First Time's a Charm
Merle
After taking a short nap and eating lunch Merle retired to her room. Lying on her bed she turned on her radio and started to read a magazine article, "10 ways to make him notice you!" It was interesting. Not too long after she started reading Van knocked on her door. "It's me. Can I come in?" he asked.
"Yeah sure." She said. He walked into the room, closed the door and sat on her bed.
"Could we talk?" he asked seriously.
"Yeah sure." She said laying down the magazine and turning down the radio. Picking up the magazine Van read the title and winced. He thinks I'm reading it because of Dilandu, I'll bet. It's already working. "You wanted to talk?"
"Yes. I saw you this morning at Starbucks."
"I thought that was you." She said with a small smile. He frowned a little.
"What were you doing with Dilandu?" he said.
"You're going to get strait to the point on this one aren't you?"
"Merle."
"It was just a cup of coffee. He wanted to talk. It was the least I could do."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, I ran into him at the doughnut shop and he bought my doughnuts for me. Like I said, it was the least I could do." She said, faking a thoughtful look.
"Merle, I know that I can't tell you what to do. And I trust you."
"I know you do... and I can make decisions on my own..."
"I know you can. It's just that I don't trust him. He's... not a very..."
"Let me be the judge of that." She said picking up the magazine and putting it on her dresser. As she did the phone rang. Van picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Hello." A male voice said. "I'm looking for Merle."
"Who can I say is calling?" Merle held her breath. She knew who it was.
"This is... Dilandu." Van went stone cold. He didn't even move. "Hello?"
"Yeah, I'll ... I'll get her." He passed Merle the phone slowly, as if not wanting her to get it at all. She grabbed the phone from him and smiled.
"Hello." She said in the sweetest voice that she could fake. Dilandu was taken aback.
"Yeah, hi. I was wondering if you would like to grab some dinner? I know this club... and..."
"Yeah! Dinner sounds great."
"Really? Well then I guess I'll pick you up at 6:30?"
"6:30 sounds great. See you then. You do know where I live right?" she asked looking at Van's face. He was stunned and white in the face.
"Yeah, I think so." Merle gave him her address and then hung up the phone, smiling. Going into her closet she pulled out a skirt and a nice shirt. She turned to Van.
"You're going out with him tonight?"
"Yeah."
"Merle... I trust you..."
"I know." She said pulling out two different shirts. One cut short, and the other showing her back. "I'm glad you are. And if you're ok with that than could you help me with something?"
"Yeah sure." He said. "What is it?"
"Which one should I wear?" she asked.
6:30
Dilandu
As he reached the door he could hear voices from upstairs. Ringing the doorbell Allen answered the door with a cold hello. He stepped into the front hallway to wait for Merle. As she came down the stairs his breath caught in his throat. She was dressed in a short skirt and a shirt that showed her back. "Hey." She said walking next to him. Van was right behind her. "Let's go." She said. Van followed them out to his car. Dilandu helped Merle into the car carefully and closed the door. Van caught Dilandu by the jacket sleeve for a word.
"I'm trusting you with her." He said quietly, menacingly. "If you hurt her..."
"Nothing's going to happen to her, Fanell. And don't worry," he said opening his door. "I'll have her home before two." He got into the car.
"You'll have her home by 11:00 and no later got that?!" he yelled. Merle nodded and they left.
"Did you have to be so mean?" Merle asked him.
"He was asking for it, but I'm sorry. I loose points for that don't I?"
"Hell yeah." She said. He smiled. "What."
"Nothing. You look..." he looked her over. "Nice." She smiled her thanks and they were silent. As they arrived at the club they parked and got out. "Why did you pick here?" she asked.
"I knew asking you out would score you attention points with Fanell. That girl you saw, Rela, she comes here." Merle winced. Still, she got a free meal out of it. They got a booth and started talking. They realized that they had a lot in common. Both obviously wanted attention from people that they had known for a while. Both liked doughnuts and coffee. Both liked to read. Both liked to drive around. Both fought like the devil, but most important that they found was that both had a great desire for a feeling of belonging. As they talked, who should come in but Rela herself?
"Hello Dilandu. How..." she stopped when she saw Merle. "Who is this? Your cousin?" she asked with an air of arrogance.
