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Chapter Sixteen: Mike's Love Life
A/N: Hello all my readers! It's time for another chapter! Read on and enjoy!
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on." -Robert Frost
"Hey Mike," Tommy said, walking into the office.
Mike spun around in his chair and smiled. "Sup boss?"
"I have a proposition for you."
"Run," Jason said without looking up from his paperwork. "Just run Mike."
Mike laughed. "Ok, what's up?"
"I have an old friend who's coming into the city, and I promised I would take her out for a night on the town. But, something came up and I was wondering if you'd be interested in taking my place."
Mike sat back and raised his eyebrows. "Who is she exactly?"
"Her name's Fallon. She's my wife's niece."
Mike nodded. "I see. So you're basically setting me up on a blind date?"
"Busted!" Jason laughed.
Tommy picked a paperweight up off his desk and threw it at his friend. "Shut up!"
Jason glanced behind him and caught the paperweight easily. Mike rolled his eyes. "So you admit you're trying to set me up?"
"I'm sorry," Tommy laughed sitting down. "But you know for a guy in his early twenties, you don't seem to go out much."
"And if you do," Jason put in. "you certainly don't talk about it."
"I didn't think it was professional," Mike defended, spinning himself around in a circle.
"What exactly about us makes you think we're professionals?"
"Touché."
"Come on," Tommy whined. "What's up with you? I'd figured a guy like you would have tons of beautiful young girls coming after you."
"You'd think so, wouldn't you?"
"You got something against dating?" Jason asked. "Or girls? Want Tommy to hook you up with his nephew?"
"I don't want him to hook me up with anyone," Mike said. "I'm not really into the dating scene right now."
"Why? Have a bad break-up recently?"
Mike sighed. "Yeah, kind of. I had a bad break-up, but it wasn't recently."
"Not recently as in..." Tommy prompted.
"Over a year."
"It's been a year and your still not over her?" Jason asked, shocked. "You must've really liked her."
"I did. I mean, we went through so much together. And I thought that maybe we'd had a real connection. But then life...and...I don't want to talk about this. Let's just say it was a loud and terrible ending."
"I sorry man," Tommy said. "But you know what, you gotta get back on that horse. Just put yourself out there, and date someone else."
"He's right," Jason nodded. "You need to go out and have a good time. You could even go to that new dance club."
Mike made a doubtful face. A dance club filled with people; in the dark; with ear-bleeding music levels; and one entrance, sounded like a tactical nightmare to him. It's so hard to turn off ranger-brain, he thought. "I don't think so. Maybe we could go roller-staking."
"So you'll do it?" Tommy asked hopefully.
Mike smiled. "Alright. I will."
"Yes!"
"You go on and get out of here," Jason said. "We'll close up."
"And don't forget we have those demonstrators from Pai Zhuq Academy coming on...is it Wednesday?"
"This is technically your school, you know," Jason muttered. "And yes, it's Wednesday."
"Right," Mike nodded. "I'll see you guys later. Tell your niece I'll meet her at the rollerskating rink on Tree Grove Ave. Eight."
"Got it. I'm sure she'll be excited."
Mike nodded and waved as he left, swinging his green messenger bag over his shoulder. Jason sighed once he was gone and swiveled himself around to look at Tommy. "When exactly do you plan on telling him we're also veteran rangers?"
"I don't know. When do you think is a good time?"
"Well he's been working here for over six months, so...two or three months ago."
"Very funny. Hm...maybe when Casey and his gang are here."
"His gang," Jason smirked. "The only red who could have a gang is me."
"Excuse me, but I'm the one with the tattoos," Tommy pointed out.
"Yeah, but I've got more brains."
Tommy threw another paperweight that Jason caught easily and threw back.
-Samurai Ranger Life-
"What am I doing?" Mike asked his reflection back at his apartment. "I have gone out in...I don't even remember how long." He sighed and messed his hair up a little with his hands. "Maybe that's why I should do this. They're right. I'm young and carefree, or at least I should be. Getting back on the dating horse could be good for me."
He went to his bedroom and looked at his closet. He pulled out a white t-shirt and a thin, green vest over it. He put on some dark jeans and looked at himself in the body mirror inside his closet door. He nodded. "Not bad, not bad." He went over to his dresser and put his watch on. "Well, I'd say I clean up rather nicely."
-Samurai Ranger Life-
Mike approached the roller-skating rink with caution. He was really nervous about meeting Tommy's niece. He checked his breath real quick and ate a mint just in case. He used his fingers to fix his hair up a bit more. Be brave, he told himself. This is hardly facing down nighlocks. It's just a date. Not even a date. We're just going to hang out for a few hours. He nodded confidently. "Just going to hang out."
As he got closer he saw a woman about his age waiting for him. He smiled as he approached her. "Hi," he said. "Are you Tommy's niece?"
"Yes. Hi, I'm Fallon," Fallon said, shaking his hand. She had brown hair and light brown eyes with glasses. Her hair was in a straight braid and she was wearing a green hoodie. She took her hands out do the pockets so she could shake Mike's hand.
"Mike. So, you ready?" Mike asked as they walked towards the entrance.
"Oh yeah. I love roller skating."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah. I'm really into stuff like that. Roller skating, roller blading, biking, skateboarding..."
