Joanne saw the puff of cold air escape her mouth once they exited the club, but if it was cold she couldn't feel it. Maureen grinned excitedly.
"Where are we going?" She asked tucking herself under Joanne's arm for warmth. Joanne rubbed Maureen's arms hoping the friction would help some. Maureen leaned forward till her face was mere millimeters from Joanne's. Her breath, warm even in the New York cold, heated Joanne's face. The kiss that followed warmed both girls to the core. They walked hand in hand for a couple of blocks, Maureen kept up a constant stream of chatter that Joanne found endearing.
Joanne stopped in front of a rundown market. Maureen could barely make out the sign that read 'Bailey's wholesale.'
"A wholesale store?" Maureen asked. "Joanne, I know you said you haven't dated in a while, but this isn't exactly-"
"Impatient!" Joanne chided. "This is only part one. We need to pick up supplies." She answered holding the door open for Maureen
"Supplies?" Maureen asked as she stepped inside. She was amazed by the sheer number of food options inside. She would have never expected anything like this from the look of the store. She smiled as she felt Joanne's hands on her hips and lips next to her ear. "Yes, supplies." As Maureen turned to try for another kiss Joanne took the opportunity to slide out of her grasp. Joanne made her way down the second aisle looking at the selection of fruits.
"Bananas or oranges?" Joanne asked, holding up both options.
"You." Replied Maureen.
"No…ok, how about this? Kiwis?" Joanne tried again, holding up the second option.
"I….want ….you." Maureen replied. She crossed to the other side of the aisle and grabbed an apple. "I like apples." She tossed the apple to Joanne who put it in her basket.
"Are you gonna tell me what's going on or am I going to stand here picking fruits all night?" Maureen asked pouting.
"We are making a picnic," Joanne divulged, "but I can't tell you where we are going. Not yet." She passed Maureen on her way to the bread section. Maureen jumped in surprise as she felt a slap on her ass. She realized just how much alcohol had an affect on Joanne once it was properly absorbed in her system. Ms. Hot Shot Lawyer was a light weight, imagine that.
The grand total for their wholesale shopping adventure came to $157.39; a hell of a lot of money to spend on what Maureen realized was essentially a first date. They had purchased a blanket, a loaf of bread, the best wine in the store, different cheeses and meats, a kiwi and an apple. Joanne held the bag with their purchase as she now walked with a purpose deeper into the inner city. Maureen started to get more hesitant as she realized she recognized less and less of her surroundings.
"Are we close, Joanne?" she asked as they stopped in front of what looked to be a set of adjoined empty buildings.
"We're here!" Joanne said excitedly.
"Another food mart?" Maureen asked, trying to hold the disappointment from her voice. Joanne seemed positively giddy for whatever reason and she didn't want to ruin it. Not when Joanne looked so fucking adorable.
"No." Joanne replied looking up at the giant abandoned building. "This is Silhouettes. It's a theatre my parents took me to when I was a kid. They closed it down a few years ago, said it cost too much to keep up." Joanne had spent many a day during her childhood running through the aisles of the theatre. She had acted here once too she remembered. Joanne had been cast as a munchkin when she was 7 in the annual school play. She was jarred out of her thoughts hearing the scrape of iron against metal as Maureen tugged on the door.
"It's locked." Maureen replied. "Now what?" Joanne picked up a piece of wood that had splintered off from the crate that was next to her.
"The lock's rusted." She explained. "Apply the most force on the weakest spot and…" Her words mirrored her actions. "The lock pops open!" She held the rusted lock as proof.
Joanne cleared out the debris that littered the entrance to the theatre, and held the door open for Maureen. The theatre was dimly lit by the ghost lights on the stage. Maureen ran down the aisle touching the faded red velvet on the seats. It had been her dream for as long as she could remember to be on a stage in a theatre like this. She twirled like a little kid in the middle of the aisle.
"Joanne, this is perfect." Maureen wondered if even someone like Mark could have thought of doing something like this. Breaking and Entering on the first date. "Can't you get in trouble for this?" she asked realizing that they were essentially committing a felony.
"I'm a good lawyer." Joanne replied. Joanne really hadn't thought of the consequences. 'Cops don't come out here late at night' she rationalized. "Do you want to eat on the stage?" She asked. Joanne smiled. This had been a great idea. Maureen seemed completely enamored by the theatre.
"Yes!" Maureen squealed grabbing Joanne's hand. She led Joanne up the steps and wandered around as Joanne set out the blanket and food.
"Joanne, this is perfect." Maureen said sitting on the blanket across from her. "A felony for a first date."