"She's my..." Dilandu wasn't quick to answer. If Merle was completely in with the plan than she would have to show that she was serious.
"I'm his girlfriend." She said clearly. Rela looked at him angrily.
"That's impossible." She said. "I'm his girlfriend." He looked at her seemingly bored with the topic.
"Merle's my girlfriend Rela. You couldn't appreciate me for who I was. Merle does." He said plainly.
"Well, it doesn't look like the two of you are a very close couple." Merle looked at Dilandu. Rela had him there. Merle came up with a plan.
"Are you waiting for someone?" Merle asked her.
"Actually I am." Rela replied coldly.
"Then why don't you sit with us?" she asked. Dilandu looked at her with worry but Merle gave him a quick reassuring look and scooted over to sit closer to him. Oh, Merle what are you doing? This isn't going to be good. He thought to himself. As Rela watched Merle gave small signs of affection. She cuddled next to Dilandu, and let him wrap his arm around her. But it still wasn't enough to convince Rela. She asked them questions about everything. She even asked how they met. Merle explained the event as if it was a meeting of fate, leaving out the parts about the deal.
"It sounds like fate was with you." Rela said bored.
"Yeah I think it was." Merle said back. Rela still looked unconvinced though. Merle turned to whisper in Dilandu's ear. "How much longer until she believes me?"
"She's a pretty tough person to fool." He whispered back. Then Merle got a simple idea.
"You owe me... big." Is all she whispered to him.
"What?" he said and then she did it. She looked into his eyes, pulled him by the shirt collar and kissed him full on the lips. Dilandu closed his eyes and kissed her back, half enjoying the moment. They broke and Merle rested her head on his shoulder as if what she had just done was nothing, though the inside of her head was screaming "what the hell!" Dilandu had his own thoughts. Woah! That was... I mean... no one's ever... and I half enjoyed it! This is crazy! I'm not falling... He absently ran a hand through her hair. That was enough to convince Rela. She stood up, said her harsh good-byes and left. Soon after the two got into Dilandu's car as well and he took her home.
"Merle?" he asked a little unsure of what to say.
"Yeah." She said.
"Thank you." he smiled as he drove her home.
10:00
Merle
As they arrived at her house Merle thought to herself. I hope Dilandu didn't see me blush As she got out of her car, Dilandu offered her a hand. She could see the silhouette of Van, pacing the porch. He watched them, as Dilandu took Merle's hand and walked her up to the door. He stopped just below the stairs, careful not to get to close to Van. "Thank you." Merle said to him giving him a quick hug to whisper in his ear, "I mean it, thank you." she pulled back.
"Thank you as well." He looked into her eyes and something came over him. Something he couldn't explain or stop. He leaned down and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. Van watched in horror and shock, having stopped pacing. Merle closed her eyes a moment and then pulled away, walking up the stairs.
"Call me tomorrow?" she asked.
"Yeah." He said back. He walked down the sidewalk and into his car, taking a deep breath.
"Merle?" Van said, but she somewhat ignored him. Going into her room she flopped on her bed and chewed her lower lip. That last kiss... was so genuine. What if I'm falling for him? On the first date! Ugh! She sat there. Van came into her room and sat next to her, asking her how it was. He couldn't get an answer out of her. All he got was a smile and a thank you for being so supportive. Giving up he left her room.
10:30
Dilandu
As he parked his car someone walked up to him. Vince. "You look like you had a good night." He remarked.
"I had a date." Dilandu replied somewhat happily.
"Really?" Vince looked impressed. "Well, remember what we talked about." he said before leaving Dilandu but he didn't care. It was like somehow, what Vince said didn't hurt so much and didn't seem so impossible. He arrived to his empty apartment, yet somehow he felt less alone. That last kiss with Merle. I can't explain it. What came over me? I'm not falling in love with her! Am I? He took off his shirt and sat on his bed. The apartment was way to hot. Opening a window he glanced out. He could see the lights of the town, and just out there barely lighting the horizon, he could see her house. Why can't I get her out of my head? Each event played repeatedly in his head. Laying down on the bed he closed his eyes and imagined her face. From the bedside table he pulled off her phone number. Why had she become such a big thing to him all of a sudden? He had never really noticed her before. But that was in the past. He fell asleep and for the first time, he looked forward to the next morning.
Reviews please! I need some more support on this story.
