Here I go again with Breadstix, and it's Gina and Nick's first date! How do you think it will go? ;)

CHAPTER TEN

Gina pushes the door open and warm, yellowish lights flood out of Breadstix restaurant onto the dark road outside.

The restaurant is not very crowded today; several tables at the end of the room are empty, and only groups of twos or threes seem to be occupying the rest of the tables. The makeshift stage that the restaurant had set up on their karaoke night is gone. In its place are more empty tables. The lights hanging from the ceiling gives the restaurant a warm, hazy glow.

It doesn't take Gina too long to spot Nick. He's sitting on a table near one of the windows, twirling a rose between his hands. When he finds Gina, his smile breaks, and he rushes up to her.

Nick looks different without his Dalton uniform. He has a checkered, blue-and-white shirt and black denim pants on. His hair is a little bit messier than when Gina saw him at the charity, but other than that, he looks more handsome today.

"I'm glad you decided to show up," he says, giving her the rose. "I was kind of afraid you would bail. And, um, I'm not sure what flower you like best, so…"

"I hate roses," Gina says, sitting down on the table. Nick's face pales for a second, but then Gina laughs. "Relax, Warbler! I was just messing with you. No, I don't hate roses, but they're not my favorite either. My favorite is lilies."

Nick laughs as he sits across from Gina. "You're sneaky," he says, shaking his head in disbelief. "I know it sounds crazy, asking you out when I just met you once. I… hope I am forgiven for this insanity."

"Apology accepted," Gina says, stroking her flower. "I don't know, I guess it's weird, because people don't really do this where I came from, you know? But it's kind of exciting too. I mean, I'm glad you asked me out."

"Where you came from?" Nick raises his eyebrow questioningly.

"Indonesia," Gina explains. "People there don't just… hook up after meeting once. They take things more slowly."

"I've… never heard of Indonesia before," Nick admits. "Is that in Asia?"

"Southeast Asia, yeah," Gina answers. "Just a tad far from Singapore and Malaysia. Gah, you suck at geography."

"You're really funny," Nick says. This makes Gina blush a little. "You seem to be very outspoken too. And… a little bit sarcastic." He grins. "So… I suppose there are so many things I don't know about you, and vice versa. Why don't we, um, start with the introductions?"

"Ha, you're gonna hate me once you find out the real me." Gina exclaims.

Nick leans forward, a serious look in his eyes. "I doubt it."

Gina's cheeks are still red when she starts talking about herself. Her family, her past life in Indonesia, what she's doing in Ohio, and what she likes. All throughout the conversation, Nick listens to her patiently. He seems to be taking in everything she says seriously. As she talks, she starts to realize little details about Nick. She notices that his eyes are brown, just like Ryder's. And that he has tiny freckles on his face. That he has dimples when he smiles, and that his hair is more of the color of dark brown than black.

When it's finally Nick's turn to talk, Gina makes sure she's listening carefully too. He tells him about his annoying older brother, the first time he ever met Blaine and joined the Warblers, and about his dream of enrolling in the New York Academy of Dramatic Arts.

"NYADA?" Gina asks, perking up. "Like those guys Kurt and Rachel? The way people talk about them on Glee club, they're like the legends of McKinley or some sort. They seem to glorify NYADA a lot."

"Yeah, NYADA," Nick chuckles. "Like Kurt, Rachel, that Santana girl, and possibly Blaine, so I heard. I sing, dance, do a little bit of acting too. NYADA's been quite a dream since I was a sophomore."

In the middle of the conversation, Gina's phone buzzes. Ryder has sent her a text.

u at breadstix?

Gina types in a simple yes, and puts her phone in her purse, safely out of view.

"I had a really great time," Gina says, as the two of them walks out of Breadstix.

"Me too," Nick agrees. "We should… do this again sometime?"

"Definitely."

"Can I make a confession to you? Before we go?" Nick says. When Gina nods, he says, "Last Sunday at the charity program? That's not the first time I ever saw you. I've, um, actually seen you before."

Gina raises her eyebrows. "Really? When? Where?"

"Blaine posted this pic of the New Directions in the choir room, and that's where I saw you first. I thought you were… you know… pretty. I asked Blaine a little about you. Then that Artie guy, he posted a link of you singing California King Bed and tagged Blaine along. I watched that. And I was hooked." He gives her a big smile. "Man, your voice. You should just win a Grammy already."

Gina chuckles nervously. "I didn't even know Artie posted that," she admits. "I'm sure it can be a violation of privacy of some sorts, but um… thank you, I guess. I'm glad I could make an impression."

Nick is about to ask Gina if she wanted a ride home when a rusty, red truck halts in front of them. The driver blows the horn four times.

"It's Ryder," Gina says apologetically. "He told me he was going to pick me up. I live not too far away from his house anyway, so… yeah." She sighs. "See you some other time, then."

"See you," Nick nods.

Once safely up on Ryder's truck, Gina waves goodbye at him until he disappears from sight.

Not bad for a first date, huh? Gina seems to really like Nick, don't you think?