Catherine smiled at him without wanting to let go of his embrace.
"You look different, you look more... handsome." She said, completing the phrase.
"I not. l'm as usual, but you're as pretty as I remembered" Steve said.
"Thanks." Catherine said, feeling very happy.
They had so much to speak, but the words didn't flow.
So where do you want to go? Steve asked.
"I don't know, you can choose the place."
"We can go to the cinema." Steve said.
"I choose the movie." Catherine told him.
Steve paused to think for a few seconds.
"I feel like I'm going to regret letting you choose the movie, but that's okay." He said with a smile.
They arrived to the movies and Catherine chose the film.
Steve scratched his head. "Romantic comedy, Cath?"
"Yes." She replied smiling.
"You don't prefer an action movie?" He asked.
"An action movie so you don't take your eyes off the screen and forget I'm on your side?" Catherine thought.
"Not." She replied, hiding her thoughts.
"I'll not win this fight, will I?" He asked.
"Not." She replied smiling.
"Ok. Romantic comedy then, I do everything to see a smile on your face."
"Thank you, sailor. That makes me very happy." She said.
"Let's get the popcorn then." Steve said, taking her hand.
They sat down to watch the movie. After the popcorn, Steve was uneasy.
"You do not like the movie, do you?" Catherine asked.
Steve brought his face close to hers.
"You're much more interesting than the movie." Steve said, then kissed her. And several other kisses followed each other until the end of the movie.
"Steve, we have to leave, the movie is over." Catherine said, breaking the kiss.
"Oh, really? So fast?" Steve said, smiling.
They left the theater and walked hand in hand down the street, talking.
"How about eating, drinking something?" Steve asked.
"Can we go to that bar near the Academy?" Catherine asked.
"You know you're going to find several people of the Academy there, don't you?" Steve said.
"I know, that's the idea." Catherine said, wondering if she'd find that Academy girl who said her that Steve would never look at her.
Steve took her to the bar, and as he expected, there were several people from the Academy. They walked to the bar counter under the curious glances of people.
The girl who disdain Catherine's was seated at a table with other boys. "I saw the photo of this guy at last year's graduation, who is he?" She asked.
"Have you never heard of him, Shirley? He's McGarrett, the best student at the Academy, he's in Naval Intelligence now, and he seems to want to grow up more in the Navy because he's with the admiral's daughter". One of the boys said.
"You don't think he can just like her?" "She's nice and pretty, and McGarrett isn't like that, he's smart enough to evolve on his own," the other boy said.
"I don't like her." Shirley said, looking at Catherine and Steve who were sitting at the bar talking and laughing a lot.
Catherine felt that she was being watched.
"Steve, shall we leave?" Catherine asked.
"Why? We're having so much fun, I really enjoy your company." Steve said, putting his hand over hers.
"Do you See that girl over there at the table with other boys?" Catherine asked.
"Yes, I know the boys, I don't know her, but what's the problem?"
"That girl hates me and said that you would never look at me. She likes to disdain from me during class, too." Catherine said in annoyance.
"Oh, really?" Steve said, taking her by the hand and leading her to dance to a romantic song near Shirley's desk.
"Steve, you're crazy." Catherine said, smiling.
"You know what's more crazy? I'm in the mood to kiss you, but I'll not do it." Steve said.
"Why not?" Catherine asked.
"Let's leave her in doubt. Doubt will irritate her more than certainty."
"On second thought, you're right. You're handsome and smart!" Catherine said, resting her head on his chest.
"I already knew that, but thank you anyway." Steve said, smiling.
"I don't know what he saw in her!" Shirley said to the boys.
"I don't know what she saw in him. She could have looked at me." Said one of the boys laughing loudly.
Steve and Catherine had fun dancing, talking and laughing, and the time passed very quickly.
"As much as I don't want to, I need to go home now." Catherine told Steve.
"Can I walk you home?" Steve asked.
"Sure, my father is traveling, and we'll not have any problems with my mother because she knows I'm with you."
"Great, I don't want to make trouble for you." Steve replied.
Steve took her home and they stopped in front of the gate.
"Do you want to come in, say hi to my mother?" Catherine asked.
"No, Catherine, let's leave it for another day, it's late."
"Are there going to be other days?" She asked, smiling.
Of course! We managed to get out and have fun together without me being arrested and without you kissing another guy. We've progressed, "Steve said, smiling.
"Yes, we've made a lot of progress. So when will we see each other again?"
"Next weekend, if you can." Steve said, holding her face in his hands. He kissed her and she hugged him.
"Catherine, McGarrett!"
Steve broke off the kiss when he heard her father's voice.
"Am I interrupting anything?" the Admiral asked.
PS: My thanks to you that took some of your time to comment.