Elena Sergio.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror before me. My blue eyes looked smoky – hot – sexy. My cheekbones were highlighted. Raised. And my lips, having the color of baby pink lipstick and glossy, were to die for. All thanks to Karen.

"You likey?" Karen beamed at my reflection, standing behind me.

"You kidding me? I look like freaking Cleopatra. I lovey," I said, grinning.

"You're welcome," Karen smiled and tucked hair behind her ears. "Now, for the hair."

"Since it's already been curled," Karen began, reaching down and pulling my hair into a ponytail. "I'm just gonna pack it up."

"But I want my hair flowing, Karen, " I frowned.

"Uh duh, of course, it will be, but that's for KJ to take care of. If he sees you and doesn't think to take off the hairband, then you know you're about to see the wrong guy. Period."

"Oh," I mouthed and chuckled. "Did you ever do that with Gabe?"

"Plenty of times, trust me," she replied, patting her hands on my hair.

Gabe was her ex.

"And he failed?"

"Nope. He always passed. Says he loves my hair free."

She straightened up then and exhaled. "Alright, we are officially done here."

I stared at her reflection in the mirror for the umpteenth time. I never knew she could look this pretty. Emma Watson kind of pretty. Emily Clarke kind of pretty. It gave me mixed feelings. I felt thrilled, thinking of Johan's reaction to seeing me. Nonetheless, I also felt nervous.

Our first real date, and it involved having dinner at a restaurant! Not just the regular take-you-out-to-a-movie kind of date.

"Come on, Elle, stand up. I want to see you. All of you," Karen said, her tone laced with excitement.

"Okay, okay," I giggled.

I stood up, walked around the chair I'd been on, and stood in front of Karen who'd made room for her.

"Oh my gosh," Karen squealed, holding her hands to her chest, her gray eyes assessing me from my shiny brown ponytail to the makeup on my face, to the dark blue, single strapped dress she had given me. It was body fitting, had sequins on it, and made me look like a prom queen, only it was short and stopped above my knees. It was low cut too. Really low cut and I kind of felt uncomfortable the way my cleavage showed. Not that I told Karen. Karen's eyes settled on the dark velvet boot heels that topped off my outfit. "My baby girl looks so pretty. Hailee Steinfield won't stand a chance."

"Thanks," I beamed. "But I kinda feel overdressed."

"That's what happens when you're too beautiful and you know it," Karen said breezily. "How long do we have till he's here?"

I looked at the gold watch in my hand. A birthday gift from my dad last year. "Approximately thirteen minutes."

"Good. Enough time," she said, took my hand, and pulled me to the bed. Together we sat down.

"Now, I need you to listen to me, and listen carefully," she said.

I nodded. " Okay."

"It will be your first time, am I right?"

"Okay!" I exclaimed, shooting up from the bed. "I am not having this conversation."

"Hey, I'm just looking out for you," Karen smiled, standing up from the bed as well. "Just don't let him stick it in without a CD."

"Ding dong," I chimed, trying to hide my embarrassment. "Oh look at that. Kj's here. Bye!"

I grabbed my purse from the table, clicked and clicked over to the door, pulled it open, and stepped out.

"You're welcome for the advice," Karen said, following me down the stairs.

In the living room sat dad, a newspaper in one hand and hot cocoa in the other, clearly enjoying his 5-day leave.

He looked up as we approached him, and his mouth fell open. "Oh my God, is that Elle "

He took off his glasses, wiped them, put them back on, and stared.

"In the flesh," Karen grinned.

I, filled with excitement, did a twirl for him, stopped, and burst out laughing.

"You did that?" he asked Karen. He was grinning now.

"You betcha," Karen nodded.

Just then the doorbell rang. my heart skipped a beat. KJ.

"I think he's here," I said, crossing over to the door, my palms getting sweaty.

Dad abandoned the newspaper and cocoa and joined me at the door.

"Dad," I said, turning back to look at him. "Please be nice."

"Sure," he smiled. "Anything for my baby."

The doorbell rang again.

Taking in a deep breath and letting it out, I reached out, touched the cold metal handle of the door, twisted it, and pulled it open.

I was right. It was KJ Standing on the welcome mat, a smile on his lips and a single rose in his hand.

I couldn't help it. I smiled back, my heart feeling like it had exploded. He got me a rose! A red rose. That was something that happened only in novels I had read. Not real life!

Kj's smile dropped immediately he realized dad's presence and quickly, he stuck out his hand.

"Good evening, sir," he said. I thought he looked like a stereotypical gentleman, although that would be without the black jacket, white polo, denim pants, and white sneakers he had on. I thought gentlemen wore suits.

Smiling, dad took Kj's hand and shook it. "Good to meet you son."

KJ smiled then. "And you too."

"We'll get going now, Dad," I said, stepping forward and going to stand beside KJ.

"Of course," dad nodded, his smile still on his lips.

He moved his gaze to KJ "You have three hours. Bring her home by eleven-thirty. Or even before that."

"Dad," I drew.

"Yes sir!" KJ said.

"Have fun," he smiled.

"Don't forget the CD," Karen called from inside the house and dad shut the door.

"I kinda like your dad," KJ remarked as we turned and walked down the stairs to his pickup.

"That would be his first," I said just as we got to the car. I reached for the door to the passenger seat. On purpose. A test. I smiled mentally when KJ held her hand, stopping me.

"Let me," he told me.

"Okay," I smiled.

"But first," he held the rose out to me. "For you, Milady."

"Thank you," I beamed, taking it from him. "It's beautiful."

"Like you," he said.

