Chapter 17

First date

"I have a date," I told my mother the next day, asking her for permission to go. Of course, she agreed and started asking me all kind of questions but I said the news to her in the morning right before school strategically so she wouldn't have time to question me. Then I said I have to go to school and I went out.

I could hardly wait until Saturday. The week went slow and boring even thought we talked with Maura every single day. She didn't share much about our date and what she have planned. All I knew was that we were going on a restaurant. Maura had made a reservation and we agreed to meet at her house and go to the restaurant together since I didn't know the place.

After the dull week that I've spent in waiting for our date, thinking and worrying about it, the big day has finally come and I had to get ready. But before I started dressing up my mother knocked at my door and entered in my room, uninvited per usual.

"Jane, we need to talk," she stated and sat on my bed right next to me. The last time she said that we needed to talk was about boys and why I don't date anyone. Now I didn't know what was it all about but she seemed a bit nervous and I had no idea why.

"Look, Jane..." she began but stopped, making a long pause. It seemed she didn't even know how to say whatever she wanted to talk about. "I know that this is just your first date but... perhaps you like this girl very much..." I nodded in agreement, wondering where she was heading with that statement. "And you'll need to... uhm... prepare before you do anything."

"Prepare?" I asked, surprised. Prepare for what? What the hell was she talking about?! "I am going to prepare and get dressed once you get out of my room."

"No, Jane. That's not what I mean," she shook her head negatively, taking her time to think again. "I mean... prepare to do anything... together... you know... to be uhm... intimate."

"You wanna talk about the birds and the bees!?" I exclaimed, a bit shocked. "We already had that conversation, remember?" I tried to reason her. "Because I remember it pretty vividly... though I am still trying to forget..." I murmured under my breath.

"Back then I didn't even know that you like girls," she answered me.

"Big deal! Still same," I answered back, trying anything just to escape from the talk and the room. Not necessarily in that order. "Still the same awkward conversation..." I murmured to myself.

"You have to take precautions even with a girl."

"Yeah, I know the drill, Ma. We learnt about everything in school."

"You can still get STDs... it's a possibility."

"And yet there's no possibility to get out of this room..." I murmured.

"Jane, would you stop joking and get serious about it?"

"Alright, Ma. STDs, very bad. Use protection. Got it. Thanks a lot," I said, getting up from the bed but she caught my hand and stopped me.

"Sit down, I am not over yet."

"Really? Because I thought we are d-done..." I started saying but after she gave me a stern look I stopped talking immediately.

Then there was a whole lecture about STDs and after the talk with my mother I felt pretty exhausted and I have probably lost interest in having sex for a very long time. That was just another conversation that I was trying to forget about. But after that, luckily, my mother got out of my room so I could finally prepare for the date.

Finally it was time to get dressed and go out. I was feeling really nervous about our first date with Maura. I didn't want to mess things up. After I put on my black dress as Maura asked me and spent some quite amount of time in front of the mirror getting ready for the big night, I went out with a strange but nice fluttering in my heart. I wanted everything to be perfect - from my outfit and hair to my behavior. When I got at Maura's house I saw that she was already out, waiting there for me.

"I hope I am not late," I apologized after we greeted.

"No. I was a bit early. I didn't want you to wait for me. You look really nice," she complimented me, looking at me from head to toe.

"Thanks," I answered, smoothing my dress which wasn't the most comfortable outfit but I put it specially for Maura."You do, too." I answered her back. It was true - she looked gorgeous wearing a dark cherry red velvet dress, mascara on her face and high heels that matched her beautiful dress. We walked by foot to the restaurant, making a small conversation on our way. I could tell that Mura was excited too. But she seemed calm, unlike me. I was still a bit nervous but I was trying to hide it.

The restaurant looked really fancy even from the outside and when we got in, there was a man, waiting for us. He showed us our table and left. After we got to our table at the restaurant, I wanted to be the "gentlemen" and I quickly pulled a chair so Maura could sit down. But then I saw she was pulling a chair for me to sit as well.

"Do you wanna..." I didn't finish my sentence, just laughed nervously, pointing at the chair I pulled for her. We ended up sitting on the chairs that we pulled for each other. That was really awkward. Luckily the waitress came quickly to take our order, smiling politely at us.

I opened the menu to choose what I want to eat but I felt like it was written in Chinese - I couldn't quite read even one dish properly. They were all gourmet dishes and I had no idea how they would look like in a plate. Luckily Maura ordered herself some dish that sounded strange and unfamiliar to me so I said I want the same to the waitress. I had no idea what else I could order in such a fancy restaurant. Pizza wasn't on the menu.

"What would you like for a drink?" asked the waitress.

"Wine, please." Maura ordered herself, choosing one from the list of wines.

"And for the young lady?" the waitress asked and turned her attention towards me. I supposed I was the young lady since she was looking at me.

"Beer?" I questioned.

