CHAPTER 11 – First Night Out

Taylor and Laura left Jersey the next day. Laura had dropped Taylor in her place first. "So, did you have a great time in my hometown?" asked Laura when they were both sitting at the couch.

"I did! Too bad that I couldn't meet the rest of your family, though."

"Yeah, but we have all the time in the world for that, babe."

"Yes, we do." She looked at Laura and imagined spending the rest of her life with her. It wasn't a bad idea. In fact, it was probably the best she's had in a long time. But she kept that to herself. "So, ready to meet my parents next?"

"What?" Laura exclaimed at Taylor with such a surprise look on her face that Taylor laughed so hard.

"What? You were always scolding me for having been so nervous about meeting your mom. Maybe it's time to return you the favor."

"We talked nothing about that!" Taylor kept laughing that Laura knew that she was just playing with her. "Stop it! I've only got a parent, you have both. It's unfair."

"So? That's not gonna be a problem. You can choose who you want to meet."

"Are you kidding me?"

"I was indeed, kidding. You're gonna have to meet both of them. Lucky for you, they're divorced. So it's not gonna be on the same time." Taylor was of course just messing with Laura. She hadn't even talked to her parents yet ever since she and Laura got together.

"Yeah, right. Lucky me," said Laura sarcastically as she stood up. "Anyways, I think I'm gonna have to go babe. I'll just see you again... whenever?"

Taylor stood, too. "Actually, I had something in mind..."

"What is it?"

"Do you have any plans tonight? I mean, with other people?"

"Well, I'm not seeing anybody else except you, if that's what you mean." She chuckled.

"Huh, you better not." She chuckled, too. "I meant with some of your friends."

"Oh that. No. No plans. Why?"

"I was thinking we could go out?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, go out! Literally, this time. We haven't gone out yet, like on a real date. I wanna do that tonight."

Laura was surprised but excited. "Oh, so you're asking me on a date," she smiled widely.

"Yeah, I think I am. So? Are you up for it?"

"Yes, of course. I'll see you tonight, then?"

"Yes." It was going to be an epic night.

-o-o-o-

Taylor spent the rest of her day planning her first 'date' with Laura. They've gone out a lot of times, albeit as friends, so she had to think how this one would be different... aside from the fact that they were now a couple.

Laura, on the other hand, went about her day trying to convince herself that she wasn't thinking at all about how her and Taylor's night was going to be. She failed at that, of course. It was all she could think about.

When she got home from Taylor's, she immediately called her girlfriend because she had just thought of one flaw of their plan: the public. They had already talked to their agents about whether it was okay to finally flaunt their relationship to the public and both of them were in agreement that the couple should stay mum about their relationship, for the meantime. They told them to save that for when their promotion for OITNB starts. It would help boost the publicity, they said.

Both Laura and Taylor didn't like the idea, though. It was as if they were gonna use their relationship to publicize their show and they didn't want that. It was way too special to be used just like that but they had no power over their agents on that. They understood the business they were in and it was maybe gonna help their careers, anyway. So they didn't have any choice but oblige.

They just decided to keep the date as casual as possible, something anyone wouldn't suspect to be anything more than a night out of two best friends. They also chose to use separate cars to go wherever Taylor was planning.

Their first stop was at Le Cirque. Taylor chose this place because it was a usual spot for celebrities. No one usually bothered them there and it was a great cozy place. Of course, the delectable food was a given.

After they've placed their orders, Laura noticed that Taylor was looking intently at her. "What?"

"You look gorgeous," Taylor said truthfully. "More than the usual." Laura was wearing a black, above-the-knee dress that showed her curves really well.

"Definitely not more gorgeous than you, babe." Laura said back. Taylor meanwhile was wearing a cream-colored dress, also above the knee and it also fit her body perfectly. "You look perfect." Laura extended her arms, which was placed on the table and lightly brushed her fingers on Taylor's. She badly wanted to hold her hand... she hated it that she couldn't.

Taylor felt giddy. She tried blocking out the other people around them and just concentrated on Laura. She made their table their own little world and even though the things they could do were limited, it was more than enough for her. Just looking at Laura, everything was more than enough... everything seemed perfect.

A few minutes later, they were both eating and having a conversation about almost everything. Suddenly, the waiter went near them with a bottle of red wine.

"Oh, we didn't order that," said Laura.

"Yes, that guy," and the waiter pointed to a guy just behind Laura, "wanted to give this to you." He was looking at Taylor.

Laura raised one eyebrow and looked behind her. The guy looked dapper enough. When he noticed that both of them were looking his way, he smiled. Laura looked back at Taylor who smiled back at the guy.

"Please tell him thanks," said Taylor. The waiter nodded and went near the guy. Just then, the guy started walking towards them. "Oh, he's coming."

"Hi," he said confidently, when her reached their table. He smiled at Laura then at Taylor.

