Chapter-10
We rode in silence the rest of the way to our unknown destination. The driver rolled down the thin glass window that separated the two parts of the long black car. I watched him watching us in the rearview mirror. The car came to a stop in front of a small restaurant. The small wooden building was surrounded by windows and had a warm dimly lit glow radiating from all angles. It appeared to be built with one side facing a river. I read the small blue and gold sign above the door: The Twilight Café. It looked inviting.
"Sir," he spoke. "This restaurant has really great food and is secluded, private and romantic, perfect for an evening with just you and your sweetheart." Well the secluded, private part is great but the romantic part was not what I wanted. I didn't need to feel anymore romantic toward Stacy than I already did.
"Oh no sir we are just having dinner, this is not a date." I said not trying not to make eye contact with anyone. And when I said it I really was not only trying to convince him but, also trying to convince myself. I saw him look down at my lap where my hand and hers rested with our fingers still intertwined. I quickly jerked away. The driver laughed at what was noticeably my nervous jumpiness as I threw him a dirty look. He exited the car and opened the door for us. The entire time I didn't dare make eye contact with her or my wobbly strength would be lost. I exited the limo and turned back to offer my hand to help her out, once again before I could stop myself. I however did glance up at the driver that had a knowing smile on his face. I wanted to say 'listen dude you have no idea, this is my best friends girlfriend.'
Still without looking at her I said, "Stacy please walk on up ahead." She looked a little confused but complied with my wish. "Sir please wait here for us we will be done shortly," I said tipping him again. Then I started to turn to follow Stacy when his voice made me turn around.
"Son our mistakes are what make our fate. Don't be afraid of her." I just looked at him. How did he know about my mistake? He had no clue how complicated this situation was. I wasn't scared of her I was scared of how I felt around her. But I just nodded and followed Stacy.
When we walked in the door the place was just as the driver had said, private and romantic. The whole restaurant had maybe 3 other couples, and was filled with candles and dim lighting it almost made me feel warmer. The hostess led us to our seat, which was a table by the riverside of the restaurant, with a small votive candle in the middle. I pulled out the chair for Stacy unconsciously, and then sat down across from her. I watched her sweep her long blonde hair, which looked more golden with the way the light, was reflecting off of it, out of her eyes. I studied her and the way the candlelight played off of her skin, as she read the menu.
"What can I get the two of you to drink?" A girl that couldn't have been over 19 asked breaking my concentration on Stacy.
"A bottle of you finest house wine will be fine." I started. Then I realized any time I have taken a date out I have started with the finest house wine. So I over corrected myself. "I mean a beer…I don't know what she wants." I saw Stacy look up her amusement was playing off of her lips and the waitress just looked lost.
"We will have the bottle of the house wine. Thank you." She said.
The waitress turned to me. "Do you still want the beer?"
"Uh…No the house wine is fine." I managed. 'Damn it Randy, pull yourself together,' my head was screaming. I didn't understand why I couldn't stop touching her and starring at her. The waitress just shrugged and left to get the wine. I racked my brain for something charming, or at least halfway intelligent to say. I could feel the causal silence turning into silent tension that could be cut with a knife when waitress finally came back with our wine and we ordered our dinner.
Unable to take the silence anymore I said "Stacy, if I forget to tell you I am really sorry for all this." I said. There was no room to play tough or that I hated her any longer. There was only room for honesty.
"Randy, I kissed you too. I had a choice and I chose to end up there in your arms. I chose to ride with you that night. Part of me always knew I think. I wanted the truth and now I have it." She sighed as she picked up her glass and touched it to her lips.
"Stacy, we can't let Paul be the one to tell Dave about the kiss." I said locking eyes with her. She shifted in her chair uncomfortably at the mention of telling Dave. Was it me? Or was she sending me mixed signals? She started to get uncomfortable at the mention of telling Dave, yet she grabs my hand in the car; she is almost acting like my date.
"I know," she sighed. She started biting her bottom lip. I don't know why I agreed to this dinner, all I wanted to do is get the hell out of here now or at least leave this topic behind.
"You know let's not talk about this any longer." I said. "You once told me that you wanted to be my friend, well let's just enjoy this dinner and we will figure out the rest of this disaster later." I really meant it; I was not only doing it to rescue her from the awkwardness but to rescue myself. Unfortunately the road to hell was paved with good intentions, and we sat there looking around trying to avoid eye contact. Why was it we could be honest with each other but we couldn't avoid one simple topic and just be friends? In the silence that was quickly forming between us I now realized that there was soft music playing in the background, I looked over to see what direction it was coming from and spotted a dance floor. There was a couple dancing, they were intertwined with each other and I don't usually feel this way but I realized that I wanted that. 'Damn her I was so happy with my life before she entered it.' I thought. Now I was a mess. Everything was a mess.
"So how are Bob and Elaine?" She broke the silence trying to make small talk.
