This was taken from a roleplay I'm in with Operatic. She played Cha-Cha, so send her fan mail :)
If putting the lines between our posts would make this easier to read, let me know. Sometimes the dialogue may seem to be odd, but thats because Ed might say two lines, and Cha-Cha responds to both, but the response for the first part comes after his second. Um. Am I making sense? Oh well xD Just read it, you'll get it. I got permission from Operatic to post this.
Ed bumped his way up the subway steps, and quickly walked the few blocks to the Life Cafe. He was a bit early, but he would rather be waiting for her than the other way around.
He had mentioned to Lennie that he had dinner plans with someone he met that afternoon, and all his partner had to go on was that it was a gorgeous stranger that had stopped him in the cafe. As Ed glanced around at the flyers posted on every inch of a bulletin board, he smiled at what his partner had mumbled on his way out. Young guys have all the luck.
Well, Ed hoped that was true. He hadn't been this attracted to someone in a while, and was already planning on asking to see her again. But what normally killed it was when he explained how discreet he has to keep relationships, being a cop and all. He hated how that scared so many away.
Touching her lips gently to make sure the lipstick was smooth, Cha-Cha rushed down the street as best she could. She was late. Why did she do it? She was practically obsessing, making sure things were perfect, and by the time she headed out the door it was 8:34. Which was already five minutes after they said they'd meet. Put in the time it took to get down there, in heels...and she was basically screwed.
Cha-Cha felt immediately less tense as she saw him there though. She'd half expected him to have left, to have figured she wasn't coming at all. "Hi," she got out, a little out of breath but doing okay. If she had a watch, it would probably be at least 8:50. "Sorry."
"Hey," he grinned. "No problem, I just got here myself," he lied. Why make her feel bad, he hadn't minded. Besides, she obviously had done her best to get down here. He glimpsed her impossibly high heels. Impressive.
"Did you want to stay here, or go some place nicer?" He remembered her mentioning her work not paying much, and assumed that limited her choices on the average night. Lunch had been her treat, dinner would be his. He was ready to suggest a few places if she was too worried about prices to mention them. He wasn't rich, but he could splurge one night.
"Oh, okay," Cha-Cha replied. "Good." She'd been stood up a million times before, and had stood other people up too for that matter. But this time, she didn't want for it to happen. She cared. It was her first date in forever, and she didn't want to mess it up. Not yet, anyway. If it happened, she wanted to be able to redeem herself.
"Someplace nicer...?" she asked hesitantly. The Life Cafe was about as nice as it got for Cha-Cha. And it was pretty nice, a coffee (well, a frappa lappa cino or whatever she got) and a muffin were pretty affordable. "How nice honey? Like..." she trailed off, trying to think of a nicer place. She wasn't sure she knew any. She left the question open ended, shrugging.
Ah hah, he'd been right. "Have you seen anything you'd like to try?" he asked. Ed didn't want to make her go if she wouldn't feel right, but he also wanted to...well, impress wasn't how he'd put it. Make it an above average evening.
Cha-Cha tried to think of somewhere she'd want to go. She'd been to a fancy restaurant once or twice, usually if she were lucky enough to go with somebody a little better off. But the problem was, a lot of them had dress codes. And apparently, black sparkly scarves didn't fall under the black tie requirement for men. And most of her sweaters weren't counted as suit jackets. So she kept her distance when she could. Even when her outfit wasn't looked down upon (too much), a lot of the items on the menu cost more than her rent. "I don't really know that many places. This is about as far as I go when it comes to eating out," she admitted, gesturing to the door. "So I'm not really too picky over here."
Ed wondered if maybe he'd thought wrong about dinner. If maybe she'd rather stay at the Life. Well, he had two thoughts running through his head. One, she didn't want to go. Two, she didn't know if she ought to, or even where to go.
"We could try Sardi's," he offered, and then added, "or we could stay here, whichever you prefer. Wherever we end up, dinner's on me." He wanted that out in case cost was bothering her.
Cha-Cha felt better when he said he'd pay. She didn't know too many nice places, but she knew she couldn't afford a ton of them. And she wasn't one to pass up free food. "We could try there, okay," she nodded, feeling a little better.
"It's pretty cool," said Ed. "Big Broadway kinda place, caricatures of the stars on the walls..." Sardi's was a good distance from where they were, but at least they could talk on the way. "Do you feel like a taxi or the subway? It's in the theatre district, so we can't really walk." He was sorry he didn't drive himself, if only so he could drive her home. He mentally laughed at himself. I'm acting like I'm seventeen again.
"Could we take a taxi? It's just...I am kind of subway impaired sometimes," Cha-Cha admitted with a laugh. It could be very complicated! It wasn't always just point A to point B. Plus, her brain noted, a taxi would be a little quieter and a little more private. Not that she'd use that as a reason.
Green grinned. "Good, better for talking," he said, verbalizing her thought. He flagged a taxi down relatively quickly for the area, and opened the door for her to get in. It wouldn't be more than a twenty minute ride, and though he normally found the wait painful, tonight he had a feeling it'd be much too fast.
"Mind reader," Cha-Cha replied, returning the grin. She couldn't fight a giggle as he opened the door for her. She couldn't remember the last time someone had done that for her. Of course, it wasn't often she got to go by car. But it was still sweet of him. It was like in a movie.
Ed was just able to keep a straight face as she giggled. Hey, he said he was working toward a memorable evening, and it was starting here. Besides, he was having fun already.
So. He knew her name, what she did for a living, what next? "Do you live around here, or just in the area for the cafe?"
"Well, I live down..." Cha-Cha paused, turning around slightly in her seat to point out the back window. "Down there. It's not really that far from here...you?" she asked, trying to think of whether or not she'd seen him. His face wasn't familiar, but then there were so many people around. And her memory wasn't always the greatest.
Well, that narrowed it down, he thought as he held in a laugh. "I'm not too far either. Around where 1st Street meets 1st Avenue, easy to remember." Wait a minute, he realized. If she's only just down there... "You know," Ed began, "I think we may be hardly fifteen blocks from each other." He could walk her home, he thought, amused.
