The Start Of Something New
AJ knocked on Amber's door and waited patiently. It only took her a couple of seconds to answer the door and when she did AJ was amazed. She looked beautiful in her dark blue jeans and black halter top.
"You look stunning," AJ said to her.
"Thank you," Amber said taking one last look in the apartment. "I'm gone."
"Yep," another girl said from inside the apartment.
Amber rolled her eyes, closed the door and then looked at AJ.
"You didn't really say where we were going," she said to him.
"If I remember correctly you made the date," AJ said to her.
"The guy is always responsible for the first date," Amber said.
"So then you're responsible for the next one?" AJ asked.
"We still have to see if there is one," Amber replied as they walked down the steps. "So where are we going?"
"You'll see when we get there," AJ said opening the door for her.
"Alright," she said walking outside.
He opened the car door for her and then got into the driver's side.
"You get points for politeness anyways," Amber said to him.
"You haven't seen anything yet," he said smiling.
"Why me?" Amber asked as he was driving.
"Why you?" AJ asked. "I already told you. You intrigue me."
"I intrigue you?" Amber repeated. "How so?"
"Trying to catch me in trap already?" AJ asked laughing. He quickly looked at her and smiled. "Because you're unlike any girl that I have ever met before. You find it easy to blow a guy off but I can tell that later on you think about it and you regret it."
Amber nodded.
"Plus, you're good looking and athletic," he said to her.
She smiled and blushed a little bit.
"Why didn't you give in though?" Amber asked as he pulled into a parking lot.
AJ thought about it and then looked at her. "Because rejection is better than regret."
"Good answer," Amber said as they both got out of the car. "So what is this place?"
"Just a quiet little place," he said opening the door for her.
"A bar?" Amber asked. "I work in a bar all week and then you bring me to one?"
"You told me that you were a female impersonator," AJ said to her.
"So you're a funny guy?" Amber asked.
"A funny guy for a funny girl," AJ said handing her a pool cue. "What's your favorite drink?"
"Shirley Temple," Amber replied.
"Aww…I don't think this relationship's gonna last long then," AJ laughed and ordered her one.
He finally got Amber to smile into a full smile.
"You play much?" He asked handing her her drink.
"Not that much," Amber said taking a sip of her drink. "But I could probably kick your ass anyway."
"We'll just have to see about that," he said racking them up. "Wanna break?"
"You're the strong man, I'm sure you can handle it," she said winking at him.
"Do I get mouth-to-mouth afterwards?" He asked.
"I'm afraid that's a negative," Amber said leaning against the bar.
"You broke my heart sweetie," AJ said breaking.
"I might put it back together later," Amber said smiling and looking at the table.
"So which university are you in?" He asked.
"University of Orlando," she replied sinking a ball.
"What's your major?"
"Cognitive sciences," Amber answered and walked back to the bar.
"Sorry, I don't have my dictionary with me at the moment," AJ said to her.
She smiled. "It's a mixture between law, software engineering, robotics, system analysis, programming journalism, psychology and speech pathology."
"Ah," he said and then laughed. "I can be your experiment."
"Why else do you think I would go out with you?" Amber laughed as she watched AJ sink three balls in a row. "You can stop kicking my ass now."
"I'm having too much fun," he said. "And, you know deep down that you're enjoying it."
When Amber was walking past him she stopped.
"Maybe I am," she countered.
AJ stopped in his tracks and turned around to look at her. Never in his life had he dated a girl who had an answer for everything.
"You probably date a lot," Amber said as she lined up her shot.
"Who me? No, never. I usually stay at home, locked in my room playing Nintendo, can't you tell?" AJ asked laughing.
Amber shook her head and looked around the bar. Then she went back to the pool table and won the game.
"I win!" Amber said doing a dance.
"I lost on purpose," AJ said to her.
"Oh, I'm sure that's what happened," Amber said rolling her eyes.
"So, how old are you?"
"I don't know if I should tell you now," Amber said.
"I'll behave," AJ said.
"Alright, I'm twenty-two," Amber said.
"Damn it," AJ said. "I only date women younger than seventeen."
"How old are you?" Amber asked.
"Twenty-seven," he replied.
"Aww…I only date men older than forty-seven."
"That's the shits for both of us then," AJ said.
