Chương 11: Chapter 11- Rika – A Surprise (VOLUME 1)

*~*Rika's POV*~*

There was a lot to settle into for the beginning of this school year. I had to learn where each of my new classes were, exactly what time to leave to get to school at the right time, and all that other good stuff. On top of that, I was learning how to be an independent adult, living out on my own. I didn't dislike it at all, but it was a lot to get used to all at once.

The thing is, as overwhelming as it seemed at times, I don't think that I could have been happier. I liked being on my own. I liked having my own place. And, most of all, I liked that I didn't have to always keep up appearances in front of my family.

During the first week of the new semester, I was able to relax and be myself at home. I was able to work on the introduction assignments and not worry if someone saw me getting emotional because it made me do a lot of self-reflection. There was a lot that I needed to think about, now and later, and I didn't want to know what my family thought of it all.

In truth, even though I had my own room at the castle, I never felt like I had much privacy. When the people in the tower had hearing that was as good or better than yours, they heard everything. You had to hide all that you were doing, no matter what it was.

For the first few days of classes, I didn't have any issues with emotions. I also didn't have classes every single day like I did last year. I had learned how to better stack my schedule to give myself another day off per week. Thursday was my day to be home alone without anyone and to just think and adjust to my new routine of mine.

This Thursday morning, I decided to head down to the restaurant in the lounge to get myself some breakfast. I hadn't been there yet, and I thought that it was best to finally see what it was all about.

"Good morning, Princess Rika." I heard Andre calling out to me when I got off of the elevator.

"Andre?" I was a little startled when I saw him at first. I had not been expecting him to be right there. Not only that, but he was still calling me Princess Rika, and that would garner way too much attention.

"Did I startle you? I apologize, Prin-."

"Just call me Rika." I stopped him mid title. "I don't need that kind of attention. I wanted to live out here on my own because I wanted to be seen as a normal person. Please, don't use my title all the time like that."

"Oh, yes, of course." He bowed his head to me again and that made me sigh exasperatedly.

"And stop doing that. Just treat me the same as you do the other residents, OK?"

"If that is what you want, Prin-, uhm, I mean Rika." He smiled when he said the name, a knowing sort of look in his eyes. "I will do my best to treat you like anyone else. Now, where are you off to today? Are you needing your car or a taxi this morning?"

"No, I am just heading to the restaurant." I looked in the general direction. "It's my first time going there, so I thought that I would give it a shot."

"Oh, yes, that will be a nice experience for you. I will walk you there if you'd like."

"Andre." I sighed in frustration. "I told you to treat me like a normal person."

"And so I am, Rika. I would walk any of the residents there if they had never been. It is part of my job."

"Aren't you on duty?" I pointed at the door.

"There are two of us on duty at all times. And, as the more senior employee, I am the one with the ability to help the residents like this. Do not worry, I will be able to guide you and then return to my post." As he spoke, I turned and saw the other doorman. He was human, a little heavyset, and seemed to be very bored. He was also looking at Andre enviously.

"Alright." I nodded at him, knowing that he was likely to push this topic no matter what I said. And just allowing him to walk me would be quicker and easier in the long run.

As I walked with Andre to the restaurant, he told me about how long he had worked here, how many residents that he had seen come and go, and about how he enjoyed this particular restaurant more than any in the area.

"They have excellent food." He smiled at me. "And, as an employee that is here for an average of ten hours a day, I get to eat here as often as I like."

"That is nice. I am glad that you get to enjoy the amenities as well." I would hate for there to be a restaurant in the building and the staff not being allowed to frequent it themselves. It would be counterintuitive in my opinion. "What is your favorite dish that they serve?" If he was a regular there, then he would have something to say about the menu.

"Well, for breakfast, I love their blueberry French toast pancakes." I raised a brow at those words.

"French toast pancakes?" I was confused.

"They make them all fresh, which makes them so much better. It's really good though. There are pancakes that are cut in half and topped with blueberries and an egg mixture before they are baked. The result is something similar to French toast, but obviously made from pancakes. Get it with a full side of meats and you will not be disappointed." His eyes were bright and shining, excitement radiating off of him so much that I was able to feel it myself.

"Well, if you recommend it that much, then I definitely need to try it." I couldn't stop the look that was on my face. It felt to me that I hadn't been this happy in a long time.

"I have a lot more that I can recommend for you." His voice was suddenly a little lower as he stopped to look at me. "If you want me to, that is."

"Oh, uhm, y..yeah, sure." I didn't know what else to say in response to him.

"How about tomorrow night? I am off around six, I can meet you at your door and take you down to dinner. Or I can take you to a restaurant in the area. Whichever you would prefer."

I knew that he was asking me out. It was obvious after all. And the thing is, even though I had little to no experience, I wasn't nervous at all. I was calm and actually felt like I wanted to go out with this man. I didn't know if it was because he was good looking and nice, or if I just wanted to know what this part of life was like. Whatever the reason was, I gave him a smile as I started to nod.

"You know what, Andre? I think that would be really nice." He seemed almost too shocked by my response. He had obviously been expecting me to say that I wouldn't be going with him.

"Really?" His voice almost cracked as it went up a few octaves in his joy.

"Yeah, really. I will meet you tomorrow at eight, if that works for you."

"Yeah, that'll be great." We started to walk again. "Are we coming here to the restaurant, or are we going somewhere else?"

"Hmm." I thought about it for a moment. "I think that we should go somewhere else. I don't know as much about this city as I would like. Given the fact that I grew up here, I should know it a lot better."

"I can take care of that." There was a suggestive little glint in his eyes as he spoke and there was the faint stirring of excitement in my belly when I saw it.

He showed me to a table and waved at a waitress that came hurrying over. The waitress was a wolf, a part of the pack that my family was in charge of.

"Prin-."

"Just Rika." I stopped her before she could continue. I had seen this woman before, but I didn't remember her name. She was pretty though. She had a slim and narrow face with soft edges that made her look young and childlike. She had reddish brown hair that was in a tight French braid, and pretty hazel eyes that were a little more on the green side.

"Oh, alright." She nodded at me as she tried to figure out what to do.

"Rika is trying to stay under the radar." Andre said with a wink in my direction. "Rika, this is Haleena, and she is one of the best waitresses that they have here at Amber Crescent Café."

"Stop flattering me, Andre." She joked with him. "Now, Pri-, uhm, Rika, what can I get for you?" I told her the order that Andre had suggested, added a caramel mocha and a glass of orange juice, and let her be on her way. She approved of the meal by the way, which in the end, so did I. It was actually quite amazing. The entire experience was amazing. And I was actually excited for dinner tomorrow night.

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