-Paul-

Mai held my hand as we walked, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and fear. She looked around, resembling something like a child just visiting Disney Land for the first time. Her dark blue eyes took everything in, an unending supply of curiosity in them.

This was perfectly fine for me, for I enjoyed this look. I wanted to see her look at things like that, to see her be amazed by everything she saw. And I wanted to be the one that showed her all of it. To bring that look to her face.

I was almost reluctant to bring her into the resturaunt, still unable to shake off the uncontrolable urge to show her everything. That reluctancy faded however when Mai drew a breath. She looked around the resturaunt, her mouth open slightly and her eyes widening further.

"Paul...this place is so..." She trailed off and smiled at me. It seemed my heart started to race, a first for me in nearly thirty years.

"You like it?" I asked, swallowing.

"L-like it?" She asked and shook her head. "I love it..."

A slight blush crept across her face and she turned away, acting as if she had found something interesting to look at. It was a good excuse, but I knew that she was hiding from me. I couldn't have cared less, I was flustered myself.

"Wow..." She breathed as a waiter walked up to us.

"Uh, table for two please." I told him, taking Mai's arm softly. She turned, blushing a little more, and managed a slight smile.

"Right this way."

The man, who was probably a year or two old than my age, physically at least, winked at Mai and led us along. For a moment, a slight flash of heat ran along my spine, but was cut off as Mai squeezed my hand tightly. Her face looked scared for once, with both shocked and infuriated me.

"Here you are you two." The man winked again and walked away. Frantically, Mai squeezed into a seat and tugged on my arm, nearly pulling me down.

Odd... I thought Didn't think someone could pull me over.

"I don't like him." She whispered, holding onto my arm as I sat beside her. "He's... He reminds me of someone else."

"Who?" I asked, panicking a bit.

"I...I don't wanna talk about it." She shook her head rapidly.

"A-Alright." I nodded a bit and faked a smile.

Mai looked down and shifted a bit. I realized again that she looked slightly uncomfortable in what she was wearing.

"Don't you have anything else to wear?" I asked.

"No." She told me softly. "It was all I brought with me..."

"From where you ran away from?"

Mai flinched a bit, but managed a nod.

"You would have too."

I began to say something, but our lovely waiter returned, smelling strongly of Axe. Shit, couldn't this guy take a hint? Mai didn't like him.

"What can I get you two to drink?" he asked, a slick grin running across his face.

"I don't know. What do you want, baby?" I stressed the term and let my arm rest on her shoulders, ever so lightly. I didn't know if she would like me touching her, but I was positive she didn't like this creep.

"I'd kinda like a coke, wouldn't you, honey?" Mai leaned her head back and winked.

"Yeah, sounds nice." I leaned down and put my mouth an inch from her forehead, just enough to make it look like a kiss. I felt Mai's body tense, and then relax moments after. Still, I regretted making her uncomfortable.

The waiter nodded and ran off, looking like he had his tail between his leg.

I couldn't hold it in any longer, I busted out laughing. Beside me, Mai's body began to tremble before she too began to laugh.

"That was good." She choked off. "I've never done something like that."

I stopped laughing and looked at her. She was still grinning, but it faded as she saw my serious look.

"Something wrong?"

I looked down and sighed.

"There's a lot of things you haven't done." I pointed.

"So?" Mai raised an eyebrow. "It's not like it's your fault."

"But... still-"

She cut me off with a shake of her head.

"Don't worry about it."