Alexis studied herself in the doorlength mirror, the sounds of 'The All American Rejects' filling her hollow and small apartment. It was only dinner and a movie which meant she didn't have to appear dressy. But then again, she didn't want to show up in a pair of worn-in sweatpants and a flannel shirt. After compromising a date with Elijah, he had departed and left Alexis with a bubbling surge of worried anticipation.
The next day, Thursday, he hadn't come back, much to her dismay. But in his place, he sent a boquet of creamy, white roses. All the waitresses, including Alexis had gushed and swarmed around the present like a newborn baby.
Finally it had arrived at Friday, the designated date day. Luckily, Alexis didn't have to work so she could spend all day, if she needed, to prepare. After calling up her best friend, Emily and searching madly through her closet she had finally settled on an outfit. It was a jean miniskirt, and, considering the nippy fall weather, a long-sleeved, one-shouldered top the color of archaic wine. For shoes, a pair of simple black sandals were on her feet. She'd gathered her sea of cinnomen colored curls into a half-pony tail and decided to keep the makeup at a minimum. As she posed in front of the mirror, doubt beginning to slink into her mind about the approaching night, the door bell gave a shrill ring.
Alexis bit her bottom lip. He was here. As she shakily walked through the dimly lighted hallway and to the front door, she hoped that everything that evening would run a smooth course. Alexis swung open the door, a smile finding itself onto her face and her breath nearly caught in her throat. There he stood, like a Prince waiting for Cinderella, a fantasy picture of the perfect guy out of a perfect dream. His presence was like a gift she wasn't ready for; the kind of present that made you immediately gasp as your eyes pricked with salty teardrops. Though he wasn't that dressed up (Tommy Hilfigher jeans, a white t-shirt and a jean jacket) there was something about him, an aura that glowed around him, that made him simply irresistable. Maybe it was the way his eyes twinkled like two diamonds or the way he wore that cocky yet guileless half-smile that reeled her in. All she knew, was that whatever he was doing to cause her insides to turn to half-baked potato salad, she didn't want him to stop.
Elijah spoke first, seeing as how Alexis was occupied with trying to catch her voice.
"Hey, Alex. I hope I'm not too early or anything. 8 o clock, right?" he asked. Alexis nodded.
"No, you're fine-I mean, no it's fine!" she quickly stuttered, embarrasment suddenly overwhelming her. Elijah laughed and let her slipup slide.
"Are you ready?"
"Let me get my purse and we can leave", she informed.
Alexis bolted down the hall, into her room, snatched her purse and returned to the front door, where Elijah waited. She shut the door behind her and Elijah led her to his red Ferrari. The September night sky resembled a yard of black velvet, the white stars like studded on rhinestones. The temperature was mildly cool, warm enough to wear shorts but cool enough for a light jacket. A force, or rather, fate hung in the air and onto the stars, unable to behold but its presence tugging at both their hearts.
The car ride on the way to the movie thearter was filled with questions and answers as the two strangers got to know one another. The movie that they had decided on, or rather the movie Elijah had let Alexis choose, was "How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days." It was a romantic comedy full of twists and turns and even Elijah couldn't help but laugh at some of the parts.
After the movie, Elijah whisked them away to Constantine's, a four star resturant that served just about anything you could conjure. They were seated at a table outside, on the patio, their source of light a small candle and the light streaming in from inside the restuarnt . Alexis decided to order a plate of spaghetti and meatballs, while Elijah decided to order the baked chicken chef specality. As the two waited for their food to arrive, Alexis slowly glanced upward at Elijah, a coy smile on her face.
"So, Mr. Wood. We've both heard me babbled about myself tonight, but I don't think I've heard that much about you", she prompted.
He laughed.
"What's there to say?" he asked. Alexis gave a bubbly giggle, much more relaxed than compared to earlier.
"Well, how about why you asked me out on this date, tonight, for starters", she urged. He gave her a sad smile, as if he were a doctor giving false, positive news to a patient that would die no matter what.
His voice was almost as low as a whisper and swelled with sincerity and regret as he confessed: "Well..because I wanted to get to know you. And because..you're beautiful. And I said to myself, Elijah, girls like that don't stay single for long. If you don't act quick enough, someone may snatch her away before you even get a chance. Don't let her go."
Alexis gaped in wonder.
