He sighs again, toying with his milkshake. Looking at me and then quickly away, slowly breathing out.

"I like you..."

I stare at him unsure if I heard correctly. "Pardon?" He rests his head on his hand, tilting it slightly to the side, "Please don't make me repeat it. I feel embarrassed enough as it is. Because I know that you are completely off limits. But I just can't help it. I mean, you're beautiful. And from what everyone says about you, absolutely perfect in every way."

I blush slightly, those Warblers do have a thing for me, that's apparent.  How was it that Sebastian put it?? That they all wanted to be my best friend or be with me? Well that pattern seems to be holding true.

"I'm flattered, honestly. But you know that nothing will ever come of this more than just friendship. Kissing me again is a definite no-no. We can get to know each other but even then you'll see that I'm really nothing special. Just a normal 17 year old girl."  He shakes his head and resumes eating his burger, softly responding, "In the small amount of time I've spent alone with you today I can already tell that you're not just a normal 17 year old girl.  You're different, but in a good way."

I scrunch my nose up slightly and pick up a fry, "So I guess we're at an impasse it seems. I'm not looking for a new boyfriend. And I know that may disappoint you. I won't mention him because I know you don't want to hear it. But it's the truth. Hunter, will you be okay if we're just friends?"  He looks down at the burger in his hands and then up at me with a slight shrug, "As if I have a say in the matter.... It's either agree to your terms and conditions or lose your number forever, right?"

Hmm....

When he puts it that way is does sound a little harsh.  And I let Jeffrey and Nicky continue on with their Mrs Sterling-Duval charade even after Sebastian proposed.

Crap....

I'm taking too long.  He's looking at me with hope in his eyes again.  I don't want to completely squash him like a bug, but this is really dangerous for me.

I give a quick shake of my head, "Well I'm not as strict as iTunes but yes. If you're not willing to work with me, if you just want to cause discord and mess with my happiness then I won't want to be around you, even as a friend. I don't want to give you misguided hope, because I'm quite content in my relationship. But we're both still fairly new here and friends are always appreciated."

He gives off a small sigh and wipes his hands on his napkin. Reaching across the table he takes my hand with a shy smile, "Honestly if all I can be is your friend, I'll take it. I'd rather be just friends than not be in your life at all Shannon." I smile back, maybe he's not all bad...

And that's the moment the waitress chooses to reappear at the table, with a coy little smile on her face.  "Well aren't you two the cutest couple ever..."

His eyes go wide and I can see him fighting back laughter. I feel the heat rising on my cheeks as I yank my hand back like I've been burned. He mumbles softly, "Thanks lady.... We were having a moment, then poof, gone." I kick him in the shin underneath the table and he gives me a dirty look. I mouth back stop it.

She seems completely oblivious to our interaction and just keeps prattling on, "Do you need anything else? Desserts?"  We both shake our heads at her.  "Okay then, so one check or two?"  This time Hunter and I respond almost simultaneously.

"One."

"Two."

I give him a look and he raises his hands in defeat. I turn to the waitress with a smile, "Two, please." She chuckles as she drops two checks on the table, "Brava young lady. Way to stay independent and not let your boyfriend push you around." She's walking away as I process her words. I call weakly after her, "He's not my boyfriend..."

I look over at Hunter as he busies himself with pulling money out of his wallet. "Should I try to explain to her that you're not my boyfriend?"  He looks at both checks on the table, down to the money in his hands and then up at me.  "You really think that you're going to be able to explain to a stranger this situation we have going on here?  I've been here the whole time and I'm still having trouble figuring out why you're having dinner with me instead of Smythe, who you keep insisting you have this amazing relationship with."  He puts the money on the table and pulls me up from the booth, dragging me out the door of the diner as I sputter out, "Because you're the one who wanted to talk..."

Thankfully I'm able to grab my bags before we leave.  Although I'm outside before I realize that I didn't pay.  I turn towards the door to head back in when he stops me.  "Shann, what's wrong?" I gesture inside the restaurant, "I need to pay. I didn't even get a chance to look at my bill." He waves his hand nonchalantly, heading past his car and towards the small playground area at the end of the parking lot. "No worries Anderson, I got it. A gentleman always pays on a first date." He winks over his shoulder at me as I race to keep up with him.