Cha-Cha fixed him with a look, the wheels in her head turning. "1st...is it a really big place?" she asked slowly. She could never remember the exact street her building was on. But it was something weird like that. If they were in the same place...well it was definitely looking like it'd be a good thing. It wouldn't really surprise her, either; people seemed to come and go like crazy.
"Yeah, yeah, it's a good sized building," he said. "Eight or nine floors, not bad." Ed wondered how close they'd end up being. If all went well, he could be running into her quite often.
"Huh. We could actually be close by...I'm not really that good with locations and stuff," Cha-Cha admitted with a shrug. It didn't usually affect her, because she didn't usually go too far. But especially now that she was further from her girls, getting across town to see them could be a pain.
Ed nodded. He hoped she'd come up with the next topic, he was afraid he'd bring up the weather if it was left to him.
Cha-Cha smiled and relaxed a little. It had been a forever since she'd gone on a date, and she hadn't realized how much she missed it. "So..." she started, thinking. "How was the rest of work?" she asked, hoping that was okay to ask. Usually she wouldn't give it a second thought. But he was a detective, so it might not really make for good, light conversation.
"It lead me on a wild goose chase to New Jersey," he said, amused yet annoyed at the same time. He summed it up as quick as he could, knowing full well he could drag this out to be an hour long drama if he didn't focus, and he wasn't sure how detailed of an answer she really wanted. "We'd been following credit card purchases trying to find our suspect, and we were sure he'd finally gotten tired and booked a hotel room. Unfortunately, after a two hour drive and one broken hotel door, we realized he'd sold it to a guy on the street after his last purchase." His tone grew slightly embarrassed. "Lennie and I, of course, had to have interrupted a newlywed couple who, despite the fact it was past five p.m., hadn't left their room yet..." He was certain she knew what he was implying. What had really done it, though, was that it wasn't the first time it had happened to he and his partner. Lucky them.
Cha-Cha's jaw dropped during the story, and she couldn't bite back her laughter. She wasn't trying to. "You...are not serious," she got out, covering her mouth with her fist. Cha-Cha didn't embarrass easily. But that would make even her blush. "What do you do after that? I mean, well...did you find the other guy at least? The one you were looking for?"
"What? Oh, yeah," he said, distracted. She was too cute when she laughed. Turned just the right shade of pink. "We got the street and general location from the two in the hotel room. They'd ran into the suspect at the gas station, and we could ID him from the surveillance tapes." He sighed in his satisfied kind of way, half smile in place. "An eventful afternoon, but ended up going our way."
"Guess that's what matters," Cha-Cha nodded. At least she could understand that. There was a reason she didn't watch law shows or anything. A lot of times they got so involved that she lost track of what was happening, missed details, and ended up totally confused by the end. The time she'd tried to watch one with Ivana and Grace, it was like the three of them were each seeing different things. "They still helped you, after you...interrupted them? Or do they have to, by law or something?" she asked.
"They legally have to, but it didn't come to that. They were just eager for us to get out of there, and quickly gave us everything we needed." Thankfully. Ed had been just as anxious to leave. He was definitely not in the mood to threaten a man wearing only a bed sheet that if he didn't cooperate he'd be arrested. They could always find something to intimidate witnesses with, usually hindering an investigation. But luckily (and surprisingly) these two were quick to answer any questions the detectives had.
"Can you blame them?" Cha-Cha asked with a giggle. She couldn't get over how embarrassing that would be, for both sides. It would definitely be a mood killer to say the least. "I'd want you out, too!"
"Thanks," he laughed, knowing what she meant but still pretending to be insulted. He'd want himself out if he'd been in their shoes as well. His rested his head on the back of the seat and closed his eyes. "Embarrassing..." he sighed.
"Well, maybe I wouldn't kick you out," Cha-Cha added with a grin. She couldn't resist...he could take it any way he wanted to. But then again, he practically walked right into it. "Just be glad you weren't the naked one."
Ed sat up straighter when he heard what she said, eyes still closed, and raised an eyebrow in silent intrigue. Oh really? He couldn't help stealing a glance at her, smile fighting off a rising smirk. Oh the many, many things he could reply with. None, however, he felt the taxi driver deserved to overhear. "I'm very glad," he replied, knowing it had been more of an automatic response to her first comment than the latter. But maybe she wouldn't catch it. Or did he want her to?
Cha-Cha returned his grin before looking forward again. She wasn't sure what he was glad about, but...either way. She was still trying not to laugh though; maybe it was nerves or excitement or both, but she was determined to keep a straight face. Play it cool...or at least sort of cool.
She squinted a bit at the neon sign, just a bit ahead. "Is that it?" she asked, glancing back at him.
"Yep." He fished around in his deep coat pockets for his wallet, and flipped through to find the right bills for the driver. "That went a lot faster than I thought," he said. You know what they say, times flies...
Beaming, Cha-Cha pulled her purse further up her shoulder and gave the restaurant another look. There wasn't much you could tell from the outside, she supposed. But so far, so good. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" she wondered aloud with another smile.
"It's a good thing," he grinned. When they were out of the taxi, he didn't know if he should take her arm, or put his hand on the small of her back, or just lead the way. He thought gently taking her elbow would be a good midway thing, but...well, he opted for her back. She had to be closer that way.
Cha-Cha was surprised by his forwardness, but definitely did not object. If of course, you could call a hand on her back forward. It definitely wasn't backward. She just wasn't expecting it, but she was pleasantly surprised. "So do you come here...often?" she asked, still unsure of what the place was like, anyway. Whether it was really fancy, or just a few steps above what she was used to.
"Not too often," Ed admitted. It wasn't overwhelmingly fantastic, but it was very nice. The entire back wall was covered with drawings of Broadway actors, many of which Ed spent a good amount of time admiring. The food was pricey, but the general atmosphere was, at least for him, very inviting. "Special occasions, really."
"So I'm a special occasion now," Cha-Cha assumed with pride. It almost seemed strange that she would be. Hadn't they only met that afternoon? But maybe he didn't go out much at all...maybe in a way she was.
Ed wondered if maybe he shouldn't have said that. He hadn't really thought the implications through all the way, and he wasn't sure how he was coming off.
