Of Scoops, Slices and Sunsets

Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers.

Chapter 21: Smooth

"Ughhhh…"

RJ frowned at the groan, bemused curiosity playing in his eyes as he rounded the corner and found Fran sitting on the floor with her back to his chair, her knees drawn to her chest while her face was buried in her lap, arms wrapped around her head, completely securing her from view.

She let out another groan and it was this time that RJ was able to discern that Fran was embarrassed. He walked over to his chair and plopped down next to her. He lightly nudged her with his shoulder. "What's up, buttercup?"

"I dun wanna talk about it," she mumbled.

"It might make you feel better," RJ wheedled in a sing-song voice.

"No, RJ, it won't," Fran refuted. "I messed up, big time."

He grew slightly concerned. "What was on fire this time? Accidentally spill food on a customer?"

Fran snorted. "No, but those might've been less embarrassing."

"What did you do?" RJ asked with a disbelieving laugh. She was blowing things out of proportion. She had to be.

"Will you just let it go?"

"Nope, you're my friend and I dunno about you, but I care about my friends and want to help them solve their problems."

"You ever actually tell your students that?"

'Touche', RJ thought with a grin. "Nope, and don't tell them that I do." He pressed closer to her side and whispered loudly. "It's our secret."

Fran huffed in amusement. "Okay."

RJ waited patiently, having a feeling that Fran would tell him just what it was that was haunting her sooner rather than later.

Two minutes later he was proven right when Fran wearily lifted her head. Her cheeks were flushed a healthy shade of crimson, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. RJ laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "What happened?" He asked softly.

Fran swallowed heavily. "Do you remember that film company that's filming a few blocks away?"

"Yeah…?"

Fran sighed. "Well, the director and a few of the crew members came in for lunch today. Actually, they left about half an hour ago."

"'Kay…none of that sounds bad so far, Fran."

"It wasn't bad," Fran confirmed. "All of their orders were made in a timely manner and none of the food had burned…the others were in a good mood and worked together really nicely. The customers were really polite and friendly."

"This is all good…" RJ hedged. "Right?"

"Yes, yes, it is good. It was good! But…" Fran sighed heavily, still embarrassed.

RJ continued to wait, letting Fran get it all out.

"When they made their coffee orders, I asked the director if he wanted sugar in his. He said no and I replied, without missing a beat for some freaking reason, 'that's because you're already sweet enough, isn't it?' Ugh, I can't believe I said that!"

"But Fran, that sounds adorable."

"No, it doesn't!"

"Was the director mad?" RJ asked. He could do damage control if necessary, no problem.

"No, he actually laughed and thanked me for saying that."

RJ was lost. "Then…what's the problem?"

"That I said that at all!" Fran burst out. "What am I? Some middle-aged yenta?" She buried her face into RJ's shoulder.

RJ wrapped his arm around her. "Fran, this isn't as bad as you're making it out to be. Really, this is a mountain out of a molehill type of situation."

"Says you, RJ!" Fran shot back. "You didn't say it! I did!" She heaved a sigh. "Ugh, just please…shoot me, put me out of my misery…take me out!"

RJ was quiet for a minute before shrugging his free shoulder. "Alright. Should I pick you up at seven?"

Fran sat up and stared at him, completely baffled. "I'm sorry, what?"

He shot her a carefree grin. "You told me to take you out and I'm saying okay. Seven sound good to you? Either tonight or tomorrow night. I'm not picky."

Fran continued to stare at RJ who merely grinned wider. He pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I'm being serious, you know. Been meaning to ask you out for a little while now but Dai Shi is such a demanding distraction."

It was another moment before Fran finally found her voice. "Okay…?"

"Really?"

She nodded.

"Awesome!" RJ cheered. "So! Tonight, or tomorrow night. Oh, and what would you wanna do? I mean, movies are a classic date night scenario…or would you want to hit the arcade?"

"The arcade could be fun," Fran agreed, still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that RJ was asking her out.

"Maybe we could do both," RJ mused. "We're adults, we don't need a curfew." That managed to elicit a giggle from Fran.

"That's true, but…" she paused and smiled shyly as she slowly held her hand out. RJ beamed and took it, squeezing gently. "Now…maybe this would be considered an insult, suggesting this to a chef such as yourself…" She smiled wider as she listened to RJ scoff, knowing that he was being playful, gently teasing her for her words.

"There's a class at the community college at eight tomorrow night for making colorful pasta from scratch," Fran explained. "I thought that sounded like something you might find fun."

RJ looked at her with a mixture of surprise, awe, and excitement. "That sounds like something I would totally find fun! How colorful are we talkin' here?"

"The pasta on the ad looked really vibrant actually," Fran recalled. "Maybe we could make multi-colored pasta and add it to the menu. We could call it, I dunno, Rainforest Parmesan or something."

"That sounds awesome, we are totally learning how to do that!"

RJ swooped down and pressed another kiss to Fran's cheek. "So, tomorrow night? Seven?"

Fran grinned and nodded. "Tomorrow night, at seven."

Okay so this was a lot shorter than usual, but I think it gets the job done :) The groove is coming back...slowly.