Chapter 3.
Annie hovered in front of her wooden framed mirror that hung in the hall. She wasn't sure why but there were butterflies in her stomach. She ran her hands through her long brown hair. Why was she so nervous? It wasn't like this was a date or anything. Was it? "No," she told her reflection firmly. I'm meeting up with an old friend of my brother's for dinner, that's all. As she reached for her favourite perfume bottle she heard the doorbell ring downstairs. Annie sighed. That was one thing she hated about the opposite sex, they could never stick to the arrangements made. Either they would forget them or just plain choose to ignore them! Annie grabbed her purse and earrings and ran down the stairs trying to shove the dangling pieces of silver into her ears. She ran to the door and opened it quickly for fear of him getting impatient and walking away. But instead of seeing Steve when she pulled back the door, she saw a bunch of red roses supported by two scrawny legs and being held tightly by two scrawny arms. The roses were pushed aside to reveal a young teenager's face. "Eh... Are you em... Hang on a minute! I wrote it down somewhere."
Annie waited silently while this boy tried to hold a gigantic bunch of flowers and rummage in his pockets at the same time. Eventually he pulled out a crumpled piece of card and read aloud, "Ms. Annie Shan?"
"Yes that's me, but who are they from?"
"Eh... Hang on." He turned the card over, "Oh! It says that there's a card in with the flowers." He handed Annie the bouquet and trotted away merrily. Annie placed the bouquet on her kitchen table. Of course they were from Steve. She didn't have time to read the card she was already late now. She pulled off the pink card and shoved it into her purse. Then threw in her keys and ran out the door.
Steve stood outside the Italian restaurant tapping his foot. He had booked a table already but he wanted to wait outside for her. It was beginning to get cold now so he reached to draw his brown coat around him but then remembered he had removed it earlier as it had bloodstains on it. Just as he was about to go into the restaurant he saw a beautiful woman running towards him. She was in an amazing black dress. It clung to her perfect figure like.... Steve coughed and shook his head. No distractions.
"Sorry I'm late Steve," Annie gasped, "I was held up."
Steve thought he saw her smile sideways at him but he brushed it over as embarrassment. "It's alright Annie. Shall we go in?" He stepped back and Annie walked into the restaurant that she loved so well. Steve stepped in front of her and said to the bellboy, "Leonard. I've booked a table for two."
"Yes Sir right away Sir," the bellboy stuttered. He led them to a nice little corner table surrounded on two sides by a red and green tinted glass frame.
"Steve it's lovely," Annie gasped.
"Yes well...." Steve sat down and picked up his menu. Annie followed suit. After a while Annie remember the card she had thrown in her bag. Strange of Steve not to mention the flowers, although maybe he was waiting for her to say something about it first. She placed her menu down on the table and started to examine his features. He had a few light scars down the left side of his face. Now that she looked clearly she could see them. His eyes were a... Suddenly Steve looked up, making Annie jump. He winked and smiled at her across the table. She smiled back and picked up her menu again.