The soft jazz music played quietly in the dimly lit restaurant. Kristin waited in her chair for her guest, shifting her legs every so often and combing her hair for the third time. She flipped through the menu. She didn't see anything that she liked; she was too nervous to eat. Was she nervous? Funny how when you ask someone out to eat, you're never hungry. "Heh." She chuckled to herself.
Kristin looked up. A woman was standing 50 feet away talking to the host. Her hands and arms moved rapidly, like she was trying to explain something difficult. The woman glanced over at Kristin and a flash of recognition passed over her face. She pointed to Kristin and said something to the host; he let her through.
Her velvety green dress caught the light as she walked over to the table. The woman sat down in the seat perpendicular to Kristin's, her brown, wavy hair falling over her face as she set down her purse.
"Hi. Sorry I'm late," the woman apologized.
"That's okay, Idina. Where's Taye?"
"He-uh-couldn't make it…" she replied.
"Oh, I guess it's just us then," she smiled. Kristin felt bad. She had meant to bring someone, but she just couldn't find anyone to come with her. She was kind of glad she didn't, though.
Idina flashed a smile back. She picked up the menu, casually perusing the different dishes and entrées listed there. "Did you decide on anything yet?" Idina inquired.
"No, I'm still looking, "she responded. As if to prove her point she picked up the menu and shoved it in her face, discreetly glancing over the top to see if Idina was looking. She felt more comfortable around her now.
Idina smiled, REALLY smiled, and tried to snatch the menu out of her hands, exclaiming "What's so interesting in here, are you hiding something from me?"
"Hey!" Kristin whined, "Give that back." She reached over the table, attempting to wrestle the menu out of Idina's hands. The waiter appeared in front of them. They stopped mid-brawl, still leaning over the table fighting for the menu like children. The waiter cleared his throat.
"Ahem," he sighed deeply, "And what will we be having tonight?" The two women reluctantly lowered back into their seats, flattening their napkins over their laps.
"Ah, yes," Idina mimicked his haughty tone, "I will be having the Salade Chevre Figue Sardine tart, thank you." She handed him the menu. Kristin shot her a look. Do you even know what that is? Idina shot her a look back that said, No, are you kidding?
The waiter looked to Kristin. "And you?" She looked around, seizing the menu and frantically trying to decipher French.
"We'll split what I'm having," Idina said to him. He nodded and took the menu from Kristin and walked away.
"Thanks," Kristin said, "I heard if you didn't order when they asked, they charged you extra. "She fiddled with her hands. "On second thought, I don't know why I even brought you here. It's pretty damn severe for a place that wants you to buy its food."
Idina laughed, bearing her teeth and leaning towards her. Their knees touched. Kristin could feel the energy moving from one knee to the next where their skin met. Her heart started to beat faster. I don't want to be feeling this; I don't want to be feeling this!
"Oh but I do…" she intoned.
"What was that?"
"Hmm? Oh, nothing, I was just muttering about how bad this restaurant is."
Idina pulled her chair closer and brushed her foot up against Kristin's ankle. "I still like it, even if the service is horrible. At least we're here…and we get good food!" Kristin knew what Idina was about to say. At least we're here…together. She smiled to herself and spent the rest of the evening in contented conversation with Idina.
"Hi. Sorry I'm late," Idina apologized.
"That's okay, Idina. Where's Taye?"
"He-uh-couldn't make it…" she replied.
Idina remembered the events of the afternoon.
She walked into the apartment, hanging her coat and scarf on the rack, still a little shaken from the choreography incident.
"Hello?" she called. "Taye, are you here?"
Taye bounded down the stairs, home early from work. He stopped in front of Idina and kissed her cheek. "Hey, sweetie," his comforting voice reverberated throughout the room, "man, you would not believe the day I had today."
"You wouldn't believe mine either. Ugh, I have so much to tell you," she replied, choosing a cushion on the couch, changing her mind, and sprawling out on the whole thing instead.
"Yeah, yeah," Taye said, apathetic, "How about I tell you my day first, and then you can tell me all of your problems."
"Uh, okay."
"Good. So today I went in on set, you know, ready to film, and this guy stopped me right there, asking for my I.D. and telling me I couldn't go in without his permission. I was like, 'I'm the main character, you can't stop me from going in.' and he still asked for my I.D. and pass to get in. After I argued with him for a little, I just decided to push right past him and go inside, because I was going to be late. So he called security, telling them that there was an unauthorized person on set! Can you believe it? "She shook her head. "I can't either," he continued, "I finally got on set, and I was really frustrated. I went up to the director at the same time that little snob from outside got there, and I complained to him that this man should know me and didn't need to see my pass or I.D., I mean, I'm the main character! And you know what the director did? He asked me to apologize to the guy and show him my I.D.! He said I should have been more respectful to the man! I almost got fired!" Taye was exasperated.
"Yeah," Idina said. "That must have been awful. I don't think the director or the man should have done that to you. It's pretty infuriating." She dropped the subject. "Speaking of almost getting fired, wait till you hear what I had to put up with today."
Taye was beside himself. He couldn't believe she'd dropped the subject so quickly. "What." He said. Idina shifted her shoulders on the couch, getting comfortable to tell her story.
"Today was awful. We were working on choreography today, and you know how I'm not the best dancer," she looked at him. He stared back at her. She took that as a yes. "I kept messing up and tripping over the easiest steps. I swear, everyone was looking at me thinking 'Why is she even here?' I felt like total shit. After, like, the hundredth time messing up a single step, I couldn't take it anymore. I ran into the bathroom and I could feel everyone's eyes on me as I left. It was horrible. I just knew I was going to get fired, and I really want to keep this job. Luckily Kristin was there and she cleaned me up and got me dancing again. I swear, I would have gotten fired right then and there if it weren't for her. Oh, she invited us to dinner, just so you know. Some little French place…" she trailed off.
Taye gawked at her, incredulous. "Wait, wait, so HOW is this worse than what I went through today?"
Idina interjected, "I didn't say it was worse, I just wanted to tell you what happened to me-"
Taye cut her off, "Oh, so you messed up a few steps and cried a little bit and THAT'S worse than almost getting fired?"
"I DID almost get fired, I told you-"
"Did Wayne actually say to you, 'You're fired if you don't dance today'? Did he? Because that's what Rick said to me!"
"No, he didn't say that but I could feel it-"
"No, Idina, I got and actual THREAT. He told me, 'If you don't apologize to this man, you're gone.' I was THIS CLOSE to actually losing my job. How does that compare to not being able to dance?"
"I just don't see how this is such a big deal. I don't know why you're getting so worked up over it. All I wanted to do was tell you how my day went, I wasn't blowing you off."
"You know what Idina, I'm done." He got up and got his coat off the rack and walked toward the door. On his way out, he said, "I'll be back be nine."
She sat there in the now cold room clenching and unclenching her fists. She couldn't take it anymore; she curled up on the couch and cried. Reaching for a tissue, she swore to herself that she would have fun on this date, because that's what it was to her now. A date.
"Oh, I guess it's just us then," Kristin smiled.
Yeah, thought Idina, just us. And she smiled.