Total Eclipse of the Heart
Phew the chapter is done and is my longest to boot. I wrote something last night then scraped and re-wrote most of this cause I lost my groove. Well I hope I got it back anyways standard disclaimers apply...enjoy...
Friday evening arrived as the two men stood nervously outside the bar.
"Should I of picked the Maximista up do you think."
Milo simply shrugged and looked over to his friend who was barley recognizable, not that he would have been able to be picked out of a crowed either as both men's appearances had changed from the norm. Milo dressed in jeans and a simple dress shirt looking more laid back then his usual business suits while Spinelli was looking real chic in his designer jeans, blue gray vintage T and brown leather jacket. The younger of the two men's hair was also styled differently then usual, gelled back out of his eyes.
"I think meeting her here is perfectly normal, I mean this isn't a real date, well at least for the two of you."
He had hoped to Claire this would be a real date and not just two acquaintances grabbing a drink and hanging out.
Shoving his clammy hands in his jean pockets Spinelli looked over to his friend.
"So, do we just stand out here and wait for out ladies or..."
"Or we can go inside I guess, I mean Maxie and Claire know where here."
Spinelli nodded and followed Milo inside.
Coleman immediately spotted the two young men and as his gaze passed over Spinelli a smile pursed his lips.
"I'm going to make a quick call," Milo said, "would you order us up some drinks."
Spinelli wondered why he didn't make the call when they were outside but he assumed it must be a private one. Nodding he looked over at his friend.
"So, any beverage preferences."
"Just a beer is fine."
Spinelli nodded and wondered what he should order for himself because he really couldn't hold liquor that well and an Orange Soda didn't seem appropriate.
Moving to the bar Coleman gave him thumbs up.
"Looking good my man."
"Thanks."
"So, are you here trying to pick up chicks again because I think the third time is the charm?"
He had to chuckle a bit thinking of his past attempts of showing his moves. The first time he fell prey to a lady of the evening and the second time well, let's just say she had a girlfriend. Smiling again he shook his head.
"Not tonight no."
Colman smiled and said.
"That's too bad."
He began to turn his head when Spinelli spoke up.
"By the way two beers when you get the chance."
--
Meanwhile outside Milo was on the phone.
"Are you sure...well I'm out right now can this wait till tomorrow...good."
"Who are you talking to," Maxie said coming up from behind him dressed to perfection in a red tank top and black skirt.
"No one."
"Well it sure sounded like someone to me."
"It's business Maxie."
"Oh, what kind of business, are you going to whack someone?"
"No, and if I was why would you want to know, so you could tip off your father the commissioner and get me arrested."
"No, so I could warn Spinelli to stay away. And speaking of Spinelli where is he."
"Inside."
Maxie nodded as the click of heels on the pavement behind them got closer as Claire looked at her date bantering with a petite blonde.
"Anyway," Milo said gently shoving Maxie to the side and smiling at the blonde coming there way, "My date's here."
Looking over at Claire he smiled thinking even under the dull lamp light outside of the bar she was a vision. Her casual jeans and t shirt and her scrubs did not do her justice. Meanwhile she was eyeing him and liked every bit of it.
Maxie made a coughing sound to get attention as she looked over to the Blonde whom she recognized from when she would visit the hospital to check up on Robin and smiled as she watched Milo turn to Claire.
"For a second there I thought you forgot that you forgot that you were dating me."
Milo chuckled.
"Maxie, know, she's a friend of a friend."
"You mean the friend we are supposed to be doubling with."
Milo nodded as Claire smiled.
"So, are we waiting for this friend or..."
"Yea," Maxie said, "I was just about to ask where is Spinelli, don't tell me he had some job and had to bail on me without so much as a text."
"Spinelli's inside."
Maxie nodded as Milo looked from one blonde to another motioning them to come inside the bar.
Claire smiled as they headed into the bar hoping that this date wouldn't turn into another disaster.
As they soon entered the bar Maxie looked over at the couple to her side, their nervously goofy glances to each other was kind of pathetic to say the least. She just wanted to find Spinelli and convince him to maybe blow the whole bar scene off and head to Kelly's for a bite or something.
Looking around her friend was no place in sight however she eyed a haired figure at the bar and a grin spread across her face as she thought to herself that while Spinelli was MIA a bit of harmless flirting wouldn't hurt.
"I'm sure Spinelli won't mind me getting a number for later, after all we are just friends."
Milo nodded and as Maxie came out of his earshot he couldn't help but chuckle.
"What's so funny?"
"That guy at the bar."
Claire nodded.
"That's Spinelli, Maxie's date."
Claire then too began to giggle a bit just imagining how the scene would play out.
-
Making her way towards the Bar she placed her hand on the mysterious man's shoulder.
"Hey," she purred causing Spinelli to wince in his seat a bit.
"Whatever she wants Coleman it's on me."
