Cheers to the future

Lucas POV

**

It wasn't easy pulling away from her, from all of what might have happened.

I could have just continued, Alex would have surely let me. I knew!

But something in me told me there was more to dates than making out and having - most times - casual sex.

You could get to know each other better, become great friends,share thoughts , heartfelt opinions , eat together, so many things.

Where had this voice of reasoning been all my life?

As she took my hand to rise from the bed, her eyes never left mine .

She must be wondering , thinking .

She would never understand how special she was to me.

Even I didn't understand.

"Dinner is served"

I said , leading her to a table for two prepared in another room of Ariana.

This one was dimly lit, a mixture of red and deep blue lights.

I could see neon posters all over the room, with the words "You're beautiful mi amore".

I mentally punched myself for asking my mother to help me plan a date with Alex.

What the hell were you thinking I was going to do Mrs Ariana Cage?

Propose?

I didn't miss the dazed look of Alex's face, she seemed pretty amused, pleased infact .

I smiled as I stood by her,pulling out a chair for her to sit.

I continued to smile at her as I walked to my seat opposite hers.

"This place is amazing Lucas"

She finally said, eyes on me for a brief moment , then off me before I could capture the look in them.

"I wish I could take the credit for this, but I really can't "

She chuckled ,placing her hands on the table.

"Your mother must have really put a lot of thought into this"

She continued , eyes fixed on me this time.

She wasn't feigning any of these emotions, they were pure,just like she was.

"Yeah" I nodded in agreement.

"She really is a wonderful woman, you should meet her one day"

She looked away from me as she blushed lightly .

"I don't think that'll be necessary Lucas. I'm starving, why don't we eat our dinner?"

Way to avoid the subject Alexander .

One point for you on that.

I looked around the room and found a steward standing by the door.

"Excuse me"

I called , watching as he walked briskly towards us.

"Serve the lady her dinner please"

I ordered, before he could start on with the pleasantries.

After pouring her a glass of champagne, he flashed her a really broad smile.

"Do enjoy your dinner Miss."

I watched her return the smile, as she nodded.

"Only God knows what she told him"

I said, bringing my glass of champagne to my lips.

"Whatever she said isn't important Lucas , stop worrying about it so much"

She sounded so informal and comfortable with all that was going on.

How could she be?

The arrangements my mother had made were very unusual for a first date.

"Remind me to plan our next date myself please"

I complained , and she burst into laughter.

"You're going to choke Alex"

I said, out of more concern than annoyance.

She was laughing so hard I was starting to laugh as well.

"I sure will remind you Lucas"

We ate quietly for some seconds,eyes meeting each other as we did so.

But I didn't want to be quiet, I wanted to know her.

"So tell me Alex, tell me about yourself"

She looked up from her plate of lasagna to me.

"Really Lucas, you of all people should know that there's nothing fascinating about me"

She replied, so casually.

But I wasn't one to let things like this go so soon.

"One thing I know is that you're the youngest final year student of Beverley.

You're twenty-one , that's quiet young for a medical final year student if you ask me"

Her eyes widened as she heard me mention her age.

She dropped her fork on her plate,cleared her throat,sipped her glass of champagne and sat up on her chair as she looked at me.

"How did you get to know my age Lucas?"

It was my turn to laugh.

"Come on Ugly. Don't sound like a three year old child. There's something called the internet "

I said, still laughing .

She pouted, folding her arms on her chest .

I looked away immediately.

"Whatever. That only means you've been stalking me"

The way she stressed the stalking made me look away from her.

Like hell I had!

Not that there was anything fascinating to see.

When I finally looked at her, the grin plastered on her face made me look away again.

"Don't flatter yourself Ugly"

I managed a retort.

She didn't relent.

"Saw anything you liked?"

"Your Instagram and tinder accounts combined together are nothing compared to my Facebook account young lady."

She laughed again.

This was becoming my favourite sound.

"So, what are your plans after college?"

I asked her,while she was busy devouring the little meat balls in her plate.

"Well, I'm thinking of enrolling in a medical school in England ,you know, to broaden my knowledge.

What about you? Are you going into the economical field?"

I wish!

But instead, I sighed ,resting my back on my seat .

"I'm going into politics"

I replied, flatly .

She looked at me for a while.

The look was a mixture of confusion, care and concern.

"Why politics?"

I scoffed, "my father is a senator"

Her eyes narrowed.

"Well you are not your father"

I looked away from her , my eyes traveled round the room before returning to her.

She was right.

But it wasn't easy to go against Mr Cage, especially when you're the son he had toiled day and night for .

My eyes suddenly became sad.

"It's not that easy Ugly,he has it all planned you know. My dad"

She was paying attention, I could feel her intent gaze on me.

"He has always had everything planned out , I don't wanna disappoint him"

I really didn't .

She just nodded, smiling sweetly at me.

"You'll find a way Lucas , being a senator might not be so bad after all"

We both laughed .

Yeah right !

I suddenly felt better again.

Thinking about my remaining years after college always gave me shivers.

But talking with her had eased my mind and my heart.

I had never really had plans of my own anyway.

"How about we just forget this sad stories and toast to the future?"

She said again, smiling as she raised her glass to me.

The two came together and made a small sound before we both emptied the content into our gullets.

We talked for another three hours and I got to find out a lot about her.

I also discovered she worked at a sports equipment store around school.

Didn't I need a new basketball? I was sure to check in her place after my test on tomorrow.

**

Writer's POV

**

She was laughing again for the one hundredth time after he had pulled up at the drive way of her apartment .

It was hard not to laugh at his clever and witty jokes.

So hard.

A short glance at his black Rolex watch told him it was time to say goodnight and put an end to one of the best nights of his life!

"I'm sure it's past my bed time already, I have to go now"

Alex said, looking down at her legs again.

He smiled at her.

"So eager to leave huh?"

She laughed again

"On the contrary Mr Cage"

She replied, this time , summoning a lot of courage to look straight into his eyes.

When Lucas kissed her , Alex decided that was the best choice she had ever made in her life - after pouring coffee on him that day. No, if she didn't go to the cafeteria , she would never have met him. Whatever !

The kiss was slow at first , just a goodbye greeting with the lips. 

They both tasted of alcohol, perfect!

Lucas slipped a hand into Alex's dress, caressing her thighs as he did so.

In between kisses, she let out a soft moan.

Her cheeks were heating up, she could also feel something weird in her panties.

She had never been touched like this,never.

She had no idea what to do next and so she broke the kiss just as the passion grew and their both needs were about to drown them.

"You have a test tomorrow Lucas, I'll see you around "

She managed to say , keeping her eyes faraway from his gaze.

"I'll see you tomorrow, goodnight"

"Goodnight"

As she opened the door to leave he called her back.

"Ugly"

She turned to him, smiling .

"I think you're beautiful"

She blushed, even in the dark she could still see him.

Saying nothing, she nodded as she stepped out of the car, running into the night .

He watched till she was out of sight before driving off.