"Hello," answered Taylor. Laura just smiled. "Thanks for the wine."

"You should try it. It's the best there is." Both the ladies just smiled. "Uhm, I'm not the type of guy who beats around the bush. I hope that you don't find me too forward but I can't help noticing how lovely you look with that dress." He was talking to Taylor.

At that time, Laura and Taylor was starting to feel awkward. Taylor looked at Laura and with the way she looked, the former knew that she was starting to get pissed. She was about to say something to the guy but he again spoke.

"I don't want to bother you ladies but I don't wanna pass on this opportunity to meet you. Will it be okay if I asked for your number so I can, maybe, ask you out some time?"

Laura's head was now bowed, so Taylor couldn't tell what she was feeling. She, on the other hand, was fighting the urge to laugh. "Uhm... I appreciate the gesture, really." Taylor said, choosing her words very wisely. "But... I'm taken. I'm sorry."

The guy looked genuinely disappointed but he still smiled. "Oh, no need for apologies. I just had to try. Or else I probably wouldn't be able to sleep tonight," he joked. "I better keep going then. He's a lucky guy." Then he left, not just their table, but the restaurant.

When they were sure he had left, Taylor and Laura started laughing. "So tell me," Laura said in between her laughter, "did a guy just seriously ask my girlfriend to go out with him... in front of me?"

Taylor, too, was laughing uncontrollably. "Yes. It did really just happen."

"I am never gonna get used to this." Laura shook her head. "Is it weird? Do you find this weird? Us?"

"Weird? No. It's not. That guy's the weird one, not us. This is the most perfect thing in my life right now, I wouldn't call it weird. I'm sorry that happened, though."

"It's not your fault, babe. Plus, it's a great story we could tell people... when we already can."

"Right. Anyways, I love it when I hear you call me your girlfriend... Can you call me that again?" Taylor was blushing.

"What? My girlfriend?" Laura had that smile again, the one that always took Taylor's breath away. She looked around and when she saw that no one was paying attention to them, "I love you. And this is also the most perfect thing in my life right now."

"That's good to know. And... I love you more."

-o-o-o-

Laura thought that after dinner they were going to head home but was surprised to know that Taylor had another 'thing' planned for both of them. Taylor drove first and Laura followed. About 30 minutes later, Laura couldn't see any more of the usual New York lights and buildings. A few more minutes later, they were parking in front of what seemed like an abandoned building, and a really high one.

"What is this place?" asked Laura.

"You'll find out later." Taylor started going inside the building.

"Wait! Taylor, are you sure this is safe? What are we doing here anyways?"

"Yes babe. Trust me. We're headed to the rooftop." She extended her arm and waited for Laura to take it. When she did, they started walking together.

When they were inside, Laura was surprised to see that the building wasn't actually abandoned. It turned out to be a very old hotel. They went inside the elevator and after what felt like an eternity, they were where they were supposed to be.

It was one of the most amazing places Laura had ever seen. The rooftop was filled with lights it even looked better than the usual restaurants she'd visited. In addition, it was overlooking the whole city of New York. She could see every light there was and it felt like she was looking at a million stars, only closer. There were two seats placed at the middle, and a table with a bottle of wine and two wine glasses.

"Wow, this is place is beautiful, babe. Did you do all this?

Taylor nodded, smiling, happy that Laura liked what she's done with the place.

"It's perfect. How did you find this?" She sat. Taylor started pouring wine on the wine glasses. She gave one to her.

"It is, isn't it? I lived here once. I was young, my parents had just divorced, and I wanted to stay away from them as much as I could. And I found this. Everyone was nice to me and I was so happy here. Then I discovered this, the rooftop. I always went here whenever I was feeling bad and this view just took every horrible feeling I felt away. It used to be my happy place."

Laura was glad to know about that part of Taylor's life. She's never liked to talk about her parents that much but now she had let Laura in even just a little bit. "Used to be? What's it now?"

Taylor then looked at Laura. "Anywhere with you."

Laura smiled the leaned in for a kiss. It was short, but sweet. She pulled away and looked at Taylor. She had never fallen in love with anyone else before like she had with her now. She's once been in a relationship that she thought was gonna last forever, but the feeling she had for that guy back then, could not compare to the one she felt for Taylor now. She loved her way too much. It was scary, but she knew it was worth fighting for. "I'm glad I have you."

"Yeah. And don't worry, you're never going to lose me. I won't allow it."

Taylor had never brought anyone else to this place before. It felt somehow sacred to her, and bringing another person here felt like it would ruin that. She wanted it to be just 'hers.' The person who owned this building knew how much this place mattered to Taylor and so she had never allowed a single person to be here, as well. Laura was the first person she's brought here and that said more than Taylor ever could so much about how much she loved the person she's with now.

A/N:

Who else went crazy about the release of OITNB Season 3's trailer? My heart really broke for Alex though =(

Anyway, really hoping to hear from you! Thank you