Chapter 4

Later on I showered and changed into my street clothes. I checked to see if I needed to shave. I wasn't scruffy, but wasn't exactly clean cut either. Then I wondered if I should get a hair cut.

"This isn't a date. Take it easy. It's just a bite to eat" I told myself. If I thought it wasn't a date, then I wouldn't be nervous. I stared at my reflection in the mirror. "You can do this. It's nothing." I said as I felt my nerves calm.

I threw on my black beanie and my gray and black varsity jacket. It was rush hour now and I hated to be on the trains at this time. I was happy that I wouldn't be on for long. The train was crowded with men in suits, suits that reminded me of my father.

I wonder what he would think about this non-date I was going on. He never gave much advice on women. I figured most of it out from Emmett and my own experiences.

"Next stop Court Street," the conductor said over the old P.A system. I felt my nerves return to me. I hoped that the Red Bull would keep me up. I didn't want my tiredness from work to ruin this for me.

When I got off the train I walked up the stairs and paced myself around all the people who ran up and down. I reached her outside and saw her waiting by the water fountain sculpture. She didn't see me yet so I used the chance to check her out. Does she always look so hot?

She was wearing a black leather jacket and knee length motorcycle boots. And these gray thigh highs. Her legs seemed to go on forever…And her hair was up. I think I liked it better down.

"Isabella" I called and she locked eyes with me and smiled.

"Hi Edward." She said as she walked towards me.

"I hope you weren't waiting long"

"No. Not really. Where's this place? I'm starving!" her eyes were wide and bright.

"Not too far." We walked down the street passing by the stores. It felt so comfortable having her next to me. I almost threw my arm around her shoulder a few times.

"So how was work?" she asked me.

"Same old same old. Rescuing cats from trees and putting out forest fires." I joked. She smiled again. "What about you?"

"Very trying. I have this one student who refused to participate." She shook her head.

"So you're a teacher?"

"Yes, I teach dance at Mark Morris." She nodded

"So you teach and perform?" she nodded again. She stared at me and smiled.

"I see you're wearing a hat."

"Someone told me I should be wearing one." She giggled at that.

We reached the "Happy Days Diner" and instead of sitting at the counter like I normally do, I sat at a booth. I took off my hat and coat and she did the same. I was hit with the soft scent of her perfume. It made my mouth start to water…she smelled really good.

"I love diners." she sang "I never came to this one before". She looked around the place and I wondered what she was thinking but I used every chance I could to study her face.

"After I moved to Brooklyn, a neighbor suggested this place. I come here all the time."

The waiter came over; it was the owner's youngest son, Seth. He smiled at me as he looked at Isabella.

"Eddie my man, I see you have a hot date tonight? Who's this?" he said. He was barely legal and was checking out her out.

"Isabella" she smiled.

"This guy right here, is a nice guy. Great tipper." He said in a pretend whisper. He placed the menus on the table and left us. I tried just about everything so I knew what I wanted.

Isabella opened her menu and knocked over the sugar shaker. Some of it spilled on the table.

"Oops!" she said and quickly tried to clean it up. "Let me warn you, I can be very clumsy." She seemed sincerely embarrassed.

"Well, I can be very protective so you have nothing to worry about...while I'm with you" I chuckled. She stared in my eyes nervously and back at her menu.

"So much to choose from…" I don't know what it was about her, but I couldn't stop staring at her. I had been concentrating on her face so hard, I didn't notice Seth was waiting to for my order.

"Eddie? Earth to Eddie?" he joked. I felt my face get warm.

"Oh, I'll have the ribs with mac and cheese" I said quickly.

When the food had arrived, everything looked great.

"Wow this looks so yummy!" she smiled

"You gonna eat all of that?" I asked slyly.

"Oh yes I am. Don't be fooled, I can put away some food". After the first bites were taken, she started to question me.

""So Edward, tell me about yourself" she cut another piece off her Belgium waffles.

"Uh… not much to say. I like long walks on the beach…" I said and it made her giggle again.

"Who were you before you were a fireman?" she stared into my eyes. I looked up as I remembered that time before now.

When I didn't have to work and music was my life. I would play the piano to entertain everyone. The countless hours I spent practicing, perfecting, and obsessing with different classical scores and sonatas. Back when my father was proud of me…

"I used to play the piano. A lot" I said somewhat strained.

"Really?"

"Yes"

"Maybe one day you'll let me hear you. Maybe if you're good, I'll dance." The tone of her voice changed, it sounded a little deeper.

"Maybe." I said my own voice came out raspy.

"You have the perfect fingers." She looked at me then quickly stared at her food. I felt myself get turned on. She'd been paying attention to my fingers? I looked down at my hands. I did have really long fingers. My hands were pretty pale.

I stared at Isabella's dark hands. They were smaller than mine were. I wondered if her skin felt as smooth as it looked.

"Dessert guys?" Seth asked us. I was stuffed but I looked at Isabella with a small smile.

"You should try the peach cobbler." She returned the smile and said that she would give it a try.

"I bet it isn't as good as mines," she said playfully.

"Ok so let's bet. If it's as good as yours is. I get t take you out this weekend."

"And if it isn't?" she leaned forward.

"Is till get to take you out this weekend."

"Not fair!" she laughed out loud.

"Ok, I'll play something for you." said with a smirk.

"Pinky promise?" she asked

A small plate of cobbler and ice cream was placed on the table. She stuck out her pinky finger and I stuck mines out. I gently wrapped it around hers and our thumbs touched.

"Pinky promise." I said as I stared into her dark brown eyes. We shook then I reluctantly let go of her hand. She took a bite and looked at me.

"Do you know how to play any Biggie Smalls songs?" she smiled. I felt myself fall more and more for her.

"You like 'One More Chance'?" I said with a smirk.

"Sure I do. I guess when you take me out this weekend, we can find a piano for you to play." She continued to eat the cobbler.

"Oh yeah? I still get to take you out?"

"Yup." She glanced up at me shyly.