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Rika
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I have to say that I haven't had this much fun just going out to eat in a long time. While the four of us sat there eating our food, we talked about a lot of things. Clovio asked me what it was that I wanted to do when I graduated. I was not really sure about that myself because I knew that I was likely to be taking over for my parents in at least one part of the kingdom. Then again, I would have years and years before that happened. I could do whatever I wanted until then.
I ended up just telling Clovio that I was going to study business and work at my father's company until I decided what I wanted to do. I could always go back to school. I could learn what I wanted when I wanted. I wasn't going to grow old anytime soon. I would, barring any unforeseen circumstances, live forever. That was the trade off that we werewolves got when my mom took the souls of those three gods into her body. And well, that meant that I didn't need to rush my decision. I could do like Uncle Dietrich and end up doing several things over the centuries. We all know that he didn't have just one career, and there is no reason for me not to do the same.
We were in the restaurant for at least two hours, eating our food slowly and enjoying the conversation that we were having with each other. After we were done eating, I wanted to go see a movie. I had had such a great time the last time that we saw a movie together that I wanted to do it again. However, the theater wasn't open yet. Damn them. We needed to find something else to do. I wanted to make sure that we were able to spend some time alone together.
I didn't want to go and do something that was going to be too involved. That would leave us absolutely no time at all for us to make out. I mean, that was the whole point of being here together, right?
.....
“Let's go to the park.” Lyssa said as I was thinking about things. “We can just sit in the park for a while and talk., hang out, do whatever it is that we want to do.” She was looking at Warrick, not really able to take her eyes off of them.
“Hmm, that could work. There is one close by that has some canoes and other boats. We can rent some for an hour and spend time on the lake, then we can buy some drinks and sit in the shade. I think that sounds really romantic.” I decided to expand on her idea as I thought more about it.
“I do believe that this idea sounds perfect.” Clovio's gorgeous green eyes were smiling at me. “Let us go to the park.”
I took Clovio's hand again and started toward the park. This was going to require us to hail a taxi, but that was fine. I would cover it no problem. And it was only late morning, the rush hadn't fully started yet. That meant that I didn't need to wait long to find us one. I mean, I could have just used an app and called a car over like I usually did, but this just felt more grown up. It made me feel like I was in some sort of romance movie or something. That little action of flagging down the taxi meant so much to me at the moment.
It wasn't that long of a drive to the park. We were able to get there and head straight over to the rental cabin. It was right next to the water and there were two men that were working inside. One of the men was a wolf that was part of the pack and I really, really hoped that he wouldn't say anything to my parents about this date of mine. I mean, he probably never even talked to my parents directly so there was not much of a chance for them to find out. And even if they did, they couldn't do anything to me since I was an adult. I was going to do what I wanted when I wanted.
The man didn't say anything to me about who I was, nor did he ask me why I was here and not in class. That meant that he wasn't close enough to know about me and my brother. I knew that I didn't have anything to worry about. Though I was sure that the name on the credit card that I gave him showed him exactly who I was. There was only one Rika Gray in this city as far as I knew. And even if there was more than one, I am sure that this man would assume that it was me even if it was a different Rika Gray.
I stopped worrying about it though. I wanted to make sure that I had the best date of my life so far, even if that first date with Clovio was going to be hard to top. I was going to try though.
I had rented two boats. One for me and Clovio and one for Lyssa and Warrick. This way we would be alone even though we were doing the same thing. Clovio helped me into the boat that we were taking and then climbed in after me. At this point, I stopped thinking about Lyssa at all. This was my date with Clovio and I wasn't going to let anyone else invade my thoughts.
Clovio rowed us to the middle of the lake and then stopped to let us just drift about. The scenery was so beautiful and the company that I was with was even better. We talked more about the future. He hadn't gotten around to telling me what it was that he wanted to do, so he was telling me now.
“When I am done with school, I want to stay here in the States. I want to be someone that helps others. I want to be a cop or a firefighter. I know that might sound stupid to others, but that is what I want. I want to be someone that helps people.” It was such a pure and simple dream that I couldn't help but feel like I could melt right there.
“I love that.” I replied honestly. “There is nothing wrong with having a career like that. People need to be protected and saved from time to time. I wish that we lived in a world that was filled with peace where everyone was free to be themselves without fear, but that just isn't the case. There is a lot that is going on that not even I understand, but I know the type of world that I want to live in. And that is one where there is no persecution, no crime, no hatred, no unnecessary death. I want people everywhere to be safe. Everyone, all types of people, deserve to feel safe and happy. And I think that is the type of world I want to help create when I am older.” I had given that little speech of mine everything that I had, but I saw that Clovio was looking at me with shock and surprise in his eyes. Had I said something wrong? “U..uhm, Clovio?” I asked him with my heart starting to pound out of nervousness. “Is everything OK?”
“Yeah. I just never knew you were so passionate.” He finally smiled at me. This was a smile that was different from the ones that I usually see from him. It was almost like he was feeling relieved. “So, you want everyone to be happy?” He asked me just to be sure. I guess he wanted to delve deeper into the words that I had said.
“Yes. I guess my parents have taught me well. I took on their way of thinking. Then again, that's just part of being a decent person in my mind.”
“Your parents?” I know that I had talked about them being mean earlier. Maybe he thought they were militants or something.
“Yeah. My parents are just like that. They want everyone in the world to be safe, happy, healthy, and free to be themselves. They are super supportive of all types of people, and they are always working to make things better for everyone. They run charities, they help people. They even help the police to solve murders. They are good people and I guess that rubbed off on me.” I couldn't understand the look in his eyes at the moment. He was looking so conflicted and I didn't know why.
“This is just not what I was expecting.” He laughed. “Y..you know, from people with money.” He laughed and explained it away. “I guess I thought that your parents, being so rich, would be greedy and selfish. I guess I didn't know what to expect.”
“Ha ha ha.” I laughed at him as I realized what it was that he was thinking. “No, rich people are not greedy and stuck up. At least not all of them. My family believes in loving and caring for everyone in the world, no matter who they are.”
“I am happy to hear that, Rika. I really am.” I don't know why he looked so relieved at that, but I was happy, nonetheless. I was enjoying this date and didn't want any misconceptions about my family causing it to go wrong.