"A girl who knows how to skateboard. I admit you've peaked my interest."
"Oh have I now?" she teased. "Well I'm glad. If hate for you to be bored on our blind date."
Mike chuckled. "No not bored. Nervous, but not bored."
"Nervous? Why?"
"To be honest I've never been on a blind date before."
"Me neither. But my aunt and uncle were insistent that I try and get out a little."
"Literally Tommy's whole argument with me."
"Pretty much. So, are you any good at this?"
"Hey, I happen to be awesome at all forms of blading."
"Good to know. It's probably be embarrassing to have your manly self be steadied by me."
"Yeah right. If anyone's steadying anyone, I'll be steadying you."
"We'll see."
The two of them got their skates and went to find a place to put them on. Mike couldn't help but smile as he laced his skates on. So far, Fallon was very funny. She was easy to joke with and seemed like a nice person. He finished and looked up. Fallon was standing in front of him with her arms crossed. "Let's go slow poke."
Mike grinned as he stood up. "Just making sure they're on tight. Be a shame if they came off and I fell on my face."
"I don't know," Fallon replied as she pulled him towards the large, oval rink. "It would be pretty funny. But down worry," she got onto the smooth, wooden floor and skated in a small circle, stopping to face him. "I'll help you up. After I'm done laughing of course."
Mike stepped onto the floor and skated around her. "I would expect nothing less."
Fallon laughed and grabbed his hand. She pulled him along, skating backwards as she did. Mike followed complacently; entranced by her. They skated around the rink, trying to literally skate circles around each other. Mike laughed when Fallon run into someone. "Sorry," she said. Mike pulled her away and they skated with a bit more orderly conduct. "Whoops."
"Smooth."
"At least I didn't knock him over."
"That lady was very forgiving and didn't really seem to mind."
Fallon laughed. "This is so much fun. God, I forgot how fun skating with someone can be."
"Me too," Mike smiled.
Fallon took his hand and he jumped a little. He was stiff for a moment before letting his hand conform with hers. His stomach did a little flip-flop-thing when she squeezed his hand. He squeezed hers in return and they skated around the rink a few times in peace. "Wanna go play some video games? They have an arcade here."
Mike grinned widely. Skating and video games? "Of course. Ladies first."
The two of them left the rink floor and headed over to where they'd left their shoes. Mike put his shoes on and hopped up just as Fallon did. "Nice try Mike," she teased. "But you can't beat me."
"Oh I will sometime. Come on, I think I saw my favorite game." He grabbed her hand and took her over to one of the arcade games.
"What is this?" she asked.
"It's awesome! Old fashioned jumping and running and punching. What else do you want in a game?"
"Good to know you have simple pleasures in life," she smiled as he put quarters in the game.
"I want the guy with the green suit."
"No way! I wanted that one!"
"I called it first."
"Fine," she mumbled. "First person to die has to buy the nachos."
"You're on."
A couple minutes later, once they were into the game, Mike was shocked. Fallon was actually a very good player. She had good reflexes and apparently played video games a lot, because he didn't need to explain anything. The two of them played in companionable silence, enjoying the other's company. Eventually though, on the third level, Fallon's character died. "Ah!"
"Yes!" Mike cheered triumphantly. He kept playing until his character was overwhelmed by bad guys and he died too. "So," he said, clapping his hands together. "I believe the terms of the bet were that loser has to buy the nachos-"
"I was not the loser. We both lost."
"Same difference. You still owe me food."
"Fine. Come on."
They walked over to the snack bar and Mike slipped away with the promise of finding them a table. He sat down and admired her from a far. Fallon was very beautiful. She had some stray hairs that had escaped her braid, but they seemed to almost glow in the fluorescent lights. He checked his watch. Wow. Has it been two hours already? Man, time flies when you're having fun.
Fallon came over to the table five minutes later with nachos and two drinks. "Ok, we got snacks, and soda."
"Awesome," Mike smiled. He took a nacho, taking care to make sure there was cheese on it. "So, are you having a good time?"
"I am. You?"
"Surprisingly...yes."
"Surprisingly?!"
"Well to tell you the truth...I wasn't really that excited about this at first. But now that I've actually met you, I'm glad Tommy decided to play matchmaker."
"Me too. I was nervous when he said he was fixing me up with someone from his martial arts school."
"Why? I'm not dangerous."
"Well I know that now. But I wasn't sure what you'd be like. Glad to see you weren't exactly what I was expecting."
"Well me too. And I just had no idea what to expect out of you."
Fallon chuckled. "But I'm guessing video gaming-roller skating-girl was not it?"
Mike laughed. "Not really." He looked at his watch again as they finished their snack. "Um...I'm having a great time, but it's getting late and I have to work tomorrow."
"Right," Fallon smiled. They stood up and threw away their trash as they left. Once the were outside, Mike stood across from her awkwardly.
"Um...bye."
"Bye. I had a great time with you tonight."
"Me too. Maybe...maybe we could do it again sometime."
"Sure." She felt her pockets, then smiled when she pulled out a pen. She took Mike's arm and wrote her number on it. "Bye."
"Bye." Mike watched her go and leaned back against a light pole in shock. "Wow," he said breathlessly. He looked at the number on his arm and smiled. He stood up and started walking home. "Just wow."
