//......Simply Smashing......\\ Version 2

Chapter Two **so far**
Practice Makes Perfect
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�Thank you Mrs. Hurst, I�ll be sure to practice the songs you gave me,� Michelle called out after the older woman, clutching papers against her chest. Drawing her coat around her tightly and making sure her scarf was in place, she made her way out to the main seating area, and was about to walk outside, when a voice suddenly called out her name. She turned around.

�Chri�I mean, Mr. Montague,� she said, pausing as she watched him stand up out of a chair that had been sitting next to a fireplace. �What brings you here so late?�

Christian looked dumfounded. �Me? Here so late? I didn�t really think it was late. After all, it�s only, what, midnight?� Michelle stared at him rather pointedly. �Of course it�s late. I don�t know why I�m here, so, goodbye.� He snatched up his hat and raced for the door.

�Not so fast,� Michelle said suddenly, and Christian stopped. �You obviously had something to say so go ahead and say it.�

�Say what?�

�What you were going to say.�

�I wasn�t going to say anything.�

�Yes you were!�

�I wasn�t.�

Michelle moaned, sitting down on a sofa. �All right then. I will just sit here, even if it takes all night, until you tell me what you were going to say.� And with that, she folded her arms and settled against the cushions.

�Er, okay,� Christian said, and walked out of the building and into the cold weather outside. Michelle sat very still, her chin held high. Only a few seconds later, Christian was opening the door to the building, snow flakes embedded in his dark hair making him look like he had aged twenty years.

�I got as far as Blackburn Street but I had to come back because of you,� Christian sighed, taking a seat next to Michelle on the sofa. �You�re really going to make me tell you what I was going to say?� he asked, doing his best to look pitiful.

�Yes I am. You need to learn to not be so shy Christian,� she added. �You need to be firm, steadfast, outspoken. Now, go on and tell me.�

Christian sighed, seeing there was no way he could escape this one. �I was going to ask you if you would accompany me to dinner. Professionally.�

�Professionally?� Michelle asked, her eyebrows furrowing.

�As in just getting to know each other, no dates or whatever the current word for courtship is,� he muttered. Michelle blinked and then burst out laughing.

�Why Christian,� she said in mock seriousness. �I would love to accompany you professionally to dinner. No romance whatsoever,� she grinned. �Now tell me, why was that so hard to do?�

He shrugged. �Fear of rejection?�

�Rejection?�

�You know, at times you�re not too bright,� he teased, tapping her nose. But even as simple as the gesture was, it caused the both of them to lapse into silence.

�I should probably get going,� Michelle, glad to break the ice, said hurriedly. �I�ve got to practice these--.�

�At midnight?� Christian questioned.

�Well, no, but if I�m going to be alert I�ll need sleep,� Michelle informed him. �Oh by the way, where and when shall we have our businesslike dinner?�

�There�s always that one caf酔 Christian began.

�Oh don�t you dare start that trick on me Christian. I know that if we eat where you work you�ll gain about two percent of the overall profit made that evening,� she said slyly.

�Oh but it�s actually seven percent, don�t you know?� he said in a formal tone, but a grin was rapidly spreading across his face. �Anyway, to answer your two previous questions, how about I just pick you up someplace and surprise you. Let�s say seven o�clock, here.�

Michelle couldn�t keep herself from giggling. �You obviously haven�t arranged a business dinner before have you? I need to know what date also, and what to wear��

�I�m sorry,� Christian apologized, secretly furious with himself.

�No need to be,� Michelle said genially. �Just give me sufficient information and I�ll be on my way.�

�Alright then, how about Friday evening, tomorrow evening at that, at seven o�clock, and smart casual will do just fine,� Christian said, hoping he himself could remember all of that.

�Sounds great to me,� Michelle agreed. �I�ll see you then.�

***

�YES!�

Christian sighed as he watched his two best friends punch the air, and then flop down onto his sofa in his apartment. �What is it you two?� he asked, as the two young men across from him gave each other thumbs-up.

�Nothing really,� Conner said. �We�re just glad you finally came to your senses and asked her out.�

�And with no help from us,� James put in.

