Jim, dressed in blue faded denim jeans and a semi-formal black top, waited out the front of Melinda's apartment. He was a few minutes early, and he knew girls took a really long time to get ready. He leaned against the wall patiently, humming a soft tune to himself.

Inside, Melinda had gotten into a cute white summer dress with flowers on it, it wasn't too little, but it wasn't too much. She had curled her hair softly, and let it fall elegantly down her back. She had put some shell pink lip gloss on and white sandals with a flower on the top. After checking her make-up, she glanced at the clock next to her bed. Jim will be here soon she thought semi-consciously, and sure enough, there was a soft knock at the door.

Melinda took a deep breath and opened the door to Jim leaning against the wall, checking her out. "You look pretty" Jim said, running the back of his hand down her cheek. "You look handsome, as always" Melinda said, leaning into his hand. "Where do you want to go for this date?" Jim asked, admiring Melinda's choice of clothing. "Well, I don't want anything too big" she said, looking into his blue eyes and getting immersed in them.

"Well, I suppose we can just go to a club and have dinner there, although you aren't exactly dressed for that" Jim said, looking her up and down. "I can change if you like" Melinda said. "Oh, no we will be fine" he said, grabbing her hand and twirling her back around to face him. "Okay, clubbing in a summer dress it is!" Melinda exclaimed, and she locked the door to her apartment before walking down the stairs with her hand in Jims.

Halfway down the stairs, Melinda almost fell, but Jim put his arms around her waist and caught her. "Whoa, don't go sliding down those stairs!" Jim said, pulling her close. "Thanks" Melinda said, breathing in the sweet scent of his cologne. "Ah, you smell good" she commented, leaning her head on his chest. "Mel, why don't we just cook something together in your apartment?" Jim said, holding Melinda's head close to his chest so she could hear his heart beating. "Yeah, okay" she sighed, and they went back up the stairs, Jim still hugging Melinda close.

Before opening the now unlocked door to her apartment, Melinda turned around in his arms. "It might be a little messy, just to warn you" Melinda said, and she led him inside. "Wow, this apartment is really awesome" Jim muttered, but Melinda heard him. "It's awesome now because you're in it" she said, leading him into the kitchen as he looked around.

