This chapter is dedicated to afta4ever who has encouraged me to keep writing this.
Warning: The word damn is used two or three times.
Disclaimer: I do not own or make any profit from Flashpoint, Spike, or Paul Blart: Mall Cop. I own Alexis, Mrs. Riddell, and Little Heart Cafe.
Enjoy!
At 4:50 pm, Alexis sat on her living room couch waiting for Spike to come pick her up. And she couldn't deny she was nervous. He would be her first date in at least one year; maybe even more. She didn't really think she was that pretty and evidently most guys she had met agreed with her. Who was she kidding? With brown hair she couldn't do anything with, and green eyes too big, it was a wonder anyone had ever called her cute, let alone pretty.
Ding dong! The doorbell sang out, breaking her out of her thoughts. Putting on a smile, she went to the door with keys in hand. Opening it and stepping out, she greeted Spike with a simple "Hey" before turning back to shut the door. After locking it, she turned to face him and was surprised at how good he cleaned up. Plain jeans, a black t-shirt and a jean jacket made him look good.
Spike was having the same thoughts as he replied to her. "Hey yourself." She looked cute with her brown hair up in a simple ponytail, dark jeans, and long-sleeve cream shirt.
When she looked strangely at him, he snapped out of his thoughts. "See you do look pretty! What have I told you; I'm never wrong." He told her as they walked to his SUV.
Her blush was evident in the early evening light as she attempted to keep talk off her. "I don't recall that conversation, Spikey."
He laughed at her teasing tone while he started the SUV. "That's because it's a very well known fact; didn't you get the memo?"
Alexis smile widened. "Oh...that memo! It also mentioned something about whoever says that is an idiot. Sorry." She shrugged, having relaxed almost completely. "What are we going to see?" She asked, hoping against hope it wasn't a horror movie. Not that she'd really mind having an excuse to bury her face in his shoulder...
"Paul Blart: Mall Cop sounds funny, and we both like humour, so how about that one?" He asked, noting another blush cross her cheeks. Damn, she looked so cute when she did that!
She nodded, fighting down her annoying blush. "Sounds good. Are we getting popcorn?"
He nodded, a wide grin threatening to reach his ears. "Popcorn tastes better at a theatre, and it's not really a theatre to me unless I have popcorn."
She laughed; her smile almost as wide as Spike's as he parked. "I agree. And we can get lots of butter! Butter makes popcorn taste amazing!" She hopped out of the SUV and followed him into the theatre, laughing and joking all the way.
Once inside, Spike turned to Alexis. "I'll get the tickets if you get the popcorn."
"Deal. But come stand with me once you get the tickets; ticket lines always go so much faster than the concession stand does."
He nodded, and they walked to their separate lines. Once in his line, Spike kept watch over her, but he was also using this time to note more things about her. Like the way she fiddled with her purse, or the way a few strands of hair curled around her face. He attempted to keep watching her while he was buying for the tickets but was forced to pay attention when paying for the tickets.
Likewise, Alexis watched Spike from her line, noticing small things about him. Like how he always had that cute smile on his face or the fact that his hair was actually a little spiky.
Having bought their tickets, he turned to see how the concession line was moving. Contrary to Alexis's earlier words, that line did move fast, as she was at the head of the line. Smiling, he walked over, reaching her just as she grabbed the bag of popcorn. "Mind if I have some?"
She grinned at him, holding out a hand for the ticket. "One ticket in exchange for a handful of pop—Ahh!" she squeaked, as someone pushed rudely by her, sending her flying forward.
Reacting quickly, he reached forward to steady her by grasping her outstretched hand and bracing her against him. "You alright?" he asked, sparing a single glare at the offender before turning his attention back to her.
She nodded, blushing at the contact. "Yeah...just lost some popcorn." She pulled back reluctantly, feeling awkward that close to him.
"You dropped popcorn! Jeesh...well, that would have been a nasty fall if not more me." He teased, offering the ticket to her.
She accepted the ticket with a small smirk. "Well, I guess I owe you. Here!" She leaned up to press her lips to his nose, finding it surprisingly warm. She pulled back hastily, not quite sure why she had done that. "Come on, we'll be late for the movie." She turned and began to walk into the theatre, her head spinning with confusion.
Spike followed her, his own face warm. He watched her as they got seated, still not quite sure what to make of Alexis Whalen. She kept changing his opinion of her. As the movie started, he stole small glimpses of her face and how peaceful it looked. And yet...how worried.
As the movie got deeper in, they laughed and reached for the popcorn at the same time. When Spike grabbed Alexis hand instead of the popcorn, he held onto it for a moment and squeezed it before letting go to grab popcorn.
Alexis fought down the urge to duck her head down as Spike released her hand. She knew for sure that she liked him.
Spike himself wasn't quite sure how he felt about Alexis Whalen, the girl who had moved to his neighbourhood at age eight. On one hand, he had teased and played pranks on her as a child and teenager; but on the other hand, over the past three weeks, he'd seen a different side of her. She'd joked with him, poked him, laughed at him and with him; he'd walked her home, held her hands and now, been kissed on the nose by her. She was one hell of a woman.