"She is joking," Maura said to the waitress. After the comment she made about me being a young lady, I thought that the waitress wasn't so pleasant anymore.

"I'll have a glass of water," I said quietly because now the waitress didn't look very pleased by me as well. She didn't get my joke. That must be the reason she was watching at me like I have stolen her lunch. "Please... Thanks," I added quickly, trying to be polite with her.

"Very nice choice," she said, gave us a fake smile and walked away.

After the dishes came I looked at my plate with curiosity because I had no idea what they were going to serve us. I tasted one bite of the food and I didn't quite like my choice but I pretended to like it. I didn't want to complain so it was something like a white lie. Because I didn't want to offend Maura.

"I love this place," Maura started a small conversation. "Do you like it, Jane?"

"Yes," I answered nervously, trying to relax and enjoy it.

Mura was eating her food in silence and she was really enjoying it, I could tell. Then we talked and had fun together but I just couldn't fully relax, I was still nervous to be in a fancy place like that. I felt a bit out of place. I tried to put my mind at ease and ignore my conscious which was telling me that I don't belong there.

The waitress brought the check and left it on the table. I didn't look at the menu very well so I wasn't even sure that there were prizes on it but now I caught a glimspse of the bill and I almost choked with the water I was drinking at that moment. It was way too high.

"Oh my God, Maura! This is so expensive!" I exclaimed, seeing the prize. "Are you buying the whole restaurant?"

I didn't even like the food but I didn't dare to tell her that. I felt bad for not enjoying it as much as she did. But hey, at least I liked the water.

"Don't worry about it," she just said calmly, paying the check.

I felt kind of guilty for not enjoying the food but I tried to forget about it, smiling at Maura. At least I spent some time with her and I enjoyed it. And that was more important. After that we walked out of the restaurant.

I wanted to walk Maura home so we went to her place after our date.

"Come in for a while," she suggested, inviting me in her house.

How could I say no to that? I agreed and we both went in, going to the living room.

"This high heels are killing me," she said, sitting quickly on the couch. "They are new and I haven't walked with them."

"Then why don't you take them off?" I asked.

Was she dressed up like that because of me? She didn't have to bother so much and make such efforts because she always looked good. With or without a fancy dress and high heels. Not that I mean naked...no. Just with her casual clothes that she wore. She looked gorgeous in everything.

"I will," she answered. "My feet hurt so bad," she complained, unhooking the strap of her heel. "Oh fuck! Oh fuck! Fuck! Fuck,'' she started swearing as she took her shoes off. Her swears made me feel a bit turned on. I knew it was probably bad thing because she was in pain but it felt strangely arousing to hear her moans and curses. My body and my mind just responded to it involuntary.

"Hmm. Maura cursing. I never thought I'd hear that."

"I am sorry but it hurts so bad," she complained, massaging her foot and then the other one as well.

"Oh, don't apologize, I am not complaining at all. I kind of like it."

"Did you know that swearing reduces pain? So basically when you swear you must feel better."

"Hey, I think it's working. I definitely feel better," I joked around, trying to make her smile. I loved her smile very much.

"I can see that," she stood up and caressed my cheek. "You are blushing," she stated, looking at my face. "I think I know what you're thinking about."

"I highly doubt it."

And then she leaned and kissed me on the mouth. It was a gentle but passionate kiss that left me breathless and wanting more.

"That was a goodbye kiss," she said and I sighed with disappointment. "For the night, I mean," she quickly added.

"Then I guess that's my cue to leave," I said, feeling a bit disappointed because I really wished I could stay with her longer. Even the whole night. But I couldn't. I knew I couldn't stay in her house and I had to go home because I didn't want to be late. I promised my mother. So I left.

After I got home I went straight to bed. It was already late and I was glad my mother wasn't waiting for me at the door. And kind of surprised too.

I was tossing in my bed, thinking. I have learnt that Maura likes classical music which I did listen to once after she shared her favorite song with me and now I learnt about her taste in food as well. Her taste seemed so distant from mine and I couldn't make myself like it. We were so different. Some doubts about our relationship started bothering me, occupying my mind and I just couldn't fall asleep. It was bugging me how different we were - having different taste in music, books and even food. And our age difference, too. I have always thought that when it comes to love age doesn't matter but now I started thinking perhaps I was wrong. I felt a bit confused after our date. Maura was so different. Rich - I supposed after that fancy and expensive restaurant we went to; she was classy, stylish, with different taste in... well, in everything. And I was just a teenager. I didn't even know why she likes me. Thoughts like these oppressed me, disturbing my sleep.

AN: Dear readers, are you still there? I don't get many reviews and I am just wondering who's still interested in my story. This story would end soon after a few more chapters - I don't know how many just yet... So, the new chapter is ready and I hope you have lots of fun reading it! I just tried to keep it light and I hope you enjoy it. Share your opinion. What do you think about this chapter and also, have you had the birds and the bees talk with your parents? Or share whatever you like, just let me know if you're there and still interested.