Where The Next Road Goes

Chapter 21: NYC, Balthazar Restaurant

Author's Note: Finally! The moment many of you have waited so patiently for! Speed's "dream date"... Will it be all he hopes for- or will he crash and burn?

As always, thanks to all who reviewed: SeleanaC, Jess, gigitax, Tanya, xosecretsongox, iluvtomQ18, tommyskat, speedsONEandONLY, judetomfan101, chocolateelephantz, Rachel, golfachickie, foxyroxystar, amrod23, LovesMeSomeJommy, Biminigirl, M, R and V.

Oh- one disclaimer. Balthazar is a real restaurant in NYC... and very famous! But I've unfortunately never been there... so the events taking place there are pure fiction (at least as far as I know...)

Chapter 21: NYC, Balthazar Restaurant

Speed leaped into his waiting limousine, shouting Angel's address at the driver. He leaned back in his plush seat, grinning madly.

His smile faded when he saw the traffic clogging the roads.

"I'm going to be late!" he panicked.

"Strike one!"

At 7:40 PM, ten minutes after he had agreed to pick her up, he finally arrived at Angel's penthouse. His confidence re-appeared as he rang the bell.

"Your dream guy has arrived!"

But no one answered the door.

"Maybe... no one heard me."

Speed rang the bell again. Still, no one responded.

"Don't tell me... she's not there... She stood me up...She couldn't have..."

Desperately, he rang a third time, and then a fourth.

"Coming!" a nasty voice finally grunted, adding.

"We heard you the first time!"

"Could have fooled me." Speed thought, but kept this to himself as the door swung open and he faced an irate, unattractive female in a black maids uniform.

"Sorry. I didn't know." he said, smiling charmingly at her. But she was unimpressed.

"Sit!' she barked, pointing in the direction of the living room.

Speed's excitement returned as he perched on a velvet sofa and waited.

Thirty minutes later, he was still waiting.

"Hello? Does she even know I'm here?"

But the hostile maid had disappeared, leaving no one to ask.

Inside her spacious bedroom, Angel calmly smoothed yet another coat of gloss onto her perfectly pouty lips.

"He's still waiting! Why shouldn't he! He was late, anyway! Besides... I'm worth it!"

"Got this one right where I want him..."

After letting him stew for another five minutes, she casually sauntered out to meet him.

"Speedy!" she purred seductively.

"Wow!" he gasped.

"You look... unbelievable!"

He stared unabashedly at the ravishingly beautiful pop star, who stood before him in the smallest black dress and the highest heels he had ever seen.

"You look pretty good too!" she smiled, sweetly kissing his cheek.

"Shall we go?" he asked, looking nervously at his watch. It was already after 8:00, and "his" reservation was for 8:30.

"I just hope we can make it!"

From what Jude and Tommy told him, it could be really embarrassing if they didn't. The restaurant would kick them out.

Fortunately, that wasn't an issue. The traffic had cleared and their driver knew some shortcuts. They arrived at Balthazar exactly on time.

"I'm so happy to be here with you!" Angel cooed at Speed as they stepped out of the car.

"Where are all the cameras? The paparazzi? Maybe inside..."

Completely unaware of what was going on in his date's mind, Speed escorted her inside, and stepped up to the hostess's desk.

"I'm Vincent Speiderman. Of SME!" he announced.

The hostess stared at him without recognition.

"I have a reservation... Made by my manager, Tom Quincy!"

Hearing that name, the hostess suddenly sprung to life.

"Mr. Quincy! Of course!" she gushed.

"Works every time!" Speed thought, with a mix of gratitude and disgust.

"Right this way..." the hostess directed, leading them through the main dining room to the very romantic and private booths at the back.

Speed smiled contentedly.

"For once... Lord Squinty Frown has the right idea... Perfect!"

"Perfectly wrong!" Angel snorted.

Speed turned to her.

"What did you say, beautiful?"

Angel quickly adjusted her attitude, beaming lovingly at Speed.

"It's just...This isn't what I had in mind... I wanted to sit in the middle... Where we can see everyone..."

"And be seen by them!"

"Baby, are you sure?" Speed asked, keeping the disappointment out of his voice.

"Yes, Speedy..." Angel purred, adding.

"You are so hot... I want everyone to see you... To see us together."

"Don't you want to be seen with me?" she finished, batting her eyelashes as she moved in for the kill.

He didn't have a chance. Gulping, Speed answered.

"Sure!"

The hostess nodded agreeably. If her famous clients wanted high-profile seating, that was fine. More than fine- actually, it was perfect!

She led them to the table right in the center of the room.

"Here you go!" she smiled, handing them menus. "Your waiter will be right with you!"

Speed and Angel made small talk as they perused the selections. As she had in the limousine, Angel seemed to hang adoringly on every word Speed said, staring deeply into his eyes and flirting shamelessly.

"Doing good, Speed-o!" he congratulated himself.

"I don't know what everyone was so worried about..."

