A/N: The first thing I want to do is sincerely, very sincerely, apologize to everyone who has waited for me to update this story and given up because I took so long, and especially to those few that still wait. You could say I have taken an overly extended hiatus. I didn't even exactly mean to stop updating - I just sort of did. I know I haven't updated for around a year. Once again I apologize, and to anyone that still might retain a small interest in this story, I dedicate this to you.
And a special thanks to musicluva4eva. I suppose if she hadn't sent me a message asking if I would update, I wouldn't have written this chapter. I suppose it struck me that even so long after my last update, people were still reading my story.
Amy's POV
Unlike most people, I didn't have that "TGIF" feeling at the end of the week. In fact, I was kind of dreading Saturday.
Friday had been a relatively boring day, and I had spent most of it preoccupied with thinking about how I could contact Kyle. I had tried to look up his phone number on the Internet, but apparently, there were a lot of Kyle Wickman's in the world. I had even tried to wait beside the elevator after work in hope of catching him as he came down, but after 15 minutes of no luck, I gave up.
Therefore I woke up Saturday morning no closer to letting Kyle know I couldn't go on the date than I was to, well, actually going on the date. Feeling rather helpless, I quickly ate breakfast (not that there was really any need to - I wasn't running late) and got dressed, all the while thinking about what Kyle might think when I didn't show up. How long would he wait before leaving? And would he assume that I had just bailed on him, or would he think that I had had a legitimate reason to not come? Either way, I would have to find him on Monday, some way, to explain the whole messy ordeal.
And it honestly didn't help that instead of my date, I was forced to work, and with Ian, of all people. I could already imagine the awkward silence that would be in the room as we sorted papers. I would be nervous and shy, like I always was around him. At the very least I would be lucky to get through it without doing anything too embarrassing. Then again, with my luck, that didn't seem like something I could hope for.
With that promising thought, I stepped of my apartment and signaled for a taxi. It seemed to take much too short of a time to get to my building. I ended up getting there 15 minutes earlier than I needed to.
Walking through the doors, my heart thudded dully in my chest. When I arrived at my office, strangely empty and forlorn without everyone there, I sat down at one of the many unoccupied chairs.
"Ah, you're here." I jumped. Mrs. Palico walked out of her office, carrying a couple of folders and with a purse on her shoulder.
"The papers are over there," she gestured to them, "and it shouldn't take much more than a few hours. You know what to do?" I nodded.
"Very well then. I suppose Ian should get here soon. I'll be going now." She gave me a thin smile and then left, not bothering to shut the door behind her.
I sighed, and sat in silence for a few seconds. Finally, I rose and moved over to the papers. Taking a pile, I began the tedious work.
After around ten minutes I heard footsteps, and I started slightly as Ian walked in. I couldn't noting that he was five minutes late, which shouldn't have mattered but for some reason annoyed me.
He lifted an eyebrow. "Decided to get an early start?" he asked skeptically.
I paused in my work, and, looking up at him with a measured gaze, I spoke with a calm, mocking voice I didn't know I had. "Decided to get a late one?"
He looked as taken aback as I probably felt, but said no more as he also took a pile of papers and began sorting through them. It had felt good to reply like that for once. I was already in a bad mood because of the whole date fiasco. Why couldn't I be annoyed with Ian?
It was around five minutes of silence before he spoke. "So what are you being forced to miss because of this job?"
I looked at him warily. "Just a thing. With a friend." I didn't know why I lied, but I couldn't imagine disclosing to Ian that I was supposed to be on a date.
"Well, it must be important," he remarked. "You look miserable."
I couldn't say I felt much different. "Yeah, well…I really wanted to go, I guess." I swallowed hard. Did I suddenly feel like crying? True, it wasn't fair, but that was life, wasn't it? Had the date really been that important to me?
"I was looking forward to it a lot, and then I found out about the job and…" I honestly had no idea why I was continuing to babble on. It's not like Ian was interested.
He studied me intently, then shook his head in almost disdain. "When is it?" he asked.
Without thinking I replied "11:00. At Central Park."
Ian glanced at his watch, and then back down to his papers. For several more minutes, we sorted papers in silence, before he said, almost in a mutter, "Go."
I looked up with disbelief and confusion. "What?"
"If it's really that important to you…go. I've already done this a million times - it's not any more tedious alone," he said, and I could almost hear the unhappiness and irritation in his voice.
