It was almost a week before Don and Emma finally had a chance to stop, breathe, talk to one another and decide on a day to go out. She'd made reservations at the same restaurant her and Aiden had dinner at and Don was going to pick her up at her apartment around 8:30. For almost an entire week Emma had her outfit planned in her head. She had no idea why she was going all out like she was, it was just Don after all. But they'd both been acting like high schoolers all over again each time they talked on the phone, but she supposed it was a good thing they were both actually looking forward to the date. They each had their own share of bad dates, blind dates and anything in between.
She was standing in her bathroom, trying to fix her hair for the millionth time, when there was a knock on the door. Groaning audibly she left her hair down and hurried to the door as there was another knock. So she was running a little bit behind, that was normal for a woman right? She was sure Don would say something sexist like that, which would earn him a punch in the arm. Emma had just enough chance to catch a glimpse of herself in a small mirror hanging on the hallway wall, she had to admit she did look pretty good. She'd chosen a simple black dress but it was one of her favorites to wear out, and for that matter she didn't think Don had seen her in it. She stopped long enough to shove a stray piece of hair behind her ear as it fell into her eyes before opening the door.
Standing on the other side of the door, Don had to admit he was nervous. Nervous for what, he had no idea. He didn't know what this would all mean between him and Emma, especially since he'd just recently come to the realization that he really liked her. He wasn't sure how she felt at all other than knowing what she'd mentioned to Aiden. But he was looking forward to their date, even if he was nervous as hell. He didn't know what he was expecting when she opened the door because he'd seen her dressed up in the past and they'd gone out numerous times. For some reason though, seeing her dressed up for their date made her seem that much more attractive to him. Don grinned, ready with a smartass remark but sadly nothing came to mind. He was going to have to remind his brain not to quit working at the most inopportune moments.
Emma smiled at him, taking in the suit and tie he was wearing. She was sure she'd seen him in every suit he ever owned but this one she didn't recognize. She stepped back to let him in, "You look..great, Don. Is that new?"
He laughed as he stepped into the apartment, noticing that she hadn't yet put on her shoes and was running around barefoot for the moment. He nodded, "uh well...kinda, yeah. Don't make fun of me."
"Aiden told me that since this is a date, we're not allowed to make fun of each other." She laughed and turned, walking away from him, "let me grab my shoes and purse and we can go!"
Don scoffed at that, what kind of date would it be if they couldn't make fun of each other just a little? Emma came back a moment later, this time a few inches taller than she was when she left the room. He raised an eyebrow, "What, you tired of being the short one everywhere we go?"
"It's not my fault you're a damn giant." She pushed him towards the door, "Act like a gentleman! No making fun of my lack of height."
He laughed and opened the door, going out into the hallway. "I thought you said no picking on each other?"
"Well you started it." Emma locked the door and then hooked her arm through his, "No more picking on each other. So put on the gentleman act and be all suave."
"Suave? Oh please.."
Sitting across from her at a table that could barely seat two people, Don found himself looking at his friend in a completely new light. He didn't know what it was but he was noticing the small things she did. Emma had a nervous habit of twisting her hair around her finger, twirling one long strand around her index finger and then letting it unravel. She did that while looking over the menu while she pondered on what to order. She also had the habit of chewing on her nails, mostly her thumbnail. She seemed to do that while she thought no one was paying attention and did it absently as she looked around the quiet, uncrowded restaurant. Don found himself staring at her hand and moreso at her mouth, wishing for a long moment that he was that thumbnail. A stupid thought of course, but oh how he'd give anything to be that close to her mouth at that moment...
Then he stopped himself, trying to think of anything in the world that was not hot or attractive. This was their first date! That didn't mean they were going to run off and get naked in the next fifteen minutes or something. Hell, it wasn't even like they were dating! He had to take this slow, and quit wishing that he was her damn thumbnail of all things.
Emma dropped her hands into her lap, suddenly aware that she was doing every nervous habit she ever had. It was just that she didn't know what to do with her hands, especially when the two of them weren't talking. Usually there was no shortage of conversation with Don but it seemed like they were both nervous about this whole dating thing. Plus she'd caught herself staring at him and especially at the way his tie brought out the color of his eyes even more than normal. Then she'd become fixated on his hands that were lying on the table either messing with the menu or messing with the utensils. She didn't know what her obsession was with hands but his were especially nice. Then her mind turned a little more dirty than intended and she'd nearly turned red as a tomato.
Don noticed her cheeks flush a slight red color and raised an eyebrow. "Are you okay?"
She looked up, alarmed that he'd caught her. Suddenly the room was too hot and she almost felt the need to bolt from the table before she could turn any redder. She laughed and covered her face, "I am not telling you what I was just thinking about so don't ask."
"I don't think I want to know but I don't think I've ever seen you turn that bright of a red." He laughed, "Emma..."
She shook her head quickly, "Nope. Nope. I'm not telling!" She sat back in her seat, trying desperately to think of anything other than his hands and what his hands might be capable of.
He laughed but didn't question her any further and finally after a few moments, Emma didn't look as beet red as she had moments before. He looked around the restaurant, noticing that it wasn't all that crowded. It looked like a few other couples were located around them in the dimly lit restaurant, and what had to be a business meeting at a table a few feet from them but other than that it was pretty empty. "So this place seems nice.."
"Yeah, it was really good that night Aiden and I met up. The food is great, although they give you so much you could have leftovers for weeks." She smiled, "Do you like it?"
He nodded, "Yeah I do. It's nice." He grinned, looking over the table at her, "and hey my date's not so bad either."
"Oh thanks!" Emma laughed, "Here I tried to get all pretty for you and I'm not so bad? Geez Flack."
