| "Come on, you still have more stuff to show me." Justin took advantage of her open window. "Ok, follow me." She had always been too nice. Certain she would be pulled into a tabloid cover story, she tried to think of a quiet place to eat. She led Justin to the Mongolian Grill nearby. The food was great but it was still fairly empty. It was a small resturant that didn't advertise. She had stumbled upon it on accident a little over a year ago. She pulled into a front row parking spot and pulled the emergency brake. "Come on, shorty." Justin's arm draped across her shoulders. "Table for two non smoking." She slid from under his arm as subtly as possible as she followed the hostess to a table. The table was acceptably private and secluded. The only problem was the table was a wrap around booth. How could she stay away from him? She perched her self at one end of the seat while he positioned himself toward the middle. "The food good here?" "Yeah, if you like chinese." She reached over and opened his menu for him. His fingers ran over hers as he took control of the menu. Thinking he was expecting a one night fling, she quickly decided to leave as soon as dinner was over. "So what are you having?" "I dunno, you?" His eyes remained on the menu, searching for anything that looked appetizing. "Orange chicken and fried rice." Her teeth pulled her bottom lip into them, while her eyes searched for something he may like. "Sounds good, that's what I'll have." He folded the menu and set it aside. "So now you tell me about yourself." "What do you want to know?" Her thumbs unconsciously twiddled. "Anything, and lots of it." His eyes looked directly into hers. "Uum, okay, let's see. I'm nineteen, I was born in Texas, in Fort Worth. My parents divorced when I was young. I'm a Daddy's girl, but you knew that. I love my family more than anything even though they are so far away. I went to U DUB, um University of Washington. I have a brother and sister. Older and younger, that order. So I am a middle child but it's not as bad as everyone says. I mean I am my Daddy's youngest, and my Mom's oldest daughter. I never got ignored like everyone says the middle child is. My brother and I are very close, we are inseperable when we are together." She looked over at him for the first time since she had began rambling incomplete sentences in his direction. "Nevermind, what about you?" "You said went to U Dub, but you are only nineteen. Do I have a genius on my hands?" "No when I opened the shop it was hard to run it and go to college." "You dropped out?" "Postponed graduation. I am going back when the shop is self running." She defended quickly, he was pushing the intelligence button again. "Oh, well I never started." "Really?" "Could you imagine me going to college? I would have ten bodygaurds at all times. I'd be late to class everyday because of the girls chasing me down the halls." His eyes bounced with laughter. "We don't have a confidence problem, now do we?" Her eyebrows raised. "No, I just accept reality for what it is." His tongue ran over his plump lips. "What's your favorite food?" "Fried rice." He nodded his head with an approving look. "You single?" Amusement flashed over his eyes, as thier waitress set thier drinks down before she could answer. "We'll have two orange chickens with fried rice." Michelle nodded her head in respect as the woman bowed. She pulled the straw in her cup into her lips and took a sip. "Yeah, why?" Her head turned to Justin as she delivered the answer. "Just wondering if I should call this a date." His shoulders shrugged to downplay the words. "No you shouldn't. Consider it dinner with a guide." Her tone was a little sterner than usual. "I'll do that." He searched her for the meaning of her sentence with his eyes. "When's your birthday?" "March fifth. You?" March! Was that the reason she didn't like the month? Had something happened on her birthday? He didn't know what could have happened to make her hate the whole month. "June twenty ninth. So why do you live in Washington?" "My shop is here." She tried to avoid the real answer. "Why before that?" "College." It sounded reasonable, she believed. Thier food was delivered, and they began to eat. Throughout the meal she ran over her answers in her head. She hoped she hadn't given away too much information. She was growing more uncomfortable by the second, and was very relieved when the bill came. "Well, I better be going." She set her half of the bill on the table plus tip. "Already? Stay just a minute longer." He set his hand on top of hers. "No thanks. I really must go, I don't feel like being tomorrows front page news." She pulled her hand from under his. "Why would you be? For having dinner with me?" His eyes searched hers in confusion. "Yeah, and I really don't feel like having Britney mad at me either. I'd rather not meet her at all." She stood and made her way to the front door. Justin ran after her, handing the bill and money to thier waitress on the way out. She was unlocking her door when he made it outside. "Wait, you have it all wrong." "I may not have the confidence you do, but I know when someone is flirting with me." She turned the key forcefully and pulled the latch to open the door. "That's not what I meant, I am not with Britney. I am single, and I was flirting." He pleaded as she paused. "Don't bother, flirting won't get you anywhere with me. I'm not looking for a man." She left him staring at the spot where her car had disappeared. He slowly walked to his own car and drove in the same direction. Luckily he made his way home without getting lost, and showered before going to bed early. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There was nothing on TV and he had paced the house hundreds of times. He clicked the TV off with the remote and walked into the kitchen. He opened each cabinet and looked inside, he wasn't hungry, just bored. The sudden ringing of the doorbell brought excitement to his eyes. He quickly ran to open the door, and found a delivery man there. The man thrust flowers into his hands and bowed before leaving. Justin sat the flowers onto a nearby table and searched for the card. Justin, Sorry about last night, I shouldn't have left you there. I am just not myself lately. I've been a little under the weather. Bye bye. -Michelle |
| Chapter Four |