The First Date
So I went shopping and settled for a pair of indigo jeans, a warm white sweater, and a pair of black smart boots. It was the middle of winter and a blanket of snow was covering New York City, it was absolutely beautiful.
At 7:30 on the dot there was a knock at the door, I grabbed my coat, took a deep breath and answered. I opened the door and there he stood, my teenage crush as cute as ever in a pair of jeans, a heavy parker and a ski hat. I silently cursed myself as the realisation hit me that I had brought neither a hat, scarf or gloves, I was so excited it just slipped my mind.
Shane looked so handsome, as he had done all those years ago on my TV screen. His eyes were bright and his cheeks were flushed red from the cold. As we were in the elevator he handed me a brand new white angora scarf and a matching pair of mittens and a hat. I stared at him in amazement.
"You'll need them, it's freezing out there." He smiled at me and his chocolate brown eyes twinkled as we stepped out of the elevator and into the lobby. "A lot of people don't realise just how cold NYC can get. I figured I should buy them just in case."
I smiled at him as I put them on, "thanks, you didn't have too. How much do I owe you?"
Shane raised his eyebrows; "Owe me? You don't owe me anything, there a present."
"Shane you don't."
"Tough, I did and I'm easily offended so don't mention it again."
I laughed as we stepped out the door; "thank you." I said quietly.
He smiled back at me; "You look cute all wrapped up."
"You don't look too bad yourself!" I said, looking him up and down.
"Well, our chariot awaits." He said stopping on the sidewalk next to a hansom carriage, an enclosed old fashioned English one, with windows and a roof, the driver wore a top hat and was standing next to the two black shining horses that were drawing the carriage.
The driver opened the door and I got in with Shane's help, he got in behind me and the driver closed the door. Shane settled a thick fur blanket around us and I beamed at him.
"This is incredible," I was amazed, I had a feeling that this was going to be the best first date ever! "This is wonderful Shane, thank you."
I could tell he was embarrassed. "Don't be silly;" he said. "I just thought we should do something special because it was snowing."
"You're sweet."
"Well don't go telling everybody; the official party line is that I'm as hard as nails."
We both laughed.
"So where are we going?" I asked, curious.
"You don't know New York very well do you?"
I shook my head.
"We're going to one of NYC's top attractions. Perhaps I should have asked you first but can you skate?"
"Skate? You mean roller skate?" I asked, I had no idea where this conversation was headed.
Shane smiled at me, "No, ice skate."
"I've never been ice skating in my life." I said my eyes wide. It was the truth, I'd always wanted to have a go but the opportunity never arose.
"Well we're going to the Wollman skating rink; want to give it a try?"
"I'll probably make a complete idiot of myself but what the hell! Why not?"
Shane laughed. "That's the way. I like a girl who'll try anything once."
Our eyes met and we had a 'moment'. I blushed and quickly looked away, I had felt it and if I wasn't mistaken so had Shane.
We got to the rink and got out of the carriage, it was cold and blustery. Shane's nose and cheeks were red, and I had no doubt that mine were too. He offered me his arm and we hurried towards the rink. Shane was a gentleman and paid for everything, the rental of the skates and when I asked him about paying for the carriage, he insisted it was fine and that I didn't have to pay for anything.
We stepped out onto the ice together, with Shane holding onto me, and me holding on to the side. Shane stayed with me for a while, I found my footing fairly quickly and Shane took a quick turn round the ice on his own, he was a beautiful skater, and then rejoined me and stayed for the rest of the evening. We rested a couple of times and drank hot chocolate and ate burgers. We had a great time and by the end of the evening we were like old friends, laughing and joking together like we had known each other for years.
"I can't remember when I had so much fun." I said as I sat down, to rest my ankles which were getting pretty tired.
"Me neither, I haven't been skating in years, I forgot how much I enjoyed it. Mind you, I think it might have had a lot to do with the company." He smiled at me, and I was grateful that I was sitting because if I had been standing my legs would have collapsed beneath me.
A few minutes later he brought me another hot chocolate and a muffin. We sat and talked for ages before we went back on the rink again. This time he held me tightly, to stop me from falling, so he said. I didn't object though, I liked it.
"So when we met, you said you used to like wrestling, who was your favourite?" Shane asked me curious.
