-{nothing like some good old fashion fluff for some good babs

End of note}

Vanny and Luis go on a date.

He had been dropping hints for a while, and Vanessa thankfully wasn't blind enough not to see them. But the idea of actually committing and going on a date, and she knew it was a date no matter how casual he tried to make it sound, that scared her. But her therapist had said it would be good for her to meet new people and make friends, so she decided to give it a shot. She just prepared herself to see him run screaming when he saw her. So she replied to one of his emails and asked where he wanted to meet up.

It was a charming little coffee shop. Maybe she was more excited about this than she thought because Nessie actually tried to make herself look nice, maybe a part of her thought it'd balance out with the burn scars on her face. She had seen Luis before at work, he was a man about her age, with tan skin and bleached blonde hair, maybe he was planning to color it? Whatever he planned he had a look about him, it was very casual but precise. She got out of her car and held the strap of her purse to her chest, he said he'd meet her here, now she actually had to find him. It wasn't too hard though because she soon spotted the man waving wildly at her with no care about people staring.

He was a dumbass,

But it was a little charming.

She soon met him at the table and sat down across from him.

"Glad you could make it Ness! I was worried you wouldn't come for a hot minute there." He laughed and Venessa shook her head.

"No, I wouldn't just ditch you like that. Sorry I'm late though, traffic was bad." She chuckled back.

Soon they had ordered something and were casually chatting about various topics. Luis was funny, if a little dense. To her relief, he wasn't commenting on the burn scars. He had to have noticed, she saw his stair at them briefly, but he still smiled and talked as normal. Vanessa smiled, thankful he wasn't dense enough to not know tact. They soon finished their meal and Luis had suggested they Go take a walk in the park afterwards and Vanny agreed. The local park wasn't too far away, so they paid for their meal (Luis wanted to pay the whole tab but Vanny insisted on 50/50 split) and walked over. The park was small but nice, it had a trail that passed by a lake where some boats were docked, a few kids were playing on the playground in the center, and a few teens were playing volleyball on the court. Luis tried to be subtle and made a move to hold Nessa's hand. She picked up on it though and met him halfway. She stuffed a giggle when Luis's face turned cherry red from blush.

Vanny found it adorable.

The eventually stopped to rest at a bench overlooking the lake. A few ducks were swimming on the water. Luis rambled about video games for a bit, looking over every once and awhile. Vanny had a feeling she knew what he was curious about. Who wouldn't want to know how she got so badly burnt? She decided it would be better if she pulled the bandaid off herself.

"I know what you're thinking." She spoke during one of his pauses. She looked over with a small smile, trying to not look upset. "You're wondering about the burns right?"

"Well I was actually more curious about your hair." Luis quickly excused, but relented. "But yeah that was also on the list" he admitted with an apologetic smile. "If it's a touchy topic you don't have to talk about it. I mean, I just thought maybe you fought a dragon!" He gave her his usual silly grin and Vanny giggled.

"No it's alright, you'd probably want to know eventually and we'll. I'd rather get it out of the way now." Vanny took in a deep breath, and looked out over the lake.

"I was caught in a building fire when I was younger. Before that I had basically no memory of anything after age 8. Apparently I had some psychotic episode? I'm not sure of the details exactly, I just know I was in a mental hospital for a few years for... well I wasn't exactly all there you know?" She quietly laughed. "They finally got me somewhere where with the right meds I'd be mentally sound. Then set me off into the big bad world. I went to collage after that and tried to put my life together. I.. wow this got off topic from the burns... but it's hard to explain everything when I'm not even sure of the full story." Luis blinked at her. Vanny was worried what he'd think of her now. With her medical and mental history paired with her missing a chunk of her childhood, Vanessa Adams was an enigma. Luis finally spoke and Vanny was so glad he was the way he is. "There's nothing wrong with taking medicine. I got an uncle who's on anxiety meds. Whatever keeps you going you know?" God Vanny was so lucky she met him. She smiled and nodded. "Yah... hey Luis? Can... can I ask you something?"

"Hm, oh yeah sure. What is it?" Luis asked while Vanny dug around in her purse for a card.

"If... I'm not saying this will happen but I like you and just want to be sure. If I ever do something and... and I'm not myself can you call these guys?" She handed him the card. It was a business card for the mental hospital she had a history with. Luis looked at it a little confused. "I appreciate the concern but what's all this for? You're doing good aren't ya?" Luis asked, he smiled but looked concerned. Vanny looked to the side. "I just... I just can't be sure with myself nowadays... please Luis, promise you'll stop me if I ever do something dangerous." She took his hands and held them in hers, almost pleading. Luis' eyes went wide in surprise. But after a long pause he nodded. "Of course. I promise Ness." Vanessa smiled. "Thank you." She let go of his hands, and a moment later lightly blushed from embarrassment. "I uh, kind of killed the mood didn't I?"

"What naaah it's fine. The ducks probably would have messed it up sooner or later anyway." Luis joked, easing the tension and helping Vanny relax. "Yah I guess so"

They chatted for a few more hours before having to head back before it got dark. Once back in the cafe parking lot Vanny squeezed luis' hand. "That was fun. We should go out again sometime" she smiled, and Luis immediately grinned and nodded. "Yah! Maybe to that bowling place down the block? I have a friend who knows a guy who works there so I can get discounts."

"Lucky you." Nessa giggled. They said their final goodbyes. But before she left Nessa quickly have Luis a peck on the cheek before excusing herself to flusteredly duck into her car. Even from her car window she could see Luis grin goofily with a deep blush dusting his cheeks.

He was adorable.

Vanny was glad to have met him.