As Good As Dreams
By: Christina K.
Chapter 7: First Date
(A/N: I'm back. Sorry it took longer for me to update this time. I've been working all weekend long, and I have a very fat wallet to show for it, so it's a small price to pay. Okay, for all of you Robbie fans, he makes a special appearance here. And let me tell you, he is one sexy beast in this chapter. This one is also longer than the others, just because there was a lot of stuff going on. Hope you enjoy!)
The next few weeks were hard for me, but the more I focused on other things, the less I thought about Travis, so I picked up extra work at the school, and even started going out with my friends on the weekends, at a different club.
And that led me to today, sweet Friday.
The last few days had been fairly easy for me, just because Travis was staying home, from what I heard was a bad stomach virus.
I was walking to the office, bag and paperwork in hand, getting ready to go home and get changed for my night on Ocean Drive, where we were going to party for the evening.
I looked at my watch as I walked in. It was already four o'clock, and only Mark was left inside, talking to a tall man with curly brown hair and silver-rimmed glasses. As soon as I was in the door, Mark turned to me.
"Ah, there you are Del. Have you talked to Travis? This gentleman is looking for him."
That's when I recognized him.
"You're Robbie, aren't you?"
"Yeah." He looked at me like I was crazy.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Delilah Lopez, a friend of Travis's."
"Oh really? Then, maybe you can tell me where he is. I'm here to see him for his birthday. He's not here, obviously, and he doesn't answer at his house."
"Well, because you're calling from the school's phone. Apparently, he's a little sick, and he probably thinks it's our boss calling to tell him to work on Monday. Let me try."
I hit the number seven on my cell phone, Travis's speed dial number, and the phone rang twice before his groggy voice answered.
"Hi sweetie! How are you feeling?"
"Like I'm going to die."
"Well, I've got something that might cheer you up. Guess who's here?" I saw Robbie wave his hand and shake his head in a desperate "no."
"Who?"
"Oh never mind. I'm being stupid today, ignore me."
We hung up the phone and I gave Robbie a confused look.
"I want to surprise him. His birthday is Tuesday and I want to surprise him then."
"Okay then. Hey, do you want to go out with my friends and me? We're all going to a club tonight and since you've got a couple of days to kill, we can show you around town."
He thought about it for a second, then smiled and wrote down a number and handed it to me.
"This is the phone number of the hotel room I'm staying at. Give me a call when you guys are leaving and I'll meet you there."
"Okay, cool. I'll call you around eight then. Or, if you want, we can go out to dinner before."
"Sounds great."
So I drove home and changed into one of my normal Friday night outfits, a black shin length skirt with a back-slit up to my thigh, a blood red sleeveless shirt, silver hoop earrings, and knee-high leather boots.
Melanie came out of her room and was asking me a question from the living room.
"What? I can't hear you." I was finishing my make-up in my bathroom.
"Can I borrow your boots?" She walked into the bathroom and saw that I was already in them. "Damn it, Del."
"Sorry. You can wear those new heels I just bought." She nodded in response and left for my bedroom. "Oh Mel, I'm going out to eat before I meet you guys at Mangoes."
"Why can't you grab something here?" I walked into my bedroom to see her sitting on my bed, tying the straps of the shoes up her ankles.
"Because, I'm not eating alone," I replied, with a mysterious smile.
"Well, who are you going with then, if I may ask?"
"Of course you may. His name is Rob."
"Is he hot?"
"Very much so. But you'll see him for yourself tonight when we get to the club. Now leave me alone, I have to call him."
I picked up my orange cordless phone and dialed the number he wrote on the slip of paper.
"Hello?"
"Hey Robbie, it's Delilah. How are you?"
"I'm good. Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah. Quick question about dinner first. Do you like sushi? There's a really great sushi restaurant I go to all the time, but if you don't, then we can go somewhere else."
"Actually, I've never had it, but I've always wanted to try it."
"Cool, I'll come pick you up in a few minutes."
So I got in my car and drove to the hotel and waited downstairs for him.
When he walked out of the elevator, my heartbeat quickened as I drank in his sight. He was wearing a pair of faded brown jeans, a black and brown long sleeve dress shirt I recognized from Express, and a pair of brown leather Diesel shoes, a leather banded watch adorning his wrist.
"Wow, Delilah, you look amazing."
"I'd say the same for you, but I suddenly became speechless." I could feel my cheeks flush a little and saw his do the dame.
He composed himself first. "So, let's go eat some fish."
We both hopped in my car and I drove to Shibui (A/N: The best place here in Miami to get really good sushi.)
When I pulled into the parking lot, I checked myself in the mirror and we went inside. Robbie surprised me by asking for floor seating on the second floor.
"I have no idea what I'm doing here," he said, pointing to the menu.
"Well, I'm a pro, so how about I order and then we can split it and you can get a feeling for the different kinds.
So when the waitress cam to the table, I ordered three of my favorites; a salmon and cream cheese roll, a spicy tuna roll, and a dragon eel roll.
"You weren't kidding. You are a sushi pro." We both laughed.
When the sushi came to the table, I watched Robbie fool with the chopsticks, trying to get it right, before I tool pity on him, picked up a piece with my hand and popped it into my mouth.
"No chopsticks?" he asked, definitely surprised.
"Well, I always use them, but I'm up for something new." I gave him a flirty smile.
I watched him pick up his first piece, look at it carefully, even caught him sniffing it a little, before he sighed, as if saying, "here goes nothing," and put it in his mouth. I watched intently on his expression change from his first shock to a kind of surprise and finish with a small smile as he chewed and swallowed.
I smiled with him. "So how was your first sushi experience?"
"Incredible. That was delicious."
"Wait until you try Sea Urchin." I watched the color drain from his face and laughed.
"So, this is Mangoes?" he asked, looking around.
"Yes, one of South Beach's better clubs. Oh, there's Melanie!" I waved at her from across the street. When she saw me, she ran across, followed by our two friends Lee and Shanna.
Robbie looked a little intimidated by being with so many girls, but I put a reassuring hand on his arm and introduced him.
Melanie took one at him and told me, "You're right, very much so."
We shared a laugh and went inside, all heading straight to the bar before it got packed.
As soon as we got our drinks, my friends headed for the dance floor and left Robbie and I at the bar.
"How are you at dancing? Tonight won't be your first time, I hope."
"No, I've done that before."
"So, what are we waiting for?" and I grabbed his wrist, pulling him into the mass of people.
We got to a good spot and I wrapped my arms around his neck as he put his hands on my hips.
Just something about you
The way I'm lookin at you whatever
You keep lookin at me
The bass line was making my heart flutter. I was dancing against Robbie and I could feel a sort of energy pouring out of him.
If you smiling, that should set the tone
Just be limber
If you let go, the music should move your bones
Just remember
Sing this song with me
I looked into his dark eyes and felt all of my inhibitions melt away.
You know, I used to dream about this when I was a
Little boy
I never thought it would end up this way
It's kind of special right? Yeah
I wanted to kiss Robbie and the look in his eyes reflected the same emotion.
You know, you think about it
Sometimes people just destined
Destined to do what they do
And that's what it is
He leaned it and I welcomed him.
Now everybody dance
(A/N: The song belongs to Justin Timberlake and is called "Like I Love You". Hope you liked. Please review. If you do, I'll make you an excellent virtual chocolate soufflé!)