As the credits began to roll and the lights came back on, the two smiled at each other. "Good pick, Spike. Where to? It's only 7." She asked as she stood up, wobbling slightly.
He grabbed her shoulder to steady her as he spoke. "How about some food? You look like you need some, little miss cook."
She laughed as she pushed past him to the aisle, and called over to him. "Food would be good, but that still doesn't answer my question! Where to?"
Spike followed her down the aisle, keeping an eye on her to make sure she didn't hurt herself. "Can it be a surprise?" He asked, not quite sure what she'd make of his favourite little cafe.
Stopping outside the theatre, she shrugged. "Why not? Lead on, Spikey." Alexis gestured for him to lead.
He laughed at her gesture. "Hey, you know the way to the SUV as well as I do." Rolling her eyes with a slight chuckle, she started to the SUV. Grinning, Spike followed her.
As Spike started to drive, he couldn't help but look over at Alexis. She was looking out the window, simply watching the world go by. He began to reach out to her but before he touched her she spoke quietly. "I used to do this with my grandparents. I'd just stare out the window when we drove, and I'd be occupied for hours, just staring out the window." She fell silent for a moment before turning to him. "Sorry about that; just reminiscing."
He nodded before risking a joke. "I'm not your grandparents, though. I need speech to sustain me!"
A slight smile crossed her face. "I'm glad you're not my grandparents. That would just be weird."
He laughed for a few moments. "Defiantly would be weird." He agreed as he pulled into the parking lot of Little Heart Cafe.
"Little Heart Cafe? Not where I'd expect you to go." She told him as they stepped out of the SUV.
"I ran into it a few years back. It's a nice place, and fairly quiet. Come on." He motioned her to follow him inside.
"Mike!" A middle-aged woman waved to him from the counter. "And you brought a friend!"
Alexis stifled a laugh as Spike smiled. "Hey Mrs. Riddell. Meet my friend, Alexis Whalen."
She waved at Mrs. Riddell, all smiles now that her melancholies from the SUV were gone. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Riddell."
The woman smiled at her from the counter. "It's nice to meet you too, Alexis. Any friend of Mike's is a friend of ours. Please have a seat; I'll bring a menu right out." With that, she bustled into the back.
Mike chuckled at her face, and pulled her towards a seat by the shoulder. "Surprised?"
Alexis nodded as they took a seat in a booth in the back. "Just a bit, Spike. Never expected this out of you."
Before he could reply, Mrs. Riddell had appeared with two menus. "Here you go! Can I get you anything for you?" She asked, smiling brightly.
"I'd like a hot chocolate." Alexis told her.
"Just some water, please." Mike told Mrs. Riddell before turning his attention back to Alexis.
"Just water?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow.
He nodded, smile playing on his lips. "It's good for you."
Alexis settled back in the booth. "Well, I guess I'm covered. There's lots of water in hot chocolate." He bit his lip before dissolving into open laughter at her while she spluttered. "What?"
He managed to stop laughing for a moment to answer her. "It's hot chocolate; how is it going to be healthy?" At this she began to laugh as well, stopping only when Mrs. Riddell approached with their drinks.
"Enjoying yourselves, I see." She smiled as she set down the drinks in front of the respective owners. "Have you decided what you'd like to eat?" At this, both Spike and Alexis realized that neither of them had even looked at their menus. Mrs. Riddell mock frowned at them. "Well, get to it!" She told them before heading back to the counter.
Spike across the booth to Alexis's smiling face. "Guess we'd better follow our orders." He joked as he picked up his menu. "What are you planning on?" He asked, not bothering to look closely; he knew what he wanted already.
"The spaghetti and meatballs look good. What about you?" She asked, setting down her menu.
He shrugged, setting his own menu down. "The nachos; they're excellent."
At this, Mrs. Riddell bustled up. "And did I hear food being discussed?" At the nods, she pulled out a pen. "What'll it be?" She asked.
"I'm getting nachos, and Alexis wanted the spaghetti and meatballs." He told Mrs. Riddell. She nodded and headed off to the kitchen to get the food prepared. He looked back to Alexis. "Hope you don't mind that I ordered for you."
She shook her head. "At least you knew what I wanted. Last guy ordered something for me I'd never eat in a million years." She shuddered comically at the memory, causing Spike to laugh. "Needless to say, we aren't going out."
"I'm glad." He told her honestly, laying his hands on the table.
"Why?"
"'Cause I got to go on a date with such a pretty woman." He told her, preparing for resistance to his words.
At his words, her smile fell from her face. "I'm not pretty." She murmured, ducking her head as she reached up to play with the strands of hair that had fought loose from her ponytail. Frowning at her, he reached over and grabbed her hand, holding it tightly. She jerked her head up. "Hey-"
"You are pretty. Stop saying you aren't." Spike told her firmly, holding her green eyes with his brown ones.
"But I'm-"
Spike cut her off again, his voice rising slightly. "Tell me why you keep saying that." She flinched and brought her other hand up to the table, probably in an attempt to break free. Spike grabbed that hand too, bringing it together so he could cup her hands like he had five days ago.
