(Meanwhile, Randy waits outside…)

Randy clicked on his cellphone to look at the time as he anxiously awaited his girlfriend, Velvet, to come out of the building.

Many thoughts were racing through his head, even for the few minutes he waited outside of that apartment building. He smirked to himself about the headway he felt that he made with Velvet in making this date to celebrate their 5th month together. He smiled as he remembered how thrilled she was when he told her and asked her out.

He also remembered that this will put him closer to his goal of not only BEING with her—which, of course, he already IS—but it'll put him one step closer to perhaps finally getting the privilege of sleeping with her. Maybe tonight's the night? Who knows, Randall?

In the brief few minutes that he's been standing outside that building, the traffic blowing past, the horns honking occasionally, people walking by, it was all lost on him. If he were the only one on earth right now, he wouldn't even know it because all that he thought about was consummating the relationship.

Randy scratched his neck as he thought about how it's NEVER taken him THIS long to get a woman in bed with him. He thought of what his father had always told him, "Randall, anything TRULY worth having is worth waitin' for."

Randy knew that he had to balance this out and KEEP it balanced—for the sake of the relationship, especially. He knew that he had to behave as a proper gentleman should, especially now because he knows oh-so-well about Velvet's past and he knew that when dealing with a fragile spirit such as Velvet's, you have to walk as though you're on thin ice. However, his primal side is banging at the door, trying to get out of the basement, so to say-the only problem is that he doesn't know how long the locks will hold out and he's PRAYING that the beast, that…beast of utter lust and selfishness doesn't rear its ugly head during tonight's dinner.

Randy muttered to himself, "Yeah…I gotta' do everything right tonight. 5 months isn't really a milestone, but it creates the FEELING of one when you choose to celebrate it…" Randy smirks and raises an eyebrow as he selfishly gloats, "Hehehe…it's amazing what putting the words 'let's celebrate' in front of pretty much any insignificant number can make it seem like some sort of big deal…"

Randy looked up toward the sky as a police helicopter passed by overhead. He shrugged and thought to himself, "Well, I had to do it, I HAD to create a big play' atmosphere so that I can get at least another chance to make this a romantic evening for us. I understand she's scared but I'm ready, damnit! Hmm...I just hope that, if she does decide to let me get some of that tang, that she doesn't wind up pregnant. I ain't wearin' any condoms and it's the woman's responsibility for child-rearing. Hell, my pops always taught me that! So, yeah, let's get movin' on this!"

He looks at the time on his cellphone again and, just then, Velvet emerges from the building. Randy turns to look at her, takes her hand and pulls her into him and they kiss briefly on the porch.

Randy smiled and said, "Mmm…you look lovely tonight, baby. Those lips of yours feel so soft and warm."

Velvet smiled and said, "Hm…look at you, handsome. We gonna' have a good time tonight?"

Randy replied, "Oh…you know it, girl. Let's go."

So, they made their way over to Randy's awaiting car. Randy opened Velvet's door and let her get in, sneaking a peek at her thigh as she sat down in the car. Randy jogged over to his side, got in, started the car, and took off.

They came to a stop light and Velvet glanced out of her window. It looked as though she was looking at the architectural structure of the buildings as the light turned green. However, she was thinking about how she's NEVER had a boyfriend so thoughtful as to celebrate their 5th dating anniversary. Normally, it'd be HER who'd be bringing something like this up, not the other way around!

Nonetheless, the more she searched for answers, the more restless she got—and she didn't notice Randy watching her as she fidgeted about in her seat.

Randy furrowed his brow and asked, "Um, what's wrong, baby?"

Velvet tried to glue a quick smile on her face and replied, "Oh? Um…nothing, sweetie! I guess I'm just soooo looking forward to spending tonight with you."

Randy smiled and took her hand in his as he drove down the stretch.

Just then, Velvet's thoughts, once again, turned into a virtual kaleidoscope of textures, colors, and moods, as she tried to add some color to all these gray areas she was just starting to see. She glanced at Randy's thumb as it gently caressed the back of her hand and then she glanced up at Randy. He was watching the road with such a peaceful smile and it touched her, truly, to know that she could have that kind of an effect on someone. She smiled and looked out of her window again at all of the buildings blowing by in the opposite direction as she just allowed herself to start to let down her guard a bit and just enjoy the urban scenery, for now at least.

Randy was watching the road, a peaceful smile etched across his face. He loved the way Velvet's hands felt inside of his. Her hands were just so soft—just LIKE velvet, or a flower petal. He thought to himself, "Hmm…I think Velvet might turn the corner tonight! But…I just gotta' keep playing my hand slowly." Just then, he glanced over at Velvet's hand—her thumb gently caressing the back of his hand, as well.

He thought to himself, "Hmm, I know what'll REALLY put her over." Randy put himself in "smooth" frame of mind, mentally prepared himself and, in a hushed tone, said, "Velvet…"

"Yeah, babe?"

"It just feels so good when you caress my hand like that, baby."

Velvet smiled and kissed Randy's hand before sighing happily and looking back out of her window. Randy studied her carefully after he said what he said, there. He thought to himself, "Allllright! Reeling her in! Ok, ok, I'm not looking to hurt her. Hell, if she DOES decide to give me some, it's not like I'm gonna' give her any disease or anything! I'm just a guy who wants 'dem drawers! But…my job tonight is to have her KNOW that I'm the one she should be giving her body to. I want her to belive that we're as one spirit—fused together, mind, body, and soul. Besides, women go nuts for that kind of thing, anyway."

Randy Smiled and interlocked his fingers with hers as she looked out of her window.

A tidal wave of happiness she hadn't seen in seemingly ages, suddenly hit her tonight, in that car, holding Randy's hand. She inhaled and exhaled slowly and deeply, just taking in the wonderful, new burst of confidence she was suddenly having in being with Randy.

"Maybe he's not so bad, after all. Maybe Layla was right, maybe I AM just scared of things going right because I'm so used to them being pear-shaped for me. I mean—I ACTUALLY have a man that's charming, a gentleman, doesn't "keep score", doesn't argue, yet HAS a spine! When I look at it like that, I mean…damn, what was I worried for? Ah well, I dunno…I'm hungry, we'll see how dinner goes…"

To be continued