Chapter 4: Its a Surprise

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, sorry.

Readerrr Girrrl: Hey man sorry for posting before you beta'd, but I really wanted to get this up. I checked it a few times and didn't really see any huge errors. Thanks for your help and your review :)

ldypebsaby: all will be revealed in this chapter, hope its worth it :)

heartsyhawk: well now you know, was it worth the wait?

thanks to everyone whose read or reviewed this story, you guys rock!

"I-I know what this looks like and I apologize. But please do not leave. I have had the worst day ever and if you leave, then that's just going to be it for me. So please just stay, please, ok? I can't have my entire day be this horrible, just stay, ok?"

Todd was experiencing a few things he had never known were possible. For one, he was watching a "happy" clown bravely keeping tears from falling down her face. For another this same clown was begging him to stay. "I," he knew he would regret it the moment he said it, but still, "alright yo just sit down, ok? Here," he said as walked over to her and actually pulled her chair out. She sat in silence as he wiped a few of the tears from her eyes. "So what's up with the clown suit yo," he softly asked, ignoring the stares he was getting from the other people in the restaurant.

"I work in a hospital," she said, slowly regaining control of herself.

"You work in a hospital and they let you dress like that?"

"I help to cheer up the kids, the clown costume and make-upis part of my job. Again I'm really sorry I was late. One of the boys started to have a seizure during my act and I couldn't find a nurse anywhere. I put a tongue depressor in his mouth to keep him from biting his tongue and ran to the nurse' station. The nursesfinally came and sedated him and then I had to go reassure the kids that he was ok. It just...my day was rather hectic and again I apologize for the make-up. I kept thinking you wouldn't be here so I just left the hospital and came over here as soon as I could."

"Whoa that's pretty crazy, but you don't need to apologize. I would have wanted you take care of the kid ya know? He's gonna be alright though, right?"

She smiled, "Yeah, he just needed some medicine and he'll back in there in no time. Its nice of you to care.

Todd blushed at the compliment and then remembered he didn't know her name. "So uh my name's Todd Tolensky," he said offering her his hand as he sat back in his chair. He couldn't be sure, but he thought he saw a blush on her pasty white face as well.

"..." she mumbled and shook his hand, before looking at the ground.

"What was that," he asked playfully, enjoying this date now, evenif it was with a clown.

She looked back at him and smiled nervously, "My name's Amara Aquilla."

When Todd had been small he had often watched cartoon characters drop their jaws and let their tongues roll out for miles, as their eyes bugged out at the sight of a beautiful woman. He was pretty sure he could have beaten them all when he heard the girl's name.

"Whoa... Whoa, wait a sec... Like Amara, Tabby's old roommate when she was with the X-G..the X-men?"

She bit her lip and nodded, waiting for him to attack her or to leave.

"Amara 'I can set myself on fire' Aquilla? Amara 'princess' Aquilla?"

"Yes."

Todd blinked and then looked around the restaurant and then back at her. He started to open his mouth and then closed it. Finally he said, "Wow."

'This might work,' she thought to herself with a smile. "Um Todd? The waiter is waiting on your order."

Todd glanced to his left and saw that the waiter was standing there patiently. "Um I'll get a steak, well done, with fries and a coke." The waiter rolled his eyes, but took the order none the less.

"And for you ma'am."

"I'll have the same please, but can I get mine without the rolling of the eyes?"

The waiter stiffened at her comment, but just said, "Very well," before leaving.

Amara watched the waiter leave and then looked back at Todd.

"So Amara, I gotta ask yo, why me?"

"Well Todd, I have to ask why not you?"

"Well, I mean, its not like I'm a prize catch or nuthin'. I eat flies, pick people's pockets, and I'm kinda weak."

"Eating flies isn't that big of a deal. In my country we eat snakes and certain types of grasshopper. It all depends on the culture Todd. As for your picking pockets, I won't deny that I find that unattractive. However, what I do find attractive are the cats you rescue from trees and the children whom you play with when you think no one is looking."

"Well I mean I don't really know you and you don't really know me."

"That's what this date is for, isn't it Todd?" He nodded, feeling slightly more confident than he had. "Good, then lets start getting to know one another. Ask me a question," she said with a smile, excited at the possibilities that the evening would bring.