I blushed and looked away. "I didn't really have anyone."
Shane looked at me intently, "Yes you did, come on who was it? I can tell by your face."
"No I didn't."
He started to tickle me and we were both laughing.
"Tell me, surrender now!"
"No!" I said laughing, I managed to get out of his hold and skated away from him and went over to the side. I leant against the barrier and he wasn't far behind me, before I knew it my back was against the barrier and Shane had his arms either side of me so I was trapped. We were still both laughing.
"You'll have to stay here forever unless you tell me!"
"Ok, ok, I give up. I just don't want you thinking badly of me."
"Why would I think badly of you?" He asked.
I met his eyes, "I had his poster on my bedroom wall, I was absolutely crazy about him, call my mum and ask."
"So who was it?" He asked, tilting his head to the side.
"You."
Shane smiled. "Really?"
I nodded. "I just don't want you thinking that I decided to come on this date purely because I had a crush on you."
"Why did you come on a date with me then?" Shane asked quietly, coming closer to me.
"Because in this short time I've known you, I feel like I've known you all my life and I've never felt that way before." I said quietly looking down.
He tilted my chin up and I looked him in the eyes. "What would you say if I said that I felt the same way?"
Before I could answer Shane kissed me. I was so startled I didn't even move, I just held on to him so I wouldn't fall and then I kissed him back. He put his arms around me and held me tight and when we stopped, we were both breathless.
"Shane. I." I felt like a kid.
"Shh." Shane said as he gently placed a finger on my lips. "Kerry." he whispered my name as he caressed my cheek. He pulled me into his arms again, and I didn't try to stop him. Finally, we stopped kissing and neither of us said a word as we just stood there, holding one another.
Shane spoke; "I'm really not sure if I'm supposed to apologise for that or not."
I looked up at him. "Why should you have to? We're both single and we both kissed each other, what's there to be sorry about?" I stood on my tiptoes and gave him a light kiss on the lips. "I've had an amazing time tonight. Thank you."
"So have I, so thank you too."
We skated for a little while again and then finally, as the session was coming to a close we stepped off the ice rink, and then returned our skates.
The carriage driver helped us into the carriage and Shane settled the blanket around us again. I relaxed back into the leather seats of the carriage and Shane gently put his arms around me and pulled me closer to him. We started to kiss again and afterwards I looked deep into his big brown eyes.
"Thank you for taking me skating; it's something I've always wanted to do." It was so much more fun than if he had taken me to a fancy restaurant. I had loved every moment of the evening that I had spent with him.
He smiled. "You did brilliantly considering it was your first time on the ice, but you know," his lips moved right next to my ear. "You're an even better kisser."
I laughed as he moved away and looked at me again. "So are you."
We kissed for a while again, and then I rested my head on his shoulder as we watched the snow fall through the little window of the carriage.
"It's so pretty." I said quietly. "It hardly ever snows back home."
"No all the UK gets is rain!" Shane said as we both laughed.
"You're right there."
"You know, I think it could be very easy to fall in love with you Miss Johnston, infact I think I've already started." Shane whispered as he tenderly kissed my cheek.
I was shocked by Shane's words, and then saw the kindness and tenderness that shone in his eyes. "I think I feel the same way." I murmured as he lightly kissed my lips.
He pushed a lock of hair away from my face and spoke softly. "We can take it slow and steady and just see where these feelings take us."
"Is this really happening to me?" I asked as I shook my head in amazement.
"What?"
"This? Us? I don't know what's happening, I've never felt this way before."
Shane was smiling at me. "It's not as if we have to figure all this out now, it's kind of taken me by surprise too. All I know is that I want to be with you, I want to spend time with you and we see what happens from there. Does that sound good?"
I nodded my head in agreement as he pulled me closer to him, we had our arms around each other and for the rest of the journey just sat in silence and we watched the snowflakes fall.
When we got to the apartment building, Shane helped me out of the carriage. He paid the cab driver and thanked him. The carriage went off into the night and Shane turned to me.
Shane looked down at the ground. "I'll leave you here then." He looked at me.
I took a single step towards him and before we could help ourselves we were in each others arms and we kissed. The kiss ended all too soon and believe it or not we didn't go up to either of our apartments and end up in bed which was a miracle to both of us.