"Hunter, how many times do I have to say this, we're just friends.  This was NOT a date.  It was a tool to get you to leave me alone, but you showed up anyway.  Hey where are you going?"  I catch up with him as he sits down on one of the swings in the playground.  "Calm down Shannon, I'm just picking.  I know, I know..... 'Just friends.'  And we're 17, so I'm embracing my youth while I still can.... Sit, please."  He gestures to the swing next to him, which I look at skeptically before gingerly sitting down.

I drop my bags on the ground beside me and slowly move back and forth on the swing without lifting my feet from the ground. "So when do you turn 18?" He turns slightly to face me, "July 28. You?" I smile back, hands loosening some on the chains of the swing, "August 24." He nods, "Let me guess, Sebastian's birthday is in January..." I look at him quizzically, "Yea. The 14th. How did you know that?" He gestures to my left hand, "The ring. I've dated girls before with each of those birthstones."

I look down at my ring and then back up at him with a raised eyebrow, "Womanizer?"  He chuckles at that, smiling with his eyes again.  "They may have put it that way.  Like I said, my parents thought I needed discipline.  It isn't my fault that girls find me irresistible." I just giggle at him. "Keep telling yourself that Clarington. I'm resisting just fine. You however, like most of your straight counterparts lately, are trapped in my web it seems."  He shakes his head and softly whispers, "Dude, she's not even joking.... What is wrong with me?"

I cock my head, "Hmm.... What was that?"  He looks up at me blushing slightly, "Nothing.  It was nothing.  So you were talking about dance lessons earlier?"  I nod and he looks relieved that we're changing the subject.  "Yes!!  I just can't seem to find teachers as good as the ones I had back home."  He pushes back on the swing, stretching out his legs as he thinks, "Well what styles do you do? I may be able to help you look."

"Really?! That would be so helpful!  Well, jazz, lyrical and ballroom mainly.  You?"  He smiles back easily, "Seems we've got something in common, mine are jazz, ballroom and hip hop.  Plus I had tumbling classes.  I mean I was up to Olympic level gymnastics training before I moved here."  My eyes open in disbelief, "Wow.... That's really cool.... How about I let you know of any classes if you keep an eye out for me as well."  He gets up from his swing and pulls me to stand as well, "You've got a deal."

Quickly he glances at his watch then back up at me with a start, "You realize that it's almost 6:30?" I look at him confused, no way we've been together for almost three and a half hours. I pick up my purse, digging out my phone to check the time. And sure enough, he's right.

"Weird..."

"I know, right?! It hasn't felt like that long at all."

I giggle at his response as the phone in my hand begins to ring.

'Bubbly'

It's Sebastian.

And Hunter realizes as much when he catches a glimpse of the photo that pops up on the screen as well.

He sighs and looks really disappointed now, like I crushed his soul. "Just answer it Shannon. I mean, he IS your boyfriend..."

"Are you sure?"  He nods at me, "I should be heading back anyway..." I give him a quick hug as I swipe to answer the phone.

Me:  Sebastian?
Seb:  Hey Princess!  Is everything okay?  It rang an awful long time.

I glance up to see Hunter watching me from his car.  I mouth over to him I'll call you and he nods, slipping into his car and driving away.  I begin walking towards mine as I respond.

Me: Sorry about that Sebby.  I was finishing up dinner with a new friend.
Seb: *teasing* New friend? Not one of those guys who asked you out?

I giggle at that, if he only knew...

Me: Just a friend Bastian. I have no plans to replace you anytime soon. Especially after you proposed in front of that whole wedding party over the weekend.

I can almost hear his heart melting smile through the phone as he speaks.

Seb: I did do that, didn't I? Well Mrs Smythe, come prepared tomorrow. It's going to be epic!
Me: You've got me intrigued now Sebastian. But I really should be going, I still need to drive home.
Seb: Okay Love. Please be safe.
Me: I will Sebby. Goodnight and I love you!!
Seb: I love you too, Pretty Girl. More than you know.... Sweet dreams only of me.

With that he disconnects the call, leaving me with butterflies in my stomach again.

But a part of me still feels awful about the way Hunter looked when he left...