This chapter didn't come out exactly how I wanted it to, so I'm not to sure about the way things progressed. The chapter is mostly filler and fluff, but necessary to move the story forward. Let me know what you think.
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It was a quarter to seven and Izzie still hadn't figured out what to wear for her date with Mark. A dress, skirt, pants…there were too many options for Izzie to choose which outfit to wear. Furthermore, it had been months since Izzie had been on a date, so the whole day had consisted of baking the perfect sugar cookies as a means to deal with all of the nerves and tension.
Finally, Izzie had decided on a dark, hip-hugging pair of denim pants with a simple green halter top and a pair of black stilettos. Minutes later, the doorbell rang and Izzie went downstairs to answer, silently happy that she was the only one in the house so she wouldn't have to deal with anyone's questions.
"Wow," uttered a clearly flustered Mark as the door open to reveal him holding a bouquet of lilies for Izzie. "These are for you. I hope like them," said Mark as he handed her the flowers.
"I can't believe you brought flowers," said an ecstatic Izzie.
"I thought if I am going to go through with this whole dating thing, then I might as well do it right," shrugged Mark.
"Well, let me just put them in a vase real quick. Come on in," replied Izzie as she made her way to the kitchen.
Mark just stood by the door waiting for Izzie to reappear. "She looks so beautiful with her hair slight curled and that smile of hers," he thought, "Maybe this dating thing won't be so bad after all."
In fact, Mark had been thinking that some change might be good for him. Addison had made it clear that she had moved on, so perhaps it was time for Mark to make a fresh start too. It was time to start making Seattle feel like his home. Still, Mark was surprised by his sudden feelings toward Izzie for it was more than just lust or desire. He had a smile plastered to his face all day yesterday when she sorta accepted his date. Maybe this would be the beginning of him getting over Addison.
"So where are we going?" asked Izzie who has returned and eager to begin their date.
Mark smiled, "Now where would all the fun be if I told what we were doing?"
As the couple made their way out of the house and into Mark's black BMW, Izzie said, "All I know is that I refuse to go to Chuckie Cheese, a strip club, and/or the golf course."
Mark just laughed and proceeded to pull out of the driveway. After five minutes of small talk about work, they arrived at Roberto's, an Italian eatery, that unbeknownst to Mark was Izzie's favorite restaurant in all of Seattle.
"I love this place!" exclaimed Izzie, "They have the best breadsticks and salad."
The two walked in and Mark went up to the hostess, "I made a reservation yesterday evening. The last name is Sloane."
"Oh yes, right this way," smiled the hostess, but then giving Izzie the look of death. As they made their way to the table, it seemed that every female in the place was giving Izzie the same look as the men were jealously glaring at Mark.
The hostess seated the two doctors saying, "You waiter will be here shortly."
"Thanks," said Mark who couldn't moved his eyes away from Izzie.
"Yeah, thanks," replied Izzie who was also having a hard time looking away.
Izzie couldn't believe that she was actually having a good time with Mark Sloane. During dinner, they had talked about a variety of topics in which Izzie found herself smiling, laughing, and enjoying the conversation. Life was becoming bright and shiny again.
After they finished their plates, Mark and Izzie were stuffed so they decided to pay the bill and head out to their next designation. The dinner was unexpected for Mark. He laughed so hard about so many different things from med school to sports to movies. For the first time in a long time, Mark felt comfortable and relaxed.
Ten minutes later, Mark pulled into an abandoned parking lot.
"Mark, we aren't in high school anymore. I'm sorry to say that making out in an empty lot isn't a part of any respectable women's idea of a date, regardless of their age," stated Izzie who was conflicted between her emotions. She wasn't sure if she wanted to yell at Mark for being an ass by pulling this sort of stunt after they had just finished a pleasant dinner or if she wanted to give in to her increasing feeling of lust and desire for the cocky plastic surgeon.