She recognized the voice coming from the man and thought, no it couldn't be. She watched his head swivel to look into her eyes making her blink. Nope it was him and he looked amazing.
"Spinelli."
He nodded as she stood there smiling at him speechless.
"Can I get an iced tea please?"
Coleman nodded as she sat on the stool besides him.
"You're staring at me Maximista."
"Sorry it's just well you clean up real good. Anyways should we join your friend and his date or stay here, I mean Milo doesn't like me much does he."
Spinelli shrugged. His friend never mentioned a dislike for his crush before.
"Anyway as much as I would love it just being the two of us, I did promise Milo that this would be a double date thing."
Maxie nodded with a bit of disappointment in her mood. She was already impressed by Spinelli's sudden new look and was interested to know if there would be any more surprises in store.
--
Maxie and Spinelli headed to the table and Spinelli handed the drink to his friend.
"Thanks man," Milo said as Spinelli nodded, "anyway guys this is Claire, Claire this is my friend."
"Damian," he said smiling and placing his hand for hers to shake as Milo and Maxie looked on in shock at his coolness and composure as he introduced himself using his given name and not his chosen moniker of the 'Jackal'.
--
Soon time had past and the foursome was getting along like they were all old friends when Claire smiled sheepishly.
"Ok, so small talk is fun and all," Claire said standing up, "but frankly it's a bit boring."
"I agree, we should shake things up a bit," Spinelli said, "anyone up for a game of Darts."
Claire smiled knowing that she was a pro at that and smiled.
"You're on Damian."
Maxie looked at her date nervously wondering what the heck he was doing. Just the thought of him with a pointy object in his hand scared her to death.
"Spinel you were joking right, please say you were joking and aren't serious about playing darts."
He looked at Maxie a half smile on his face.
"Would you rather we play pool," he said in a curious tone.
Maxie just gave him a silent look to which he just shrugged knowing full well he was going to do what he pleased.
Removing his jacket and hanging it on the back of his chair he headed to the darts area letting Maxie take in his toned body even more.
Though she was swooning over the newly discovered hotness of her friend she was still on pins and needles about what was to come.
"Ok," Claire said, "let's make this interesting."
"Is the cunning caregiver insinuating a challenge?"
"Maybe."
"How about winner buys looser a drink, because I can sure use another, though this time I think I might settle for just an Orange Soda."
"Orange Soda, right."
Maxie and Milo watched with interest as their dates began to play.
Maxie kept her fingers crossed that Spinelli wouldn't spaz and take someone's eye out as Claire took her turn.
As the dart landed almost at the bull's-eye she smiled as Milo gave her thumbs up from the sidelines.
"Impressive," he said.
"Well I was top scorer back in College Junior and Senior years."
"You were alright," Spinelli said smirking and Maxie covered her eyes silently praying he didn't kill anyone.
"Oh," Claire said.
"My," Milo said as Maxie opened her eyes to assess the damage she knew was happening.
"Gosh, Spinelli," she said jumping out of her seat and wrapping her arms around him, "you got a bull's-eye how did you manage that."
"Elementary my dearest Maximista it's just simple mathematics."
She looked at him.
"Well that and I have a dart board in my regrettably pink room; Matt Hunter's picture is in the center by the way."
Maxie chuckled and kissed his cheek.
"One Orange soda coming up."
--
After that fun experience they talked and drank and were having fun when Maxie excused herself to the bathroom and Claire decided to follow.
"What is it with girls and going to the bathroom together?"
"That is one mystery even the Jackal can't figure out."
"And speaking of the Jackal am I in an episode of the twilight zone."
"Whatever do you mean?"
"Well, for starters besides the occasional calling Maxie 'Maximista' your nicknames have been at a minimum, and what's with you introducing yourself to Claire as Damian."
"Well that is my name."
"And the darts man."
"I told you I've practiced though I didn't think I was that good to be honest."
Milo just nodded.
"So, Claire seems like a nice girl...err...woman."
"Thanks man, I'm glad that you approve and you know what."
"What."
"I think Maxie is taking a shining to this new you."
"Y-you think."
Milo nodded.
"So anyways Spinelli don't take offence to what I'm going to say next."
"I'll try not to..."
"It's just the more into this date gets the more I kind of regret making this a double date thing."
"I kind of was regretting that earlier myself."
Milo laughed.
"Yes, but I'm sure your reason was different then mine. I mean I don't know I like Claire I mean really like her and yet I still really don't know her all that well; I mean she doesn't even know my last name."
"I'm sorry."
"You shouldn't be, anyway why did you regret this."
"Because attempting to woo the Maximista would be so much simpler without an audience."
Milo simply chuckled.
"What's so funny?"
"Even with an audience your doing a great job, I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't get a second date."
"And I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't get one either."
--
Meanwhile in the bathroom Maxie smiled at Claire.
