Chapter 2: Left Alone Again

"I'll do whatever it takes

To turn this around

I know what's at stake

I know that I've let you down"

"Can I interest you in anything to drink, or would you like to wait for your friend?" the waiter asks.

"Oh, he should be here any minute. I'll have a glass of wine. Red, please," Stella orders. Again she checks her watch: he's only five minutes late. Maybe he got stuck in the lab longer than expected. Or traffic is a mess. Of course a call would be nice.

But half an hour later there is still no sign of him. She contemplates giving him a call but decides that shouldn't be up to her. "I'm going to kill him," she mutters under her breath.

The waiter approaches for the third time. "I see he is still not here. Would you like to order or continue waiting?"

She sighs, "If he hasn't come yet, I don't think he'll be here at all. I know he loves me, but I'll always be second to work."

"He has an important job?"

"We both work in the crime lab."

"Ah, very important. Of course, not as important as you."

Her cheeks color, "Can I get a salad to go?"

"Sure."

After she picks one, she finishes her glass of wine and waits for him to bring the food. A man approaches her, "How can anyone stand somebody as pretty as you up?"

"I'm really not interested. He probably got caught up at work and forgot to call."

"Is this the first time?" Stella doesn't respond. "I'd never do that to you."

"What happened to your girlfriend?" she casually asks, having seen him earlier with a woman.

"Oh, she dumped me. I wasn't going fast enough for her. But personally I like to get to know a person before inviting them home with me."

Since Frankie, she has been cautious around men, especially those that openly flirted with her. Something about him seems odd to her, and she is afraid of his upfront attitude. Plus she and Mac are still dating, no matter how mad she currently is at him.

Luckily the waiter returns with her bill and food. "He did come."

"No, this isn't him," she quickly corrects. After handing him enough cash for the meal and tip, she exits, the creepy man following her.

"What do you want?" she whips around to face him outside the restaurant.

"You want to get a drink?"

"I don't drink with strange men. And I'll be completely honest with you: nothing about you is attractive. Now find someone else to bother," she storms off to her car.

In order to avoid being followed (she wouldn't put it past him), she takes a long, looping way home to avoid another disaster. If he would've been there, that wouldn't have happened, she thinks, parking her car.

Stella opens her door, then shuts it, locking it all three ways even though it is still relatively early in the evening. But she isn't in the mood to deal with Mac or a stalker. She also shuts off her cell phone and takes her phone off the hook so he couldn't call. Finally she prepares herself a nice, refreshing bath in which she falls asleep.

A/N: Poor Stella. I can't believe forgot her. So how's he going to fix it? It looks like rain here... I hope we stay inside this afternoon for band but unless it's pooring, that's not likely. We ddin't march yesterday so we have to go out today. I have to get music checked off... Two more songs to go, then I have to start memorizing contest. I think I can do the first one. Shoot, I told someone I'd play it with her today, but I kind of didn't practice last night. There's still one line that's iffy. But music normally doesn't help when I try to play it so... Maybe she just went ahead and checked it off yesterday. Two and three and even four shouldn't be too hard to memorize, but five is awful. Well, the last half isn't too bad. Everyone said this show looks easier than last year's. I think this year's five is worse than last year's. Let's see... what do I need to do this morning... take a shower... maybe practice my flute or piccolo. Contest isn't very high so I can play it on there. Maybe type... pack my bag for band. And leave earlier so I can see some lady in the office about parking pass info that was supposed to go in my packet but I got it early. Please review again. Thanks. Update THursday.