�I�ve already told you a million times. I did not ask her out. She is accompanying me to a businesslike dinner,� Christian said moodily. �Besides, what�s it to you if I asked her out anyway?�

Conner sighed sympathetically. �Well Chris, ol� buddy ol� pal,� he began, while Christian raised one eyebrow at him slyly, �we just don�t think you�re capable of talking to women without turning all gooey.�

�Gooey��

�So to speak,� James explained.

�And we want you to find an awesome girl, but when you do, you don�t do anything about it. Well, except for melting into puddles at her feet and then she just walks all over you. But with Michelle, you�re actually getting to know her. You like her.�

Christian rolled his eyes. �I like her but not romantically.�

�That is really the dumbest thing you�ve ever said,� James said. �Of course you like her romantically. She is hot.�

�And even if you didn�t, you�d fall for her eventually. Like James said, she�s a walking guy magnet,� Conner finished.

�But I�of course she would already have�if she�s so charming why doesn�t she have a boyfriend?� Christian said helplessly, looking from the redheaded man to the blonde one.

Conner shrugged. �Maybe she does, maybe she doesn�t. That�s why you need to ask her at this �businesslike dinner� of yours.�

�I will, but only if she brings it up first,� Christian said firmly.

***

Michelle sat on a bench outside of the building she and Christian had arranged as their meeting place. Despite the cold weather, she was fairly warm, due to the large coat, mittens, and scarf she was wearing. The only thing that kept her from being entirely comfortable was that Christian was twenty minutes late.

�I wonder what�s keeping him,� she wondered aloud, watching busy people walk past her without noticing her at all. �Perhaps he lost track of time, or maybe he forgot about it--.�

�Or maybe he has two best friends that don�t know when to quit talking.� Michelle blinked, and standing in front of her was Christian himself. He was wearing a pained look.

�I�m sorry for being so late,� he said, as she stood up from the bench and dusted off her coat.

�It�s really all right,� Michelle said. �As long as you have a good reason.�

�Reason?�

�Yes. Was it really your friends that kept you?� Michelle asked.

Christian sighed. �Partially. I was�well, I was sort of playing�� his voice drifted off.

�Piano?� Michelle finished for him, and he nodded, the pained look back on his face. �Well, I suppose I can�t forgive you for that one,� she said firmly, and began walking away.

�Wait a minute,� Christian called after her. �I�m truly sorry.�

�And I was only joking,� Michelle smiled, her quick pace slowing down to match his. �Like I said, as long as you didn�t forget or anything, it doesn�t matter to me. But you do have to let me pay for dinner tonight.�

Christian blanched. �Absolutely not. I am paying for this as I invited you. And if you don�t like that, well, then I�ll just have to�I don�t know, but you�ll see I can be very steadfast when it comes to certain subjects.�

Michelle smiled slyly. �Steadfast, eh? Well I�m sorry Mr. Montague.�

�I believe we should get going,� Christian said. �Don�t you agree Ms. Terrance?�

�I do agree, but please quit calling me by my last name, it drives me berserk,� Michelle pouted.

�All right Michelle,� he said, saying her name strangely as if it were foreign. Michelle laughed good-naturedly.

�You�re becoming more social by the minute Christian, and that�s a good thing,� she said happily, as they began walking. �By the way, where are we going?�

It was Christian�s turn to give her a sly smile. �Well, it�s sort of a surprise secret combination,� he said warily.

Michelle thought for a minute. �It must be someplace nearby, otherwise we wouldn�t be walking.�

�Perhaps,� Christian said. �But I�m still not going to give you any hints.�

Michelle pouted, crossing her arms and looking out over the street at the cars rushing past them. Each time they would pass a restaurant, Michelle would look up at Christian expectantly, but he would always keep his gaze straight ahead of him. Michelle got a good look at his profile. He was pretty tall, at least 5� 11�. He was also quite skinny for a pianist, as she always thought they would be on the chubby side from sitting all day practicing, but clearly she had been wrong. His hair was very dark, making the snowflakes show up as if they were actually a part of his hair. His eyes were dark as well, but they shone brighter than any she had seen at times, whether he was amused or sad or even playing his beloved piano.

�Ms. Terrance?�

She snapped out of her trance and found him to be looking back at her. �Is something the matter?� he asked. They had stopped walking.