So I went shopping and settled for a pair of indigo jeans, a warm white sweater, and a pair of black smart boots. It was the middle of winter and a blanket of snow was covering New York City, it was absolutely beautiful.
At 7:30 on the dot there was a knock at the door, I grabbed my coat, took a deep breath and answered. I opened the door and there he stood, my teenage crush as cute as ever in a pair of jeans, a heavy parker and a ski hat. I silently cursed myself as the realisation hit me that I had brought neither a hat, scarf or gloves, I was so excited it just slipped my mind.
Shane looked so handsome, as he had done all those years ago on my TV screen. His eyes were bright and his cheeks were flushed red from the cold. As we were in the elevator he handed me a brand new white angora scarf and a matching pair of mittens and a hat. I stared at him in amazement.
"You'll need them, it's freezing out there." He smiled at me and his chocolate brown eyes twinkled as we stepped out of the elevator and into the lobby. "A lot of people don't realise just how cold NYC can get. I figured I should buy them just in case."
I smiled at him as I put them on, "thanks, you didn't have too. How much do I owe you?"
Shane raised his eyebrows; "Owe me? You don't owe me anything, there a present."
"Shane you don't."
"Tough, I did and I'm easily offended so don't mention it again."
I laughed as we stepped out the door; "thank you." I said quietly.
He smiled back at me; "You look cute all wrapped up."
"You don't look too bad yourself!" I said, looking him up and down.
"Well, our chariot awaits." He said stopping on the sidewalk next to a hansom carriage, an enclosed old fashioned English one, with windows and a roof, the driver wore a top hat and was standing next to the two black shining horses that were drawing the carriage.
The driver opened the door and I got in with Shane's help, he got in behind me and the driver closed the door. Shane settled a thick fur blanket around us and I beamed at him.
"This is incredible," I was amazed, I had a feeling that this was going to be the best first date ever! "This is wonderful Shane, thank you."
I could tell he was embarrassed. "Don't be silly;" he said. "I just thought we should do something special because it was snowing."
"You're sweet."
"Well don't go telling everybody; the official party line is that I'm as hard as nails."
We both laughed.
"So where are we going?" I asked, curious.
"You don't know New York very well do you?"
I shook my head.
"We're going to one of NYC's top attractions. Perhaps I should have asked you first but can you skate?"
"Skate? You mean roller skate?" I asked, I had no idea where this conversation was headed.
Shane smiled at me, "No, ice skate."
"I've never been ice skating in my life." I said my eyes wide. It was the truth, I'd always wanted to have a go but the opportunity never arose.
"Well we're going to the Wollman skating rink; want to give it a try?"
"I'll probably make a complete idiot of myself but what the hell! Why not?"
Shane laughed. "That's the way. I like a girl who'll try anything once."
Our eyes met and we had a 'moment'. I blushed and quickly looked away, I had felt it and if I wasn't mistaken so had Shane.
We got to the rink and got out of the carriage, it was cold and blustery. Shane's nose and cheeks were red, and I had no doubt that mine were too. He offered me his arm and we hurried towards the rink. Shane was a gentleman and paid for everything, the rental of the skates and when I asked him about paying for the carriage, he insisted it was fine and that I didn't have to pay for anything.
We stepped out onto the ice together, with Shane holding onto me, and me holding on to the side. Shane stayed with me for a while, I found my footing fairly quickly and Shane took a quick turn round the ice on his own, he was a beautiful skater, and then rejoined me and stayed for the rest of the evening. We rested a couple of times and drank hot chocolate and ate burgers. We had a great time and by the end of the evening we were like old friends, laughing and joking together like we had known each other for years.
"I can't remember when I had so much fun." I said as I sat down, to rest my ankles which were getting pretty tired.
"Me neither, I haven't been skating in years, I forgot how much I enjoyed it. Mind you, I think it might have had a lot to do with the company." He smiled at me, and I was grateful that I was sitting because if I had been standing my legs would have collapsed beneath me.
A few minutes later he brought me another hot chocolate and a muffin. We sat and talked for ages before we went back on the rink again. This time he held me tightly, to stop me from falling, so he said. I didn't object though, I liked it.
"So when we met, you said you used to like wrestling, who was your favourite?" Shane asked me curious.
