Chapter 96: Bedazzled

Aiden inwardly sighed.

’What in tarnation is this situation?’ he demanded of no one in particular as he stared at Clarissa’s father, the man giving him that very same ’amiable’ smile.

Then, opting to simply get it over with, he interlocked his palm with the man’s.

Having expected it to be an immediate, easy win, Bruce’s eyes flickered slightly when he tried to wrench the youth’s arm down.

Sure he wasn’t using all of his strength, much less half of it, but he was still pretty stunned to see Aiden holding his own even if he was tightening his jaw right now.

That wasn’t the kind of strength that came from someone who wasn’t training his muscles to a certain extent.

’Huh? Guess you’re not just a pretty boy, after all...’ the man inwardly remarked.

Honestly, for as petty as Bruce was, he really just wanted to know if the youth his daughter was interested in could actually protect her if push came to shove.

Afterall, he couldn’t be her guardian angel forever.

So, whatever man she was going to be with--at whatever point in her life--he wanted to ensure that he was fit and strong enough to do that much.

It was also why, instead of simply wrenching his arm down as he easily could, he opted to actually engage him.

"So," Bruce began, his gaze a little less hostile as he asked;

"What are your intentions with my daughter?"

"Take her to Prom, and bring her... right back... after the dance, Sergeant." Aiden’s reply came with a bit of strain, the man’s arm slowly pushing his down.

"You’d better not be acting performatively," Bruce’s gaze darkened as he continued to wrench his arm down little by little.

"Performative’s, not... in the cards... for me. More so when a lady’s... involved." the youth manage to reply, his tone honest despite the gradual waning of his strength.

"Oh? And why is that?" Bruce demanded, a slight hint of curiosity in his hazel-irises.

"My mother would... roll in her grave... if I did." Aiden forced out the words and Bruce’s hostile gaze dropped in an instant.

It was unfortunate though.

He was just about to call off the arm wrestle when a cold, frigid and disturbingly chilly voice came from behind.

"Dad. What do you think you’re doing to my date?"

Bruce faltered for a moment;

"Baby, I can explain--"

Aiden wrenched his arm right back in the opposite direction, the bulky mass slamming onto the stool with a soft thud.

At the same time...

-

[Quests completed!]

[Title,{Aw, they grow up so fast}, applied.]

⸢Exclusive Quests

› David Vs. Goliath.

└ Win the arm wrestle against Clarissa’s dad. – [1.5 LP Awarded...]

-

’Fuck you! You never expected me to win that!’ Aiden cussed at his system upon seeing the ellipsis.

"Bonding session. We figured we’d pass the time till you came down with a little game." he immediately covered for the man in sync as he flexed his wrist a couple times with an easy smile.

Hearing that, Bruce couldn’t help but feel even more terrible... not that his daughter was buying it.

As the coal-haired youth raised his head up to continue speaking and bail the man out of his predicament, his words suddenly died on his tongue.

Aiden hadn’t ever been dazed by a lady’s beauty before.

Even when he’d had the biggest crush on Lizzie, he’d often managed to keep his wits about himself.

Yet, in this very moment, seeing the lady in her ruffle, evening ball gown, its shade a beautiful lilac that had a shimmery, almost silvery finish to the fabric, he was well and truly spellbound.

Her chestnut-brown hair had also been styled into a beautiful, mermaid braid, a little gold clip holding it all together.

Then there were the simple yet elegant trinkets on her hands, neck and ears, all of which added to give her that regal look the coal-haired youth had thoughtfully imagined a few days ago.

On an average day, Clarissa would’ve relished and basked in Aiden’s bedazzled gaze--a sight she had never once seen in all their moments of interaction.

Unfortunately, she was giving her father such a bitingly gelid stare, the very same man who looked like he could pull a small car by his lonesome whilst running was almost shrinking beneath it.

As for Selene, she was currently doing her best to stifle her chuckle behind her daughter whilst shaking her head in amusement as she carried her baby whom was currently babbling to himself.