Merle
After taking a short nap and eating lunch Merle retired to her room. Lying on her bed she turned on her radio and started to read a magazine article, "10 ways to make him notice you!" It was interesting. Not too long after she started reading Van knocked on her door. "It's me. Can I come in?" he asked.
"Yeah sure." She said. He walked into the room, closed the door and sat on her bed.
"Could we talk?" he asked seriously.
"Yeah sure." She said laying down the magazine and turning down the radio. Picking up the magazine Van read the title and winced. He thinks I'm reading it because of Dilandu, I'll bet. It's already working. "You wanted to talk?"
"Yes. I saw you this morning at Starbucks."
"I thought that was you." She said with a small smile. He frowned a little.
"What were you doing with Dilandu?" he said.
"You're going to get strait to the point on this one aren't you?"
"Merle."
"It was just a cup of coffee. He wanted to talk. It was the least I could do."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, I ran into him at the doughnut shop and he bought my doughnuts for me. Like I said, it was the least I could do." She said, faking a thoughtful look.
"Merle, I know that I can't tell you what to do. And I trust you."
"I know you do... and I can make decisions on my own..."
"I know you can. It's just that I don't trust him. He's... not a very..."
"Let me be the judge of that." She said picking up the magazine and putting it on her dresser. As she did the phone rang. Van picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Hello." A male voice said. "I'm looking for Merle."
"Who can I say is calling?" Merle held her breath. She knew who it was.
"This is... Dilandu." Van went stone cold. He didn't even move. "Hello?"
"Yeah, I'll ... I'll get her." He passed Merle the phone slowly, as if not wanting her to get it at all. She grabbed the phone from him and smiled.
"Hello." She said in the sweetest voice that she could fake. Dilandu was taken aback.
"Yeah, hi. I was wondering if you would like to grab some dinner? I know this club... and..."
"Yeah! Dinner sounds great."
"Really? Well then I guess I'll pick you up at 6:30?"
"6:30 sounds great. See you then. You do know where I live right?" she asked looking at Van's face. He was stunned and white in the face.
"Yeah, I think so." Merle gave him her address and then hung up the phone, smiling. Going into her closet she pulled out a skirt and a nice shirt. She turned to Van.
"You're going out with him tonight?"
"Yeah."
"Merle... I trust you..."
"I know." She said pulling out two different shirts. One cut short, and the other showing her back. "I'm glad you are. And if you're ok with that than could you help me with something?"
"Yeah sure." He said. "What is it?"
"Which one should I wear?" she asked.
6:30
Dilandu
As he reached the door he could hear voices from upstairs. Ringing the doorbell Allen answered the door with a cold hello. He stepped into the front hallway to wait for Merle. As she came down the stairs his breath caught in his throat. She was dressed in a short skirt and a shirt that showed her back. "Hey." She said walking next to him. Van was right behind her. "Let's go." She said. Van followed them out to his car. Dilandu helped Merle into the car carefully and closed the door. Van caught Dilandu by the jacket sleeve for a word.
"I'm trusting you with her." He said quietly, menacingly. "If you hurt her..."
"Nothing's going to happen to her, Fanell. And don't worry," he said opening his door. "I'll have her home before two." He got into the car.
"You'll have her home by 11:00 and no later got that?!" he yelled. Merle nodded and they left.
"Did you have to be so mean?" Merle asked him.
"He was asking for it, but I'm sorry. I loose points for that don't I?"
"Hell yeah." She said. He smiled. "What."
"Nothing. You look..." he looked her over. "Nice." She smiled her thanks and they were silent. As they arrived at the club they parked and got out. "Why did you pick here?" she asked.
"I knew asking you out would score you attention points with Fanell. That girl you saw, Rela, she comes here." Merle winced. Still, she got a free meal out of it. They got a booth and started talking. They realized that they had a lot in common. Both obviously wanted attention from people that they had known for a while. Both liked doughnuts and coffee. Both liked to read. Both liked to drive around. Both fought like the devil, but most important that they found was that both had a great desire for a feeling of belonging. As they talked, who should come in but Rela herself?
"Hello Dilandu. How..." she stopped when she saw Merle. "Who is this? Your cousin?" she asked with an air of arrogance.