But really, she was a unique date. He hadn't been with a drag queen since college. Not with his job; it'd be horrendous if the precinct knew. The last cop who'd been with a man ended up "accidentally" shot the following month. Ed had always swung both ways, but after he made detective he made it a point to stay in straight clubs only. It was hard enough being black and making the force, he didn't need any other discrimination.
He went out often enough, but no one held his attention for long. So tonight with Cha-Cha was a special occasion. Or perhaps rare? She caught his interest instantly. But special seemed a more appropriate adjective to Ed, and he smiled before telling the host they needed a table for two.
Cha-Cha just beamed at his silence. She'd take that as a yes, and she didn't mind being his special occasion at all. In a way he was one for her, too. Well...it definitely wasn't everyday she went to a nice place like this. With a nice person like him. That counted as a special occasion. As she followed the hostess to their table, she couldn't help but bring her eyes up to the wall, cracking up as she spotted Liza Minelli.
Ed pointed out a few more of the stars, the more famous ones he was confident she'd know. They had some obscure ones only a closet Broadway fanatic like himself would recognize, and a few so interestingly drawn you couldn't tell who it was.
He'd been feeling like a kid on his first date during the beginning of the evening, which he found odd because he'd done this a million times, but now the cool atmosphere was sinking in, and he felt more like himself. He began to stop questioning his every move and relaxed.
"Is that...Tim Curry?" Cha-Cha squinted slightly to get a better look, and couldn't help but laugh again when she saw that it was. It wasn't even clear to her what was all that funny about the drawings. But every time she caught sight of one she recognized (which was actually more often than she'd been expecting), she had to bite her tongue.
Seated, Ed picked up the menu and scanned it between their celebrity spottings. He was surprised with how Andrew Llyod Webber looked as a cartoon. Unrecognizable unless you knew who you were looking for. It reminded him how baffled he'd been in high school when even the drama kids didn't know who he was. Huh.
Tim Curry. Frankie. A Rocky Horror fan? Amazing.
Cha-Cha gave up on the drawing a couple minutes later, crossing her legs under the table. "How are you supposed to tell who anybody is? Everybody kind of looks like aliens," she asked with a hint of a smile. They weren't bad, they just...weren't really easily recognizable. Or at least, to her they weren't. Maybe he could help her out.
"I think..." Ed thought about it for a second. How did he do it? "I normally think of something their known for and find cartoons with that really exaggerated. Going from there is pretty easy. Like that one," he pointed to a picture. "George Gershwin. Nobody knows him," he laughed slightly to himself, "but I could tell by the long forehead and nose, even if the rest of him isn't remarkable."
Cha-Cha studied the frame in question, eyes traveling down the character's face. "I see it!" she exclaimed after a second, breaking into a laugh. How did she miss that one? It wasn't that she was really into Broadway or anything (she preferred movies, but it was hard to be in a New York City drag show and not pick up on a few things) but that seemed like such an easy one to get. Or maybe it just felt that way, because he'd pointed it out. "Do you like Broadway a lot?" she asked, moving her eyes to the next frame to try and get it on her own. No real luck, though.
"I'm not down here every weekend," he smiled, "but I like to see one now and then. A few of my friends are really crazy about it, so I've caught on to some things." Ed ordered what he normally ate and looked back to Cha-Cha. "What about you? Any connection between what you do and Broadway?"
Cha-Cha nodded her head, handing her menu to the waiter. "Well...I haven't been to an actual show in..." she thought back to herself. "I guess ever. Which is alright, because I like movies better, anyway. I like having it to own, being able to watch it over and over again if I want to, you know?" she asked. And plus, she couldn't afford a Broadway ticket of her life depended on it. Movies she could afford, though--or at least, she could splurge on a few clearance VHS' at Swamp Music every couple weeks. She didn't mind though, because even though some of them were cheesy, they could also be very touching. Cha-Cha could never stay dry eyed during movies. "I have some friends too, though, who come down here any time they can. Which I can sort of understand and all. I mean, I'm pretty sure I've seen the Cabaret movie at least four times--Liza," she added, gesturing up towards the caricature.
"You're catching on to these pictures faster than most people," he laughed. And as for only having the video adaptation, "Sometimes I've thought the movies were better than the show. They can do much more because they're not tied to the stage. Or the actors were irreplaceable." He searched for an example. "Have you seen Sound of Music?" Ed asked. That was a famous one. "I doubt any revival could match Julie Andrews' singing, or Christopher Plummer's..." He had always found Chris to be ridiculously handsome. "...ability to be so convincing as a naval hero."
"Am I?" Cha-Cha asked with a giggle, shrugging. She didn't know a ton of Broadway shows, but the performers were easier a little easier to get. The only shows she really knew were the ones with movies out...that she could get on video for less than ten dollars. "I love that one! Except the puppet part sort of gives me the willies, but still," she responded enthusiastically, nodding her head. "True. That...Christopher Plummer was the best part of the movie," she agreed, and didn't mention her real reason for thinking that.
"The puppets?" asked Ed. "Really?" What could be so unnerving about a lonely goatherd?
"Yeah. Don't you think they were a little creepy?" Cha-Cha asked with wide eyes. She'd always had a thing with puppets though. Especially ventriloquists. "It's like...they're just a little too...it's like toys who come to life, you know? And I just don't trust it. Cause what if they're not cute like in Toy Story..." she trailed off with a small smile. Sometimes Cha-Cha didn't know when to quit.
"Ventriloquists, definitely. But it's probably because I read Goosebumps as a kid. Night of the Living Dummy had me terrified for years." He could never play with his action figures the same way after that.
"I never read those, but...I've just always kind of felt that way. The ventriloquist dummies...ugh. Don't you just think they're a little too happy to have somebody's hand up their..." Cha-Cha stopped, smiling lightly. Well, it was true!
It wasn't a snort, and it wasn't a cough, but whatever it was Ed choked it back, and was just glad he hadn't done a spit take. He set down his glass. Ed tried to hide his smile by placing his chin in his hand, looking down toward his plate, his laughing eyes scanning the worn design. At just the right moment a waiter appeared asking how things were going. "Great, great," he nodded before asking for more water.
