Chapter 7:

"Wow, this place is so,quaint" Kirsten said upon entering The Blue Lagoon. The air filled with smoke and barbe-que.

"You have NO idea." Sandy noticed the owner, Bill. He hoped to get out of view from Bill as quickly as he could. However, he wasn't fast enough. Bill noticed him and waved energetically at him. Sandy grimaced and waited for Bill to make his way over to them.

"Sandy, my boy! how ya doin' this fine night? Ya ain't working tonight, I thought they let ya have the weekend off last night. My wife LOVED your rendition of 'Tomorrow'. Millie just absolutley loves the musical 'Annie'. And who is this lovely lady you brought with you tonight?" Bill extended his arm to Kirsten. She shook it gently.

"Kirsten Nichol. I'm sorry, did you say Sandy works here?"

"Yeah. He's the weekend entertainer! He entertains our guests by singing, show tunes. These last few weeks has been 'Annie'. Great musical, have you seen it yet?"

"No, but I plan to. It was nice to meet you Mr. uhhh..." Kirsten faltered.

"Please! Just call me Bill! everyone else does! Even my kids!" Bill joked. Kirsten liked this place already. Everyone was so at ease and being theirselves.

"Well, I'll let you two kids get to your dinner. See ya Friday Night, Sandy! So nice to meet you Kirsten. Sandy, you keep hold of this one, she's a sweetie! I have a good feeling about her!"

"Oh get out of here, you crazy galoot. But, if you'll excuse us, we must go eat." Bill gave Sandy a pat on the back and went back to the bartender.

"So, you sing show tunes?" Kirsten was amused.

"Yeah." Sandy blushed furiously and was hoping it would go unnoticed by Kirsten. Unfortunately, it didn't.

"Awww how cute! You're blushing!"

"No I'm not.

"Yes you are."

"No, I'm not."

"Well, if you think I'm never going to see you again just because you sing show tunes. You are absolutely...incorrect. I'm not judgemental. Even though, where I'm from, everyone is bred to be narrow-minded and shallow."

"Yeah? Well, where I'm from. We're 'bred' to be tough as nails and hard to please."

"Hard to please, huh?"

"Yeah."

"Well, Maybe I could change that?"

"Try it." Sandy chuckled as he pulled out her chair and sat her down to the table.

"So, what's good here?"

"The salmon. And the dirty martinis. Excellent, best in state probably."

"Sandy, I'm only 18. Remember?"

"I know. I was just joking."

Kirsten smiled. She felt so comfortable with Sandy. So safe. She felt he could make every fear, every bad thing go away. She leaned over the table to give him a quick kiss. Which turned out to be breath-taking and longer than she expected.

"Your salmon and coke, Miss." the waiter interrupted their kiss.

"Thank you." She replied. She and Sandy talked of their families and music, books, shows, movies, the college, embarassing moments. And before they knew it, it was almosy 1:00 AM.

"Oh wow. I didn't even realize the time! I really don't want this to end" Kirsten said while walking down the sidewalk, holding hands with Sandy.

"It doesn't have to. Come with me to my room. Please" Sandy said, desperate to make this date last longer. MUCH longer.

"Oh, I can't. It feels as if we've known each other forever, but we havent seen each other long enough. Does that make sense?"

"Of course. You're right. I'm sorry. May I walk you to your room, then?"

"Sure" So they walked and talked some more, when finally they reached her door.

"Well, I had a wonderful time tonight. Thank you, Sandy. hopefully we can do this again real soon." Kirsten told him as she gave him a good-night kiss. Which lasted a good ten minutes.

"Promise?"

"Promise. I love talking with you, Sandy. You're the sweetest guy I know."

"Well, good-night. See you soon!"

"Yes, of course"

"I better go"

"Okay"

"I mean, I should really go."

"Yeah, you probablyshould" Kirsten stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neckand gave him another five-minutegood-night kiss.

"Well, maybe I can stay for a minute of two longer."

"That sounds good"

"Seriosuly though, I should go. Get some sleep, I'll call ya later"

"Awww. Okay then. If you HAVE to go. Bye"

"Bye"

Kirsten opened her door and watched him make his way down the hallway. Then she closed it, and leaned against the door. She closed her eyes picturing Sandy's face in her mind. And his lips. And his bushy eyebrows. And his body.

"Ohhh gawd, I'm falling in love"

"Aww! our little Kirsten is growing up! She's in love!" Came a voice form the bedroom. Linsaee.

"How was the date?"

"Perfect" Kirsten said with a huge grin on her face.

"Details! details!" Linsaee squealed excitedly, hugging Kirsten.

Kirsten told her the whole story, reliving everything. Finally she said good-night and got in bed. But Linsaee kept bombarding her with questions, ''What's he like?'' ''What he do?'' ''Was he a gentleman?'' ''Was he a great kisser?'' ''Was it...magical for both of you?'' ''Do you love him?''

Kirsten answered, ''He's nice. sweet caring compassionate. He's funny'' ''He took me to The Blue Lagoon.I loved it! It was so aqt ease there" ''He was a perfect gentleman'' ''on a scale from 1-10. with 1 being the lowest, he was a 20!'' ''Pure magic for me'' ''Yeah, I think I do love him.''

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Sandy made his way back to his room. He showered real quick, got into his boxers and climbed into his bed. Reliving the whole date in his mind. He came to the simple conclusion that he couldn't live without her in his life.

He needed her. Sure, this was only the first date. But there's chemistry. He could feel it. He had to see her again real soon.

He wanted to make it official. He wanted to ask her to be his girlfriend, to go steady with him. he never felt like this with a girl before. He decided to ask her tomorrow.

After thinking of her some more, he finally drifted off to sleep. Thoughts of her and him living together and getting married filled his dreams.