Rina was rushing back home. Tears streamed down her face. Her emerald eyes turned ever more-watery by the second. Her red-colored lips quivered. Her stomach jumped, her breath quickened along with her pace. Long red locks clouded her vision. Suddenly, she felt herself smacking into something rather large.

"Oof!"

Or rather, someone.

Patrick and Spongebob were across the street from Krusty Kompany. Squidward was in an important company meeting, and asked the two to accompany him. They couldn't follow him in, so they stayed outside, Spongebob on a city bench, and Patrick just standing.

"You know, I was thinking about getting back out there," Patrick said.

"Huh?"

"I haven't been on a date since Mindy left Bikini Bottom."

"But you never dated Mindy. Or anyone for that matter…" Spongebob replied.

"True. It's just that, you have Sandy, Squidward has Lax, and both of you have kids. I just feel like my life is behind the curve."

"Hmm…" Spongebob returned to the newspaper he was reading.

"If only she could only bump into me right-oof!"

Patrick turned around to face a human girl with red hair and emerald eyes.

"Oh, hi!"

"I'm really sorry, I'm just trying to get home." The girl quivered, dropping a few text books. Patrick stooped to pick them up for her.

"Here ya go!" Patrick smiled.

"Thanks." The girl started to look up at him.

"I'm Patrick!"

"Rina," she timidly replied.

"So, why the rush? Late for class?"

"Actually, going home from class."

"What college do you go to?" Spongebob's gaze started to drift from his paper.

"UoW. I'm majoring in Teaching."

"Cool! What's college like? I've never been."

"It's…different for everyone," Rina wiped away a few tears from her eyes.

"Hey, are you okay?" Patrick asked, noticing the tears.

"I'll be fine. Just a rough day in class."

Patrick and Rina shuffled in front of each other.

"I should be getting home; my roommate will be wondering where I am."

"Before you go, I was hoping I could buy you a cup of coffee? To cheer you up!" Patrick offered.

Spongebob dropped his paper.

"That sounds nice. I'd love to get coffee. Buffalo Café is up the street," Rina replied.

"Cool, after you!"

Patrick and Rina left in the direction of the café. Still on the bench, Spongebob wondered aloud.

"What just happened?"

"Thanks!"

Patrick grabbed two cappuccinos and walked over to the table he and Rina had picked. He slid Rina her coffee, and started to sip on his. Rina looked to the side for a second, before starting to drink her coffee.

"Thank you for this," she said. "I needed it."

"No problem. This is the first time a girl's agreed to get coffee with me," Patrick said. "Not that I've asked many. Or any…"

Rina blushed. "This is my first date too."

"How come?"

"I don't know. People look at me, but they never approach. People say I'm kind of a ditz."

"People used to say the same about me. I mean, I get why, but you seem quite level headed."

"And then I bumped into you," Rina blushed.

"It was a pleasurable bump," Patrick flirted, and Rina laughed.

"I'm glad," Rina leaned into her chair and sipped her coffee again.

Don't mess up, Pat! You got this!

"You're very pretty!" Patrick complimented. Rina's eyes widened. Patrick started to sweat.

"Uh, I mean, your eyes. They have this nice, um, emerald color. And your hair. It's a beautiful dark orange color. I also like your freckles. Um, I just noticed you had freckles… Am I talking too much? I think I'm talking too much. I just…"

"Patrick, you're fine. Thank you." Rina smiled. Patrick sighed in relief.

"And I think you're kinda cute," Rina added. Patrick looked confused.

"I, uh… thanks." Patrick struggled to regain his thoughts. Eventually, he asked, "What are your hobbies?"

Squidward came out of Krusty Kompany, approaching Spongebob, while scanning for Patrick.

"Where's Pinky?"

"On a date," Spongebob coyly replied.

"Hah, now seriously, where'd he go?"

"On a date."

Squidward arched an eyebrow.

"Um, was this a prearranged engagement?"