He hadn't expected a line like that from her.
"Well it's true! You okay over there?" That pretty much killed Cha-Cha. It wasn't the reaction she'd expected (somehow offended looks and 'I never's seemed to come up when she pointed it out). But this, she liked this a lot better.
Still laughing a bit, he answered, "You know, I never thought about it." Ed cleared his throat, smiling as he tried to regain his composure. "You're right. That is strange. And I don't think I can ever watch a ventriloquist the same way again."
"Did I just ruin them for you? I'm sorry," Though it was clear she wasn't really. Cha-Cha was laughing too hard at his reaction. "You would've realized sooner or later though. There's just something about them that's just not...right."
Ed shook his head. No, not ruined, just...changed his point of view.
"You know, they had a Sound of Music revival playing," he laughed. "The puppets were in New York." He looked around with mock shifty eyes. "But I think it's ended."
Cha-Cha faked fear, laughing all through it. "Well...the good thing is I happen to know a very talented detective. So if I turn up in my dressing room--if I had a dressing room--strangled by puppet strings, I know at least justice will get served," she grinned at him. Hey, it could happen. She saw it in String Wars 2. Not as good as the first String Wars, but it still left her up half the night.
"Exactly," he beamed. A waiter approached carrying the tray with their food. He looked at the two with confusion. Apparently it was out of the norm for guests to be continuously snickering throughout the evening. Ed shrugged, and the man rolled his eyes at the can-I-help-it-if-we're-having-fun gesture.
Cha-Cha tried to adjust herself to the sudden serious tone, but it had only become funnier to her. That was the other thing about fancy restaurants, some of them had a real thing about smiling. But how could they expect people not to with all the faces on the wall? Still though, she struggled to keep a straight face and an emotionless voice as she thanked the waiter, though soon that attempt cracked and she was smiling at Ed again.
The aged waiter mumbled something about their laughter and the other guests. Something along the lines of not everyone heard the joke, so not everyone should hear the aftermath. Ed had lots of practice at playing serious, so he nodded as if he absolutely understood the mans point. But as he curiously watched the waiter leave, he grinned again. "Did we just get shushed?" he laughed. Imagine, two adults. He hadn't been told to quiet down since school.
"I think we might've!" Cha-Cha agreed, and didn't laugh any quieter than before. She couldn't help that he made her laugh. And that she sometimes laughed too loudly... "Maybe somebody's jealous," she wondered out loud, sneaking another look at the waiter and trying not to be too obvious about it. Some people looked like they'd never cracked a smile in their life. It was sad, really.
He watched the man slink off to collect dishes. If he had to pick up the crap some people leave on tables, he'd be miserable too.
Ed didn't see how two customers having a great time would be a bad thing. He thought the managers should hope it'd rub off on some of the particularly depressed looking folks in the corner.
"That's probably it," he replied, eyes sparkling as he began to work at his food.
"Well...at least he has good reason to be," Cha-Cha added with a smile, twisting a piece of spaghetti around her fork. "I don't know about you but I am having a lovely time," she added honestly. Not that she'd been expecting differently, but it was nice.
"I am," Ed answered brightly. It was going ridiculously well. No awkward silences, no one had gotten mad and stormed out swearing that detectives were too insensitive for their own good... Well, alright that only happened once and he didn't expect it to again. It'd been a bad day. Very unlike this one, he was happy to add.
"Best I've had in awhile, in fact," Cha-Cha added after a minute. "Not that there've been many in awhile, but..." she giggled, thinking back. She wasn't sure when her last date was, one like this where they actually sat down, ate dinner, talked. Which sometimes was the best type. She couldn't remember where it was though...or even who it was.
Personally, Ed was shocked that someone as fun and attractive as Cha-Cha didn't have men falling over left and right to ask her out. Or maybe she did, and she was very selective? This he would have to ponder. But what he did know was that if he had any occupation other than his own, and he frequented her club, he'd have asked by now.
And that lead him to what he'd been trying to shove to the back of his mind. The reality he was attempting to ignore; his job.
He didn't regret coming to night because of her, she'd made it a great evening. So much so she left him completely set to propose meeting him again this weekend. The problem was, he shouldn't. He shouldn't he shouldn't he shouldn't.
"The same goes for me," he said. He hated to be a mood killer, but he could feel his face falling. "My job makes it very difficult for me to..." Date men? Drag queens? Anyone? He started again. "I should tell you I..."
Cha-Cha couldn't help but beam at his confession, almost a little taken back. It really didn't seem like she'd be her type, she had to admit. Men like him, they always seemed to be married, to have a family. To not really give her the time of day. It just proved how wrong you could be about a person. How did she get so lucky, anyway? It was pure chance they met. Anybody could've walked in that afternoon.
It made her sort of wonder if there was going to be a catch, but she was trying not to think that way. Why wasn't he smiling anymore though? Biting her lip, she nodded, urging him to continue.
Ed searched for the right words, but came up empty. How do you tell someone you'd be shot for dating them? Well, he admitted, he knew Lennie wouldn't do that. But his career really could become jeopardized.
This was assuming the two of them got serious. How did he know she was even thinking that far ahead? Why was he? It'd been under twenty four hours. It was absolutely unnecessary to worry either one of them about it. Right?
Negative. Whether he understood why or not, his mind was already plotting another meeting with her and how to get there safely. Unfortunately, Ed explaining to potential lovers exactly how quiet things had to stay ended up in them walking away. But he'd try.
"Well, first off, I'd like to see you again." He wanted that out there, hoping she'd release her poor lower lip. "But, being a detective, I shouldn't. The guys I work with wouldn't understand. Anything they don't have they think is wrong, and none of them have had the pleasure of running into a girl like you." He intended it to be as complementary as it could considering the situation, but things could always be taken the wrong way.
Cha-Cha listened quietly, a little unsure of how to react. She wanted to see him again too, definitely. But what did he mean by a girl like her?...A drag queen? There were a lot of reason's she'd been turned down before, but that wasn't a common one. It was why her first boyfriend broke up with her, she could plainly remember that--but he'd been young, neither of them had really been all that mature (not that she really considered herself to be, not fully, but she had grown since fifteen or sixteen). Ed had to have been at least...maybe close to forty. Weren't you supposed to know what you wanted by then, and what you didn't?