"I'm teasing and you know it. I think you look...well, for lack of a better word, beautiful." He shrugged his shoulders, "Sure you don't mind going out on a date with a boring guy like me?"
She rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically, "I was hoping to ditch you later and go find a hot guy at that club down the street but...I guess you'll just have to do for now."
"Damn right I will have to do!" Don laughed before leaning over the table some towards her, "and for what it's worth I'm uh..glad you said yes."
She smiled brightly at him, "Trust me I wouldn't say no."
"If I was really ugly you would."
"I am not that damn vain, Jesus." She shook her head and resisted the urge to throw a packet of sugar at him, "You know me better than that."
He nodded at the last bit because it was true, he did know her. He just couldn't help but want to know everything that he didn't already know.
Dinner went off without a hitch and after the intial moment of slight awkwardness, the two of them fell into their normal conversation. Flirting might have played a bigger role than normal but neither seemed to mind. Emma did protest when he insisted on paying for their dinner but eventually relented and the two of them sat around talking until well after the restaurant closed.
Don had to admit that he was a little surprised when her smaller hand slipped into his as they left the restaurant, walking down the street to where he'd parked his car. But as surprised as he was, it was also a nice feeling. He felt like her hand fit just right in his. She looked up at him, "So was this a good date?"
"I think so. Is it over yet? I mean are you going to run screaming from me here in the next few seconds, ranting about how I am a horrible date?"
She nudged him with her hip, "No, smartass. I was just asking."
"I know, I know. Least it wasn't some cheesy blind date, 'cause how awkward are those?"
"Yes! I have never had a successful blind date, ever. And even when it's someone I know, it's usually been kind of weird. But..tonight wasn't weird at all."
He smiled as they reached his car, "Good. I'm glad, it wasn't weird for me either."
Emma smiled at him and reluctantly pulled her hand from his to go around to the passenger side of the car. He unlocked the door and they both got inside.
She sat in her seat, anxiously folding and unfolding her hands in her lap. Her knee was also bouncing up and down. Now that they'd had their date, what would happen next? She chewed on her lip for a moment before glancing at him. Don's fingers were tapping on the steering wheel to the song playing lowly on the radio but other than that, his eyes were fixed on the street in front of them. Even though it was well past midnight traffic was still pretty heavy so it was going to take them a few minutes to get back to her building. "Hey Don?" She asked after a moment.
"Yeah?" He replied with his eyes still on the road.
"So since we've been one date or whatever...would you want to do it again sometime?"
Don smiled and looked over at her finally, "Are you asking me out on a date Lewis?"
"And if I was?"
"Just wanted clarification." He shrugged, "I'm sure I could make room in my busy schedule for you. Especially if you wear a dress like that.."
She swatted at his arm with a scowl, "Watch it buddy."
"Oh I'm kidding!" He laughed and pushed himself up against the window to try to get away from her hand that was threatening to slap him. "I like that dress actually...a lot," He mumbled. It wasn't his fault that the dress gave him a look at her legs, and it definitely wasn't his fault that those heels she was wearing made her legs look longer than they actually were...
He shook his head, trying to keep his eyes on the road and not on her legs. Emma smiled, nodding her head, "Then yes I am asking you out on another date. Flack."
"Hmm..that means I get to pick what we do." A slightly evil grin crossed his face, oh there were so many things he could do on a date.
"Oh god. Please don't take me back to the shooting range, although that was a lot of fun. And no hockey games!"
"Oh come on! I get to pick damnit." He shook his head, finding a spot to park his car in front of her building. "You'll just have to deal with it because it'll be fun."
There she went chewing on her lip again and the nervous twirling of the hair started up again as he put the car into park. Emma smiled finally and nodded her head, "Fine you can pick. But..one more question."
Don nodded, "Okay, shoot."
Her shoulders raised in another shrug as she looked at him. "What's all this mean? I mean...will this make things weird?"
"Are you asking if our friendship will be weird if we go on a few dates?" He was quiet for a moment before he shook his head. "I don't think it will make anything weird if we don't let it. And hey..if the whole dating thing doesn't work out, we can always laugh and make fun of each other later for it."
Emma laughed and shook her head, "You're such a dork." She leaned over, kissing his cheek gently before pulling back, "Do you want to come up?"
Oh how he did want to come up but he had a feeling if he went up to her apartment on that first date that something else would happen, something neither of them were quite ready for just yet. "Nah I'd better not. I gotta work kind of early." He smiled, "I had a good time tonight Em."
"Me too." She moved to get out of the car, "Thanks for dinner."
"I'll talk to you later."
Don watched as Emma hurried around the front of his car, waving at him before disappearing into her building. He waited a few extra seconds before pulling out onto the street to go to his own home.
The Little Corinthian: I'm the same way with getting emotionally involved with fictional characters! I feel the same things they do, which I think is both good and bad? lol
sparkyCSI: Always fun when something good pops up in your e-mail! They'll have more than one date too, trust me.
meadow567: Nope not her. Not yet at least (insert scary music here). No I'm kidding, I'm still deciding on what exactly to do but it should pop up in the next chapter or two.
truebluepatfan12: I just keep thinking of Flack dressed as Superman when you mention him saving her..lol could be because I'm tired but still, amusing!
Princess of Peas: thank you for reading! I'm glad you've gotten attached to her, I was a little worried at how she'd come off when I first started writing this. Also glad you're enjoying the story so far :)
AN: seriously I cannot believe I'm almost to Chapter 30. There should be another update sometime later on Sunday once I can get my head around what I want to happen. Plus I'm going to go back and watch a few season 2 episodes (okay...I want my Flack fix, I can admit it). Enjoy the date!
