CHAPTER 3

Thanks for the great reviews! Keep reading. Sadly, I still don't own any part of STFBE.

Bobby and Tara pulled up to the quaint little coffee shop. It was a bright place, very modern. The tables and chairs were chrome, geometrically shaped with rounded sides. The wait staff was dressed in white shirts, black pants and black bow ties. Tara and Bobby exchanged looks as they entered the building.

"Good Evening folks. How are you tonight?" a young woman with black hair and eyes that matched asked.

"Fine thanks." They both answered.

"Just two tonight, or are you waiting for friends?" The woman asked.

"Nope, just us." Tara answered.

"She's all mine tonight." Bobby answered. Tara smiled as Bobby flashed his dimples in her direction.

The two ordered, and sat at an out of the way table in the back of the shop. They chatted about friends and childhood memories.

"How's your 'coffee'? Bobby asked.

"Delicish... but, coffee I would not call it. It's more of a dessert." She said as she took another sip. "Wanna try?" She asked offering Bobby her cup. To her surprise he took some. She raised her eye brows in a silent question if it was good.

"That is wonderful. It reminds me of mom's fresh pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving morning." Bobby said.

"Morning?" Tara asked.

"Yeah. What, did you think I would wait until after dinner to eat the pie?" He asked laughing.

"Folks, we're getting ready to close." The young woman who'd greeted them at the door said.

"Is it that late already?" Tara exclaimed.

"We close at 10." The woman answered.

Bobby held Tara's chair for her and helped with her wrap. The woman gave her a 'to go' cup for her dessert coffee and the pair left.

"You tired?" Bobby asked as they walked to his car.

"Not really. Why?" Tara asked.

"Want to take a ride?" He asked, smiling in her direction.

"Sure." Bobby held the door for Tara, then got in the driver's side. "Where are we going?" She asked.

"Feel like a walk on the beach?" He asked as he drove away. Tara smiled and got comfortable as they drove out of the city.

Myles and Lucy arrived in front of her and Sue's apartment. To Lucy's surprise, Myles got out of the car and opened the door for her.

"Why do you look so shocked that I opened your door for you?" Myles asked Lucy, taken aback.

"Just wasn't expecting it, that's all." Lucy said, lying to keep from starting a fight. Myles walked her to the door.

"Well... Good night." Myles said as he began to walk away.

"Myles?" Lucy called to him. He stopped and looked in her direction. "Want to come up for some coffee?" She asked.

"Umm, sure." He said, shocked. He walked back to where she was standing, and the two walked up to the apartment. Lucy threw her jacket on the chair nearest the door, and slipped out of her high heels, dropping her keys on the table. Myles took his sports coat off, and hung it and Lucy's on the coat rack. He then took Lucy's shoes and tucked them neatly next to the door.

"You are such a neat freak." Lucy said teasingly as she popped her head around the corner.

"It's a safety hazard. Sue could come home and trip over them." He said, defending himself.

"Ahh, I see." She said. She ducked back into the kitchen and retrieved two steaming cups of coffee.

"That was fast." Myles commented.

"Love our new one cup coffee maker!" She said, chuckling. They sat on the couch for a few minutes. Lucy shot up and got something in the kitchen. She returned with a package of cookies.

"It's not much of a dessert, but... "She said.

"They look delicious." Myles said. Lucy seemed to relax. Myles leaned back into the couch, watching Lucy intensely. They began to talk. Really talk. For the first time since they'd dated, they were having a conversation that wasn't full of nasty comments, and bitterness. They heard horns blare outside the window and both got up to check on the noise of the screeching tires that followed. Luckily, it had been a near miss. Lucy stood against the window, looking out. Myles walked up close behind her, a little too close. His stare bore into Lucy's reflection as she looked onto the street below.

"What happened to us Luce?" Myles asked softly. His warm breath tickled her hear.

"What happened to us?" Lucy paused in disbelief. "You cheated on me Myles, that's what happened." Lucy stated. She didn't seem bitter or angry, it was just a statement.

"Do you ever wonder how we got to that point?" He asked.

"Sometimes." She answered honestly. "I think we were both so afraid of going forward, of testing the waters more, that we let it get more and more distant." She said.

"And it faded." Myles added.

"Yeah..." Lucy said softly. Her voice began to crack and tears threatened to appear, so Lucy stood up and began to walk past Myles. Myles turned his body to block her exit from the window. As she brushed by him, he turned her shoulders, forcing her to look him in the eye. He could see the hurt on her face from the fading memories.

Jack and Sue had decided to take their sundae's to go. They were walking along the edge of the park when Jack heard some music. He tugged on Sue's hand pulling her in that direction. By the time they'd reached the source of the music, their ice cream was finished. Sue found a tree that wasn't claimed, and they headed there. Jack seemed to enjoy the music, and Sue did too, although Jack wasn't sure if she could feel the vibrations or was just watching him.

When the band played a slow song, quite a lot of the couples got up to dance. Sue looked at Jack, raising her eye brow in question.

"Dance?" She asked.

"Love to." Jack answered. He pulled her in his arms and began to sway to the beat of the music. Sue rested her head on Jack's shoulder. One hand on the back of his neck, the other in Jack's hand, pulled tight against his chest. Sue could feel the warmth of his breath on her neck. She shivered from the closeness and the warm contrast of the night air. Jack took off his jacket and wrapped Sue in it. She smiled and tucked herself back into the warm, protective grip of Jack's arms. The couple walked around the park taking in the sights of couples enjoying a night out. After an hour, there was an enormous display of fireworks. Jack noticed it was getting late, and decided to take Sue home. They walked slowly to the car. Jack put his hand on the small of Sue's back, guiding her out of the park. They made small talk chatting about the night, work, and even a lunch date for the next day. Sue didn't like to think of them on a 'date' since they weren't allowed, and she was positive he didn't feel any of those feelings for her. They were friends, that's all, that was enough. It would have to be.