Maybe that wasn't the case though. If that were the reason, why had he asked her out again at all? If it were only to let her down. "A girl like me, meaning...?" Cha-Cha asked. "A blonde Latina in her," she hesitated, "let's say early twenties? Or...a drag queen?"
It was the first time either of them had said drag queen. Ed had learned the hard way from his college love Starr that some weren't fond of the term, and he had danced around it. He didn't see anything wrong with it, and personally thought it sounded better than 'female impersonator'...but that was just him. What did he know? Ed had been hoping this would come at the end of dinner, but it had seemed a good time to lead into it.
Wait a minute. Early twenties? Ed felt old again.
"Drag queen," he admitted awkwardly. "But..." Ed paused, massaging his temple absently with two fingers. He let out a breath. "This isn't going how I wanted it to at all," he sighed. "What I'm trying to say is that, if you'd like to, I'd really like to keep seeing you. But the problem is, a gay detective isn't a safe detective. My precinct couldn't find out. I know this isn't what you want to hear on a first date, but I didn't think you'd appreciate it any more later." He waited a moment. "Now's when you throw your wine on me and storm out," he laughed weakly.
Immediately, Cha-cha felt her heart sink. There was always a catch. Always a catch. She'd meet someone like him, charming and sweet and not bad to look at, either. And he'd turn out to be married, or dying, or even a convict once (where did she meet these people?) There'd always be some barrier they couldn't get over, and the whole thing would fall flat.
But then again, maybe they could get over this one. Maybe it wasn't so bad. So they had to sneak around a little...how hard would that be? What were the chances they'd run into anyone he knew, anyway? If they were as homophobic as Ed seemed to think, the chances of them being anywhere she would be seemed slim.
Cha-Cha tried to smile weakly and her wine glass didn't leave the table, though she did find herself fingering the edge without giving it much thought. Maybe she was just trying to stall a little time. It wasn't usual that she didn't know what to say.
"Well..." she replied finally, sighing. "How long would that be for? I mean...if we did keep seeing each other," she added, having not quite made up her mind. "I mean...I can't go back in the closet, honey. I'm about fifty feet out...I think they'd suspect things," she added with a small smile. "And I'm pretty sure they wouldn't buy me as your brother. How much different would this be from a normal...thing?"
"I'm not asking you to change anything," he said in reference to the back in the closet worry. The only thing he'd ask of her would be to not come to the precinct. And he couldn't think of her ever having a reason to, so that wouldn't be a huge problem, would it? It only had been when he had the bright idea of dating a detective from the two-six who insisted on dropping by every day. "And I'd try to keep it as normal as possible. Really, I think it would be like your average thing, except going a bit out of our way to stay of out of the popular parts of the city." It hit him that Sardi's had been a risky idea. It was one of Logan's old favorites.
Watching her face fall, Ed entertained the idea for the first time in ten years of coming out, at least to those who'd need to know. Lennie. Van Buren. The two he'd hate to lie to. But what if he did, and a week later Cha-Cha decided she didn't want to hide it from the rest of the precinct and disappeared? Should he offer anyway? He had a feeling he wouldn't be able to follow through at the moment.
"I know most of my coworkers regular haunts," he said, having had a lot of practice. She'd mainly have to follow his lead and catch on to which areas are normally clear, and where they shouldn't roam. "I have been around a long time," he chuckled slightly.
It all sounded a little sketchy, Cha-Cha had to admit. She'd been with guys like him before, guys that worked in offices or law firms or really anything in the more 'corporate world', and nothing of the sort happened. But then again, none of those guys had guns or anything, either. A gay detective wasn't a safe detective? She wasn't quite sure she even wanted to know what he was implying, it couldn't be good. Part of her was doubting him, but part of her was getting persuaded, too. Did she have any reason to not trust him? They'd just met, yes, but he'd been nothing but...wonderful to her. She was skeptical, but still part of her wanted to go along with it, if only to get closer to him. Part of her wanted to try.
"I don't know," Cha-Cha admitted, bringing her feet closer to her under the table. "It...I'll have to think about it. I really will," she added, hoping he'd understand. This wasn't something she'd really had to do before, and it wasn't the best thing to hear on a first date. "Maybe you can convince me," she continued after a moment, a tiny smile sneaking onto her lips.
She let out a small laugh though at his comment. "How old are you anyway?" she asked, partly out of curiosity and partly to move the conversation into a lighter area. This was, after all, the first date. And she was having too good a time on the whole to totally let that mar it. Besides, she'd been trying to guess all night. Was he older than forty? There was no way that man was anywhere near fifty, she was...reasonably sure. If he was though he looked damn good. It didn't matter that much to her though...she'd always had a thing for older men.
Ed decided thinking about it was a good sign. Better than most, he thought. She wasn't marching away for good, and that was...well, good. He understood it was a bit unnerving.
He smiled at her question, knowing she was bound to ask sometime tonight. "Thirty-eight," he answered.
"I was close!" Cha-Cha exclaimed proudly. 'I was thinking late thirties." Actually, she'd been thinking older than forty, but she wouldn't tell him that. He looked good, either way. Even though he was a good...thirteen years older than her. Give or take. Not that she'd be telling him that, either.
Ed was grateful for the change in moods. He was also curious to know how close or apart they were, but he hadn't lived this long without learning that was not a good question to ask a woman.
Cha-Cha smiled even as the conversation lulled. Already she was wondering how she could ever say no to seeing him again. So they had to sneak around a bit. Was she crazy? Maybe he'd be worth it. She'd see, anyway.
Smiling was good. Very good. Okay, tension fading, back on track with the general atmosphere. Good. Smile back, Eddie.
"So, how are your friends doing? Any unusual stories?" he asked.
