Max and Clarissa arrived outside Jack's flat having already picked up Thomas and Nikki. Clarissa, of course, was sat in the front, with Max driving, so Jack clambered in the only free seat in the back, next to Nikki - who, being the smallest had squeezed into the middle seat."You look... urm... stunning!"
Nikki giggled. "Thanks, Jack!"
"Er, Jack?" Max quipped.
"Yes, Max?" Jack's voice came out an octave higher than usual - causing Nikki to giggle again.
"Can you like close the door?" Max said pointedly.
"Oh, right!" Jack shut the car door. He looked at Nikki as they drove off. Her cold hand slipped into his warm one. Jack's hands were always warm. Thomas noticed their linked hands and said nothing but he smiled inwardly to himself.
Getting out of the car, They all did up their coats up tight - it was cold and frosty outside. It was the depths of winter, snow lay thick on the ground and it was icy. Jack offered Nikki his arm and they fell behind the others as they walked, lost in their own conversation.
"You alright, love? I do love your dress" Jack squeezed Nikki's arm as she held onto his. "It's gorgeous, it brings out the..." He stopped, suddenly realising the lack of logic to the comment he begun making. Nikki looked up at him, waiting for him to finish. Great, now he was going to look like an idiot in front of his best friend. "the colour in your eyes." He winced as he finished, bracing himself for her response. What utter rubbish!
The response came - just as he expected. "My dress is red." she pointed out. "Are you saying I've got red eyes? Are you calling me a vampire?" Nikki ribbed him, lightly.
"I..." he stammered.
"I'm teasing you, sweetheart. It was a lovely thing to say!" She squeezed his arm affectionately.
"It was utter rubbish!" Jack spluttered, a bit too loudly. Max, Clarissa and Thomas turned around and stared at him.
Nikki giggled. "Even so Jack, it was a very sweet thing to say." Thomas, Max and Clarissa turned back around and carried on walking."So, what you planning to eat?" Nikki continued.
"I was thinking Prawn Bhuna." Jack answered "What about you?"
"Hmmm. Medium curry. interesting! I'm gonna have Dhansak. That's hot! It's the only way to do an idiom meal!" Nikki chuckled.
"Yeah me too." Jack had suddenly decided that Nikki was not going to beat him at eating curry!
Nikki raised her eyebrows at him, playfully. "Are you sure you can handle the heat?" she challenged him.
"Are you kidding, babe? I breathe fire!"
Nikki giggled again "Yeah? well I eat fire!" Jack kissed the top of her head lightly and she sighed. "I do like that mild one though. Nawabi."
Tell you what, babe. You get a dhansak, I'll get a Nawabi and we'll share them both, huh?" Jack suggested as a compromise and kissed the top of her head again.
"Mmm, sounds good, Jack" she answered.
They caught up with Thomas, who was holding the restaurant door open for them. "Come on, slow coaches - before I die of old age!"
They went in and joined Clarissa and Max, who were already sat at the table for five. "We were wondering where you'd got to!" Max quipped "We've already chosen!"
"So have we" Nikki and Jack chorused in unison.
Clarissa chuckled. "Just you then, Thomas."
"Thomas studied the menu. "Korma, I reckon" He said when the lad came over. "Chicken Korma, please"
"Chicken Biriyani" Clarissa nodded, "Please."
Max was next. "Prawn Biriyani, please."
Lastly, the lad turned to Nikki and Jack. "Meat Dhansak, please." Nikki asked.
"Nawabi Chicken, please" Jack finished.
The dinners arrived. Aside from Max and Clarissa's, which both came with mixed curry and rice, the other plates came loaded with pilau rice - the curries in separate dishes..
Jack silently scooped up some of Nikki's curry onto her plate, scrapping the remainder onto his own plate. Nikki watched him intently, admiring the way his muscular arms moved and the look of concentration on his face. Jack repeated his actions with his own curry - half on Nikki's plate, half on his own.
"What...?!" Max exclaimed, aghast.
"Oh, didn't we say?" Jack response to the unanswered question. "We're sharing!"