Enjoy!

Lisa had ordered food from one of those fancy-casual restaurants that offers both sit down dining and also takeout. Leonard and Lisa had gone to pick up their dinner when Leonard had seen her.

She was sitting alone at a table for two. She was casually slumped in her chair, giving off an air of nonchalance, but the way she kept glancing at the door and waving the waiter away made it known that she was waiting for someone, someone who very clearly hadn't shown up when they were supposed to.

Leonard found that he couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was trying to look unfazed, but behind her pretty face, Leonard could see something that he knew all too well: disappointment. He wasn't alone. Other diners sitting around her were glancing apologetically at her, and the woman was having a hard time pretending not to notice anymore.

After a moment of thought, Leonard told Lisa to take the food they ordered and go home without him. She gave him a funny look but did what he said anyway.
Leonard crossed the restaurant, heading for the woman's table.

"Sorry I'm late," he said loudly, his words meant to mollify the other diners more so than the woman at the table, "You wouldn't believe the traffic."

He leaned forward as he sat down, lowering his voice so only the woman would hear him, "I'm Leonard, just go with it, okay? Whoever stood you up has no idea what he's missing."

She hesitated, suspiciously eyeing the smirking man across from her. Leonard couldn't help but feel that she was seeing more than just his outward appearance.

"I'm Sara," she finally replied, quirking one eyebrow.

"So who's the man who'd want to miss out on this view. Although I must say, I'm not complaining."

Sara then raised both eyebrows and smirked back at Leonard. "An old friend. He dated my sister in college, actually. He called me a few days ago and said he was back in town and wanted to see me. I guess he exaggerated that last part."

Leonard rolled his and leaned back in his chair.

"And what about you?" Sara asked, "Who's the guy who was willing to give up a dinner date with — who was that, your sister? — just for me?"

"Wouldn't you like to know."

They continued talking for several hours. So much time passed that they were both surprised to look up and see that they were two of the few remaining people in the restaurant.

Leonard walked Sara to her car. A few more minutes of flirtatious banter passed, in which Leonard tried to ignore how seeing Sara's face illuminated in the moonlight made him feel.

He was about to turn to leave when he was struck with a bravado that he didn't know he possessed.

"How would you feel about going on a real date sometime?"

Sara smirked at him for a moment before saying, "I was wondering what was taking you so long. I was starting to think I'd have to ask you myself."

"Is that a yes?"

"Of course it's a yes."

Yay! These are so much fun to write!