Snapping out of whatever spell the lady had casted on him, Aiden abruptly stood up and drew all the attention to himself as he walked over to retrieve the bouquet of flowers and corsage.

As he walked over to the lady with it, he then said;

"For you, Your Highness."

This time, Clarissa’s frosty demeanor practically melted away in real time as she received it and said with a beam;

"Always the gentleman, eh Aiden."

Placing the bouquet into a nearby vase, she then walked back over to him, slipping the corsage he brought onto her hands and likewise stuffing her own corsage into his front pocket with a light tap.

Through it all, Bruce was forced to watch without saying a thing, the man still awaiting his fate.

Once the exchange was over though, Aiden then offered his arm;

"Shall we?"

"We shall." Clarissa promptly hooked hers with his as he slowly led her out.

Then she said to her mother and her little brother in particular with a warm smile;

"Love you, Mum~. Love you, Milo~. I’ll see you both later."

"Love you too, sweetie! Have fun!" Selene reciprocated her daughter’s gesture.

As for her father, she simply gave the man a respectful nod then said, still clearly annoyed;

"I love you too... but I’m still mad at you!"

No sooner had she said that, she and Aiden stepped out the door... though Aiden still managed to offer the man an assuring nod.

Immediately after, the door closed behind him and Bruce leaned back into his chair like he’d lost something truly precious to him whilst muttering audibly;

"At least she still loves me..."

This time, Selene didn’t bother hiding her laughter, her mirth on full-display as Milo looked over to her whilst equally laughing.

Clearly, he didn’t know what the cause was. He was just glad to see his Momma happy as well.

"So, what’d you think of him?" Selene then asked a moment after, one of her brows arching in curiosity.

This time, Bruce had none of the usual hostility in his features or in his tone as he replied objectively, his arms gently folded across his chest;

"He’s a good egg. He’ll do right by her should they ever get together."

"I figured as much." Selene replied with a light smile, seemingly having expected it.

Not that it stopped Bruce from grumbling audibly a moment after;

"I would hope they don’t get together anytime soon though..."

"Now, now, honey. Don’t hex their progression with your jealousy." Selene amusedly remarked as she placed Milo in his arms and made her way upstairs a moment after to fetch him a new bib.

As for the teens whom had long reached the vehicle;

"And they say chivalry’s dead," Clarissa remarked in delight as Aiden opened the door for her, a light chuckle escaping his lips.

Then she asked in a concerned tone a moment after;

"How’s your arm?"

"A little strain, but dandy nonetheless." Aiden rotated the arm as proof, an honest smile on his features to which the lady nodded in relief.

Still...

’He’s always been saying he’d do it but I never expected he’d actually go through with it.’ Clarissa thought to herself.

"I’m gonna have a long talk with him when I get back." she audibly muttered a moment after, her gaze dead serious.

"Go easy on him, Rissa. He’s just being a great dad." Aiden chuckled as he closed the door behind her and headed to the driver’s side.

Soon, he ignited the engine and began the drive to Silverlake High, he and Clarissa engaging in a rather mundane yet interesting conversation of their own.

Roughly fifteen minutes later, they’d arrived, the parking lot pretty much packed.

Somehow, someway... one of the students had managed to rent a limo, and Aiden and Clarissa couldn’t help but laugh upon seeing a bunch of their peers and their respective dates stepping out from it.

A minute later, after finding a suitable spot to park, they both alighted from the vehicle.

Considering they both had their respective cliques to greet and a couple things to do before the main event began, they opted to meet up with one another in ten minutes time.

Carrying the gallon of homemade brandy, Aiden made his way into the main building--specifically the school gym--to drop off the refreshments so they could keep it cool as it was already thawing.

On his way, he happened to run into Lizzie, who halted him in his steps and asked, her tone honest;

"Hi, Aiden. Can I... speak to you for a moment?"