"Well, they're good...last time I talked to them." Which was longer ago than Cha-Cha would've liked. She was used to seeing them everyday, it was so strange being on her own. Now though, she hadn't seen them in over a week, at their last show. And talking on the phone wasn't the same, not to mention expensive for someone who didn't have a regular job. "Actually...to be honest, that's kind of why I pounced on you today. Sorry about that, it's just...I used to live with two of my best friends. I moved though, because...I had this boyfriend..." she waved her hand, it wasn't important. "But now I really miss them. A lot. And I haven't really met anybody else yet...so today was sort of my...'get up off your butt Cha-Cha, and talk to someone!' day."
And what a day it ended up being, he thought happily. Whatever the reason, it worked out great.
"I'm sorry you can't see them often," Ed said honestly. "But on the other hand I have to admit to selfishly thinking 'I wouldn't have met you otherwise.'" He hoped she knew he meant it all in good fun. He wasn't glad she couldn't see them.
Cha-Cha couldn't help but smile, blushing lightly in pleasure. "Today turned out then. I've gotta say, at the million and one New York citizens who could've come in today...I'm really glad it was you." And that was when she knew, she had to give this a try. Whether they had to hide it or not. Maybe it was some sort of sign, it could've been anyone. But it was him...
Ed's career was fueled by wit and quick thinking, yet no matter how hard he tried at the moment he couldn't come up with a smooth response. 'I'm really glad it was you too' seemed too automatic, and 'Me too' was just blah. This detective had seen what some of the most brutal of all New Yorkers could dish out without a blink, but now he was stuck in a pleasant silence due to a positive comment.
He was smiling of course, that much he knew. His eyes had a rare glint to them, a sparkle reserved for special occasions, which this had already been declared earlier.
"Strange to think if I'd come in two minutes later, we might not be sitting here, huh?" Typical man, always avoiding a mushy moment.
"I know. Good luck," Cha-Cha agreed, though she wondered if it was just luck. He was right; if there had only been a minute's difference, they never would have met. Then what would she be doing? Probably watching some movie on TV, or paying an arm and a leg to call Ivana and Grace. But she liked this a lot better, even with the snag. There was chance it was just a coincidence, there was no mystical design making sure they met. But still, she liked to think, maybe it wasn't like that. Maybe it was like the movies, where people meet totally by chance and it was all supposed to happen, anyway. She always liked those movies. "Or at least, it's looking like good luck," she added, just to tease him.
"Looking like it?" he asked with a smile. "It definitely was, Cha-Cha, some very welcome and very good luck." And if he hadn't been the one to run into her today, he imagined running into her someplace else.
He wondered if they'd bumped into each other before, but never took the time to notice or care. He thought about it with a half smile, imagining a scenario where they were always just around the corner. Then Ed realized he was plugging themselves into You've Got Mail, and snapped out of it.
Usually, Cha-Cha didn't blush easily. But just in those few hours, he was making her beat her own record. He affected her in a slightly different way, though. Everything he said seemed so genuine. Not that things didn't sound genuine from other men she'd seen. But this time, she believed it.
"What are you smiling about?" she couldn't help asking as she noticed him drift, though she was smiling herself.
"Just had a funny image of us You've Got Mail style. Have you seen it?" If she had, she'd get it. If not, Ed had seen it enough times to recap it quickly and to the point. Something he would never admit to anyone else, of course. Tough guy detectives don't watch suspenseful romantic movies.
"I've heard of it...but I've never seen it," Cha-Cha replied. Though to her understanding, it was kind of a romantic comedy. Well, the fact he didn't shy away from those movies was a plus...a big one. Her foot swung from side to side under the table without her really realizing. "What's it about?"
"Two bookshop owners are competing to stay open, one's a huge chain store and the other a family run place. The two heads are at war the whole time," he explained. "That's not how I see us though," Ed added with a laugh. "At the same time they're e-mailing each other everyday and, not knowing it's their business rival, fall in love. They're always just around the corner, a grocery aisle away, on the opposite of the street, she leaves a coffee house a second before he goes in... So close yet so far, ya know?" He'd always gotten so frustrated watching the movie, tempted to yell 'He's right there!' angrily at the TV as if Meg Ryan could hear him. "I have a point, I swear," Ed grinned. "I was just wondering if I've ever just missed you before."
"I'll have to see that one," Cha-Cha replied, imagining it. That seemed like such a funny thought, but how impossible was it? It could've happened. As hard as she thought back though, he just wasn't familiar to her. Unless she'd just never noticed...unless they'd always looked away at the exact wrong moment. "That's just too weird though. Do you think we have?" she asked, still searching her brain for some recollection.
"Ya never know. With all the people it seems impossible, but then impossible things have been known to happen." Ed found it a bit hard to believe that if they had been on the same street and her outfits didn't catch his eye, but he did have a tendency to zone out when he walked. "Something to ponder, anyway."
"Well...if it's true I'll be kicking myself later. I'd have to be way off my game to miss someone like you on the street," Cha-Cha added with a smirk. With his height and his eyes, she couldn't imagine herself not noticing him. In fact, come to think of it...even if she hadn't made that deal with herself, chances were she would've found herself talking to him anyway.
Ed was tiring of his meal, more than halfway finished. He waited for a lull in conversation, then asked, "Do you feel like desert yet? Or..at all, I guess I should ask."
"I would love some," Cha-Cha agreed. It wasn't something he even had to ask. It would be smart to try and watch her weight (Miss Flawless year four was only six months, two weeks and five days away). But dessert wasn't something Cha-Cha could ever resist no matter how much she tried to.
Ed flagged a waiter down and ordered his regular dessert for both of them. "Trust me," he winked.
Cha-Cha struggled to raise an eyebrow, she could never keep it up there. But she was smiling all through it. "Dessert is dessert," she shrugged, trusting him. "As long as it's got a little bit of chocolate in it...or strawberry," she added. Or vanilla. Or caramel or...anything really...
Ed had been right, and he grinned in satisfaction as their plates were set in front of them minutes later. A delicious chocolate creation, with a generous amount of strawberries resting on top.
Cha-Cha's jaw dropped slightly and she caught his eyes. "Wow," she said simply. How were they even gonna finish them? She was getting a shock to her senses just looking at it. "I'm glad I trusted you," she added with a laugh.
Ed knew neither one of them could finish one on their own, but wasn't sure if he should assume sharing was alright with her. First date, and all.