"Are you sure you and Damian don't have something going on."
Maxie laughed.
"Spinelli is my best friend."
"Could have fooled me," Claire said mumbling.
"Excuse me."
"Nothing it's stupid."
"No, you said something and I want to know what you were insinuating."
She secretly smiled to herself for using a big word like that. The dictionary Spinelli had given her last April was really paying off.
"I mean I don't really know you all that much but the way the two of you look at each other, if a guy ever looked at me that way."
"What way."
"Like I was the only one in the room."
"You mist be blind because Milo has been giving you that look all night."
"He has."
Maxie nodded.
Claire simply shook her head and grasped the sink.
"God Claire Get a grip stop being nervous and tell him."
"Tell him what."
"Man I didn't think that was out loud."
Maxie nodded.
"God, sorry about that, I mean I've been in relationships before but all of them have turned out to be complete and other jerks. Milo is different. For the first time I've met someone who's made me weak in the knees and yet I can't bring myself to tell him how I feel."
"I know what you mean. The only relationship I've been ever been in that wasn't purely sexual was cut short tragically."
"I'm sorry."
"It's alright, anyway I've just had so much loss in my life I don't know, I think I'm kind of afraid to open up my borrowed heart for another."
"Borrowed heart," Claire asked.
"It's a long story."
Claire nodded as she looked into the sparkly blue eyes of the spunky blonde thinking that there was defiantly a possibility that if the rest of the night went well she would not only gain a boyfriend but a gal pal as well.
--
Getting back to the table a moment later the men's faces lit up.
"So," Milo said, "did you enjoy your girl talk?"
"We did very much," Claire said looking at Maxie.
The glance between the two girls made the men think there was some unspoken secret that was shared between them and they both were wishing they could have been fly's on the ladies room wall.
"So," Maxie said smiling a bit, "Sp-Damian..."
His heart fluttered at her sweet voice calling him this.
"Yes Maxie."
"I need to be at Crimson early tomorrow what with wedding plans and deadlines looming."
"I understand."
"No, you don't, I took a cab here and well it's late and I was wondering could you drive me home."
Spinelli eyed Milo who gave him a sign of approval.
Smiling back he looked over at Maxie and nodded picking up his jacket and heading outside.
--
Once they were in the parking lot and in from of the mob mobile Maxie looked at Spinelli nervously.
"I'm sure the Maximista doesn't really have to be at work that early for the fashionista. You have another engagement, that's ok, I understand."
"No, I really do have to work for Kate, she's been such a slave driver lately I mean it's so bad I don't know when we can have another night like this, a real date this time."
"D-did the Maximista say date."
"I did say date. I mean I've been kind of wanting to let this out for a few weeks now, since that night in the Pink Room after the operation when I almost...I almost."
She froze thinking back to the near death experience.
"Lost me."
Maxie nodded.
"You'll never loose me Maximista."
"I-I know that now, it's just I don't know, I guess it took something tragic like that to realize just how much I need you Spinelli, and well the new wardrobe and sudden burst of confidence well that was an added bonus I guess..."
"What are you trying to say?"
Maxie took a deep breath.
"I'm saying I love you idiot, I don't know when or how but I do."
"You do."
"I do."
"I kind of love the Maximista too."
"So then next time Kate gives me time off want to go out."
"Most defiantly."
--
Meanwhile inside Claire looked at Milo.
"What, something is up."
"I think tonight is going to be your friends lucky night."
"What do you mean?"
"I think Maxie is going to tell Damian that she loves him."
"Really," Milo said smiling as Claire nodded.
"Anyway," he said after a moment of silence, "this is going to sound weird."
Claire just looked at him knowing that the killjoy moment was coming.
"What's going to sound weird?"
"Well Dr. Simpson."
She blushed at him calling her that.
"Please just Claire outside of the hospital."
Milo nodded.
"Claire," he said loving the way it rolled off his tongue, "I've had a wonderful time tonight and all it's just you don't even know my last name."
"Is that what you meant by this is going to be weird."
He nodded.
"So what is it, or do you want me to guess, is it Rumpelstilskin."
Milo laughed.
"No, Giambetti, Milo Giambetti."
"Well then Mr. Giambetti, I don't know about you but I've had an amazing time tonight, the best night I've had in a while, I think we should do this again sometime."
Milo blushed a bit.
"I'd like that, very much."
--
As the date dwindled down Claire had to pinch herself. It had been a long time since the notion of a second date was a reality and she loved every minute of it. Meanwhile Milo let out a sigh thinking that for the first time in his life everything was falling into place.
--
TBC
Ok so I just want to give a shout out this chapter to halifaxhoney you Rock... Anyways I hope to get the next leg of this chapter planed out soon...AkA the drug running operation Storyline. Still debating on adding a Kyle/Lucas and-or Matt/Nadine subplots...thoughts, ideas, and comments always loved...