I finally have the chance of getting back with Harmony Valenka Smith and finishing this story. If you see any spelling errors or have any suggestions please send a review.

Chapter 2: Bad Date

I clocked out and changed my clothes. Chase was waiting for me outside. She had asked a friend to drop her off. We would now be going on our date.

Looking in the mirror in the break room, I tested my breath and fixed my hair. Eh, good enough I thought. It's not like I was bad to look at in the first place, so I didn't need to fix much. Somehow, though, I think it might have helped if I had been a blonde hunk instead of a normal looking guy with black hair who only worked out on weekends to keep up the illusion he was still playing football in high school. I had a stud on the left side of my nose and another in my left ear. Most girls hated those piercings, but I had my reasons for wearing them and I was not about to date anyone who couldn't understand me.

I headed for the door and waited for the worst. Girls always out-dressed and outshined me. Not that I care, they're supposed to do that with guys. I guess I just wanted to be seen with a woman as the two of us being together as a couple, not as a guy who's accompanying a hot woman waiting to be swept up by another, worthier man. As if.

When I saw Chase though… I could honestly say she looked unlike any of the other women I had dated in the past. She was dressed simply and tastefully in a pale yellow sundress. Though it was night, it seemed as if the sun was still shining when I looked at her. Her light red hair was held back with a hairband that matched her dress.

"Well…?" she asked bashfully.

"You look beautiful. I hadn't known the sun could shine at night until I saw you," I replied. She blushed and I smiled. I offered her my arm and said, "Shall we go?"

"Where are we going?"

"First, we'll have dinner, then we'll go see a movie. After that, we'll go for a drive. What happens from there is entirely up to us."

"Sounds good." She smiled. I opened the passenger door to my car and let her in before getting into the driver's side of my car. It started out nice and it seemed like it was going to be a good night.

"I'm sorry, sir, but I cannot let you in without a reservation," said the maitre-d.

"Come on, you don't know me, but the other guy always let me in when I had a woman on my arm. The cook knows me, the owner knows me, everyone here knows me. I was an apprentice here one summer and raised the roof on this place," I said.

"Regardless, sir, the place has been taken over by new management and we cannot allow just anyone in."

"Why wasn't I informed?"

"Perhaps your friends were not as good as you thought."

"Fine. I don't need this place. There are other joints in town."

It turns out that "other joint" was a pizza place that catered to kids, not adults. The food was always good and it was the only place that didn't turn me out on the spot. I had to keep my hands to myself the whole time we were there.

When we were in the car on the way to the theater, I said, "Well, the restaurant may have been a bust, but wait until you see this movie. It's been hyped up as one of the best romantic movies of the year and this theater has always been my go-to place ever since I was ten years old."

When we got there, the place was closed off with yellow tape and a sign on the doors read: "Pest Control Handling Bat Problem. Theater will be open again next week."

"The bats were always the best part though!" I said. "Picture this: a horror movie with everyone on the edge of their seats. Then, a scream as the audience whips around and sees a bat terrorizing a patron. Then, whoosh! Bats everywhere!" Chase laughed and I went on. "A romantic movie with the perfect wedding scene. On the screen, doves are released, in the theater, bats rain down from the ceiling and get into everyone's hair. Everyone floods out while a young teenager just sits and enjoys the empty room and the movie left behind."

"So… how about that drive?" asked Chase.

"Sure," I said.

We went for a drive up to a cliff that overlooked the city. The stars shone brightly and the moon was half-full. I put my arm around Chase and she huddled closer to me.

"Sorry this night was a bust," I said.

"Don't worry. I actually expected a lot worse. It was fun hanging out… a lot more fun than I thought it'd be," she replied. We laughed. "Well, I should be heading home. I got to get to work early tomorrow."

"Sure, no problem. I'll drive you."

It turns out, she lived in this apartment complex. "Oh, God, the light is on. My roommate is probably wanting to hear everything and won't let me sleep until I spill."

"Well, I won't keep you longer than you need to be. Good night," I said.

She kissed my cheek and said, "Good night."

When she left and I lost sight of her, I said, "Not bad. Not bad at all." The setting was never great, but it was her shining light that made the night great and made the date really good. I was in a better mood than I had been in a long time.

When I went home, I took a shower, then went and sat on the couch to watch some TV. My mind wandered between the program and the date I had just been on. What an idea! I thought. Though most of the things my boss dictated were for his own business, this seemed like he had truly done something for his employee for once: set me up with a girl. Then again… this might turn out badly. After all, she was in a rival company and things like that can't last long. Of course, I couldn't have expected the phone call I got the next morning.