Not wanting to waste any time (or any of the strawberries), Cha-Cha plucked a fruit off the top and popped it in her mouth. The strawberries were always the best part on those sorts of things. If she couldn't finish all the chocolate, no way was she leaving the strawberries.
She picked up her fork afterward, coughing and pretending to eat the chocolate part in a more civilized manner, grinning lightly.
Ed started on his own, eating slowly. The night was ending all too soon. He didn't know what to say for an excuse to keep talking and stay longer.
Even though there was a lull in the conversation, Cha-Cha didn't feel like it was an uncomfortable one. It was nice, actually. With her girls and her, there was no such thing as a comfortable silence. None of them could keep their mouths shut. It was sort of nice, not having to constantly...think. She vaguely wondered what time it was; it felt like the whole dinner had just flown by?
"Do you have a watch?" she asked. "It feels like we've been here about ten minutes," she explained with a smile. That was what they said about time, when you had fun...it flew.
He did. "Pushing eleven thirty," Ed said. It couldn't be, could it? Where did the time go? And he honestly was confused for a moment, not using the phrase as the normal happy sigh. Once Ed thought it over, it made more sense. She'd been a bit late, so they hadn't left the Life till just before nine. Got here by...well, must have been around nine fifteen. So it had been two hours, not bad at all. Just a bit of a shock to see eleven twenty seven on your watch when last you checked it was eight thirty.
"You're kidding," Cha-Cha replied, and almost wanted to look at his watch for herself. Honestly she'd half expected it to be just a little after ten, even though eleven thirty did make sense. It just didn't feel that way. It was a little disappointing it was that late, too. There was less chance she could steal a couple extra minutes after they left. There would be the ride back, but still... "So...I guess this is it for you tonight," she supposed, and tried not to be too obvious in her desire to keep it going. He probably had to get up early in the morning, he probably didn't have any more time. But still, it would be nice...
Ed hated to admit it, but she was right. "Yeah," he sighed. He looked for a waiter to flag down for the check as he asked, "What area do you live in again?" Knowing how far a drive would allow him to guess the length of the taxi ride, and if they could take their time leaving Sardi's. Relax for a few more minutes, or run out the door once he paid the bill.
Ed hated to admit it, but she was right. "Yeah," he sighed. He looked for a waiter to flag down for the check as he asked, "What area do you live in again?" Knowing how far a drive would allow him to guess the length of the taxi ride, and if they could take their time leaving Sardi's. Relax for a few more minutes, or run out the door once he paid the bill.
"It's right around where we started from. Near the Life..." Cha-Cha sighed lightly. Well, that was a good fifteen minute drive at least. Of course, the traffic would probably be lighter, with it being later. "Course I'm in no hurry or anything," she added as casually as she could.
Hint taken, he thought with a half smile. However, he couldn't say the same. "I wish I weren't either. Unfortunately," he said almost with a groan. "I do work tomorrow..." A waiter finally shuffled over with their check. Ed sent him away with his credit card, the five minutes that would take were all he would allow himself to steal. He'd had a long day in Jersey and a long evening with Cha-Cha, sleep had to be squeezed in eventually.
"I know," Cha-Cha agreed with reluctance. Of course he had other things to do. It would be nice though. After a minute, she added, "then maybe...we can do this again. If you still want to," she smiled softly.
"Of course," he said confidently. Absolutely. If he still wanted to? It was her he'd been worried about. What day was it, Wednesday? He didn't want to ask for tomorrow -well, okay he did but he thought that'd seem too soon- so he opted for, "This weekend, if you're free?"
"I think I can be," Cha-Cha agreed, her smile only growing. At the moment she wasn't actually sure if she was. But...she could become free, no problem. Maybe. Or was changing plans taking things too fast? Then again...when did Cha-Cha ever worry about going too fast? "Saturday?"
"Yeah," he grinned, taking his card from the waiter who'd just returned. He stood, stretching a bit before getting his coat on. He waited for her to do the same, then walked her out, hand tentatively on the small of her back once again.
Cha-Cha had always liked tall men. It made her feel like she had a personal bodyguard, or something. Not to mention it was a little bit freezing outside (Cha-Cha only exaggerated a little) and him being so close added a little warmth. It felt that way, anyway. "So do you know what you're doing tomorrow? or will it be a surprise?" she wondered out loud.
He raised an arm to flag a taxi down, the other lingering around her waist still, unsure if he should leave it there or pull it back. "Finishing up the paperwork part of the case I mentioned," said Ed, determined not to go red again at the thought. "Part of the job they don't mention in TV dramas. Lennie and I normally make a bet or flip or coin to see who's stuck with it. I lost."
"Fun," Cha-Cha giggled, staying a bit closer to him. What could she say? It was December and it was cold. "I guess you have to explain exactly what happened? Or can you write that off as unimportant?" she teased him.
Ed rolled his eyes, smirking to keep hidden the embarrassment. "All I have to say is we got the information we needed. How and under what circumstances aren't really necessary. Or at least won't make it into this report." Ah, a taxi.
"Of course not," Cha-Cha giggled, sighing in relief as the cab drove up. "I'm gonna see if I can go see my friends tomorrow. Beat the subway system..." she groaned. "And try not to end up on the other side of the country..."
Ed laughed, imagining her ending up in the most unlikely places.
He told the driver what she'd told him, and hoped they got to the general area. Luckily, he thought, it was close to where he lived. Very close, in fact. He remembered thinking this earlier, but didn't ponder it much longer.
"Let me know how that goes," he said with a smile, knowing there was bound to be a story or two after the visit.
"I will, if I see you again! I mean if I don't end up in...Jamaica or something," Cha-Cha laughed, looking out the window as they drove. Though maybe, at the moment she's prefer Jamaica. She'd take the sun over snow any day.
Ed chuckled again, and when it died down he asked, "Do you drive?" He knew plenty of New Yorkers who had never gotten behind the wheel until their thirties. With the subway and taxi, it wasn't really necessary, right? He didn't realize how very off topic that was until it came out.
"I don't. I've tried it, but..." Cha-Cha trailed off as she remembered what a disaster that was. She just didn't have the patience. Or the self control. "But uh, no. I don't drive," she laughed. "I couldn't even afford a car even if I had a license."