They stayed that way for a few minutes before Alexis found her voice. "Because I am. I have stupid brown hair I can't do anything with and green eyes that are ugly and-"
Spike cut her off, eyes livid and his hands tight on hers. "Stop!" She flinched backwards, but she was unable to pull loose from his iron grip. "Listen to me." He leaned closer to her, not wanting her to misunderstand him. "You're hair is beautiful, and" he released one hand to stroke her hair before returning to its normal spot. "soft. Your eyes are a beautiful shade of green." He paused, and took a deep breath. "Don't you believe me?" He asked in a calmer voice.
She took a deep breath before replying in a small voice. "I want to..." she trailed off, thinking deeply. Spike leaned back, giving her space though he continued to hold her hands. Finally reaching a decision, she spoke a little louder, a little more confident. "I do." She smiled across the table at him, embarrassed. "Thanks. I needed that."
He smiled back at her. "No problem; anything for a pretty woman in trouble." He waited to see if she would react badly. There was only the slightest implication of a flinch, so he released her hands, once again marvelling at how well they fit in his. Alexis was also marvelling how nice his hands felt on hers.
At that moment, Mrs. Riddell walked up holding their dinners. "Here you go! If you want anything else, just holler." She smiled at the two before heading back to her post.
Spike dug hungrily into his nachos, making Alexis smother a giggle before digging into her own food. They didn't talk, but simply observed each other silently. Alexis noted how he was so precise, always managing to only pull one nacho at a time, and that he seemed to be observing her. That last fact made her blush again.
Spike smirked as she blushed, finally having noticed that she was being watched. She could be so unobservant and yet there was something so enchanting about her. Something so very refreshing.
Mrs. Riddell came back about half an hour after dropping off their plates. "You're all done! Would you like anything else?" She spoke as she gathered up the plates quickly; the little cafe had a few more people in it.
"Do you have any desserts?" Alexis asked, still slightly hungry.
Mrs. Riddell nodded and pointed to a little menu lying on the table that neither of them had noticed. "I'll be back soon." She promised, walking off to serve other customers.
Spike reached over to grab the little menu, holding it up to the light. "Anything in particular you're looking for?" He asked, studying it.
Alexis shrugged. "Something with chocolate; I think I deserve some right now."
Spike laughed quietly. "That you do, 'Lexis. That you do." He studied the menu for another moment before suggesting something. "How about this Chocolate Surprise? 'Pure chocolate goodness!'"
At this Alexis smiled widely. "Alright! Chocolate!"
Spike chuckled at her, amazed at how much brighter she looked when smiling. "Alrighty then, chocolate it is!"
At his statement, Mrs. Scarlatti came up holding their dessert. To their confused looks, she explained "I heard you cheering." Setting down the plate, she backed off smiling.
Alexis nodded, accepting the explanation easily and grabbing a fork to bit in. She let out a slight sigh; she hadn't had chocolate in a long while. Spike chuckled at her and she mock glared at him, swallowing her chocolate to tell him "I haven't had chocolate in way too long." Spike held up his hands in surrender, and then dug into the cake himself.
When they were down to the last piece, both forks were dug into it. Alexis looked up into Spike's eyes and as much as she loved her chocolate, pulled her fork out. "Chocolate for the chocolate man." She told him, smiling wide.
Spike shook his head. "Uh-huh." He picked up the piece of cake and shoved it into her open mouth. "Eat it; I get spoiled enough at home." He told her as she accepted the piece of cake off his fork.
"Feriknye." She murmured through her food.
"Pardon?" Spike raised an eyebrow, not quite sure what 'Lexis said.
She swallowed before answering. "I said 'fine.'" She told him as Mrs. Riddell came back.
"All finished, you two? I believe I have to check right here." She pulled the check out of her pocket and handed it to Spike. He pulled out his wallet and paid the check. "See you two later!" Mrs. Riddell called as they exited.
The night had both darkened and cooled a lot and Alexis shivered as they hit the cool night air. Spike, noticing this, threw his arm around her shoulder. "Spike!" she squeaked, eyes widening.
He smirked at her. "What, I'm not allowed to try and keep you warm?"
She flushed under his smirk, and ducked her head. She stayed that way until they reached the SUV at which point she ducked out of his grasp and climbed in. "Home?" she asked, stifling a yawn. She was sleepy now with her full stomach.
"Alright then, 'Lexis. Your house it is."
They drove in a comfortable silence until they reached her house. "Thanks for tonight, Spikey. I really enjoyed myself." She told Spike, not quite ready to get out of the SUV.
Spike nodded, caught her hand before she could leave. "Go out with me again?" he asked, meeting her eyes squarely.
She bit her lip for a moment before deciding. "Alright, Spikey. Give me a call at least two days ahead of time, alright?" with that she leaned forward, kissed his cheek and bolted for her house. She paused to wave to him, blushing heavily, before disappearing inside.
Spike sat in his SUV for a few moments, his hand on his cheek before a smile grew on his face, stretching to almost touch his ears. He couldn't wait to see Alexis Whalen again; she was anything but boring.