"So? Can I get you two anything to drink?" the waiter asked them.

"What would you like, beautiful?" Speed asked gallantly.

"Ooh! Champagne of course!" Angel squealed.

"Naturally!" Speed said.

"A bottle of Cristal, please" he added, naming the only champagne he knew of- one he had heard Jude mention when talking about a date with Tommy.

"Ooh, yes!" Angel smiled.

Speed held his breath for a moment, praying it would be okay.

"Just please... don't let the waiter ask for any ID..."

Naturally, he had a fake ID- but wasn't sure it would work now. Since SME had become more successful, his name- and age- had become well-known. Just as Angel's was...

But their waiter didn't blink an eye, quickly returning with a bottle and pouring the golden liquid into sparkling crystal goblets.

"Yummy!" Angel said, taking dainty sips.

Speed picked up his glass, and took a drink. He had tasted champagne a few times before, but never really liked it.

"So dry... Needs sugar!"

But he played along now, not saying this to Angel as the waiter returned to take the rest of their order.

"Have you two decided?" the server politely asked them.

Angel's large blue eyes focused on Speed.

"You ready, Speedy?"

"You choose, sweet thing... Order whatever you like! For both of us..."

"Oooh!" she cooed excitedly.

"We'll start with the oysters..."

"Oysters?" Speed thought.

"Then... the special house salad. And the Triple Crown..."

It was a seafood combination platter that the restaurant was famous for.

"That okay?" she asked Speed.

"Sounds perfect!" he replied, trying not to think wistfully about the thick steaks and juicy ribs Wally and Kyle would be eating tonight.

"It's worth it... Besides, I'll have a better dessert!"

Across the table, Angel smiled sexily and reached for his hand.

"So, Speedy... Tell me more about yourself... I want to know everything there is to know about you... Everything!"

"Well..." Speed eagerly began, needing no further encouragement to talk about himself.

His date smiled and nodded in all the right places. But she only paid him just as much attention as she had to.

The rest of her attention focused on the other patrons of the restaurant. Subtly, but thoroughly she scanned the crowd for other celebrities or media types.

"Where is everyone?"

Her wish was about to come true. Outside, another limousine pulled up...

"We're here." Jude smiled into Tommy's eyes, making him melt.

"Lucky you could get us another reservation."

"Don't I always take care of you, girl." Tommy boasted, as he took her hand to help her out of the car.

"And we can take care of Speed. Keep an eye on him." Jude quipped.

"That's not exactly what I have in mind..." Tommy said, as he pulled Jude close to him and whispered.

"I only have eyes for you..."

Jude's fingers tightened around his as she whispered back.

"And I promised you my undivided attention tonight..."

"And I'm gonna hold you to that..."

He dropped a quick, but passionate kiss on her lips, then led her inside.

At their prominent table, Speed and Angel were just starting with their oyster appetizer. He stabbed his fork into one of them.

It flew across the table, hitting her on the forehead.

"Slippery little suckers, aren't they..." he mumbled, feeling his face turn red.

"Strike two..."

Angel patted her forehead, making sure her golden halo of hair was still perfect, as she enjoyed the look of embarrassment on her date's face.

"Klutz! Let him squirm..."

Only after a few critical minutes passed did she re-take Speed's hand and smile reassuringly.

"It's okay, Speedy." she cooed. "These things... happen!"

Speed's face brightened, as he replied.

"You are so understanding."

She scooped up an oyster with her fingers and popped it into Speed's mouth.

"Just enjoy..." she purred. "They are an aphrodisiac, you know..."

He had just swallowed it, when they heard the commotion at the front of the restaurant.

"Wonder what that's all about." Speed said calmly, as Angel's eyes glittered.

"Probably someone real important coming in..."

"Finally! And I'm so getting a piece of that action!"

Like the red sea, the reporters parted, allowing the new arrivals to enter the room. Now Speed and Angel could see them clearly.

It was Jude and Tommy.

Speed had to admit that they had never looked better. Even Angel grudgingly thought.

"Punk girl actually looks good... But Quincy... makes her look even better... Hmm..."

"Speedy!" she cried out.

"What?"

"Look who's here..."

"I know." Speed said, waving to his friends, as Angel silently winced.

"Couldn't he be a bit more subtle..."

But she couldn't stay angry for long. Speed's tactics, though obvious, were effective. He caught Jude's attention. Taking Tommy's hand, she led him- and the media- over to the table where Speed and Angel sat.

The paparazzi were thrilled to see even more stars in their midst. Cameras clicked away.

"Speedy!" Angel hissed.

"Yes?"

"Switch places with me!"

"I need to make sure they get my good side!"

Jude's shrewd eyes took in Angel as she subtly posed for the photographs. She wasn't fooled.

"Trying to show them your good side... As if you had one!"

However, there were no outward signs of hostility as the two divas greeted each other.

"Jude!" Angel called out with syrupy sweetness, kissing her cheek- and digging her nails into Jude's palm.