"She's my..." Dilandu wasn't quick to answer. If Merle was completely in with the plan than she would have to show that she was serious.
"I'm his girlfriend." She said clearly. Rela looked at him angrily.
"That's impossible." She said. "I'm his girlfriend." He looked at her seemingly bored with the topic.
"Merle's my girlfriend Rela. You couldn't appreciate me for who I was. Merle does." He said plainly.
"Well, it doesn't look like the two of you are a very close couple." Merle looked at Dilandu. Rela had him there. Merle came up with a plan.
"Are you waiting for someone?" Merle asked her.
"Actually I am." Rela replied coldly.
"Then why don't you sit with us?" she asked. Dilandu looked at her with worry but Merle gave him a quick reassuring look and scooted over to sit closer to him. Oh, Merle what are you doing? This isn't going to be good. He thought to himself. As Rela watched Merle gave small signs of affection. She cuddled next to Dilandu, and let him wrap his arm around her. But it still wasn't enough to convince Rela. She asked them questions about everything. She even asked how they met. Merle explained the event as if it was a meeting of fate, leaving out the parts about the deal.
"It sounds like fate was with you." Rela said bored.
"Yeah I think it was." Merle said back. Rela still looked unconvinced though. Merle turned to whisper in Dilandu's ear. "How much longer until she believes me?"
"She's a pretty tough person to fool." He whispered back. Then Merle got a simple idea.
"You owe me... big." Is all she whispered to him.
"What?" he said and then she did it. She looked into his eyes, pulled him by the shirt collar and kissed him full on the lips. Dilandu closed his eyes and kissed her back, half enjoying the moment. They broke and Merle rested her head on his shoulder as if what she had just done was nothing, though the inside of her head was screaming "what the hell!" Dilandu had his own thoughts. Woah! That was... I mean... no one's ever... and I half enjoyed it! This is crazy! I'm not falling... He absently ran a hand through her hair. That was enough to convince Rela. She stood up, said her harsh good-byes and left. Soon after the two got into Dilandu's car as well and he took her home.
"Merle?" he asked a little unsure of what to say.
"Yeah." She said.
"Thank you." he smiled as he drove her home.
10:00
Merle
As they arrived at her house Merle thought to herself. I hope Dilandu didn't see me blush As she got out of her car, Dilandu offered her a hand. She could see the silhouette of Van, pacing the porch. He watched them, as Dilandu took Merle's hand and walked her up to the door. He stopped just below the stairs, careful not to get to close to Van. "Thank you." Merle said to him giving him a quick hug to whisper in his ear, "I mean it, thank you." she pulled back.
"Thank you as well." He looked into her eyes and something came over him. Something he couldn't explain or stop. He leaned down and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. Van watched in horror and shock, having stopped pacing. Merle closed her eyes a moment and then pulled away, walking up the stairs.
"Call me tomorrow?" she asked.
"Yeah." He said back. He walked down the sidewalk and into his car, taking a deep breath.
"Merle?" Van said, but she somewhat ignored him. Going into her room she flopped on her bed and chewed her lower lip. That last kiss... was so genuine. What if I'm falling for him? On the first date! Ugh! She sat there. Van came into her room and sat next to her, asking her how it was. He couldn't get an answer out of her. All he got was a smile and a thank you for being so supportive. Giving up he left her room.
10:30
Dilandu
As he parked his car someone walked up to him. Vince. "You look like you had a good night." He remarked.
"I had a date." Dilandu replied somewhat happily.
"Really?" Vince looked impressed. "Well, remember what we talked about." he said before leaving Dilandu but he didn't care. It was like somehow, what Vince said didn't hurt so much and didn't seem so impossible. He arrived to his empty apartment, yet somehow he felt less alone. That last kiss with Merle. I can't explain it. What came over me? I'm not falling in love with her! Am I? He took off his shirt and sat on his bed. The apartment was way to hot. Opening a window he glanced out. He could see the lights of the town, and just out there barely lighting the horizon, he could see her house. Why can't I get her out of my head? Each event played repeatedly in his head. Laying down on the bed he closed his eyes and imagined her face. From the bedside table he pulled off her phone number. Why had she become such a big thing to him all of a sudden? He had never really noticed her before. But that was in the past. He fell asleep and for the first time, he looked forward to the next morning.
Reviews please! I need some more support on this story.