Summer 2032
"It's a great place to work, I mean I get to travel around the world, see all kinds of places, meet different kinds of people. And some of the science would just blow your mind. I mean if it wasn't all classified that is. But really it's like a dream. Seaquest is probably the most amazing thing that's ever happened to me."
"Well this is me" she stopped in front of a tall apartment building.
"Oh." Lucas shuffled his feet a bit. "I ah, I'm sorry if I bored you."
"No, not at all. I actually thought it was interesting, you don't often meet someone who understands science so well. Well you do, but usually they're either old enough to be your father or arrogant enough to make you sick. I had fun."
"Me too. I ah, wish we had a chance for another date."
"This was a date?" She started walking towards the door. "I don't know ensign…" she stopped a few feet away from Lucas and from the door. "Are you sure you want to call walking a girl home a date, I mean you might give naval officers a bad name. I thought a date meant dinner, drinks at the very least." She stood swaying back and forth in a teasing manner, with a smile on her face.
Lucas closed the space between them "Well, I wouldn't normally call walking a girl home a date but then I don't normally walk a girl home the long way." He stopped in front of her. "I mean isn't there a rule about time or something. Two hours of walking and talking ought to be enough to count for a date."
"Ought to be enough for what? Trying to get a good night kiss are we?" She was mocking him, but the light in her eyes and the smile on her face told Lucas that she was mocking him in the kindest way possible.
He took a deep breathe and took her face in his hands. "Maybe I am. Maybe I'm just trying to get another date." He closed the space between them, pressing his lips to hers.
The stayed that way for a moment before breaking apart. "I guess it's too bad you're leaving tomorrow." She turned and walked into the building. Lucas stood for a moment watching her then he turned to walk away. That's when he heard her voice.
"So that second date". Lucas spun around to see her standing there. She looked so beautiful. He could hear uncertainty in her voice.
"Maybe we could grab a drink sometime."
Lucas smiled. "Yea, that'd be great."
She shifted on the spot and began fidgeting. She was looking anywhere but at him. "Did you maybe want to uh…? I mean I know you don't know when you'll be in town again… we can't set a date but uh…" she stopped moving and looked right at him "Did you want to get that drink now?"
"Yes. Yes I would."
She motioned for him to follow her. "Come on."