The front door was closed, and Violet was finally free of her family for the rest of the evening. Free with Tony.
As Tony came up behind her, Violet waited for the once common nerves to loom over her. They didn't come, and she looked up into Tony's smiling face with a grin of her own. Then she looked down at his hands: he seemed to be twisting one about… like he was bringing back the feeling… like it had gone numb. Horror crept over her face.
"Tony, are you alright? How's your hand-"
"Boy, your dad has some grip, Violet," he said, curiously furrowing his eyebrows.
"I know, I'm sorry. Is your hand ok?"
"Ah, don't worry about it. See?" he said, holding up his hand and wiggling his fingers like they had magically recovered. "No harm done. It's just a guy thing, you know… firm handshakes, chopping wood, grilling…"
Laughing in relief, Violet said, "I get it, Tony. Let's go, hm?"
Tony nodded and the two headed for his family's sleek black sedan at the curb. But right before he opened the door for Violet, he touched her shoulder and said, "I just wanted to tell you that I think you look very pretty tonight. Er… not that you only do tonight! I just wanted… I… Great, it hasn't been five minutes and I already have made myself look like an idiot."
Violet shook her head, laughing. "First, thanks for the compliment. Second, you do not look like an idiot. You look really great, too, Tony."
He stared her straight in the eye. Tony Rydinger had these very dark, almost black, brown eyes that could just take hold of you. Hold her they did, all the while as he opened the car door for her and gestured with his arm. "After you, milady."
He was a gentleman, Violet thought as warmth crept up into her cheeks as she got into the car and watched as Tony raced around the back and got in on the other side. Good looks must have run in the family. Tony's mom had his same chestnut hair and the same striking dark eyes, completed with a dazzling white smile. "Vi, this is my mom, Rosie."
"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Rydinger," said Violet, giving a small wave. Mrs. Rydinger gave a scoff accompanied with a giggle.
"Dear, really, don't make me feel so old. Just call me Rosie!"
"Oh, alright… um, Rosie," Violet said, awkwardly. Rosie smiled, satisfied, and turned around to start the car.
Looking around the car, Violet's eyes landed on Tony. He was staring out the window and humming a little tune to himself. Then she looked at his hand, which was rather close to her hand. Not touching, just… close. He probably wouldn't want to hold her hand, anyway. Except, he had asked her on this date, hadn't he? What did this mean exactly? Did he like Violet? He said she was pretty, but he could have just been being nice. All these most likely unnecessary thoughts whirled around her mind, while Tony simply kept a-hummin'. Boys, such simple creatures. Violet decided she wouldn't think anymore about what would come of this date, and to just go with it.
Ten minutes later, Rosie was dropping them off at the theater, telling them she'd be back in two hours to pick them up. And as Tony opened the door for her into the theater, she thought, Here goes nothing.