Chapter 4

Rick held the door open for Kate.

"Thanks." She whispered as she walked past him.

"Bye lovebirds!" Remy called from inside. Rick waved as he walked to the car, pulling open the passenger door. Rick walked around to the driver's side and climbed in.

"So where are going?" She asked.

"Sorry Kate. That's a surprise."

"What is it with you and surprises?"

"Dunno, like them I guess."

They drove in near silence, for a couple of minutes. Rick pulled into a parking place and turned off the car, we're here. Well we have to walk a little."

Kate opened her door as Rick opened his. She met him on the sidewalk, he was holding a folded blanket.

"This way." He motioned. Kate walked over to him.

"What's at Central Park?"

"Surprise. Remember."

Kate rolled her eyes. Rick lead Kate onto the grass. They walked through the park for a minute, Kate could hear voices and music. She and Rick continued to walk.

"A movie in the park?" She looked up at Rick.

"Like I said, you struck me as a classy kinda girl." He smiled down at her.

The couple walked through a maze of chairs and blankets, old couples holding hands, young teenagers making out, kids asleep with their parents, and young couples cuddling.

"Is here okay?"

"Yeah." Rick laid out the blanket, on the grass. He motioned for Kate to take a seat. She sat down, and looked up at Rick. He sat down, an arm's length away from Kate. She smiled, "I don't bite."

He laughed and moved closer, but their bodies weren't touching. Kate rolled her eyes, taking matters into her own hands and moving next to him. Leaning her body against his, putting her head on his shoulder. Her long auburn hair fell onto his chest and her shoulder, dancing in the occasional breeze. She felt him inhale sharply. They watched the movie silently. Kate listened to pounding of Rick's heart and his steady breathing. After a few minutes she felt his arm wrap around her waist, and his cheek nudge the top of her head.

The rest of the movie passed in a blur for Kate. As the credits scrolled by she looked up at Rick.

"Hey." He whispered, not bothering to remove his arm from around her waist.

"Hey." She replied, not moving away from him. They stared at each other for a minute, as the people around them gathered up their belongs and made their way out of the park.

"They're beautiful." Kate muttered, breaking the gaze and looking up at the stars.

Rick didn't look away from Kate; the moonlight was playing over the delicate features of her face. He bent his neck a little lower and leaned forward ever so slightly. When their lips met it was electric. Neither deepened the kiss, but neither broke away either. After what felt like an eternity Rick pulled away.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have done-" Rick apologized.

"Shut up." Kate said, leaning up and kissing him again, this time the kiss deepened. Again Rick was the first to pull away.

"We should go." He whispered, his face and inch from hers.

"Yeah. My parents are probably worried about me." Kate replied, standing.

Rick bent and grabbed the blanket, rolling it up, he tucked it under one arm and grasped Kate's hand with his other hand. She looked up at him but didn't remove her hand from his hold; instead she squeezed it and smiled. They walked out of the park, hand in hand and to the car. The trip was quiet, when Rick parked in front of her house and started to unbuckle.

Kate asked, "What are you doing?"

"Walking you to your door."

"You don't have to do that."

"We have to look believable."

"What?" She asked.

"The awkward first kiss, at your front door. You know?"

"I still don't understand how that looks believable."

"Like I didn't kiss you at the park." He explained.

"Fine."

"Plus it makes me look like a better guy. To your dad, I mean. What kind of date would I be if I didn't walk you to your door?"

"Come on Ricky." Kate said opening her door and stepping out of the car. Rick met her on the driver's side, with his hands in his pockets.

"Give me your hand." Kate commanded.

"Why?"

"You don't have my number. How are we supposed to go out if you don't have my number?"

"I could stand outside your bedroom window and throw pebbles at it and speak to you in iambic pentameter." He smiled.

"Okay Shakespeare. Give me your hand." She said as she rolled her eyes.

"Wait I have paper." Rick reached in his back pocket, pulling out a moleskin reporter cut notepad. Kate handed him a pen. He jotted down a quick number and tore off the paper, handing her the pad, pen and scrap of paper with his number on it. She wrote down her number and handed him back his pad.

"Let's go." She said, walking up toward the house. They stopped in front of the door.

"Thank you. For dinner and the movie. I had fun." Kate said, toying with the strap of her purse.

"Well, you get to pick next time."

"Are you asking me out again, Ricky?" She asked, now her turn to smile.

"I'd like to think so, but if you don't want me to." He said, taking a small step closer to her, his voice softer.

"I'll let you know." Kate said, keeping her voice level was harder than she thought as Rick took another step closer. Her heart was fluttering in her throat, making it difficult to speak.

Rick didn't reply, but bent his head, meeting his lips with hers. After a second, he pulled away. He took a step backward.

"Until tomorrow." He said.

"You can't just 'night'?" Kate asked.

"I'm a writer 'night' is boring, 'until tomorrow' is more…" he thought for a minute. "Hopeful."

"Yeah. Well I'm college girl. Night." She said and turned to walk inside.

"Night." Rick muttered. Kate didn't seem to hear him while she was fumbling with her keys. Rick turned and started toward his car.

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