CHAPTER 7
I hope you are enjoying the story!
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On Saturday night I cab down to Grand Central Diner with an open mind and positive attitude- thinking that maybe Chad will be thee someone I am looking for.
I walk into the restaurant and spot him right away sitting at a bar wearing jeans and green striped shirted rolled up
"Sorry I am late" I say as Chad greets me "Had trouble getting a cab"
"No worries" he says offering me a stool next to his. I sit down, he smiles exposing two rows of very white straight teeth- possibly his best feature.
"So what can I get you?" He asks me
" What you having?"
"Gin and Tonic"
"I'll have the same"
He glances towards the bartender with a twenty extended and then looks back at me " You looks good Gabs"
I than him it's been a long time since I received a proper compliment from a guy. It occurs to me that Troy and I didn't get around to compliments.
"So the last time I saw you we were all pretty wasted… that was a fun night"
" Yeah I was pretty out of it" I say, hoping that Troy told me the truth about keeping Chad in the dark " But at least I made it home before sunup, Sharpay told me that you and Troy were out pretty late that night"
"Yeah we hung out for a while" Chad says without looking at me, this is a good sign he is covering for his friend but has trouble lying.
An Asian girl wearing leather pants and too much eye liners taps Chad on the shoulder and tells him that our table is ready. We follow her to the quieter restaurant area behind the bar. As we sit she hands us two oversized menus and a separate wine list.
" Your server will be you shortly" she says before flipping her long black hair and waltzing off.
Cha glances at the wine list and ask if I want to order a bottle
"Sure" I say
"Red or White?"
"Either"
" I am not very good at picking wine" he says cracking his knuckles under the table " You want to "Have a look?"
"That's okay. You can pick whatever is fine"
"All right then, I'll wing it" he says, flashing me his I never skipped night wearing my retainer smile
We study our menus discussing what looks good. Chad slides her chair closer to the table I feel his knee against mine.
"I almost did not ask you out, since we're are in the same summer house and all" Chad says scanning the menu "Troy told me that's one of the rules here. Don't get involved with someone in your house. At least until August" he laughs as I store away this fact for later analysis Troy discouraged our date.
"But then I thought you know what the hell- I dig her. I'm going to call her. I mean I ve been thinking about asking you out since Troy introduced us. Right when I moved here but I was seening this girl in California and thought would wrap things up with her before call you, just to make it all neat and kosher so I finally ended the deal… and here we are"
I smile feeling myself warm to him. He doesn't evoke the feeling that Troy gives me, but he is plesant to and easy to be with "I think you made the right decision"
"To wait?"
"No to call" I give him my most alluring smile fleeting reminding myself of Sharpay
Our waitress interrupts the monment " Hello, how are you this evening?
" Fine" Chad says cheerfully, and then lowers his voice " for a first date"
I laugh but our waitress musters only a stiff tight-lipped smile " So would you like to start with a drink?"
"Yeah… think we're going with a bottle of red. What do you recommend?" he squints at the menu
"The Pinot Noir is superb" she points down at the wine list
"Fine that one then perfect"
"Are you ready to order?"
" Yes I think we were" I say and then asked for burger and fries
" How would you like that done?"
"Medium" I say
Chad orders the lamb with fries
"Excellent choices "the wateriness says with an affection tilt of her head, she gathers our menus and turns her back
"Where were we?... Oh yeah Orlando, so Troy says is never a good idea to go out with someone in your own house. And I am like 'Dude I am not playing by your rules, if we end up hating each us, we hate each other.
" I don't think we are going to hate each other" I say
Our waitress returns with the wine and uncorks the bottle, and pour some into his glass Chad takes healthy sip and reports that is great, skipping the usual pretentious ceremony-I hate it when there do it.
As out waitress pours my wine I as Chad if he knows about the bet
He shakes his head "What bet?"
I wait until we are alone- it's bad enough that our waitress that this a first date- Sharapay and Troy had a bet whether I'd say yes when you asked me out"
"Get outta of here!" he drops his jaw for effect " That they are so up and in our business!" he shakes his head " bastards"
"I know "
He lifts his glass "To eluding Troy and Sharpay. No sharing details of tonight with those nosey bastards "
I laugh "No matter how great- or bad this date is!" Our glasses clink and we sip in unison
"This date is not going bad, trust me on that"
I smile "I trust you" I do trust him I think. There is something disarming about his sense of humor and easy. Midwestern style. And he is not engaged to Sharpay nice bonus. Then as if on cue he ask me how long I 've know Sharapay " Twenty- something years"
And you were the one who introduced Sharpay and Troy right?" He said that you were good friends in law school?"
Right. My good friend Troy. The last person I slept with.
"I met him first semester of law school. I knew right away that he and Sharpay would make a good match" I say a bit of exaggeration but I want to set the record straight that I never considered Troy for myself. Which I didn't and I still don't
"Enough about Troy and Sharpay" I say
"Yeah,I hear ya"
We start the typical first date conversation, discussing our jobs and families and general background. We cover his move to New York our food arrives. We eat and talk more and order other bottle of red. There is more laughter than silence I am even comfortable to eat a bite of his lamb when he offers to me.
After dinner Cha pays the bill it's an awkward moment for me, I thank and we make our way to the door where we decide to get other drink
"You pick a place" Chad says. I chose a bar that just opened near my apartment we get in the cab taking the whole way. Then we sit at the bar talking more.
Couple hours and two drinks later I glance at my watch and say it's getting late
"Okay I'll walk you home?
"Sure"
We stroll over to third avenue and stop in front of my apartment " Good night Chad thank you so much for dinner I had a really nice time" I say meaning it
"Yeah so did I it was good" he licks his lips quickly. I know what is coming "And I am glad we are in the same house this summer" then he ask if he can kiss me it a question I don't usually like, but for some reason it does not brother me coming from Chad.
I nod as he leans over and gives me a medium long kiss, we separate. My heart isn't palpitating but I am content
"You think Troy and Sharpay beat on that" he ask
I laugh I had been wondering the same thing
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"How did it go?" Sharapay yells into the phone the next morning I have just got out of the shower, dripping wet "where are you?"
"In the car with Troy we are on our way back to the city, she says we went antiquing" she can't even wait until she gets home to get the scoop on my date.
"Well?" she says
"We have a bad connection, your cell is breaking up" I say "I can't hear you"
" Nice try, give me the goods"
"What goods?"
"Gabriella! Don't play dumb with me. Tell me about your date! We are dying to know!"
I hear Troy in the background "Just dying!"
"It was lovely evening" I say trying to wrap towel around my head without dropping the phone
She squeals "I knew it! So details! Details!"
I tell her that we went to Grand centre diner and he had lamb and I had burgers.
" Gabriella! Get to the good stuff! Did you hook up!"
"Why not?"
" I have my reason"
"That means you did" she says "Otherwise you would say no"
"Think what you want"
"Come on Gabriella!"
" No Sharpay"
" if I promise not tell Troy?"
"Still no"
Sharpay makes an exasperated sound. Then she tells me she will find out one way or other and hangs up.
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HARIBO X