I blushed and looked away. "I didn't really have anyone."
Shane looked at me intently, "Yes you did, come on who was it? I can tell by your face."
"No I didn't."
He started to tickle me and we were both laughing.
"Tell me, surrender now!"
"No!" I said laughing, I managed to get out of his hold and skated away from him and went over to the side. I leant against the barrier and he wasn't far behind me, before I knew it my back was against the barrier and Shane had his arms either side of me so I was trapped. We were still both laughing.
"You'll have to stay here forever unless you tell me!"
"Ok, ok, I give up. I just don't want you thinking badly of me."
"Why would I think badly of you?" He asked.
I met his eyes, "I had his poster on my bedroom wall, I was absolutely crazy about him, call my mum and ask."
"So who was it?" He asked, tilting his head to the side.
"You."
Shane smiled. "Really?"
I nodded. "I just don't want you thinking that I decided to come on this date purely because I had a crush on you."
"Why did you come on a date with me then?" Shane asked quietly, coming closer to me.
"Because in this short time I've known you, I feel like I've known you all my life and I've never felt that way before." I said quietly looking down.
He tilted my chin up and I looked him in the eyes. "What would you say if I said that I felt the same way?"
Before I could answer Shane kissed me. I was so startled I didn't even move, I just held on to him so I wouldn't fall and then I kissed him back. He put his arms around me and held me tight and when we stopped, we were both breathless.
"Shane. I." I felt like a kid.
"Shh." Shane said as he gently placed a finger on my lips. "Kerry." he whispered my name as he caressed my cheek. He pulled me into his arms again, and I didn't try to stop him. Finally, we stopped kissing and neither of us said a word as we just stood there, holding one another.
Shane spoke; "I'm really not sure if I'm supposed to apologise for that or not."
I looked up at him. "Why should you have to? We're both single and we both kissed each other, what's there to be sorry about?" I stood on my tiptoes and gave him a light kiss on the lips. "I've had an amazing time tonight. Thank you."
"So have I, so thank you too."
We skated for a little while again and then finally, as the session was coming to a close we stepped off the ice rink, and then returned our skates.
The carriage driver helped us into the carriage and Shane settled the blanket around us again. I relaxed back into the leather seats of the carriage and Shane gently put his arms around me and pulled me closer to him. We started to kiss again and afterwards I looked deep into his big brown eyes.
"Thank you for taking me skating; it's something I've always wanted to do." It was so much more fun than if he had taken me to a fancy restaurant. I had loved every moment of the evening that I had spent with him.
He smiled. "You did brilliantly considering it was your first time on the ice, but you know," his lips moved right next to my ear. "You're an even better kisser."
I laughed as he moved away and looked at me again. "So are you."
We kissed for a while again, and then I rested my head on his shoulder as we watched the snow fall through the little window of the carriage.
"It's so pretty." I said quietly. "It hardly ever snows back home."
"No all the UK gets is rain!" Shane said as we both laughed.
"You're right there."
"You know, I think it could be very easy to fall in love with you Miss Johnston, infact I think I've already started." Shane whispered as he tenderly kissed my cheek.
I was shocked by Shane's words, and then saw the kindness and tenderness that shone in his eyes. "I think I feel the same way." I murmured as he lightly kissed my lips.
He pushed a lock of hair away from my face and spoke softly. "We can take it slow and steady and just see where these feelings take us."
"Is this really happening to me?" I asked as I shook my head in amazement.
"What?"
"This? Us? I don't know what's happening, I've never felt this way before."
Shane was smiling at me. "It's not as if we have to figure all this out now, it's kind of taken me by surprise too. All I know is that I want to be with you, I want to spend time with you and we see what happens from there. Does that sound good?"
I nodded my head in agreement as he pulled me closer to him, we had our arms around each other and for the rest of the journey just sat in silence and we watched the snowflakes fall.
When we got to the apartment building, Shane helped me out of the carriage. He paid the cab driver and thanked him. The carriage went off into the night and Shane turned to me.
Shane looked down at the ground. "I'll leave you here then." He looked at me.
I took a single step towards him and before we could help ourselves we were in each others arms and we kissed. The kiss ended all too soon and believe it or not we didn't go up to either of our apartments and end up in bed which was a miracle to both of us.