Chapter 17: Date #2, Dinner and a Movie

The Middleton Mall's theater multiplex. The romantic comedy playing in Theater #2 had just ended. Among the audience exiting the theater was a teenage couple consisting of a brown-haired girl and a blonde boy in an oversized parka. Stepping outside, the boy offered his arm in a rather old-fashioned show of etiquette. The girl took the proffered arm in both of hers and the two strolled towards Middleton Park at a casual pace.

Both seemed to want to say something. After several false starts, Sue broke the ice.

"I've really enjoyed this evening, Ron." She said.

"Me too," Ron answered, "I enjoyed the movie, I'm glad you recommended it."

"You did? It didn't seem like much of a guy show to me."

"I'll admit that I wouldn't have gone to see it myself but I enjoyed it." Ron screwed up his courage. "Of course, the company was excellent."

Sue blushed and leaned her head against his arm. "Same here," she whispered.

Don't screw this up, Stoppable. Ron thought to himself. "W-Would you like to head straight home or hang out for a bit?"

Sue checked her watch. "My curfew is in about an hour, so we have about forty-five minutes before we have to head home. How about a quiet walk through the park?"

"No fair! You took my suggestion away from me." Ron groused. Sue giggled a little. It was a beautiful, if cold night. The season's first snowfall, earlier that day, had left about three inches of light snow on the ground and trees. For two teenagers who had grown up in the Midwest there was no hardship, just a sort of sparkling fairyland.

The two spent about fifteen minutes walking through the park, enjoying the company. Both were ready to continue speaking at several points but neither could bring themselves to start. Finally they had followed the sidewalk up a slight rise to where several benches looked over the rest of the park. The park was well lit and glistening in the new snowfall. The two stood there, staring out.

"Chilly?" Ron asked.

"Just a little."

"May I?" Ron unzipped his oversized parka and held it open while turning towards her. Sue got the picture and blushed as she stepped up to him, wrapping her arms around his waist as he engulfed her with the coat. It didn't fit completely around them both but she was warmer. She idly wondered how much of the warmth was due to the coat.

"Sue?" Ron asked. She tilted her head up to meet his gaze. They were very close. "I-I gotta say this. I have absolutely zero experience in the dating and girlfriend departments. I think that you're a wonderful and beautiful person and I really like you. I think that I should be doing something right now but I really don't know if it's right."

Sue smiled and blushed again. "You've done right by me so far."

Ron took a deep breath, lowered his face and kissed her on the lips.

Sue's hands released his waist and slid up to his chest. She's going to push me away! Ron thought as he released the kiss and pulled his head back. Her hands continued up, out of the collar of his parka. She's going to slap me! But why is she smiling? Is she going to enjoy hurting m- Ron's thoughts promptly stopped when Sue's hands slid behind his head then pulled him down into a long, lingering kiss.

Ron closed his eyes and wrapped his arms tightly around her slender waist. His brain retained just enough synaptic activity to recognize the fact that this was his first real kiss and that he was really enjoying it. Her hands held him tight, her lips were parting…."

Footsteps sounded from close by. A familiar voice. "Oh! Excuse m-…RON?"