After hitting a dozen balls Lynn suggested they get something to eat and Paula reluctant to have the other girl let go of her eventually relented.

Switching back over to her crutches Paula returned the bat and helmet and followed Lynn to the concessions stand.

After briefly viewing the menu Paula suggested splitting a meatball sub but this proved to be a concept beyond Lynn's comprehension.

"Share?" Lynn repeated slowly as if confused by the word.

"Yeah," Paula explained, "You know I eat half you eat half. . ."

Apparently idea didn't appeal to Lynn because she just shook her head, "Tell you what you go grab a table and I'll get the food."

Following the direction Lynn pointed Paula saw she was directed to a table in the back of the outdoor dining area away from other people.

She wanted to object but Lynn seemed happier and less on edge then before so Paula decided not to push the issue.

Reaching the table she sat down and set her crutches out of the way, she was trying to see what Lynn was doing when she heard something.

"Psssssst," looking around she saw someone hiding behind a large plant, "No don't look this way."

She'd already seen enough to recognize the voices owner, "Hi, your Lynn's brothers friend right?"

"Hi my name's Clyde," the boy hiding replied, "Are you really here on a date with Lynn?"

Paula considered lying but she really wanted to tell someone what harm could this do, "Yeah, can I ask why your hiding?"

"Wow," Clyde said to himself before answering question, "Me and Lincoln are like brothers and so I see Lynn as a sister but she can be a bit . . . aggressive when she thinks people are interfering in her affairs."

Paula could imagine that; Lynn had certainly been single minded on the court not that it was necessarily a bad thing.

"So?" Paula asked, "Was there something you wanted or . . ."

"It's nothing really," Clyde started, "Lynn just seemed a bit off earlier and my therapist says you should always trust. . ."

"Sorry," Paula interrupted Clyde cutting him off to get to the point, ""What do you mean she seemed off?"

"Well … it's probably nothing serious it's just that I've never seen Lynn nervous." Clyde sounded like he was trying to soft pedal it but did seem geuine in his concern.

"Well do you know if she's ever liked a girl before," Paula didn't know how close Lynn and Clyde were but if he was a family friend he might know.

The boy went quiet for a moment, "Lynn has never been what you would call a private person but she's never really seemed interested, , ,"

"Interested in who?" Paula asked wondering why Clyde had gone quiet.

"Wid ooo ay omfing?", turning at the voice Paula saw Lynn had arrived and was talking threw a mouth full of food.

It wasn't just her mouth that was full of food either, Lynn had brought back a tray crammed with what must have been everything on the menu.

There were two meatball subs, three chili dogs, a huge poutine, churros, deep fried mars bars, corn dogs, and even tucked in the corner was a modest sized salad.

No wonder Lynn was active in so many sports, Paula thought gaping at the buffet of fast food, she'd need to be that active to maintain her physique.

She didn't say anything but her thoughts must have been obvious because Lynn shrugged sitting down, "I wasn't sure what you liked so I grabbed a bit of everything."

"I hope your not a vegetarian," Lynn started then backtracked, "not that there's anything wrong with being a vegetarian."

Paula smiled Lynn sticking her foot in her mouth was somehow even cuter than normal Lynn.

"Don't worry I'm not a vegetarian," Paula said letting her off the hook.

The date seemed to be going okay Paula certainty seemed to be enjoying herself so why did Lynn feel like there was knot in the pit of her stomach.

She knew why but it hurt to admit, it was because she wasn't being honest with Paula, and she wasn't being honest with herself.

Lynn took a deep breath it was time to tell the truth, "Paula," she said quietly, "I think I'm broken,"

"What do you mean?" Paula asked with a puzzled look on her face.

"It's just that," Lynn started to flinch again.

"You don't have to tell me," Paula said trying to comfort her, "but whatever it is I won't tell anyone."

"I don't like you!" Lynn blurted out, immediately regretting her poor choice of words.

"Oh …," Paula managed quietly, the words the e exact unintended consequence Lynn had feared.

"That's not what I meant," Lynn said quickly trying to apologize, "I mean I don't like you the way you like me."

Paula wasn't meeting her eyes anymore and she felt rotten, "I tried to like you I really did but I guess I'm just broken."

The words started as trickle but became a stream, "I tried with Francisco as well."

"He's a cool guy, awesome soccer player, and cute or so I'm told," Lynn said the last part as a matter of fact rather then something she believed.

"He was nice enough, if a bit of a dweeb about a certain video, but I just didn't feel it."

Lynn watched as Paula raised her head she looked sad but also curious, "What didn't you feel?"

"I don't know," Lynn answered honestly, "Whatever it is people feel when they like someone."

In the silence that followed Lynn felt at a loss for words, the only things bouncing around her head were sports metaphors.

"Can I ask you something," Paula asked, she didn't sound angry or sad so Lynn took it to be a good sign and nodded.

"Have you ever kissed anyone?" Paula asked curiously.

She knew what Paula meant but asked anyway, "You mean on the lips or by someone outside my family?"

"Yeah," Paula answered her face turning a bit red.

"No, Francisco tried to surprise me but I decked him," Lynn said frowning, "that also might be why we broke up."

"Would it be okay if it wasn't a surprise?" Paula asked looking at her nervously.

Considering the request Lynn nodded if she was going to kiss anyone better it be on her terms and someone who cared enough to ask.

"We can go somewhere else if you want," Paula suggested looking around.

Lynn shrugged she wasn't wary of an audience, who cared what they thought, "I don't care if you don't."

Then as an afterthought Lynn added, "but no tongue!"

"What," Paula asked looking at her oddly.

"Nothing," Lynn said trying to brush her comment aside, "Just something my friend Polly told me about people kissing with tongue and it sounded gross."

"Oh okay," Paula said bemused before leaning over the table towards her.

Licking her lips nervously Lynn started to lean in, wait were her lips supposed to be wet, she wasn't sure.

Paula was still leaning forward eyes closed, ugh get your head in the game, do I close my eyes?

What if I knock my head into hers? No I've got amazing spatial awareness!

You're psyching yourself out Loud, just do it!, finally leaning forward she kissed Paula.