First call

3rd December 1986

It was a little after midnight and Elizabeth and Becky were sitting cross-legged on Becky's bed. Becky was listening intently to Elizabeth. The latter was over the moon with how her date had gone and was spilling the beans. She had to. From the moment she had walked in, Becky had bombed her with questions.

Becky was nodding and smiling as Elizabeth continued and told her roommate about Henry and his family, about his love for Aquinas. His book collection and the fact that he'd invited her to come check it out one day.

"Okay, that's very nice and all but come on, Lizzy. Did you guys kiss?"

Elizabeth's smile slowly vanished from her face and her head dropped just a little. "No, we didn't."

"Why not?"

She sighed. "Well, I don't know. We just never got to the kissing part. We had such a wonderful time just talking and it was enough."

"Come on, that guy is gorgeous. He can have any girl on the planet."

"He's not aware of how incredible handsome he looks, I guess. When our waitress was checking him out, he didn't even notice. He was oblivious to anyone."

"Not to you."

"No, not to me. Maybe he just wasn't ready to kiss me. Maybe I wasn't ready either. I don't know. Who even says you should kiss on a first date. It's not like there's a rule."

Becky sighed. "No, there's no rule. I'm just surprised he didn't try anything. Let's hope you get another chance."

"He said he'd call."

Becky sighed again. Thinking maybe it was best that they hadn't kissed. He'd call, yeah sure. "He's probably one of those guys who never calls back after not having kissed on the first date."

"Maybe, I don't know, maybe I just should have stayed in the car a bit longer. I don't know. After I gave him my number I just left. Whatever, we'll see."

"You left?"

"Yeah, I didn't want things to be all awkward and the nervousness of a first kiss is …," she sighed not knowing how to continue her thought. "The entire evening I felt at ease and I felt really comfortable. I just didn't want to change any of that by staying seated and wait for him to kiss me."

"Lizzy, there's always going to be some sort of uneasiness before a first kiss. I figured, since he'd seen you in your bra already, you guys would have got to second base," Becky winked as she said that. Elizabeth, however, did not notice and stayed in her own bubble.

"I have the feeling Henry's not that kind of guy. He's really sweet and he respects me."

"Come on, he must have touched you at least. You held hands at some point, right?"

"No, we didn't. We just bowled, ate, and talked."

Becky let herself fall down onto her bed, her hands landing on her forehead. "If this is going to be purely platonic, I'll die. He's so fucking hot, Lizzy. As are you. Any other guy would have smothered you with kisses after having seen you half naked like that."

"Right, but I don't want to be with any other guy. I want someone who can make me laugh and someone who I can talk with. About anything."

"Maybe he's gay," Becky mused.

Just then, the phone on the nightstand rang. Becky who was sitting closest answered it. As Elizabeth started to get up to get ready for bed, Becky reached out for her. She grabbed Elizabeth's wrist. She turned around seeing Becky all flabbergasted with her mouth wide open. "Yeah, I'll put her on."

"HENRY," Becky mouthed totally excited.

"Oh." Immediately Elizabeth started blushing. She slowly took the phone from Becky and silently greeted her date with a simple 'hello'.

Becky who had moved to the edge of her bed was looking at Elizabeth expectantly. Her patience was about to be put to the test. It would take at least half an hour before Elizabeth could tell her why Henry had called.

"Hi," Henry said in a soft voice.

"Hi," Elizabeth greeted him for a second time.

"Were you already asleep? Did I wake you?" Henry asked, afraid he might have woken her.

She grinned. "No, no, I wasn't. I haven't had the chance. Becky's been interrogating me about my evening ever since I got back."

"Oh. So, I, euhm, well, I said I'd call you some time and well, yeah, that some time is now."

"I can hear that."

"I just wanted to let you know I had a really good time and I had the feeling I didn't get to tell you that in the car," Henry spoke, his voice still soft.

"You did tell me," Elizabeth answered.

"Oh, well then that's …," he was interrupted by the voice on the other end of the line.

"I had fun too, you know? It was a great first date."

"So, it was a date after all then." Elizabeth could hear the smile in his voice as he spoke.

"Yeah, sure, I consider it a date."

Henry went for it: "Well, how about you tell me when I can take you out on another date?"

"Oh, I'd have to check. Hold on." Elizabeth moved away from the bed to the large calendar that was hanging on the wall next to her desk.

"If you don't have time or if you don't want to, then…," Henry sounded less sure of himself all of a sudden.

"Are you free on Friday?" Elizabeth asked surprising him.

"This Friday? As in the day after tomorrow?" Henry couldn't hide his excitement anymore.

"Yeah, this Friday. The day after tomorrow." She smiled, not being able to feel exactly the same way as Henry.

"This Friday sounds great. Got any ideas?"

"Well, I'd go for burgers and bowling anytime," she wasn't sure but she added it to the end of her sentence anyway, "with you."

His heart skipped. "Let's just try something different than bowling this time. I'm still getting over the fact that you've destroyed me."

She let out a tiny snort before apologizing. "Yeah, sorry about that. Surprise me, then."

"Okay. 6.30 again?" Henry asked.

"If by 6.30 you mean 6.15, then I'll be ready."

It was Henry's turn to complete his signature laugh now.

"6.30 it is," he said.

"Okay, so I'll see you on Friday, the day after tomorrow."

"I can't wait," he sounded really truthful.

She responded with just as much honesty: "Me neither."

It was silent for just a couple of seconds.

"Elizabeth…" Henry started again.

"Yeah?"

"Was it wrong of me not to kiss you goodbye?"

She didn't know what to say. Honestly, she really didn't.

"I wanted to, I just didn't know if you wanted to be kissed. And I've been thinking about whether or not I should have before you left my car. I mean, I stayed in my car until you were out of sight and then some. Wondering if I should have, you know, kissed you. Not necessarily kiss kiss, but a simple kiss on the cheek maybe as a way of saying goodbye. I hope you didn't have the impression I don't think you're great. Because I do think you're great. You're…"

"Henry, you ramble when you're nervous and overthinking things," she cut his words short.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's really cute." She continued. "And I think you should do whatever makes you comfortable."

"So you wouldn't have minded if I had kissed you?"

She thought about it for a bit. "I don't think so. I don't really know actually. You made me feel very at ease. I don't think I would have minded a kiss on the cheek. Maybe I felt so at ease because you didn't kiss me. There was nothing nervous or awkward about our date and I liked that. But maybe I should have stayed in the car a bit longer so you wouldn't have to wonder about it all now."

"I wish I had kissed you, then."

"Yeah."

"On the cheek," he was being awfully cute.

"On the cheek," she repeated his words.

"We'll always have Friday."

"The day after tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Elizabeth."

"Goodnight, Henry."

He waited a couple of seconds before he decided to put the phone down. He was content.