Chapter 4 - First Date

Ralph Cox was skating with the puck, while Rob was defending him. Ken Morrow was on him, Phil Verchota was right there with all three of them. When they got caught up against the boards, Coach Brooks blew his whistle. "No, no! Stop. Look at you. Three men being covered by one guy. This isn't weaving for weavings sake. Spread out! Use the ice!"

Marie looked over at Connie and they started to crack up. Just for no particular reason, they found that funny. I mean, "Weaving for weavings sake", it didn't really make sense to them.

"Have you made up your mind about calling Simon?" Connie asked after the laughter died down. "It's been like five days."

"No I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. Hell… why can't I just call someone I'm interested in?"

"You have this fear of rejection. It's really strange. The guys you really, really like, you can't get yourself to ask them out, but when it comes to a guy you think is cute and just want to hang out with, you easily ask them," Connie said. "I think you need to date someone who you think is cute."

"Well… when that guy finally shows up, I'll know," Marie said. "In the meantime… I'll just live my life."

Connie smiled. "You think they'll ever become friends?" she asked when Rob went back to the bench and sat a few guys down from Jack.

Marie shrugged. "You never know. It could happen."

"Right," Connie replied, "like Simon and you."

"Exactly."

Later that night, Marie was in their bathroom taking a bath. She had the phone next to the tub in case of a phone call. She was totally mellow and she hoped nothing disturbed the silence. The shrill ring of the phone made her groan in frustration. Sitting up, she grabbed the receiver and said, "Hello."

"I hope I didn't disturb you," a low voice said.

She recognized the voice. "Simon?"

"Yeah."

Marie smiled. "No… no you didn't. I was just relaxing. I wasn't expecting the phone to ring."

"I was just calling to ask you if you've eaten yet," he replied.

Marie looked over at the wall clock Connie had put up on the wall. "About an hour ago."

"How about dessert?"

"When?"

"I can pick you up in an hour," Simon told her.

"Ok. Wait… I felt like bowling lately. Do you wanna go to a bowling alley and then do that?" Marie asked.

Simon answered. "Sure. Bowling sounds fun."

"I'll see you in an hour," Marie said before hanging up. She smiled as she got out of the tub, and went and got ready.

Marie concentrated on the middle arrow as she stepped up to the lane. She let the ball go halfway in her swing and she watched as it traveled down the center and knocked six pins down, leaving a split where the other four pins were separated on both sides in two. She sighed and turned to Simon. "Any tips? I can never figure out what to do."

"Just go for either side. That split is always impossible," he replied.

Marie went again and she went for the right side. "61, not bad," she commented when she saw her score on the score sheet. "Let's see that third strike, Simon."

"Watch and learn," Simon said as he picked up his ball. When he threw the ball down, he actually got the strike.

"What the hell?" Marie uttered. "I can't believe you got a turkey."

"And I haven't bowled in a few years. I guess I still got it," Simon stated.

Marie chuckled. "I think I need to get some of that luck." She went back up after writing the X down in the frame on the sheet. She concentrated again and this time she actually got a strike. "Oh my God!" she yelled.

"There you go. Way to get that luck," Simon said.

They kept on playing and kept on flirting in their own ways. After they ended the two round they played, they headed to an ice cream parlor. There they talked as they ate their ice cream. Simon talked about work and his family, while Marie talked about the same things. They kept away from talking about the ex's.

When they got into her apartments parking lot, they kept talking for a while before she actually started to get out. "Hey Marie…" she turned back to him in question. He leaned over and gave her a really quick small kiss. "I'll call you. I had a fun time."

"Not if I call you first," she said smiling, "and I'm glad because I did, too."

"Can't wait," he replied.

Marie smiled and got out of the car. She walked up to the front door and waved to him before entering the building. After entering her apartment, Marie leaned against the door.

"So," Connie asked, "how did it go?"

Marie smiled. "Had a blast. I won't call myself an idiot for not calling him sooner, but I will call him from now on."

Connie smiled. 'That's good."

"We had fun. Can't wait to do it again," Marie told her. "He gave me a kiss."

"Really?"

"Yeah, a two second kiss."

Connie nodded. "Still a kiss is good. Besides all that matters right now is that you're happy. Let it happen. Don't think about anything else."

"I won't," Marie said before heading to her room.

Marie called Simon two days later due to the face she worked the day after their "date". They talked for an hour about anything. They talked about high school and college, she talked about the team. By the time they hung up, they made plans for an actual official date.

"When will he be here again?" Connie asked.

"In ten minutes."

"I'll try to get Rob out of here before he gets here. I don't want Rob getting you upset if he tells Simon to be careful. Not like when he went all fatherly on Will," Connie explained.

She would have cringed at the name of her ex, but Marie smiled at the memory instead. "Does Rob know what Will did?" she asked realizing that Rob didn't go through with his threat about beating him up.

"No. Otherwise he'd be on trial for killing someone," Connie told her.

Marie laughed. "It's great to have another brother."

"Tom is in Connecticut while Josh is busy with his own life. I bet if you lived with your parents, your dad and Josh would threaten him," Connie replied. "Ok… I think you look beautiful and I am heading out." Right when she said that, there was knock on their door.

"I'll get it," Rob called out.

Connie and Marie looked at one another and headed out to the living room. Rob was shaking Simon's hand and telling him it was nice to meet him. When Simon saw Marie, he smiled and handed her flowers. She gave them to Connie and took Simon's hand and they headed out.

"You two be careful now," Rob said before the door closed.

"These are so beautiful!" Connie exclaimed. "It would be nice to get flowers once in awhile, you know."

"I don't like him. He's hiding something," Rob remarked.

"You said that about Will," Connie told him.

"And where is he now?" Rob pointed out. "Shagging some chick, I bet."

Connie sighed. "Should I heed your warning and tell Marie not to see him?"

Rob shook his head. "Maybe this will get her to be happy again."

"What do you mean?"

"Ever since Will and her broke up five months ago, she's been depressed in her own way. She makes wise cracks, she's sarcastic. I think it's time for her to be happy. She's like a little sister to me."

"Yet, she's a year older than you."

"You know what I'm talking about. I didn't like how she ended up in the end with Will."

"I didn't either. I think Simon is different. He might be really good for her," Connie said before heading into the kitchen.

"I hope so," Rob whispered.