"Too bad, I was actually starting to like you," Amber said sitting beside him at the bar.
"Oh really?" AJ asked a little taken aback.
"Yeah," Amber said. "But if you want to set me up with your dad or uncle…"
AJ laughed and then looked at her. "You have an adorable nose."
"Well that's a compliment," Amber said sarcastically.
"It is," AJ said to her. "Most guys look at the usual."
Amber thought for moment. He was right. Most men compliment a girl on her eyes or her overall body.
"So what do you do for a living?" Amber asked clearing her head.
"I'm a professional wrestler," he replied.
"Really?" Amber asked. "What's that like?"
"Painful," AJ replied laughing. "It's alright. Enough about that though, who do you live with?"
"Just a roommate," Amber said. "She gets annoying."
"Kick her out," AJ laughed.
Amber laughed and looked at him.
"What?" She asked when she noticed he was still smiling at her.
"You have a cute laugh," AJ said to her.
"Stop being charming," Amber said and playfully slapped his leg.
"Why?" AJ asked her.
"Because it makes me feel uncomfortable," she whined.
"Get used to it then," AJ replied, " because it's gonna happen a lot." When he noticed that she didn't wanna talk about it he changed the topic. "What are you doing this weekend?"
Amber thought about it. "I'm working Friday night until two and I start work on Saturday at nine."
"I work Saturday night as well," AJ said. "But we could do something during the day if you like."
"I'd like that," she said.
"I think we should get going," AJ said to her.
"Why?" She asked.
"Because you're making the other girls look bad," AJ said standing up.
Amber rolled her eyes but got up and followed AJ out of the bar. Once outside AJ looked at her.
"Let's go for a walk," he said.
"Alright," Amber said walking beside him.
"You're not cold are you?" AJ asked her.
"Nope, I'm good," she said. "What do you do for a thrill?"
"For a thrill?" AJ asked her.
"Not like that," Amber said.
"I didn't mean it like that," AJ said laughing. "Give me your hand." Amber gave him her hand. He gently slapped it. "Bad girl."
She smiled and slapped his chest.
"Ow, that hurt," AJ said rubbing his chest.
"Yeah right," Amber said.
"I bet I could guess your weight," AJ said to her.
"Oh really?" Amber asked interested.
"Yeah," AJ said taking her hand and looking at her finger. "I'm gonna have to say about…hmm…three-forty-five."
Amber's mouth dropped open in shock.
"I'm just kidding," he said wrapping his arm around her.
He was actually quite surprised when she wrapped her arm around his waist.
"So I'll pick you up on Saturday around noon?" He asked.
"If you can catch me," Amber said releasing herself from him and running down the street.
AJ chased her down the street. He stopped for what seemed to be eternity. It all happened in slow motion. A car was coming closer to the curb where Amber was and then the water came up all over Amber.
He quickly ran over to her.
"Are you alright?" He asked. Amber was in shock. How could this be happening to her? This never actually happened in real life. "I'll be back right away."
Did he just say that he's be back right away? When Amber looked up he was talking to the girl in the sports car. Correction, it was more like hardcore flirting. How could he do this? The night was going so good.
She was about to turn around when she heard glass shatter. The car's headlight was completely destroyed.
"What the hell!" The blond woman yelled.
"Don't ever do that again," AJ said to her and walked back over to Amber. "You alright?"
"Yeah," Amber finally replied wiping the hair out of her face.
"Here," AJ said taking his leather jacket off and putting it around her shoulders.
"Thanks," she said.
He wrapped his arm around her waist and led her back to the parking lot where the car was waiting. He opened the door for her and felt enormously embarrassed for her. They sat quietly in the car on the car back to her apartment.
Once back at the apartment building he walked her upstairs and then there was a feeling or awkwardness.
"I'll see you tomorrow then?" He asked.
She nodded but did not say anything.
He kissed her forehead and then looked at her and smiled.
"You're still cute," he said.
"I can tell the future you know," Amber said to him.
"Oh yeah?" He asked. "What's gonna happen?"
She took his hand and pulled out a pen. She wrote her number on the inside of his hand.
"I predict you'll be calling me soon," she said. "See you on Saturday."
He turned around halfway down the hallway. "Sweet dreams."
Amber smiled and let herself into her apartment.