�No, nothing is wrong,� she said, glad that it was so dark that he couldn�t see her face reddening. �I just got a little sidetracked. Doing a bit of thinking. You know what I mean?�

�Of course,� he replied.

�And I told you to stop calling me Ms. Terrance. Michelle is fine, or even Mich, whatever works,� she said sternly.

Christian smiled. �Alright Michelle. Oh and here we are.�

Michelle looked around wildly and saw where he had indicated. It was a comfortable looking place, not quite a caf� and not quite a restaurant either. But it did look like it would have good food and drinks. �It�s nice,� she commented.

�I think you�ll enjoy it,� Christian said, opening the door for Michelle, and she stepped inside gratefully. The inside was dark but lit by dim lights and candles. A waiter to her left took her coat, while a waiter on her right took out a menu.

�Two?� he asked Christian.

�Yes,� Christian nodded, and they followed the waiter to a table by the window. Michelle sat down first and Christian straight across from her.

�What would you like to drink?� the waiter asked.

�I�ll take a coffee, black,� Christian said.

�As for me, I�ll just have a water,� Michelle said thoughtfully. The waiter went away, promising to return shortly with their drinks.

Michelle looked out the window, not really sure what to say. This was, after all, a businesslike dinner, but she found herself getting that awkwardness one usually feels on a first date.

�Here we are,� a voice said. It belonged to the waiter. �One coffee for you, and a water for your lovely girlfriend.�

�I�m not his girlfriend!�

�She�s not my girlfriend!�

Christian and Michelle both looked at each other quickly before looking back at the waiter. �Oh I�m sorry, my mistake,� the waiter mumbled. �It�s just that you two look so nice together I just assumed�anyway, I�ll be back a little later for your orders.� And with that, he left two menus on the table and disappeared someplace.

�God that was embarrassing,� Michelle muttered, hiding her face in her hands.

�Yeah, I know,� said Christian, because a few people were starting to stare. He cleared his throat loudly and they all looked away. Michelle took one of her spoons and unnecessarily stirred the lemon in her water.

�Perhaps we should order now?� Christian offered.

�Oh yes.� She opened her menu, took one look at the prices, and slammed it shut again.

�What�s wrong?� he asked, lowering his own menu.

�Well�these are sort of�expensive,� she finished. �And you said you would pay��

Christian turned red. �I just figured you�d like it here. Money is not a concern tonight, so get whatever you please,� he replied. Michelle found herself greatly touched by this nice answer, and looked back down at the menu, determined to get the cheapest plate and not waste one bit of it.

�So,� Michelle said, eager to start a conversation. �Tell me a bit about yourself. I have no idea how old you are, where you grew up, or anything like that.�

�Well, I am twenty-four years of age. Is it really so shocking?� he asked, as he spotted Michelle�s surprised face.

�No, I just expected you to be younger,� Michelle said, having had no idea they were so close in age. �Anyway, do continue.�

�Both of my parents lived in Britain, so I grew up right in the center of London, thus the accent,� he said. �But they decided to come to the United States when I was eight. Only a few days later, they were killed in a car accident while I was at school, so my grandmother came here to look after me. I lived with her up until I was nineteen, and she passed away. The only reason I am able to live alone is because of the money my grandmother and parents left me, what little there was of it. But my job as a waiter gives me just enough, and now this job as a wedding pianist will help even more.� He stopped when he saw Michelle�s sad face. �Have I said too much?� he asked.

�No, not at all,� Michelle said. �I just had no idea.�

Christian shrugged humbly. �It doesn�t bother me much. Anyway, how about you?�

�Me?� she said. �Oh right. I�m twenty-one years old. My parents split up when I was thirteen, but both of them are alive and well. I visit them every now and then, but they both live outside of New York so I don�t see them much. Not a very exciting past but that�s the truth.�

�How did you come about to singing?� Christian asked, genuinely interested.

Michelle looked thoughtful. �You know, I�ve never really thought about that. I would have to say it�d come from my mother. She sang a lot to me when I was young, so I picked up off of that. Now you, Piano Man, where did you acquire such good skills?�

�From my grandmother,� Christian nodded. �She gave me lessons all the time, and she loved the piano so much. I would come home from school and she would play me a song every day."

**more coming soon**