Author's Notes: Not one of my favorite chapters but I feel like it will tie up a loose end and it will allow one of my least favorite characters to have a graceful exit.
Angela
(2005)
Two weeks after the events in Harvardville, Angela Miller made good on her promise; through her contacts at the White House, she managed to get a hold of Leon and schedule a dinner date with him. Leon was reluctant at first but decided to take her up on the offer. He didn't mind a dinner between friends, but he had a feeling she was expecting more than just dessert.
Leon sat at his table waiting. He hated wearing a suit and tie all day, but he knew restaurants like this one adhered to a strict dress code. The restaurant played live music. The singer was singing Etta James's "At Last" when the maitre'd led Angela to his table.
Angela greeted Leon looking lovely and sophisticated in a short black cocktail dress. Her strawberry blond hair flowed freely atop her shoulders. She greeted Leon with a smile.
"You look nice," replied Leon.
"Same to you Agent Kennedy" He even looks better in a suit! Angela thought to herself.
Sitting across from one another, the two talked, ate their dinner and talked some more. Leon could tell Angela was enjoying herself. She had made it clear to him that she was looking forward to this reunion for weeks. Leon was only half-listening, but from what he can gather, her experience from Harvardville had caused her to view her life more differently. She realized she was only going to live once and that was what she was going to do; live.
Angela looked at him wide-eyed, "So is your apartment nearby?"
Leon looked at Angela, "Huh?"
"I asked if your apartment was nearby."
"Oh…no, it's about an hour away" Leon lied
Angela looked a little disappointed, "Oh"
Although it was nice to see Angela again, Leon was beginning to feel uncomfortable; which came as no surprise to him. Leon had gone on a couple of dates with acquaintances in the past. All ended up the same way; the girl was treated to a nice dinner, maybe a movie and was brought back home by 9:00 pm sharp. All of them left wondering what they did wrong.
Stop kidding yourself Kennedy, It's because they're not her.
"Leon?"
Leon looked up to see Angela staring at him. "Sorry" Leon apologized. He saw Angela's confused look on her face.
"I was asking how your friend was doing."
Leon gave a confused look. "Friend?"
"You know, that girl we saved at the airport terminal in Harvardville. The one in the ponytail…what's her name?
"Claire?"
"Yeah, how is Claire doing?"
"I haven't seen her since then."
"Oh" said Angela with a smug. If Leon didn't know any better it looked as if she was a little relieved.
After a short hiatus, the band began playing again. The singer began singing Heart's "Alone". The song brought back a flood of memories of Claire.
"Leon?"
Leon snapped back to the present.
"You know… you've been distant all night, are you okay?" asked Angela. She put her hand over his on the table.
"I'm fine" he let her hand rest on his for less than a second before pulling it away.
Angela looked hurt, she knew something was up. "Is something wrong?"
"The song reminded me of something."
Angela listened carefully to the words. "Is it something or someone?"
Leon shifted uneasily in his seat. Angela finally understood. "Does this… have anything to do with Claire?"
She knew from his quiet expression that she hit the mark. "I thought she looked a little uneasy when I mentioned we should go diving again." She recalled the way both Leon and Claire would glance at each other when the other wasn't looking and how well the two moved and fought together as a single unit. She wondered how she could have missed it.
Angela would be lying to herself if she said she wasn't disappointed. In any other situation, she wouldn't have given up so easily, but she realized this situation would have been a lost cause.
She smiled and looked at Leon, "I'm not the one you want to catch up with am I?"
By the end of the evening, both parted ways and wished each other luck. Before leaving, Angela hugged Leon and whispered in his ear, "Tell Claire she has nothing to worry about" and then she walked away.
It was the last time he would ever see her again.
