It was Wednesday night and Kyle picked Maria up at her apartment.

"So what movie do you want to see?" Kyle asked Maria.

"I've really been wanting to see Vanilla Sky. Do you mind?"

"No I told you whatever you picked would be fine. I just don't know if I like the fact of you spending two hours watching Tom Cruise on screen."

"What do you mean?" Maria asked him.

"Well it's just most woman consider Tom Cruise to be an extremely handsome guy and I was kind of hoping I would be the only guy you looked at in that way tonight."

Maria just smiled at Kyle. He really was handsome and he looked good in his tight jeans. Maria wasn't sure what to wear for their first date so she chose black jeans with a matching sweater.

After the movie Kyle took Maria out to eat at a steak house. They both sat down and talked about their lives during dinner. Maria found out Kyle was a mechanic. Kyle wanted to know much more about Maria but she wasn't spilling too much about her life. *There's something different about her. She's not as easy to charm as the other woman I've been out with. She's not falling for my lines the way I had hoped.* Kyle thought.

"Have you ever been married?" Maria asked Kyle.

"No. From all the women I've dated in the past I haven't met the one. But who knows maybe I found the one tonight." Kyle saw Maria's worried expression. "I'm not pressuring you after all I'm not ready for marriage right now. Would you like to dance?" Kyle asked as he heard the music start to play.

"I'm not that great of a dancer," Maria answered.

"That's all right neither am I," Kyle said standing up and taking Maria's hand.


"What's with you Michael? You've seen distracted all night," Max asked Michael. Michael invited Max to the hockey game after Kyle declined.

"Nothing," Michael shrugged.

"Michael you love hockey and you keep staring at the rink with a blank expression on your face."

"I'm just not feeling very good tonight. Maybe I caught the flu from Jenny. Look you stay here and watch the game. I'm going to go."

"Michael wait. We've been friends for over five years. I know there's something else bothering you. What is it?"

"It's Maria. I can't get her out of my mind!" Michael said covering his head with his hands.

"What is so special with this girl that you're risking your marriage for?"

"In high school I never dated anyone and I never really had many friends. I was kind of a loner. When I met Maria I knew there was something special about her. I just started hanging around with her whenever I saw her because I loved being near her. She was someone I could talk to. She made me feel like I mattered. I don't know what she saw in me but she actually liked spending time with me when no one else wanted me."

"Doesn't Jenny make you feel loved?" Max asked his friend.

"I know she loves me but it just doesn't feel right. It's like no matter how hard she tries to understand me she just doesn't get me and Maria always did."

"Michael you need to get yourself together. You can't go on obsessing about Maria."

"Doesn't Jenny deserve to find someone who loves her as much as she loves them? Is it fair to her when my hearts just not in it?"

"Michael it would crush her if you left. You're her world."

"I gotta go," Michael said getting up from his chair and leaving before Max could respond. He thought about going to another bar but after the hangover he got last time he decided against it. He decided to go home and crash. Luckily when he got home Jenny was already asleep.

The next day before work Michael stopped at the gas station where he spotted Kyle. Michael walked up to him. "So how did the date go last night?" Michael asked him.

"Great we're going out again," Kyle smiled.

"What?"

"I really like Maria. I don't know what your problem is but I intend to see her again."

"You'll hurt her," Michael said.

"We're not getting intense. What's wrong with having a good time just being together without it getting too serious."

Does Maria know this is just a casual fling for you?"

"Of course she does." Kyle left the gas station before Michael could explode anymore.