After he thought about it, he really couldn't picture her driving. "Just wanted to make sure you had help if you get snowed in tonight, " he said, explaining why he'd asked. Friends not living near her anymore, a single person working on it could take forever. "The way the snow's coming down already, I'm gonna have a helluva time getting my car out in the morning."
"You don't think we'll get snowed in, do you?" Cha-Cha asked with a sigh. Looking at the snow it didn't seem so impossible. It was falling harder and harder by the moment it seemed. Though, from inside a warmer place it was sort of pretty. Cold, wet, but pretty.
"You never know." He watched the flakes falling down with interest. "I hope not, though. I'm expected to show up no matter what." The subway and all. But that would mean having to walk through it. At seven thirty.
Ed sighed. "I hope you aren't planning on going anywhere in a hurry tomorrow morning." He said this with a smile despite the image of himself lurching through the snow, a living icicle.
"Not really...lucky you," Cha-Cha returned the smile, though she could imagine. She didn't see how they could expect him to come in if there was over ten inches in the morning. But then again...she wouldn't want to upset anybody he was working for, considering. She wouldn't want to offend a detective, much less his superiors.
They were nearing the roads she said to look for, and as he began to describe it like she had, he found the words had a too familiar ring. The number of floors she'd estimated, brick coloring, location...
They stopped in front of Ed's building. He looked slowly from the front doors to Cha-Cha. "Is this you?" he asked, pointing limply.
"Yup," Cha-Cha nodded her head, putting her purse over her shoulder. It made her sad the night was ending, and so soon, too. But the thought of seeing him again was exciting; any problem she may have had were forgotten for the time being. "How far are you from here?" she wondered.
Ed's laughed was more like an amused cough, too bewildered to full out guffaw. "This...is me too." His mouth stayed slightly parted in the "o" position, at a loss for anything more to say.
"This exact building?" Cha-Cha asked, her eyes narrowing. That would just be too strange. If that were true, how had they never run into each other? Or...maybe it was like he said...like the movie. Maybe they'd seen each other a million times before but had never noticed or cared. Cha-Cha believed it was possible, sure, but if this were true it'd be extremely weird, even for her. "What floor?"
"Fourth," he said, opening the door. Ed redid the top button of his jacket he'd loosened earlier and stepped out of the taxi. He shuffled through the rising blanket of snow to open her side. "'You've Got Mail'," he laughed. Of all the movies for his life to end up being, it wasn't bad. At least it didn't resemble 'I Am Legend' or 'Independence Day'.
"Third. I'm right under you," Cha-Cha shook her head in disbelief. Whether it was just a coincidence or a sign, it was definitely something. She wasn't sure she believed in fate and all that, but this was definitely a point in it's favor. She got out of the taxi, smiling at him. "This is crazy. Guess I've got no choice but to see you again now, I'd probably get struck down by lightning if I said no," she fake sighed as though it were such a burden to see him again.
"Not the usual way to accept a second date, but I'll take what I can get," he grinned. He shuffled through the snow toward the front door. "Should I ask for you phone number or room number?" he teased.
"I'm barely your usual person," Cha-Cha pointed out with a smirk. "I'm in 314. If I need you I'll bang on the ceiling," she added, laughing as she opened the door. This was a new one, living in the same building with her date. And not together. But how they never knew was even more amazing.
Ed nodded, memorizing the number. He stopped on the mat inside the lobby, shaking snow everywhere. He headed for the elevator, planning on dropping her off at her apartment then continuing on his way up. "It just hit me that there's only two elevators," he said, jabbing the button. "We never got on the same one?" The never ending questions of the odds. "Well, I guess I leave pretty early..."
"How early?" Cha-Cha asked, thinking. She herself was a morning person; could never sleep comfortably past ten. Usually she was out and about before that. "Still though, you've gotta come home at some time or another. We never saw each other then..."
Ding! It was here.
"I'm out the door by seven most days." He stepped on and punched floors three and four. "Get home late, too." He clapped his hands together a few times, trying to warm them up. Just the few seconds outside had gotten to them. He needed to remember gloves for tomorrow. "But now that I know to look for you, we'll probably run into each more often. Or...at least once," he laughed.
"Right. What time will you pick me up? Eight thirty nine's good for me. I could even manage eight thirty seven if I tried," Cha-Cha added as an after thought, grinning.
"Saturday?" He thought about it. "I should be able to be back by then." Assuming no one was killed, that is. Yes, he had given the okay to be the unfortunate soul to work weekends as well.
"Good. I'll be ready," Cha-Cha replied. The elevator's doors opened slowly on level three and she looked to him. "Are you getting off here?" she asked him, getting ready to step off.
"Yeah," he said automatically. Walk her to her door, then go up, he told himself. It was late already, and he'd be lucky if he got four hours of sleep tonight. He followed her off.
Cha-Cha beamed as he got off. "This has gotta be the first time since...a long long time I got walked home," she admitted with a giggle. Well, that wasn't exactly true. But usually the guys who walked her home went in with her and didn't leave till the morning, so they didn't exactly count. "Tonight was great, baby."
Ed grinned at her words as they came to a stop at her door. "Yeah," he nodded. Again Ed was faced with the dilemma of what to do concerning goodbye. He showed no hesitation on the outside at all, thankfully. "See you Saturday," said Ed before giving her a quick kiss then retreating to the elevator.
The kiss threw her off a bit but she returned it, unable to fight a smile as soon as it ended. Cha-Cha hadn't expected Ed to kiss her, but...no complaints. It was over too quickly though and suddenly Saturday seemed impossibly long away. "Night," she replied, the smile still plastered on her face as she headed inside.
Safely hidden in the elevator, Ed felt an irrational urge to laugh. He'd surprised himself by kissing her, and considering how unusually shy he'd been that evening, he could tell it shocked her as well. A hug just hadn't seemed right, he thought. And even though it had hardly been three seconds, Ed tapped his foot already anticipating Saturday night when he'd be able to kiss her again.
Operatic played Cha-Cha. Send her fabulous fan letters :)