I moved her gaze from the flower to KJ. He was staring down at me, a small smile on his closed lips, the street light casting a soft glow on his brown skin, illuminating his features and giving his lashes a longer look. He was incredibly handsome. Too handsome, I wanted to squeal.

"You look amazing, Elena, " he said, his voice low and soft.

"Thanks," I smiled, overwhelmed by an assault of emotions.

Suddenly, he stretched a hand forward, past my face, and up to my hair. In a second I felt my hair loosen and come cascading down my shoulders in a mass of curls.

That proved it. KJ was the guy for me, according to Karen.

Before long, we hit the road in his pickup. It smelled of him. Of cologne and aftershave. Nice.

"So where are we eating out?" I asked as KJ made a U-turn.

"El Cuisine," he told me.

I whipped my head to the side to look at him. "Are you serious right now?"

He chuckled lightly. "Yep."

"Whoa. Can you afford that?" I raised my eyebrows, surprised.

El Cuisine was this fancy restaurant in the heart of town. Everything in there cost a fortune. Everything down to a simple hamburger.

KJ looked at her briefly, a smile on his lips. "I got this, babe. Trust me."

Ten minutes later, we were at the restaurant. KJ parked behind a line of other cars resting beside the sidewalk and got down. He came around, opened the door for me, and helped me out. Then he locked up and handed the keys to the valet. Yep, they had a valet.

KJ took my hand in his and led me through the sliding doors and into the restaurant.

It was fancy and wide with chandeliers gracing the ceiling and illuminating the interior of the restaurant. Every table was covered with a white drape and had a bottle of wine placed in a small bucket on top of it. Waiters and waitresses busied themselves with their customers' needs and just as I began to feel a little bit off, a waiter sauntered up to us, a white apron around his waist and a notebook in one gloved hand. He looked French

"Name, please?" He addressed KJ. His accent confirmed he was French.

"Dayo," KJ replied. "Table for two."

The man scanned the list. "Mr. Dayo, table for two, right this way, sir," the man said, looking up at KJ.

KJ slid the menu toward me after we'd sat down. "Pick something. Anything. All on me."

"Anything?" I peeked up from the menu at him.

"Just not the souffle. That's like three hundred bucks."

I laughed. "Okay."

A waitress joined us as I was about to make my pick. "Your order?"

"Chicken and rice, please," I said.

"Sir?" she turned to KJ, smiling.

"I'll have what the lady's having," he said, smiling at me.

"Such a gentleman," I grinned after the waitress had left.

"Gentleman for you," he beamed, popped the wine, and poured us both a glass.

"To what?" I raised her glass, looking at him expectantly.

"Uh, too our first real date, I guess," KJ shrugged.

"To our first real date, it is," I clinked glasses with him. "This is so weird."

"I booked a table. Made an actual reservation. I think I've done my share of weird things," he chuckled.

The food arrived shortly after. For two reasons, I barely ate anything. One, I was too busy chattering with KJ, and two, I had no appetite.

Later on, dessert arrived. It sufficed for the food. Halfway through dessert, I choked. Choked. Coughed uncontrollably and had to take in lots of wine to calm my throat.

It was official. Dinner was partly a disaster.

At nine, we were done and KJ was leading me back to his pickup truck when he stopped suddenly.

I stopped too and turned to look at him.

"My tongue is tingling," he said slowly.

"So?" I said, walking to him. "What's wrong?"

"Does my face look swollen?" he asked.

"Um —"

"Look closely, Elena," he said.

"Sorta."

"Damn it, peanut butter," he cursed, turning away from me.

"I don't understand, KJ. What's wrong?" Tracy frowned.

"In the glove compartment. My E-pen. Hurry," he turned back to me and handed me the keys.

"Allergies?" I asked.

KJ nodded. "Peanut butter," he said. Only it came out as "theanuth buthher".

"KJ, your tongue," I shrieked, staring at the red swollen tongue sticking out of his mouth. It was five times the size of a normal tongue.

"The E-thhen," he told me.

"E-pen?" I asked, already heading to the car.

He nodded.

I got to the car, unlocked it, and opened the glove compartment. Sitting on top of a pile of papers was something that had the resemblance of a syringe.

I grabbed it.

"How do I use this thing?" I asked, rushing back to him.

"Tthab ith inthho ble enthh," I tried.

When he saw the confused look on my face, he gestured for me to stab it into his hand.

"Oh," I murmured and did as he said then pressed down on the syringe.

Slowly, the size of his tongue came down. By the time we were back on the road, it was back to normal.

"Well, that was great," KJ said sarcastically.

"I didn't know you were allergic to peanut butter," I looked at him.

His gaze was fixed on the road. He was embarrassed. "I didn't know the dessert had peanut butter in it."

I laughed.

"What's so funny?" He looked at me.

"Nothing," I said looking out the window, the image of his swollen tongue making me want to giggle some more.

Later on, we went to the park. We shared an ice cream we'd picked up on our way and talked about our families.

KJ took me home earlier than eleven. Getting down, he walked around and helped me out then he led me up the stairs to the house. We stopped at the door.

"So, tonight was practically a disaster," he said, his hands holding onto mine.

"Yeah," I laughed.

"You want to know what the best part was though?"

I nodded.

"I got to spend it with you," he said softly, gazing down at me.

Then he pulled me in and hugged me. Letting go of me, he kissed my forehead.

"I'll see you on Monday?"

"Definitely."

"Alright. Bye," he smiled, dropping my hands.

That was it? I thought. No kisses? On the lips kinda kiss. Just bye?

"Yeah, bye," I smiled and turned to go when suddenly I felt his arm wrap around my wrist.

"One last thing," KJ said, turning me around to face him once more.

I had just opened my mouth to speak when, without warning, he leaned in, covering the space between us and locking our lips together.