"There're good. They will be flying down tomorrow for some events surrounding Summer Slam." I said.
"So how dose it feel to know that you are on your way to being the youngest World Title holder in history?" She grinned. "I bet your dad is just beaming."
"Well you forget I don't have the script until Sunday morning, so I'm not sure if Chris retains the title or if I get it. One thing I do know is he is a tough." I smiled back at her. "But yeah Dad is pretty pleased."
"Oh come on I just know that I will be calling you Champ soon." She smiled. I did know that it was probably per-determined for me to win the title but I knew I would still have work my ass off in that match to get it. Chris was known for being tough. 'Wait a second was she just flirting with me?'
"Yeah probably," I said with a bit of arrogance, which only made her burst into laugher that killed any remaining tension that was looming over our heads. "What?"
"There you go Mr. Legend Killer," She smiled. The waitress brought our food. We talked over her childhood and mine. I learned the name of her best friend back home, which was Ellie, and I shocked myself that I remembered. I was listening to every thing that she said, because I craved to know more of her. I usually just listened to a woman get a piece of ass later. But with Stacy every thing she said was a new beautiful surprise. I noticed the way that her eyes lit up when she laughed, the way that when she got excited during a story that her eyes got huge, and the way that she would without hesitation to make sure I was listening reach across the table and grab my hand for a split second. She was a light to me, a light that as the evening went on I wasn't sure if I could walk away from.
Once we had finished our dinner, she had discovered the dance floor. "Oh Randy they have dancing!" She exclaimed.
"Very perceptive Stacy," I teased her. I realized what was coming next.
"Dance with me?" She said. It was more like she demanded it. She grabbed my hand and started to pull me from my seat.
"No, Stacy I don't think…." I started.
"Stop thinking." With that I was pulled out of my chair and we somehow ended up on the dance floor. We stood there just looking at each other as the tension returned. She bit her bottom lip as the song started I offered her my arms. I knew that I would pay for this torture later, but I had to, just one time…hold her.
I don't remember the song that was being played. I don't remember if there was anyone else on the dance floor. I didn't see the people looking on. I all remember was the way that it felt to hold her and the smell of her hair. I felt intoxicated once again.
After the dance broke we didn't say much as I paid the bill and we settled in to the limo for the ride back to the hotel. The driver did not make any unusual statements as he did earlier and with Stacy and I both in the back alone I decided to try to talk to her about Dave once more.
"Stace…" I said.
"No one case me Stace but my parents," she smiled.
"Sorry…" I said.
"No Randy I like it." She said.
"We need to talk," I said turning to face her.
"If it is about Dave and this whole mess, let it wait. This has been one of the nicest nights I have had in a long time." She said. I almost protested, but something in her voice made me stop. She leaned her head on my shoulder and once again I was left to the silence that had filled the air before. This was an easy silence almost nice.
We arrived back to the hotel and I once again tipped the driver generously and thanked him. He just winked at me, in that all knowing very annoying way that he had demonstrated earlier. We walked up to the floor where our rooms were. My room was before hers and just incase Dave was at her room I decided this was the end of the road for our evening.
"Well thank you for a really nice evening Randy," she leaned up and kissed my cheek which started all of the tingles and butterflies as before. I smiled.
"It was my pleasure," I said.
"Well I guess I should…" She smiled and motioned over to her room and I nodded. When a voice behind us startled me.
"Randy?" I saw the look of shock on Stacy's face. I recognized the voice almost imminently.
"Where did you go running off to?" I turned to make eye contact with the mysterious Carrie.
"Had to clear my head." She said. I nodded. I turned to see a very perplexed Stacy.
"Oh, I'm sorry…Carrie…this is Stacy…Stacy this is Carrie." There was a weird tension in the air that I was unsure how to describe. I looked from Carrie to Stacy. Carrie looked stunned, like she was coming face to face with a ghost; the color had all drained from her face. Stacy on the other had had a much different look in her eyes it looked almost like jealousy.
"I'm sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to explain my display today. I can come back later." She said without acknowledging Stacy.
"Oh no that's not necessary, you aren't interrupting Stacy and I were just about to say goodnight." I said.
"Oh yes, I will go Randy, um…thanks…for um….an um lovely evening." She said and turned and started walking very quickly down the hall trying to mask her face.
Jealousy"Stace…" I said. She turned and shook her head. Was I mistaken were those tears? Oh God it hit me like a ton of bricks what she thought. She totally misunderstood. There was nothing like that with Carrie and I. Just friends, that's it but I could see Stacy believed other wise. All of a sudden I was terrified. How could I be so scared to lose what wasn't mine? Part of me was beginning that she was though. I am not sure which thought was more detrimental. I turned to Carrie, "give me a second." All I understood was I had to fix this. I started down the hall after Stacy. "Stace…"
JealousyTurning saints into the sea
Singing your sick lullabies
Choking on your alibis