Chapter One - Part Two

Chapter One - Part Two

I picked up my phone and punched in the numbers. It had been two days since I'd seen Andrea, hopefully enough to show I wasn't desperate but not enough to imply I wasn't interested. That's what Robbie had said anyway.

"Hello?"          

"Hey, it's waitress from the other day. You gave me your number."

"Oh, hi cutie."

"I was wondering if you'd like to go to dinner tonight?"

"Love to. Seven at Willards? I'll see you then."

The line cut off and the air whooshed out of my lungs. There were so many thoughts racing through my head. Some of them were the more boring, common sort - what should I wear? What should I tell her about myself? And then there were the more exciting ones - would we kiss? Would we have that deep connect most people only dream of?

I'll stop right there, I try to keep my sentimentality a secret. I'm already ashamed that I just wrote that, maybe I'll delete it later. Too much information.

It was already two in the afternoon, and in my language that's bed time. I usually woke mornings at the coffee shop, so I get up at six and when I get home I sleep till around four in the afternoon. I fell asleep and dreamt of cinnamon donuts and chocolate thick shakes.

I awoke at  five with a panic setting in. I'm one of those people who has to be at least fifteen minutes early - I'm also one of those people who take ages to get ready. I think it has something to do with my insecurities. I'm extremely self-conscious and getting myself to the point where I'm happy to leave the house can take a while.

Willards was one of the few cheap yet nice restaurants in the area. I'd been there on so many first dates it not funny. I'd memorised their whole order and knew exactly what specials they had going at any one time. That night it was steak and potato-salad for eight dollars.

Andrea was already there when I arrived. She looked gorgeous, with some retro red mini-dress on and a matching pair of heels. I felt my stomach twist itself into a knot as tight as my skinny jeans.

"So,  I never did catch your name, I looked for a name tag but you weren't wearing one," she said.

"I'm Evelyn. You're Andrea."

"That's me. Why don't you sit down?"

I sat and fidgeted with my necklace. There was something about this girl that made me nervous. It could have been the way she stared straight into my eyes or maybe the way she spoke.

"I'm going to order the special, what will you have?"

"Spinach and feta pie, it's my favourite here," I said.

The waiter arrived and took our orders. Andrea asked for some wine while we were waiting and I finished my glass in about thirty seconds.

"So, tell me about yourself. I know you're beautiful, but what do you like?"

To be continued...