A/N Well, here we are chaps - chapter 3! To compensate for last time, this is a shorter chapter. Hope you enjoy - oh and listen to the music mentioned when reading to create and atomsphere!! Sorry it's taken me so long to write this section, I've been busy with exams and loads of other stuff on top of that. Hopefully I'll get to write more during the summer, although I'm not promising anything as I have piles of coursework and stuff to catch up on :( Still, I will try my best! I will get this story finished!! - and the series!
Chapter 3
The table had to be set perfectly. A fresh table cloth; his favourite one; the pale blue one that would match her eyes. His best, not that they were anything to boast about, plates and glasses. He lit a candle in the centre. Perfect. Music, he needed music. Nothing too romantic, something a little easy listening – various artists; that would do.
Mike looked at the shirt that he had just changed into. Pink! What was he thinking! He started to unbutton it and ran upstairs into his room. He pulled it off and dragged on a much nicer grey one, before taking that off to, on the account of it looking like a funeral shirt.
There was a knock on the door downstairs. Panicking, Mike decided that his stripy yellow shirt would be fine, and quickly buttoned it before hurrying down the stairs. In the hallway, Mike caught himself in the mirror and flattened down his tussled hair. In the kitchen he glanced at the candle – what was that for? This wasn't a date; it was a meal between friends! He blew it out and stuffed it in an empty drawer.
There was another knock at the door and he ran towards it, knocking his knee on a table in the hallway as he did so. Taking a breath, he threw open the door.
"Marion! Come in!"
"Thank you..."
"Come through to the kitchen, the fish and chips are in the oven...to keep them warm"
"It figures..." Marian smiled at him.
"What?...oh right, yes, sorry." Mike laughed nervously.
He drew back a chair for her to sit on, and promptly served the delicacy that was Ashfordly's finest takeaway. They drank Mike's best wine and ate cheese and biscuits till gone 11, before making their way into the living room to dance to some music.
"I love this song!" Yelled Marion over the blare of 'I'm Happy Just to Dance With You'. Mike twirled her round underneath his arm as the song finished. They looked at the record player, waiting to see what the next song would be. Mike suddenly realised what it was and a look of panic crossed his face, but it was too late.
"Moooon River, wider than a mile. I'm crossing..." Mike looked at Marion and she looked at him, the moon of the scene changing with the music. Lost for what to do, Mike held out his hand to dance, and Marion accepted. At first they didn't move, just looked at their hands playing together. Mike cradled Marion in his arms and danced her slowly around the room. They felt their bodies melt into one, move as one. They let themselves be guided by the mood rather than themselves.
Mike put his face close to the side of Marion's, and began to sing softly with the music, "Two drifters, off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see..." He ran his fingers slowly through her hair and their eyes slowly found each other's gaze. He leaned down and kissed her softly; playing with her lips with his own, fondling the back of her neck. She kissed him back stroking his back with her arms, both of them transfixed, thinking only of each other.
Suddenly Marion pulled back and stopped her kissing. She blushed and looked at the ground, before grabbing her coat from the sofa. "I'm sorry. Mike. This just isn't right. I'm sorry. I should go." She took her bag from the floor and hurried from the room. Mike blew out a long sigh as he heard the front door click shut and sat himself down on the sofa. That could have gone a lot better.