Chapter Six: Take Me Out

((title taken from the Franz Ferdinand song))

After Jake leaves, it's not to long before Chris and I leave as well. He escorts me from the hotel and looks over at the bay, the water moving with the slight wind that's picked up. "Seems like they have a boardwalk over there. How about we check it out first?"

I smile, raising my hands to rub my arms. "It's awfully chilly out here. Maybe I should go back to my room to grab a jacket."

Chris removes his plain black jacket and wraps it around my shoulders, "Take mine, it's warm enough out here that I'll be okay."

"Well aren't you a gentleman?" I smile slipping my arms through the armholes. His jacket smells just like him: a mix of Axe body spray and what vaguely smells like Germ-X.

"Well I couldn't just let you be cold. It's not to bad for me out here," he smiles with a small nod of his head. His arm comes up to wrap around my shoulders as we walk towards the boardwalk. There is a smell of fried foods from the vendors as well as the sounds of people talking to their friends and loved ones.

"We should grab lunch first," I smile, "I mean, the later we get it the more we won't be ready for dinner with Jake."

"Yeah, dinner with Jake..." Chris replies, sounding not to thrilled about it.

"You don't sound to happy, something wrong with going to dinner with Jake?" I say, looking at him.

"Nothing," he replies cheerfully.

"Okay," I reply but I don't really believe him, "So, lunch?"

"Yeah, what about over there?" Chris points to a place with a veranda where brown tables with red and white umbrellas sticking out from the centers. Couples sit enjoying lunch and looking out over the bay watching the boats or staring into each others eyes as the sound of light piano music plays.

"Seems nice enough," I smile.

"Then we'll eat there," Chris replies. He walks up to the podium where the hostess sits, "Table for two out on the back deck please?"

"Yes sir, right this way." the young woman smiles. She leads us to the back deck. Chris pulls my chair out for me and when I sit down, pushes it back in. He sits on the opposite side of the table and smiles at me as the hostess hands us our menus. "A waiter will be with you shortly."

Chris smiles at me, "Do you drink wine?"

I nod, "Yes I'm a fan of red wines."

"Well the menu only has white wine," Chris replies, looking at the menu before looking back up. "Maybe we can order that?"

"White wine is good as well," I nod.

He nods in reply and continues to look at the menu for several minutes. I can't help but steal glances up at him. He looks so dignified, so handsome. Finally he closes his menu and smiles, breaking the silence between us. "I know what I'm having. The fried fish with a side of shrimp, tartar sauce and cocktail sauce to go with that."

"Sounds delicious. Think I want the seafood salad though," I smile. The waiter, a young brunette man walks over.

"My names Dalton and I'll be your server for the afternoon. You folks know what you want?"

"Yes sir," Chris smiles, "To drink we'll have a bottle of your white wine, your best of course, and to eat I'll have the fried fish and a side of shrimp with tartar and cocktail dipping sauce and she'll have the seafood salad with..." he raises an eyebrow, "What type of dressing?"

"Light ranch," I reply with a small smile at our server.

He nods, "I'll bring the wine right over."

As he walks away, Chris looks at me. "So, Kirstie, tell me a little about yourself."

"Not much to tell. Grew up in Perry with Jake, I'm an only child. Jake was the closest thing I had to a brother."

"That's sweet but I want to know about you and not the relationship you have with Jake."

I nod, though I could plainly hear the aggravation in his voice. "I was a cheerleader in high school and got good grades. When I went to New York University, where I majored in broadcasting, I was a sorority girl. You?"

"Football and baseball player in high school, mediocre grades, went to Los Angeles University with a major in sports medicine." Chris replies.

"Interesting. So if you weren't a wrestler, what would you be?" I ask, curious.

"Probably a sports therapist," Chris smiles, "I would want to help people get over injuries."

"I'd be a news anchor. That's what I was trying to do before I came here," I smile.

"I'd watch your news program. With a face like yours, I bet even the war in Iraq would make me smile."

I blush, "You're a charmer..."

"I'm only being honest. So lets see...um...favorite movie?" Chris smiles as the waiter brings over the wine and pours two glasses.

I think about it for a moment before answering, "Either The Princess Bride or How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days."

"I know the first one but I've never seen the second," Chris replies. "It's a chick flick isn't it?"

"Yes," I giggle.

"Seems to fit you though. I enjoy action movies but my favorite movie is actually To Kill A Mockingbird with Gregory Peck."

"I would not have guess that."

"Not many people do," Chris laughs, taking a sip of wine. He smiles and licks his lips.

"Is it good?"

"Delectable. Try it."

I take a sip of my wine and smile at him, "It really is good!"

He smiles and leans back, as Dalton sets his food in front of him. "So, Kirstie, do you have any plans for your time on Smackdown?"

I shake my head, "No, I'm just an announcer. I'm never going to get involved in any of the backstage politics and I never want to be in a match."

Chris smiles at me before looking down to cut his fish. "That may be hard to do. Even Micheal Cole has gotten in the ring before. Then again...he does have a mean mouth..."

"I tend to keep quiet," I smile, "You make less enemies that way and get in less trouble."

"So how'd you get into broadcasting?" he asks around a mouthful of fish.

I chew the bite of salad I've taken before answering, "I do like to talk once someone gets to know me. It's just...well..."

"Your shy," he smiles.

"Sometimes," I honestly sigh. "I don't know if I'll fit in backstage. I'm not a real sports person. Plus all the girls are prettier than me."

"They aren't," Chris quickly says, "Out of all the divas on Smackdown, you're the prettiest."

"Again, your a charmer." It's not long before I finish my food, the plate was small but the food was good. Chris finishes a few minutes after me and we both have another glass of wine. When the waiter comes back with the check I dig my wallet out of my purse, "Here let me-"

"Oh no, I'll pay for dinner," he replies, holding up a hand to halt me. "Gentleman's prerogative."

I smile, "At least let me pay you back?"

"This is my treat," smiles Chris. He walks to the outside cash register and pays. He comes back to the table and we walk back out onto the boardwalk. There isn't much else but restaurants, a few shops with things such as bait and tackle and boats for sale. "What do you say we take one of those free shuttles into town?"

"We should probably drive. It'll be easier for when Jake gets a hold of us if we don't have to wait for a shuttle."

"Good point," Chris nods, "You don't have your car do you?"

"No, I'm riding with Jake," I reply.

He smiles at me as we walk back to the hotel and into the parking garage. He leads me to a black Impala which reminds me of the car from Supernatural. "This is my baby," he laughs.

"She's beautiful," I reply, running my hand over the smooth door.

"Thanks. I restored her myself," he opens my door for me and I climb inside before he closes the door. He gets in on his side and starts the car, the sounds of The Black Eyed Peas Let's Get It Started playing over the speakers.

"Hip-hop fan?" I smile.

"I like all music," he nods, "this just happens to be whats on at the moment."

"I listen to mostly hip-hop and pop. Some other stuff," I nod.

We drive to the city, singing along with the music that comes on and telling each other about ourselves. Once we get into town we do a few things that sound interesting to us. For me that means dragging him to the zoo and the aquarium, for Chris that means dragging me to the Edgar Allen Poe house and the art museum. We have different tastes in things but with each others company we enjoy all of it. I'm going to have a nice story to tell Jake about my first date with Chris.