"Did you, really mean that? Or..I mean..or..." She paused and grinned: " Is that just some kind of well-rehearsed line to get into my pants."
Elijah laughed and took a sip of his water.
"Yeah, I said something like that. As for the second question, I can't believe you'd accuse me of something like that. I'm horrified!" he exclaimed in mock scoff.
Alexis laughed.
"I was just checking." Elijah gave her a half-smile and opened his mouth to speak, when he was interrupted by the waiter.
"Dinner, is served", he announced, a hint of a French accent clinging onto his words.
He set a plate of steaming hot, mound of spaghetti, adoned with a few meatballs in front of Alexis and then a plate consisting of a large, chicken brisket, caked with tangy sauces and spices and a baked potato, in front of Elijah.
The two thanked the waiter and began to dig into their meal but he had not yet moved.
"Would any of you want anything else?" the dark-haired waiter asked.
"No, that's ok", Elijah answered, picking up his fork and knife.
"Nothing for me, either", Alexis responded. She stabbed the hearty meatball with her fork and brought down the knife to cut it, when suddenly, the meatball rung loose out of the fork's hold, sailed into the air and whacked the waiter in the cheek with a surprising "smack."
Alexis froze in place, gazing up at the alarmed waiter, his tomato stained cheek and the meatball slowly slithering off his once clean surface and onto the ground. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Elijah fight back laughter.
"I-uh-er-I'm really sorry about that. I didn't mean to do that", she hastily apologized, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her whole.
The waiter gave her a smile, that of half a smirk and half a grin.
"Let's just forget about it and pretend it never happend", he gently offered. Alexis put down her utensils, as though they were atomic weapons and nodded.
The waiter looked at the two for a moment and then spun on his heel, briskly marching away while dragging out a hankerchief from his trouser's pocket and proceeding to wipe his face.
Alexis turned to Elijah, trying to prepare herself for what he would say. He was silent, his expression blank, holding her intent gaze. Finally, after a few minutes, like the ripples of a pond, a garguantan grin broke free and he burst into hysterics. Alexis found she too, couldn't control herself and laughed along with him.
Shaking with laughter, Elijah wondered aloud: "Does this sort of thing usually happen to you?"
Alexis smiled and wiped away a few stray tears, trying to regain calm again.
She wistfully replied: "Usually no. Then again, good things usually don't happen to me either."
*~*~*~*~*
And there they stood, face to face, at her doorstep, bathed in the florescent porch light hanging above. Their voices were silent but their eyes did all the talking; overt and obvious.
Elijah stared into the face of Alexis, the grin on his face unable to be erased. She had done something, this girl. She had struck a chord with him and the feeling was something he couldn't deny. He glanced down at their hands, dangling merely a few inches apart. Without much thought, he closed the space, holding her hand in his.
He wondered if she noticed how funny it was her hand fit perfectly into his; like a glove. His eyes traveled back upwards and finally staring into her's.
Who would speak first? And who would say what? It could be sometimes a nerve-wracking descion, deciding how to sum up a first date. He'd never really been good at it but somehow, this time, he knew that a paltry of words could be said without either of them possessing lingering thoughts.
"I had a really great time tonight, Elijah", Alexis confessed, breaking the silence.
"Yeah, me too." His hand still was clasped with her's. She gave him a hopeful smile, that made his heart flutter. She had such a beautiful smile, rare but breath-taking, like watching a field of flowers bloom in the incipient stage of spring.
"So, maybe we could do this again, sometime soon?" Alexis wondered.
"Definitly."
Alexis beamed.
"Well, you have my number, so call me whenever you wanna get together again."
Elijah smiled.
"Yeah, I will. And expect to hear from me soon."
They were silent for a few more minutes, both unwillingly to move, hands still joined. After a few more minutes of this sweet silence, Alexis sighed and reached into her pocket, placed the key in the door and turned the lock. Giving him a kiss on the cheek, she pushed the front door open and let go of his hand.
"Bye, Mr. Wood", she softly teased. He laughed.
"I'll see you later, Miss. Perez." He caught one last glimpse of her radiant smile, then she slipped inside and shut the door. With a wistfull sigh, Elijah hustled down the steps and to his awaiting car. Even though they hadn't confessed their undying love for one another or even had a short kiss, the looming menace of "the deal" was pushed far back into his mind, as Elijah realized maybe ten days wasn't as long as he thought it'd be after all.
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