Michelle hadn't even asked when and where this date was going to be. She was semi-drunk, so it didn't hit her until later. She had a problem with her stomach and her brain that even after two drinks, her mind was out of focus. Michelle had a problem with drinking, back in college, she was always the designated driver on nights out.
Michelle had a much better time sleeping now that she was semi-drunk, until someone started knocking at her door.
"Who the fuck…?" she started, walking over to the front door. She opened it and saw Chase and Jack standing there.
"We…wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas…" they sung. Obviously still drunk, Jack and Chase made for good carolers.
"Uh, Jack what's the rest of that song?" Chase asked.
"Who cares," Jack replied.
Michelle laughed and shook her head. "And a happy new year," she told them.
"What was that, missy?" Jack reached for his empty pocket. "Damn it! I forgot my gun!"
"That's the rest of the song. You guys should come in,"
Michelle felt awkward inviting two of her drunken co-workers over inside her apartment at three-thirty in the morning, but they probably wouldn't leave if she had forced them out.
"So how's that boyfriend of Kim's?"
"Boyfriend! Damn it! She's not supposed to be dating without my permission!" Jack yelled, probably waking up Michelle's neighbors.
"Jack, shush, quiet down! You said before that you had to meet her boyfriend at two in the morning," Michelle smiled, sitting Jack down on the couch.
"I wish I were her boyfriend. 'Cause she's pretty and all." Chase shrugged, sitting next to Jack.
"Yeah well the odds of her dating mr. bald-boy are slim to none!" Jack laughed, slapping Chase on the back. "And no one, not even my daughter, is prettier than Kate!"
Michelle couldn't help but laugh at this. "Do you guys want some coffee?" she asked.
"Nah, we'd probably go now, right buddy-boy?" Chase replied, turning to Jack.
"I'm your boss! I call you buddy-boy!" Jack said, linking arms with Chase and walking out the door.
Michelle was kind of awed at what had just happened. Jack and Chase, drunk and acting weirdly in her apartment. It was a funny situation, but she shrugged it off and headed back to bed.
Tony sat at the barstool, head in his hands, feeling miserable. God, he had a headache and a stomachache and everything seemed blurry and out of place.
"Excuse me, sir?" Philip said, poking at Tony's shoulder.
"Yeah, what?"
"We're closing up. It's three-thirty, you should probably head home,"
"One sec," Tony replied, walking over to the men's room and into a stall. He started puking out green chunky substances, probably what he'd had for supper. Afterwards, he felt a bit better, but was still drunk.
"Closin' time!" Philip yelled from the bar, ringing a bell.
Tony ambled to the door, pushed it open and felt the cool October air on his cheeks. It was dark outside, but he could make out the shapes of two other drunken men, walking arm-in-arm down the street and toward him.
"Hey! It's Tony!"
"Jack! Ma best buddy!" Tony laughed.
Chase stepped in. "And I'm your chopped beef!"
"Liver. Chopped liver"
The three men linked arms and started skipping down the street, singing, "Lions, and tigers and bears! Oh my!"
It was certainly a lively night, that Friday night.
The next morning, Michelle decided to call Tony to more firmly arrange their date. The phone rung twice before Tony picked up.
"Almeida," he said, groggily.
"It's Michelle,"
"Yeah? What is it?"
"Well, that date you told me you'd take me on last night? I was wondering if I could, uh, maybe get deeper details,"
"What date?"
Tony had been drunk when he'd promised her the date, therefore didn't remember ever promising it to her.
"The date!" Michelle put the emphasis on the.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"At the bar last night, you promised me a date…remember?"
"Uh…no. Look, Michelle, if you want, since we did stop the nuke, I'll take you out to lunch. Meet me on the beach at eleven-thirty,"
"It's a date," Michelle said, mimicking what she had said the night before.
Tony slightly remembered Michelle at the bar, but didn't remember the conversation they'd had, if they'd had any at all. Had he really promised her a date? Then he remembered. He remembered kissing her, drinking her beer, and asking her out. He remembered that after he left, he was with Jack and Chase, and the police had to take him home. Shit, he thought, real smooth.
Then it occurred to him that he was going to meet her at eleven-thirty on the beach. What would he wear? Where would he take her? This was Michelle, not some other girl. Michelle, the woman he knew he'd loved for over a year now!
At eleven, Michelle was all ready and dressed in beige capris and a dark pink tank top. She had quickly done her makeup, just some mascara, a little moisturizer and some lip-gloss, and had tied her up in her regular messy ponytail. She hoped she looked appropriate for wherever Tony was taking her. She hoped it would be as intimate as she'd pictured (for ages, Michelle had pictured what their first date would be like). Michelle had always pictured a quiet meal, and then a walk on the beach, and maybe he'd buy her an ice cream afterwards. She'd get her feet wet, and they'd splash each other and get salt water in their mouths, and Tony would have to kiss the taste away…
After a long hour and a half of planning, Tony finally had planned out what they'd do: first, he'd take Michelle out to a café, with the terrace right on the beach, then they'd go down to the beach and have a long walk, and then he'd take her to see a movie, like he'd promised her the day of the bomb. He'd allow her to pick the movie, and he'd pay for everything like a real gentleman.
Tony checked his watch: eleven-fifteen. He decided he'd better get going, so he threw on his running shoes and ran out the door. It was about a ten-minute drive to the beach, and Tony was getting anxious. He eyed the beach and saw Michelle standing there, playing with her hair. Tony parked on the side of the road and shuffled over to his beautiful date.
"Hey," He said.
"Oh! Hi!" She said, smiling at his presence.
"We'd better get going, then." He replied, returning the smiled and taking her hand.
"So, uh, where are you taking me?" She asked.
"You'll see," He answered, leading her to the café.
The café wasn't too busy, and was nicely decorated, with some old charm and modern twists.
A waitress walked up to them. "Where'd you like to sit?" She asked.
"Do you have a table for two on the terrace?" Tony replied, looking at Michelle.
"Sure,"
She led them out on the terrace and situated them at a table in the corner with a perfect view of the ocean.
"Wow, Tony, this is beautiful," Michelle said, taking in the view.
"Yeah, it is,"
The menus arrived, and they ordered their food. The time they spent waiting for their food, they talked about their childhoods, and favorite everythings. So far, it was a pleasant date, but all that would soon change…