"Get your mind out of the gutter Stevens, I'm simply parking here so that we don't get stuck trying to get out a crowded parking lot of festival craziness," replied Mark.
"Oh," Izzie simply stated as she made her way out of the car and turned around to see a small carnival with food, games, and rides. After a moment, she turned to Mark and smiled, "I love carnivals. I've always been a sucker for funnels cakes and merry-go-rounds."
"I saw a flyer for it at the hotel, and thought that this was the perfect opportunity to go," added Mark who was happy because it seemed that Izzie was enjoying herself as much as him.
"Besides, it's not like O'Malley gave me any tips on where to take her," thought Mark.
"Maybe next time you might want to give me the benefit of the doubt. Behind this ruggedly handsome, and sexy exterior is a man who enjoys more than just sex," a half-joking, half-truthful Mark told Izzie as they made their way to the ticket booth.
"I'm starting to realize that," smiled Izzie who was still shocked that she was actually having fun on a date with Mark Sloane.
A few rides later, the lines started to get longer, so Izzie decided that it would be a good time to play a few games.
"Mark, you've already spent twenty dollars. I really do not need a Hello Kitty stuffed animal that much," pleaded Izzie, "I get it. Your determined, strong-willed, and have a mean right hook. You don't need to continue with this macho male thing."
Mark turned to her with a scowl on his face, "First, you wanted the Hello Kitty stuffed animal, so you will get the Hello Kitty stuffed animal. I don't care if I spend $200 dollars on it. Second, you are my date. That guy who tried grabbed your ass had a black eye coming to him. Third, it is not a macho male thing. These games are rigged, and I just have to keep playing because odds are I will win eventually."
Twenty minutes later and another fifty dollars spent, Mark triumphantly gave Izzie the treasured Hello Kitty stuffed animal.
"Told you that I'd win, and it only took me another fifty bucks," exclaimed a victorious Mark.
"Yeah, only fifty bucks," replied Izzie sarcastically, "Now we have only fifteen minutes before everything closes. Since I had to stand through that display of male stupidity, we are going to get a funnel cake now."
"Well…" started Mark who was quickly cut off by Izzie.
"What?" she asked him.
"Nothing, it's just that I kinda spent all my cash on the game," he sheepishly answered her while taking a step back from her impending wrath.
Izzie just shook her head. After all, she wasn't that angry, and it was actually quite funny watching him try to win her that precious Hello Kitty stuffed animal. The way his face got all scrunched when he was concentrating or the excited look on his face when he finally won was well worth their time spent.
As the couple passed the funnel cake stand, a sign appeared stating that they were sold out for the night.
"Another time I guess," Izzie said as they made their way through the crowds.
On their way to Mark's car, they passed the parking lot which was filled with angry people yelling and honking their way to get out.
"See, I told you," a confident Mark told Izzie with a smug grin.
"I never said that you were wrong," Izzie teased him as they reached the car.
Unlike the rest of the date, the ride back to Izzie's was fairly quiet, but not in an awkward kind of way.
Some time later Mark broke the comfortable silence saying, "I had fun tonight."
"Me too," Izzie said as she turned her head to smile at him, "I wasn't expecting to, but I was pleasantly surprised."
"Yeah," stated an overjoyed Mark.
"Now you know that dating can be fun," Izzie told him as they pulled into her driveway.
"I guess so. I mean, if you're with the right person…" trailed Mark who caught himself before he expressed anymore of his feelings.
"Great, now I scared her," he thought, "I can't even make it through one lousy night without screwing it up."
Suddenly, Mark felt Izzie's lips on his own. The kiss was short and brief, but still filled with such strong emotions. For once, Mark was unsure of how to proceed with a woman. Should he go in for another kiss? What if she thought he was being a jerk by proceeding with a second kiss?
Immediately, Mark was thrown into a whole other train of thought with six little words.
"Do you want to come inside?" Izzie asked him.
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So what did you guys think? How do you want Mark to respond? (Although, I can probably guess what you guys will answer.) Please review!!!!