"Angel!" Jude replied with equal warmth- as her hand squeezed the other girl's- hard enough to hurt.

"Can we get some pictures of you two?" an eager paparazzi asked.

"Naturally!" Angel cooed, before Jude could answer.

Jude played along for a few minutes, before saying.

"Ok... If you've gotten enough... I'm really hungry!"

Obediently, the media drifted away, in search of new prey.

Tommy took Jude's hand and smiled charmingly at Speed and Angel.

"We'll leave you two alone..."

"Too bad..." Angel thought, watching Tommy- and her chance- slip away.

"Behave!" Jude admonished playfully, as she turned to follow him.

"Was that warning for Speed or for me?" Tommy murmured in Jude's ear.

"What do you think?" she teased.

"I think... I'm not promising that tonight."

"Well, I can promise you this..." Jude whispered, as they sat down at their very private table.

"No more interruptions..."

That promise lasted throughout dinner, as the two couples enjoyed their separate meals. Speed and Angel finished theirs first. Subtlety, the waiter slipped a small black leather folder in front of him.

Speed opened it and looked at the bill, struggling to contain his shock.

"I could buy a new guitar with this much money!"

Knowing he didn't have nearly enough cash on him, he reached inside his wallet for his credit card- and withdrew an empty hand.

"My credit card... I must have left it in my other wallet..."

"Now what!"

"Speedy!" Angel cooed, oblivious to any problems.

"Can we get going soon?"

"Uh... sure!" Speed answered. "Just let me take care of this."

"Come on... You've gotten out of worse ones..."

Desperately, he tried to come up with an answer, but couldn't. At least, not one he liked...

"Hurry!" Angel squealed.

"Of course, sweet thing."

"There's only one thing to do..."

Slowly, he dragged himself to the back of the restaurant, where Tommy and Jude sat holding hands and laughing.

"Ewww!" Speed thought.

"I so don't want to go there... There's got to be... an easier way."

But if there was, he couldn't think of it. Speed walked over to their table. They were completely lost in each other and didn't see him approach.

He coughed loudly, finally gaining their attention.

"Speed?" Jude asked. "What are you doing here?"

"This better be important!" Tommy said disgustedly.

"Dude! You think I'd be bothering you now if it wasn't?"

"You're in trouble." Jude announced perceptively.

"Yeah... uh, can I borrow some money?"

"How much?" Tommy asked suspiciously.

"Um... enough for the bill..."

"Speed! You didn't bring any money!" Jude exploded.

"No, I did... Just... not enough... And... my credit card's in my other wallet."

"Speed..." Jude shook her head.

"It was an accident!" Speed pleaded. "I was just..."

"So excited about this date..."

Jude and Tommy also realized this. She looked at Tom, and he nodded, signaling a waiter.

"I've got this." he told Speed.

"Thanks, dude!"

"You will pay me back." Tommy warned him.

"Every cent!" he promised.

"Thanks! I'll leave you two alone now... Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

"That...gives us lots of room." Jude said, grinning naughtily at Tommy.

"Oh... yeah..." he smirked sexily..

Speed was equally happy, as he hurried back to Angel.

"Speedy! I've been waiting!" she said, petulantly.

Speed glanced at his watch. He had been gone less than five minutes.

"Someone... wants me bad!" he thought triumphantly.

"Sorry, babe!" Speed apologized. "Just making sure my people take care of our bill... You just can't trust anyone these days..."

"So, it's ok?"

"Oh, yeah! Tommy's taking care of it."

"I bet he is!" Angel thought. "I bet he can take care... of a lot of things! And I'm going to find out..."

"But not tonight..." she mused regretfully.

"Let's go." Speed said, taking her hand and escorting her out of the restaurant.

Outside, the perfect night awaited them. The stars glistened above and a soft breeze sweetened the early fall air.

"It's a beautiful night..." Speed said softly, moving closer to Angel.

"Perfect night... for the perfect girl!"

"You've got that right." Angel smiled, as he pulled her close.

Speed bent down and kissed her.

"Speaking of perfect..." he thought, as the kiss intensified.

His lips began tingling, and an odd, melting sensation spread from his mouth to his face.

"Wow! So hot! So... hot!"

He felt flushed and dizzy. He stepped away, desperately needing air.

"Speedy!" Angel wailed.

"I'm sooo good!" he thought.

"Your face!" she screamed.

"What?"

"It's all swollen..."

Speed lifted a hand to his bloated cheek.

"It is swollen... What the..."

"Your mouth too!" she added, as he touched his now puffy lips.

"What's happening to me..."

"Looks like an allergy!" the restaurant's doorman said, coming to help.

"An allergy..." Speed thought, suddenly remembering something.

"There's a reason why... I always eat meat! Seafood... makes me..."

"Better get to a hospital!" the doorman advised, calling for an ambulance.

"Strike three..." Speed thought pitifully.

Then he passed out.