Before Henry even got back to the station that afternoon, it was all over the precinct.
The second he walked in, he could tell that everyone already knew.
He could see them all…snickering behind his back…pointing…laughing…
At him.
He pretended not to notice.
But he couldn't ignore Captain Connors, who was grinning widely as he motioned Henry into his office.
"Take a seat, Rookie," he chuckled gently.
Henry perched nervously on the edge of the chair, removing his hat and running his fingers through his hair.
"Yes, Sir?"
"I hear you had an…interesting traffic stop today."
"Sir?"
"Don't play innocent with me, Rookie," the Captain chided good-naturedly, his eyes gleaming. "The whole station knows."
"Yes, Sir," Henry mumbled, looking down at the carpet. "My partner has a big mouth."
"True. But that doesn't change the fact that you have a date with a woman you ticketed for doing 65 in a 35 zone….At least, I assume you ticketed her?"
"Oh, yes, Sir." Henry nodded. "A date doesn't negate a ticket. The law's the law."
"Good. That's all, then," Captain Connors waved Henry away, taking a seat at his desk and getting back to his paper work.
When he looked up a few seconds later, however, Henry was still there; balanced on the edge of the chair.
"Did you need something else, Rookie?"
"Ummm…." Henry cleared his throat, "isn't it a conflict of interest, Sir?"
Captain Connors sighed, putting his pen down and drawing his fingers beneath his chin in a thoughtful steeple.
"Did you ticket her?" He asked, leaning back in his chair.
"Yes, Sir."
"Did you ask her out?"
"No, Sir." Henry shook his head emphatically. "She asked me.
Actually…I'm not sure she asked…it all happened so fast, Sir. She kind
of talks fast. And she's really persuasive. I don't think she ever
really gave me a chance to say no…"
"There you go," The Captain shrugged. "No conflict. Have fun."
Henry nodded, looking disappointed, as he stood up to leave.
He walked slowly to the door, looking back right before he turned the knob.
"Do I have to go, Sir?"
"Don't you want to?"
"Yes."
"I don't understand."
Henry hesitated.
"I'm not good at dating, Sir. I don't…really like it all that much…Actually, girls don't like me dating them all that much, either, as it turns out…"
"Then why'd you say yes?"
"She's…really persuasive. And really cute."
"Then go."
"Is that an order, Sir?" Henry asked.
The Captain peered at him over the top of his glasses.
"Is that what it'll take to get you the hell out of my office?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Then, yes, Rookie. I am ordering you to go on a date with…what's her name?"
"Melanie, Sir."
Henry bit back a small smile as he walked out.
Part of him…some part he didn't like to acknowledge…had been hoping the Captain would say that…
But that was before he remembered why he hated dating so much.
He never knew what to do…
He never knew what to say…
And it started the moment he picked Mel up.
She was sitting in the seat next to him as they drove to the movies…
She looked so beautiful, with her long hair pulled back in a loose ponytail and her sparking brown eyes glancing at him discreetly.
What do I do…? He thought frantically, sweat beginning to break out across his forehead.
What the hell am I supposed to say?
Do I tell her she looks nice?
Will that make me sound like an ass?
If there was one thing Henry Spencer couldn't stand, it was sounding like an ass…
So, instead, he didn't say anything.
At all.
The entire car ride was completely silent.
They also didn't talk while they stood in the ticket line.
Or the popcorn line…
In fact, the movie was half over before either of them spoke a single word.
And it wasn't Henry who broke the silence.
It was Mel.
She leaned over the seat, her lips inches from Henry's ear.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
He nodded stiffly.
"Yeah."
"Are you sure?"
"Uh-huh."
She looked at him discerningly, and then finally shook her head in amusement.
"Are you nervous?"
He nodded again.
"I'm not good at this…" he whispered. "I never know what to do…"
She smiled understandingly as she leaned back in her seat, shifting subtly closer to Henry.
God, she was gorgeous…
"Don't worry...you don't have to do anything. Just hold my hand," she murmured gently, reaching over the seat, her long, slender fingers weaving through his. "Just hold my hand…"
He looked down, terror filling his suddenly wide eyes, at the tangle of appendages sitting on the armrest between them…
Her arm brushed against his shoulder…
He could feel his heart beginning to beat just a little harder…
His throat began to close up…
He knew the signs…
Oh, God…
I think I'm in love…