Chapter 4

Over the next couple of weeks, Ash and Michael became friends. She stopped by Speedy's to talk to him on his breaks, and whenever his catering company came to Moon Theater he would talk to her there.

Ash also got to know Brianna better. She was a great kid, she was full of energy, happy, and bright. Michael and Ash also called each other on the phone, and talked for at least thirty minutes.

When she arrived at the theater one morning, she was in a good mood.

"Good morning Ash, you're in a good mood." said Rosita.

"I am." Ash answered.

"Did you finally figure out a song to sing?" asked Johnny.

"Well not yet, but I think I'm getting an idea."

The real reason she was in such a good mood was because Michael called her last night telling her that he's be coming by the theater today to drop off food, so she'd get to see him.

After a couple of hours working on their acts, the catering company arrived. Ash hurried out of her rehearsal room, and saw Michael and his co-workers bringing in the food.

"Hi, Michael." she greeted walking up to him.

"Hey, Ash." he greeted back.

"So what do you guys have for us today?" asked Buster.

"We have tofu and spinach rolls, salad, lemonade, and for dessert chocolate cupcakes." said Ricky.

Everyone grabbed plates, and got some lunch. As Ash was getting hers, Micheal got her attention, and pulled her aside.

"Hey, Ash, I uh made this cupcake for you." he told her, putting out a small pastry box.

"Wow, thanks."

She took the box, opened it and saw a chocolate cupcake with chocolate icing and in rainbow sprinkles was her name.

"I love it."

"I thought you would. And I was wondering, would you want to go out on Friday night."

"You mean just the two of us?"

"Yeah, if that's okay."

"Well...I've got nothing else to do, so I'd love to."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Great, we can go to dinner at a nice restaurant."

"That'd be nice, what kind of dress code does this place have?"

"Semi-formal."

"Michael, it's time to go." called Hector.

"Coming. See you Friday, Ash." Michael told her.

"Same." Ash replied.

After they left, Ash felt so happy she seemed like she was glowing.

"Something good happen, Ash?" wondered Rosita, as she and Gunter walked back to their room.

"Michael asked me out on a date." Ash explained.

"That's wunderbar." Gunter complimented.

"Good for you." added Rosita.

Back in her room, Ash happily strummed her guitar thinking of a song, she couldn't wait until Friday night.

When Friday evening came, Michael and Ash got ready for their date. At Michael's apartment he had just put on a nice red dress shirt, black slacks, and black shoes.

"Hey Michael." said Brianna, poking her head in her brother's bathroom.

"What is it, Brianna?" he asked.

"Why don't you put on some of Dad old cologne?"

Michael held in a laugh, his little sister was trying to give him dating advice.

"Why?"

"Well Dad wore it whenever he went out on a date with Mom."

Michael smiled gently at his sister, and replied,

"Thanks, sis. But I think I'll be fine."

"Suit yourself."

And Brianna walked off. As he straightened his quills he looked at the bottle of his late father's cologne.

"Ah, what the heck."

And he sprayed some on himself. Then the doorbell rang, and Michael walked out of the bathroom and answered it. It was their neighbor, Mrs. Stevens (an armadillo).

"Hey, Mrs. Stevens, thanks for babysitting." Michael told her, as he invited her in.

"It's no problem, Michael. You just enjoy yourself on your date." Mrs. Stevens replied.

"Hi, Mrs. Stevens."

"Hello, Brianna."

"Well I gotta go. Behave yourself, Bree. Emergency numbers are on the fridge, and I'll be back around nine."

And he left.

At Ash's apartment, she was wearing a black and purple striped dress with short sleeves, and low black heels. She also had on some dark purple eye shadow. The doorbell rang, and she opened it, and saw Michael.

"Good evening, Ash. You look nice this evening." he said.

"Thanks, you don't look so bad yourself." Ash replied.

"So, shall we?"

"We shall."

She grabbed her purse, and locked the door.

They drove into the city, and to a nice restaurant. After parking, they went inside, and Michael told the hostess that they had a reservation. She led the two porcupines to a table for two in the middle of the restaurant.

Michael pulled out Ash's seat for her, which Ash thought was very gentleman-like. He then sat down himself, and a waiter came up.

"Good evening, I'm Franklin, I'll be your waiter tonight. Can I start you off with drinks?" asked Franklin.

"I'll have a coke." said Ash.

"Same for me." replied Michael.

Franklin left to get the drinks, and the two looked over their menus.

"See anything you want?" Michael wondered.

"I think I'll get this fried tofu salad. What about you?" Ash informed.

"I'm getting the grilled tofu with broccoli."

"You know, I know Brianna's a fan of my music, but what about you?"

"Well you're pretty good musician, and your song was great. I just didn't fan girl over you like my sister does."

"(Giggles), thanks. I love playing music."

Franklin brought their drinks, and took their dinner orders. While waiting the two talked about their hobbies, interests, dreams, and basic things about themselves. Ash had to admit she was really enjoying Michael's company.

He was nice, funny, a gentleman, and he was actually interested in what she said and listened, he was much better than Lance. Michael enjoyed Ash's company too. She was a kind, friendly, nice to his younger sister, and had a bit of a prickly attitude.

After eating dessert, and paying the bill, Michael drove Ash home. He walked her up to her apartment, and she faced him.

"I had a nice time Michael." she said.

"I did too, we should go out again sometimes."

"Yeah, I'd like that."

The two were quiet for a moment, and soon they found themselves inching closer to each other. And the next thing they knew their lips touched, and they bumped noses. After about a minute they parted.

"Well, I'll see you around." Ash told him.

"Yeah, right back at you."

Ash went back inside, and she felt utter bliss. When Michael got home, he suspected Brianna was already fast asleep in bed, but she'd stayed up to see him come home. She peeked out her bedroom door, and saw Michael looked like he'd been dosed with laughing gas from the dentist.

"Somebody got kissed." she whispered.

That's chapter 4, plz review and comment