"Nope, a girl bumped into him and they left to get coffee," Spongebob smirked.

"You're fishing with me…"

"Nope. They've been gone for about half an hour."

"The only thing Patrick would date is a hot dog cart. Or a hot dog cart vendor. She must be the ugliest…" Squidward trailed off as Patrick approached with his "date". Rina shouldered Patrick's arm, and clung to the Starfish. Spongebob got up to greet them.

"Hi, I'm Spongebob, and you are?"

"Blind," Squidward muttered.

"Rina. Nice to meet you."

"That's my best friend, and the other guy is Squidward!"

"Hi Squidward!"

Squidward silently waved.

"So, I'm going to walk Rina home. I'll meet you guys in a bit." Patrick said. He and Rina started walking off in the direction of her place.

"Walk her home? Who does he think he's kidding?"

"Oh, come on, Squidy. It's Patrick. He's too innocent!" Spongebob smiled. Squidward stared flatly back.

"Come on, I'll drive." Spongebob walked over to the Honda Civic parked at the curb, Squidward reluctantly following.

Patrick and Rina stopped outside the black gate of a two-floor house. Painted red on the outside, the house had a sharp, pointed black roof, and white paint on the windowsills. It looked quaint, yet lonely.

"This is where you live?" Patrick asked, concerned.

"Yeah. My roommate's inside. You should meet her!"

"Nah, that's okay. I've got to go too. But hey, coffee was fun."

"Are you sure you don't want to meet her? She's great, I promise!"

"Maybe next time," Patrick smiled.

"Next time?"

"Unless, you don't want a next time. One time's fine. Great even!"

"It's just, how will we keep in touch?"

"The Pat signal!" Patrick shouted, posing triumphantly. Rina giggled uncontrollably.

"Or in cases of daytime emergency, you call my cell phone. My number's 206-XXX-XXXX. Call me anytime."

"Will do," Rina smiled. "Good day, Patrick Star!"

"Same to you, Madame Rilde!" Patrick saluted as he walked away. As he rounded the corner, he heard,

"Boo!" It was Spongebob and Squidward.

"Hey guys! What're you doing here?"

"We figured not to let you walk thirty-two blocks home," Spongebob said.

"How 'bout a ride, Romeo?" Squidward teased.

"Very well, kind sirs, I shall accompany in this chariot."

"So, how'd it go? I mean the date and everything?" Spongebob asked.

"It was awesome! I hope I see her again. I really think I've found the one." Patrick said.

"Wait and see how it develops, Patrick. Might just be coffee." Squidward said.

"Not likely."

Rina entered her house. From the kitchen came her roommate's voice.

"Is that you, Ri?"

"Yeah," Rina kicked off her shoes as her roommate came out to meet her.

"How was your day?" she asked.

"It started off kinda bad, then I met this guy, Vickie."

"Oh?" Victoria raised a brow as she stirred cake mix.

"His name is Patrick. We had coffee. He seems like a nice guy."

"He didn't try to harm you, did he?" Victoria asked.

"No. We just got coffee. And he gave me his number."

"Are you going to call him?"

"Should I?"

Victoria looked at her roommate and best friend. She wanted to protect Rina, and hadn't met this Patrick guy yet, but something about Rina's demeaner told Vi that Rina would be okay. Rina had horrible luck when it came to people. Aside from a small group of close friends, she didn't have many people she could depend on. Fortunately, Victoria was one of those friends. Rina looked genuinely happy.

"Why not? Give him a ring. I'd like to meet him." Victoria started walking back towards the kitchen.

"Cool! I think he might be someone special, Vickie."

"Wait it out Ri. Just go it slow and see how things pan out. After all, it's just coffee."

Rina got out her phone and sent Patrick a test text. When it went through and he replied, she smiled.

"Not likely."

A/N: This one shot is set after chapter 13 of my fic Living out of Water: Squidward's Story. Kind of a one shot, but if you want to see more, leave a review. Hope you enjoyed, and I'll catch you all later.