He had just finished putting on his dark-grey turtleneck sweater over a black-grey checkered shirt when James returned from taking a shower while drying his hair with a Christmas green towel. Wilson got an appreciative whistle from him after James gave him a once-over. As he nodded his head in approval, he said, "Dude, Renata might jump on you after she sees you. You look like an off-duty male model at a Sunday mass. Take my car until tomorrow if you want to." James wiggled his eyebrows in a perverted way.

Wilson ignored him as he answered him in his deadpan signature. "It's Saturday, James. But thanks for your compliment, and your car. I assure you, I will return your car in the same condition."

James shrugged as he walked past him to grab his ID card. "No prob. Just don't ram her into a pole, or anything else; she's not that young anymore. Breakfast?"

"I already had one earlier; there were your favorite, baked tater tots," Wilson said as he coiffed his dark chestnut hair to the side. James dashed after he heard that.

------------------------

He rarely left the school grounds or used the shuttle bus unless he went home for a long holiday. Wilson would always sit on the window seat adjacent to the entrance door. However, he would let Renata sit on the window seat later, so he took the aisle seat. Going out like this with a friend was his first time. He hoped he wouldn't mess up.

Wilson almost counted the thread on the black leather seat as he nervously waited for Renata. He occasionally glanced toward the main hall to find a particular figure while checking his BBM. When he finally saw her running toward the bus while holding her pale pink knit beanie, his breath hitched a little. Maybe due to all the running, her cute face reddened.

As if filming a slow-motion romance movie, his eyes cataloged every little expression and motion she made. Renata beamed at him as soon as she saw him, sending his heart going crazy. She wore a checkered pale pink and yellow skirt coat with metal buttons over an unusual pink shade of jeans. Maybe her theme this time was cotton candy.

When he saw Renata at the door, he stood up to usher her to the other seat beside him, but her gaze fixed on him, which made him anxious. "Holy mother of gorgeous, Wilson. You look so fatally sinful. Why don't you dress like this more often? Girls will go gaga over you."

He almost blurted out, "Including you?" but caught his tongue just in time. "You are pretty too, and no, thank you; I don't want girls to go gaga for me." Just you would suffice, he thought as he retook his seat.

"Why don't you wear your coat? Aren't you cold, Wilson?" She asked him while removing her white leather gloves and storing them in her cute, yellow-pink messenger bag.

"I'm warm enough. If I wear it, I think I will overheat. Are you cold?" His body temperature was naturally high, thanks to his father's Celtic ancestor.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Wilson jolted in delight when Renata held his hands suddenly. "Whoahh, it's better to hold your hand than wear gloves." Yes, please, he almost said it as he clasped her icy hands. He brought those palms in front of his mouth and blew his hot breath.

“Have you had your breakfast?” He wanted to keep her hands in his, but she pulled them away as they got warmer. Their conversation about mundane things consumed Wilson’s attention, that he was a little disoriented when the bus arrived at the parking lot. Wilson didn’t even realize when the bus left.

Wilson went out first and waited for her with one of his hands raised. Renata furrowed her eyebrow in amusement, but she put her hand on his as he carefully helped her down from the bus. "Are you my knight in shining armor?" Her round eyes turned into crescents as she grinned at him.

"If you let me." For the rest of his life, he said it in his heart. "Why are you looking at me like that? Something on my face?"

She shook her head, but her eyes lingered on his face. "I haven't told you my gratitude about James. Thank you, Wilson. It means a lot to me." For those gentle smiles, he would do anything.

"I've told you he would come around. He could be an arse sometimes, but once his mind straightened, he would be back to normal. He just needed a nudge.", or a severe headlock in that matter. James still complained about how his neck and joints were sore because of their sparring (in James's words, Wilson's cruelty).

Fortunately, he and James checked the car last evening, or it would have been a hassle just to open the door. A thin layer of snow dusted the Mica Lexus; Renata helped him remove it from the front window. As he ignited the engine, they put on the seatbelt. He wondered why she kept looking at the empty lot next to the car.

"Renata, something wrong?" He knew she was lying when she told him no; her eyes always did this fluttering when she lied.

"When do you think James cleans the car?"

The random question was unexpected, but he answered her. "He usually cleans once a month at least. James likes to take good care of all of his stuff. But I don't think he went somewhere last weekend. Why do you ask?"

Renata scooted forward, as if leaning her back against the seat was uncomfortable. "Nothing, just curious. Shall we go now? I think the car is ready."

He was curious, but didn't want to waste their limited time. He shifted the gear, and the car smoothly glided on the snowy path. The traffic was relatively sparse, which he appreciated as he easily switched lane after lane. Wilson needed to thank James; his car was quite a decent babe. Should he reconsider bringing a car too? He would love to explore places with Renata. Would she be willing to go with him?

"Your driving is excellent. Not too fast, but also not too slow. Unlike...." She paused for a moment. ".... um~..... a drunk driver."

"Thank you, but compared to a drunk driver isn't something to be proud of. You can just tell me who you were thinking of. Was it Lyle?" Wilson unconsciously gripped the steering wheel so tight that it squeaked.

She sighed and finally leaned back against the seat. "Yes, he was this... crazy... He drove super fast; I couldn't even read any store's name; all seemed to fly past me. I scared all the time because I've never driven that recklessly." Renata moved her thick, braided hair to the front.

"And why did you feel disgusted with the car? James is the only person I know who has the same neat habit as I have."

"It wasn't about James....."

"So?"

Renata was thinking and reluctantly answered him. "When we were in the parking lot, Lyle had parked his car on that empty lot the last time we went on that date. So, my mind couldn't help but flee to Meghan. And you know they did it in his car..... so......"

As he connected one to another, his goosebumps sprung to life. "You mean? Meghan and James ......... in here? For the love of God, Renata~" The thought had never crossed his mind. Wilson abruptly tried to recall when the last time James had washed his car. He had barely just begun the outing, and it felt already ruined.