They were overlooking a park on a wooden bridge, Jennifer throwing leftover bread to the ducks and fish below. The water sparkled clearly with the afternoon sun as they spoke, moving over to a grassy area to sit down. It was now undoubtedly a date. Laurence, even with his fears of the future, found himself comfortable with her. She was an honest, open person, something that may end up with her hurt, but her life was fairly safe, and Laurence simply couldn't see the girl harming anything.

"Your turn."

A questions game has arose between the two, probably half fueled by the wine that had made them both happy and bouncy. Laurence felt a lot more awake now because of it.

"Tell me about something weird or funny that happened to you in middle school." His questions were more specific, Jennifer found.

"Hmm..." Jennifer searched her memories. "Okay, so, in middle school there was this redneck kid- well, there were always redneck kids, but this one specific boy was a bully. At least to me he was. I walked home from school then, this was in like eighth grade, and he would always follow me around and mess with me. My mom got me this dog from the pound, and he was a massive mix. Never knew what he was, but he had this deep throaty growl and was about as big as a german shepherd. Anyway, I was walking home and this kid was messing with me, as usual. Throwing rocks and saying my hair was too long because it went down to my butt then. And somehow my dog had gotten out, and I saw him running down the street, yelled for him, and he saw that kid pull my hair and make me fall down. My dog was just a loveable oaf, and he barked and ran to lick me, but the kid thought the dog was gonna kill him so he tried to jump a fence and ended up tearing his pants on it!"

"Showed him." Laurence replied. "Your turn."

"Okay..mmm...same question, but high school."

"I didn't really have anything interesting happen to me during high school." He replied with a shrug, suddenly distant. "I was concerned about college."

"C'mon, your girlfriends dress break at prom or something at least?"

"Didn't go to prom." He shrugged.

"Hmmph. Okay." She decided not to press him on that subject. After a moment of silence, and suddenly said, "New question. Are you okay?"

Laurence had been lost in his thoughts suddenly, thinking about his life up to this point. The thought of his years at college led him to it, it was something he hadn't pondered on for a while. He was in the middle of feeling disgust at himself for having to support the dollhouse when Jennifer interrupted his thoughts.

"Yeah." He replied almost robotically, looking to the grass where he tugged at grass. "Just work."

Jennifer laid back into the grass, closing her eyes. "You really need to just not think about it. The world won't explode if you just..let go, you know." Her hands felt the grass around her, pulling her long hair out from under her back. Laurence already felt that him, being here in a park sitting in the grass with a woman was enough letting go, but couldn't help being slightly persuaded.

"That's just it. The world might if I do." Jennifer laughed, a laugh Laurence could wish he could replicate in his own way. It was carefree, stressfree, happy...

"No, it won't. Not if it's only for a day. Or a couple of hours. We can negotiate."

Laurence looked down to her, studying her face for a moment. She still had baby fat on her cheeks, not so much that it make her cheeks huge, but her facial profile was soft and rounded slightly. Her hair reflected red in the sun, and Laurence had the urge to touch it.

He laid back too, and Jennifer smiled. "Okay, maybe for a couple hours." He breathed, gently touching her locks at the ends where he figured she wouldn't notice. They were quiet for a few moments, before Jennifer suddenly threw her locks of hair onto Laurence's face.

"What the-"

"Tag, bitch!" And she stood and bolted.

Oh, god. She was too carefree. But despite this, he gave chase, Jennifer's laugh filling the empty park. She hid behind a tree, suddenly feeling very alone, looking around the trunk to find the park empty behind her. Wasn't he just behind-

"Ahh!" She shrieked playfully as Laurence lifted her up around the middle, squirming. Her short frame was easy for him to lift, and he laughed at her squirming, tickling her sides to evoke more laughter from her. He liked her laugh, he decided, as she curled up into a ball to protect herself, still laughing.

"Okay, okay!" She shrieked, settling down as he sat beside her, holding his hands up in surrender. She sat up, daring to try to tickle him, which resulted in no response.

"I don't get ticklish." He said, looking at her devilishly. She scooted a little away from him.

"I take it back!"

"You better."

They sat in silence for a while, before she asked,"So what is it do you do for a living?"

Laurence replied smoothly "Security. For a company I can't name." He'd said it more than once before.

"Ohhh, so you're like a secret agent? Am I on a date with a blonde James Bond?" She replied in a joking way, taking his hand in hers as she laid back and examining it. Laurence nearly pulled away, but decided against it, instead watching her, amused.

"You know, you have a lot of funny habits."

"Like what?" Jen asked.

"You're examining my hand for one." She dropped his hand. "Didn't say it was a bad thing, did I?" With that, she took it back, looking over the lines in his palm. "When you drink wine you stick your pinky out, and you blush easily. And you act like you're six."

Jen shrugged. "I'm just a really happy person is all. I don't have any reason to be serious all the time, I don't think anyone does. I think being serious all the time is a downer. And hey, if you didn't enjoy it, you wouldn't have chased me."

"Got me figured out huh?" Laurence said, looking down at the girl.

"Nah, just a few things. You helped me, y'know. I know your favorite color is hunter green, and that you're James Bond in disguise. Oh, and that you really like Ford." Jen dropped Laurence's hand, sitting up and leaning against him. "And that you either don't mind people touching you, or you're comfortable with me."

Laurence looked down at her. "The latter." He touched her auburn hair again. "I'm sorry if I'm awkward. I'm thirty-nine and I feel like a teenager on his first date, honestly. You're not my first date but it's been so long...not that I had many. "

Jen turned to face Laurence with an accepting smile. "I'm not the sexiest girl on the block. I'm awkward too and, as you put it, act like a five year old sometimes. It's okay, really."

"Six." He looked down as his phone buzzed. He slightly grimaced when he saw it was Adelle cancelling his off day. There must be something going on, if it was so late in the day.

"I'm really sorry, I have to go.." He looked at her with a pure apologetic look. Jen held up a hand.

"Duty calls, I get it." She smiled. "How about I make you dinner to make up for it?"

Laurence frowned slightly. "I'd accept, but I don't know when I'll get back.."

She shrugged. "Breakfast or dinner. Yeah?"

"Yeah."

They stood, she dusting off her skirt after he held a hand out to her. They began to leave the park in silence, quiet company enough until they reached their doors. The sun seemed to falter under the clouds as they walked, and Jen felt a bit sad at his leaving. She was honestly enjoying their time together, and desperately hoped it wasn't just a one time occurrence.

He stood at her door with her now, she turning to bid him a farewell.

"Look, I really had a good time today..." He began, unsure of where he was going. "..and you've done so much for me. If there is any way I can help you, or repay you...you tell me."

Jen shook her head. "It's no big deal. Seriously. But, if you really wanna repay me..." She looked down the hall to make sure they were alone. "Just do it again with me sometime? If you want to, though. I had a lot of fun." She then gave him a small kiss on the cheek, blushing profusely. "Have a good rest of the day.."

And she entered her apartment, leaving Laurence outside with a small, goofy smile on his face.