Usually I would have waved the offer aside. Work was work, after all. But I really wanted to go on the date, and - I glanced at my watch - if I rushed I could make it on time. I felt giddy with relief.
"Thank you so much," I said. "I won't be long. I can get back at 12:30 and help you finish."
Ian shrugged as he stood up to retrieve more papers, but it was clear he was glad to hear it. "Fine. 12:30, then."
I nodded happily, and as I grabbed my purse and started to leave, I quickly hugged him. Almost immediately afterwards it struck me how awkward that must have been, and my cheeks turned bright red from the perplexed look he gave me.
With a wave of the hand I made my escape, still feeling embarrassed as I left and remembering, all too clearly, Ian's expression.
Thirty-five minutes later found me at the Central Park, walking toward my date, who was patiently waiting for me. I was only about five minutes late, thankfully. I'd even had time to get into my apartment, quickly change clothes, and put on a little makeup.
"Sorry I'm a bit late," I breathlessly told Kyle as he greeted me with his usual warm smile. I felt butterflies in my stomach as he said, "It's fine. So - ready for lunch?" Gratefully I nodded.
As we walked, we talked a bit about our work, about what it was like being an intern. I didn't mention that my work as an intern actually required me to be working now, and as I remembered that, my stomach gave a little twist of guilt.
Finally we arrived at the restaurant. It wasn't one I had heard of before, but it was definitely nice enough. I blushed as Kyle held the door open for me, muttering a "Thank you" I certainly hoped he heard. I observed the interior as we were seated at a table. The walls were a light blue, the floor a dark wood, and it had a sort of underwater theme, with several small tanks of fish situated around the room. He pulled back my chair for me, and once again I blushed, and my heart sped up as he smiled.
As a waitress poured us water, Kyle said, "I suggest the salmon. It's my favorite dish." I glanced down at the menu, not really taking in any of the entrees, before saying, "That sounds good."
As we waited for our orders, Kyle asked, "So, are you a true-born New Yorker?"
I shook my head. "I used to live in Boston. I moved here because I got excepted into a university. What about you?"
My heart skipped a beat as he flipped his hazel hair out of his eyes again. All I could say was - he was good-looking. "Born here, grew up here, probably going to continue living here. I haven't traveled much. You?"
My mind flashed back to the clue hunt - Australia, Italy, Korea, Russia, Egypt. I shook my head. "No, not really."
Our date continued much like that - mild-mannered conversations, asking each other questions, joking around a few times. And every time he smiled at me I would get that small flip in my stomach.
Soon we had finished our meal (which had been quite good), and we were standing outside. I almost felt disappointed that it was time to go. The date had been - well, for lack of a better word, relaxing.
Kyle glanced around. "You want to walk around a bit, you know, just for fun?"
I glanced at my watch. It was only 12:00. I still had half an hour left.
"Sure," I said, smiling.
Ian's POV
I certainly didn't think it was a crime to show up five minutes late, but apparently to Amy it was. At least, she slightly snapped at me about the matter.
As I sat down and began to sort papers, she looked irritated. I recalled that she had had something planned for today.
"So what are you being forced to miss because of this job?" I asked. She looked up at me, her face no longer looking irritated but miserable.
"Just a thing. With a friend," she carefully said. By the way she said it I couldn't help but wonder who this "friend" was.
When I remarked on her looking miserable, her shoulders seemed to sag even more, and she almost looked like she was ready to cry. Almost without my wanting it, I felt sorry for her - terribly sorry for her.
Working on only a half-formed idea I asked her, "When is it?"
"11:00. At Central Park," she practically blurted.
I looked back down at my papers. I knew I was going to regret what I was about to say, but I could hardly stand looking at her so upset. It reminded me of…something else I had done.
"Go," I tightly said.
She looked at me, shocked. I continued on before I could decide to just pretend it was a cough.
"If it's really that important to you…go. I've already done this a million times - it's not any more tedious alone," I said reluctantly. Almost immediately her face lit up, and she quickly rose.
She did thank me, and she even promised to come back at 12:30, but I still couldn't help feel slightly irritated that she had excepted my offer. Lesson learned - don't make offers you don't want people to take.
As she grabbed her purse, she paused, and, then, almost as if on a whim, she quickly hugged me. It was brief, and I didn't even realize what had happened until it was over. She immediately started to blush, hard, and without another word, she gave me a feeble wave and was gone.
"Well, that was a mistake," I muttered as I got back to work.
I hope you liked it. Next is Dan and Natalie. Please R/R!
