it would mean the world to me. :)

-Kc July 3, 2014 (and happy 4th of July to all of my American readers!)