This is the first story I've uploaded, and to be honest the first piece of writing I've done in 2 years longer than about 2 lines which hasn't been copied from a textbook, so this first chapter is me finding my feet more than anything. I've planned it to be relatively long so will try to update it regularly. Please please please review, I would love feedback from anybody who reads :)

What the hell is wrong with me? Ryan thought, sipping coffee absently. Here he was, sitting across the table from a beautiful, intelligent, and altogether lovely woman, and yet he couldn't seem to shift his thoughts from somebody else –

"Natalia," Molly was saying, jolting Ryan out of his head and back to the small cafe.

"Uh . . . What?" Ryan tried to remember what she had been talking about but drew a blank, feeling guilty it had been Natalia's name which had caught his attention.

"I was just saying how strong she must be, she took a lot of crap today . . . Why? Weren't you listening?" Molly frowned, playfully, Ryan hoped.

"You have the cutest mouth when you frown." He replied smoothly, sidestepping the question.

She smiled prettily, colour rising in her cheeks as she was caught off guard by the compliment. Ryan watched her, trying to remind himself how much he liked her. You're an ungrateful bastard you know, you've spent all these weeks flirting with Molly, and now you're finally out together you spend the whole time thinking about Natalia. He shook his head, as if trying to dislodge the thoughts inside. Natalia was just a friend, a friend who had had a rough day. He was entitled to wonder how she was feeling, what she was up to tonight; they were normal things for a friend to wonder.

So why did he feel so damn guilty?

A waiter appeared at the table to remove the two empty mugs.

"Do you want me to get the next round?" Molly asked, leaning over towards Ryan. She smelt nice, he noted.

He raised his eyebrows and handed the waiter a bill. "Get her whatever she wants. I'll have another coffee please." Molly smiled and placed her order, the waiter left.

"I was serious you know, I would have paid." She sounded sincere Ryan thought, though he still chuckled as he replied.

"Yeah, yeah. Just because you asked me out doesn't mean that I don't have to pay for it all. I'm lucky you just wanted to go for coffee," he joked. She flicked his hand playfully and then casually left her hand draped over his.

Ryan didn't say anything, but the fluttering in his stomach told him that he really didn't want to screw this up. He made a mental promise not to think about Natalia until he got home. She had barely spoken to him all day; she could cope without him for a couple more hours.

It was going on half 9 when Ryan and Molly finished their third drink and decided to call it a night. As Ryan drove back to Molly's place they talked and laughed like they had known each other ten times longer, and yet as soon as they pulled up on her drive and Ryan turned off the engine, they both fell silent.

Molly peered across in the fading light, her hair had fallen over her face and she looked suddenly shy.

"Thank you Ryan, I've had a lovely evening."

Ryan smiled back, "thanks for suggesting it. So, erm . . . am I supposed to walk you to your door?" His nerves showed only faintly in his voice.

"I guess." Molly winked at him as she climbed out of the car, and Ryan immediately followed.

He slipped his hand into hers as they made their way silently to her door, where she turned to face him. Ryan placed a hand on her cheek as his lips found hers in the darkness.

It was a short kiss but extremely pleasant.

"Night Molly." Ryan said, grinning rather breathlessly.

"Night," she echoed as she stepped inside, "and don't think this means you'll be getting your trace processed any faster," she laughed, before closing the door.

Ryan grinned all the way back to his car, but it was wiped from his face when he pulled his phone from his back pocket.

'You have 4 missed calls from Natalia,' it read.

"Oh shit." Ryan hit redial as he started the car and pulled into the road.

"Hey Ryan," came Natalia's voice, she sounded tired and upset.

"Hey Nat, what's up? Sorry I missed all your calls, I was out with . . ." he paused, "with a friend." He lied.

"Oh it was nothing, just wanted a chat." Ryan immediately caught the forced cheerfulness in her voice.

"Well I'm in the neighbourhood, fancy me swinging by?" It wasn't a question; Ryan had already begun the manoeuvre to change direction.

"No, you don't have to do that, what about your friend?"

"I dropped them off just now. And I insist, I'll be there in ten with pizza, kay?" Ryan pulled up outside the small complex of shops which housed the takeout pizza, as he said goodbye to Natalia. He wasn't quite sure why he had lied about taking Molly out; he just felt it would be easier. He had know since the failed Mexican wrestling date, oh so many years ago, that he never had a chance with Natalia; but some days that wasn't enough to stop him from hoping.

Next chapter has some more stuff going on don't worry :)