Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated, I have no idea what I'm talking about.
Rekindled
Summary: Five years after graduating and going back to New York, Suze comes back to Carmel-by-the-Sea for her Ten Year High School Reunion. While there, who should she bump into but Paul? Her feelings for him, aside, Paul's attraction to Suze have suddenly been rekindled. Can he make her feel the same way before she goes back to New York? Or will she walk out of his life forever?
Chapter 3: Just One Chance
Three days had passed since Paul had kissed me. But it wasn't like I hadn't seen him. Oh no, I should be so lucky. Paul had come to dinner every night since then. Claiming he wanted to get reacquainted with the family. Reacquainted my ass. He was doing it to piss me off. Now don't think that I am conceded or anything; because I'm not. No, it didn't take talking long to Paul to think that he was trying – and succeeding – to piss me off.
Every night as somebody – usually me (and Paul, unfortunately) – cleared the table, he would pester me about going to the movies with him. Or to dinner. Or dancing. Or just back to his house. It was frustrating.
Now, usually, I am pretty good about saying no and sticking with my decision. But, usually, people can take a hint and just move on. No, not Paul. Paul would not take no for an answer. So, you see, I had no choice but to give in and tell Paul that, yes, I would go out with him. As long as he swore that he took me to a well lit environment and kept his hands to himself. Which he said he would. But past experiences have taught me that Paul's word was about as good as much as he was ugly. Which was not very. But, I decided that I was going to trust Paul.
My mistake.
So, in two days, Paul was going to take me to dinner and the reunion. I hoped I would live that long.
Yeah, I know that I sound like a whiner. But you'd feel the same way if you were going to go out on a date with someone who had repeatedly tried to ruin-and end-your life.
I stood in front of the mirror in my knee length, pink, flapper-type dress thing. My mother knocked on the door. "Suze?" she called, "Paul's here!" I took a deep breath, thanked her, and took one last look in the mirror before grabbing my purse and walking downstairs.
The first thing-well, the only thing-that I noticed was that Paul was gorgeous. He was wearing a black silk shirt that flowed over his body and black tuxedo pants that was tight in all the right places.
Paul turned and smiled at me. "Suze you look… beautiful. You really do."
"Thank you," I squeaked. "You look nice too."
"Well, are you ready to go?" Paul outstretched his arm to take mine in his.
"If I must…" I said walking away without touching him.
"You could at least pretend to be excited about this," Paul sounded sad.
"What do you want me to say Paul? That I could hardly wait and couldn't sleep last night?"
"Never mind, do you want to just go straight to the reunion?"
I don't know what was wrong with me. But something in me snapped when I saw that Paul looked really hurt and I just couldn't say no.
"No, let's go eat. Where are we going?"
"A restaurant on Ocean View Drive."
As we pulled up to the restaurant, I felt a nervous flutter in the pit of my stomach. But I didn't really know why.
"Are you ready to go in?" Paul asked turning off the car.
"Uh…"
"I promise that I will keep my hands to myself."
"I took a deep breath. "Yes, let's go in."
"Good. You just gotta learn to trust me," he said walking around to my door and, again, holding out his hand for me to take. But this time I took it. Paul smiled and led me inside.
As soon as we walked in, we were ushered to a table in the back of the restaurant by the windows. The table was well lit-though with candles-and very romantic.
We ordered out food and just sat at our table talking for a few minutes.
"Do you want to dance?" Paul asked.
"Um, Paul," I said, "I don't think this is a dancing place."
"So, there is music playing isn't there?"
"Well, yeah, but nobody else is dancing."
"When have you ever known me to care what other people are doing?"
"Um, never."
"I rest my case," he said grabbing my hand and pulling me out of my chair. He put his arms around my waist to pull me closer to him. In the back of my mind I silently marveled and how well we fit together. I slid my arms around his neck and we swayed to me music.
I know what you're thinking. You thinking that this so cliché. But wait and let me finish.
So, we were swaying to the music when I felt Paul's hand move from my waist to my butt.
"Um, Paul?" I said.
"Yeah?" Paul asked knowing exactly what he was doing.
"Your hand is a bit far south of my waist."
"I know."
"Well move it or loose it," was what I was going to say but I never did. Because just as I started to say it, Jesse materialized behind Paul.
Well, no way was I going to let Jesse ruin my reunion night. I had waited five freaking years for this.
And just to show Jesse that I didn't mind the way Paul was touching me-even though I did, but Jesse didn't need to know that-I did the first thing I could think of.
I grabbed Paul's face and I laid a big kiss on him.
Jesse looked like he was going to be sick. But Paul didn't seem to have any problem with me kissing him. He didn't even know why. Or he did, and just didn't care.
