Book Two: Branch Sixteen

Sounds of loud coughs filled the restaurant as Joshua rushed to fill her cup with water and pushed it to her face.

"Here drink this," he said.

She collected the cup from him and glared at him. "What?" she whispered as she dropped the glass from her mouth to the table.

"I said you should.."

"I did not ask you to repeat it" she continued in a low whisper.

"So what do you say?"

"No," she said without thinking about it.

"Why?"

"I will only answer that if you answer my question," she said and he nodded. He wanted to know why she would turn him down after confessing to him and calling him the nation's boyfriend. Her relaxed attitude in front of him also suggested she might be open to the idea. Was that not the reason she confessed?

"Why are you asking me out?" he did not expect that to be her question. He did not know what he was expecting but it was not that.

"Because..... Because"

"See you don't even know why you are asking me out. I am in no position to be your partner. I am y