"What should we make?" Melinda asked, leaning against the counter and watching Jim roam around the kitchen. "Something simple" Jim's voice faded out as he walked into the dining room. "Whoa, you have a rockin CD collection!" he said, spotting her rows of albums. "It's not much, really" Melinda said, walking into the room as well. "Are you kidding? All I have is Beethoven's!" Jim exclaimed running is finger down one of the rows. "Choose one and put it on if you like. And is Spaghetti ok?" Melinda said softly over his shoulder, making him spin around. As he turned, their lips lightly brushed, and they could see in each others eyes that they liked it.
"Im so sorry, Mel" Jim apologised automatically, but Melinda brushed it off. "Its fine, forget about it" Melinda said, feeling like squealing loudly. "Oh, yeah spaghetti is fine too" Jim said, winking and then turning back to the collection. He picked out Gwen Stefani`s album . and put it into the stereo, conscious of Melinda watching him.
Melinda sighed quietly and walked into the kitchen again as the song Luxurious began to play. As she started to get the dinner ready, she began to sing.
"Champagne kisses; hold me in your life of luxury…" Melinda sang, putting the meat into a pan and stirring it. "Sure, I will do that" Jim whispered in her ear, wrapping his arms around her waist. Melinda shivered at the touch of his breath on her ear, but enjoyed him as company. "You have such a beautiful voice" Jim commented, putting his hand on top of hers and helping her stir with a wooden sthingy. "Thankyou" Melinda stuttered, getting a little nervous.
Jim didn't notice. After a few minutes, Jim moved, keeping one hand on Melinda's waist, he stirred the noodles and served them onto two bowls. He then drifted back to Melinda's side. "Do you have any candles?" Jim asked, and Melinda answered "Yes, near the stereo" very suspiciously. After a kiss on her head, he left her and gathered all the candles he could on the table without Melinda hearing or seeing. He arranged them in record time to read the word Love. He then went back in and started singing In Melinda's ear softly. "Sugar, honey, sexy, baby…"
"You called me that?" Melinda froze and said. "If I am allowed to, yes I did" Jim said, feeling hr freeze suddenly. "Yeah, you can call me whatever you like" Melinda said after a moment of silence. "Cool, let me help you with that" Jim said, and he picked up one bowl and brought it into the dining room. He set it on the table the same time as Melinda, and he walked over to her. He politely pulled out her chair, and she looked at him affectionately. "You are so sweet, thankyou" Melinda said, looking at his lips as she spoke. She took one step, kissed Jim lightly on the lips, and sat down.
He turned around and pretended to yell, and then he composed himself and sat down opposite her. She could tell he had enjoyed her light kiss immensely. He picked up his fork and tasted Melinda's cooking. "Mmm…Perfect!" Jim complimented her, looking at her as she ate. "I think it is perfect because you helped me stir" Melinda said after she swallowed. Jim smiled, and they kept eating.
There was practically no talk over dinner, and Jim and Melinda finished at the same time. Jim got up and took his and her bowl to the sink; he ran them under water for a moment, then turned it off and went back to Melinda. "That was a great dinner, Mel" Jim said, hugging her. "Thankyou" Melinda said, hugging him back.
Melinda had turned the stereo off just before dinner, so there was no sound in the apartment. Jim took one of Melinda's hands in one of his, and led her to the couch in the lounge room. She sat down next to him, looking into his eyes. Jim smiled. "Mel, I was wondering where that kiss came from, the one just before dinner" Jim asked slowly, watching her.
"Well….uh…"Melinda thought of a logical excuse, but failed. "No person has ever been that sweet or kind to me in my whole life, and I really like you" Melinda said, looking down. Jim picked up her chin with his hand. "I really like you too" he said softly, and he kissed her on the lips as softly as she had earlier.
Melinda pulled back and smiled. "Why are you so gentle and caring towards me?" Melinda asked, looking at his lips, wanting to kiss them. "Because I really like you, and it's just me" Jim said, and he granted her wish. He kissed her again, but he pulled away too early for her liking. She kissed him again, and felt him kiss her back.
They kissed each other again and again, until Jim pulled back. "I want to try something and see your reaction" Jim said, turning it into a question. "Sure, go ahead then" Melinda agreed to him.
He kissed her again, but it wasn't like the other kisses Melinda had experienced from him. Instead of the soft, cute kisses she was used to, this was emotional and hot and more pressured. Eventually Jim pulled back, leaving Melinda gasping for air. "Oops, sorry" Jim said, seeing and hearing her reaction. "No, don't apologise, that was…….. Wow!" Melinda said, attempting successfully to make her breathing return to normal.
"Do you always have that effect on women?" Melinda asked, laughing slightly. "I don't know, to be honest, you are my first girlfriend" Jim said nervously. "Well, you are my first boyfriend, so yeah" Melinda confessed. "Nice" Jim muttered, and he picked up her head by kissing her. She kissed him back by reflex, and he could tell she wanted more.
As they were kissing, Melinda reached up and tangled her fingers in Jim's hair. She pushed him back on the couch so he was under her, and they kept making out. Jim slid one of his hands up her dress to her thigh, but she grabbed his hand and stopped him. "Whoa, not that fast, please" Melinda said, taking his hand from under her dress.
"Im really sorry, things tend to happen" Jim said, leaning his forehead on her shoulder. "Its fine, Im just not there yet" Melinda said back, kissing his head. "Maybe we should watch a movie or something" Jim suggested, helping her get up. "I guess. What are you into?" Melinda asked rolling off the couch. She fell onto the floor, and they laughed together.
"You ok, Mel?" Jim asked, trying not to laugh. "Yeah, Im fine" she said, running her hand through her hair. "I will watch anything you want to" Jim said, giving her a choice. "Well, I don't know what to watch!" Melinda said after a minute of looking through DVDs. "Why don't we just sit and talk, then?" Jim suggested, patting a space next to him on the couch. Melinda shrugged and sat next to him.
He snatched her and she squealed. Jim sat Melinda in his lap and he lay down, resting his head on the arm of the couch. She lay down on top of him and put her head on his chest. "What do you want to talk about, your choice" Jim said, getting some of her hair and plaiting it. "I don't know…..what are you doing to my hair?" Melinda asked.
"Plaiting it, do you want me to stop?" Jim answered, stalling. "No, do whatever you like, Jim" Melinda said, relaxing in his warmth. "Am I comfy?" he said, continuing to plait her hair. "Yeah, I guess you could call it that" she trailed off, closing her eyes. "You can sleep if you like, baby, don't let me stop you" he said, watching her relaxing in his arms.
"Don't you have to go soon?" she asked sleepily, playing with his shirt. "Not really, it's not like I am going home to anyone in my apartment" Jim said, stroking her cheek with the back of his hand once he had finished one plait. "Mmm, I might try to sleep then I guess. It's easier in your arms" Melinda said lazily, and he kissed her on the lips softly. "Goodnight, Mel" Jim whispered, and Mel eventually drifted into a deep sleep in his arms.

Song: Luxurious by Gwen Stefani