Not Such A Good Idea

"Zac I can't let you take me here!" I exclaimed, glancing out the window at the entrance to the Blue Swan. Although no comparison to Louise, Zac's Jeep had run a little smoother on the way over. Made quite a bit less noise too.

"Sure you can." He cast me a grin. How could anyone turn that down? Well, I could..

"It's too expensive," I said indignantly.

"I don't think we need to be concerned about that." Oh, that's right. I have a hard time remembering how much money the Hansons had accumulated in their possession over the last years. I smiled, remember 'Hanson Mania,' the swarm of the three young brothers: posters, stickers, t-shirts, calenders, magazine articles, radio interviews, tv appearances, music releases, videos, etc. And it didn't stop there with all their fans: fan clubs, letters in the mail, email, web pages, concerts.. the Hansons had fed the ravenous stomachs of the 'teeny bopper' subculture the bubblegum pop they craved ever so much. Why had it seemed so long ago when it really wasn't?

Because you never cleared things up with Taylor, my mind was kind to remind me, that's why it felt longer.

"Well, I'd rather not. It.. it's too dressy," I pretended to scrutinize my dress, picking at the seam that ran along my leg. Truth was, I didn't bring enough money to eat more than the complimentary appetizers here. Maybe, if I turn too cheap to tip, I could get a glass of water. No ice, of course, but still water.

"You look beautiful," Zac assured me, smiling at me warmly. "Now come on, we don't want to sit outside looking at the entrance all night, do we?"

I'd be content with that. I thought, noticing the other couples walking through the door, how exceptionally dressed they were.

Great, the first time I get dressed up in years and I get to feel dirt-cheap. Well, actually I am dirt-cheap, but I don't like to appear that way.

"Thanks," I said, stepping outside and wrapped my coat around my shoulders as a small breeze brushed up against me. "I wish it would warm up a little."

"Hey," Zac teased with a half-smile playing on his lips. "You're supposed to let me get your door. Not much for gentlemen, are you Maggie?"

"Well," I grinned back at him. "Show me a gentleman and I'll answer that question."

"I don't know about you." Zac shook his head as he walked around the car to my side. After dropping his keys off with the valet driver, something I'd never do (either out of distrust or embarrassment of making someone drive my car), he took my arm and guided me through the brass-plated glass doors. Although I'd been past the Blue Swan many times, I'd never eaten here before.

I gasped when I saw the maroon and gold decorated interior; whoever owned this place must've had more heaps of money than Scrooge McDuck. Lush plants were strategically and decoratively placed throughout the restaurant/bar, while intimate tables for two circled around a small fountain.

"Wow, Zac this is .. so nice." I was in awe. Not the typical McDonald's I'd been expecting, and in some way, hoping for.

"Surprise," he winked at me. We walked towards a tall man with slicked, dark hair dressed in a tuxedo. He was scribbling something down in a book, standing behind what looked like a podium, adorned in (what else?) maroon and gold.

"May I help you?" the man asked cordially, glancing up at our presence.

"Reservation for two, under the name 'Hanson.' " Zac, unlike me, seemed to fit into this setting nicely. Glancing up at him out of the corner of my eye, I began to wonder how he had gotten so mature, still only at the age of seventeen. What else would he surprise me with tonight?

"Hanson... Hanson.." the man flipped through a few pages of his book.

"Ahh, here we go. Right this way." He grabbed two menus, stepped down from his 'almightier-than-thou' step, and we discovered he was about six inches shorter than me. Supressing my giggles, I followed him past the bar and down a little flight of stairs, Zac right behind me.

"Here you are," the man said, placing our menus down at a small round table. A thin vase containing a single red rose had been placed between two candles, all sitting over a spotlessly white table cloth. I sat down first, Zac across from me. I noticed right away exactly how intimate those tables were, I was sitting closer to him than I'd been in the car. Kind of creepy, if you're a person who needs a large sphere of personal space, like me.

"Enjoy your meal." The man exited. Making a mistake, I picked up my menu and opened it.

"Zac!" I whispered to him, snapping my menu shut and setting it on the table after a quick glance at the prices. "I can't eat here!"

"Sure you can." Zac reached over and opened the menu, placing it back in my hands. His fingers lingered slightly on mine, sending, surprisingly, tingles through my fingers. I retracted them quickly, almost dropping the menu.

"No I can't."

"Why not?" Zac looked somewhat hurt. "I thought this was a nice place."

"It's absolutely beautiful," I assured him, placing my hand gently on his arm for support.

"I.. I didn't bring enough money, that's all," I blushed. I hate admitting to stuff like that.

"Is that all?" Zac smiled. He leaned back in his seat and said softly,

"That's ok, it's on me." With that, he placed his hand warmly over mine.

"Are you sure?" I asked, pulling my hand back as well. Zac frowned immediately.

Uh-oh.. I thought.

"YES," he emphasized. "Maggie, I thought you weren't seeing anyone right now."

Is that his idea of small talk?

"Umm.. it's news to me if I am," I laughed light-heartedly. Fact was, he'd directly asked me that question last week. I felt a little confused.

"Are you interested in me?"

Ahh! I wasn't expecting that question; so much for the usual small talk that happens. Suddenly, I felt very out-of-the-times in my dating behavior.. big surprise.

"You're a great person Zac," I replied honestly, smiling.

"Thanks, but that's not what I asked."

Darn it, saw right through my loophole. Smart guy.

"Umm.. what did you mean?" I looked down at the table distractedly, hoping to stall the inevitable question.

"I think you know what I meant." Zac leaned over the table towards me.

"Zac, I--" I started to say.

"Shh," he interrupted. My heart skipped lighty as he continued leaning forwards, parting his lips towards mine, and-

"Ahem," A voice impatiently said above us.

"Are you ready to order now?" God bless that waitress.

"Yes," I replied quickly, my face flushing bright pink at Zac's outward attempt at affection.

"I'll have the.. salad please." I said, ignoring Zac's raised eyebrows and amused smile. I hate salads. They're so.. unfullfilling. But I hated spending other's money more, so I opted for the cheapest item on the ghastly-overpriced menu.

"No she won't," he corrected me before the waitress had a chance to write it down. After guesturing her to step towards him, he pointed to something on the menu.

"We'll take two of these, please."

"Oh, good choice Mr. Hanson," winking at me, the waitress took our menus and disappeared quickly.

"What did you do that for?" I asked, my cheeks still a little pink.

"You don't seem like the salad type, Maggie." Zac smiled at me, his brown eyes looking intensely into mine. I couldn't help but watch the reflection of the candle flames dance in them. However, not one to ever win staring contests, I couldn't take it, so I lowered mine.

"So what did you order?" I was dying to know.

"It's a suprise." Oh boy. Another surprise. Something told me not to trust any more surprises from Zac Hanson. I decided to raise my guard for the rest of the evening. Unfortunately, I'd find out later that I was in for the biggest surprise of my late-teenage life.