Did I mention that this is all fluff? BTW thanks for the reviews guest and nighthawk. I'm trusting people are reading this and that I'm not wasting time.
I do not own.
"So… where are we going?" Claire asked Noah.
"It's a surprise." Noah said cheerfully.
It was Valentine's Day again. The last one was not the best with her being kidnapped and all. She wondered what Noah was planning. He was extremely secretive the whole day. There was a midterm paper she had to finish earlier but Noah made sure that she was ready to go by 5. Claire gave him a sideways glance. He was very relaxed. What a difference a few years made. He used to be so nervous around her, trying to make a good impression. He would stammer and correct himself. He'd stumble over himself trying to get the door for her. It was sweet and cute but it did get old. Then after what happened with her father, he started to relax. Maybe it was because she started to relax. She let her guard down. Claire didn't even know she had had it up. Then again after all those years dating bad boys, she had to protect herself. Noah was different. Well, maybe not all that different. He did admit once that he thought that going out with her would put him in the cool kids category. Even though she was hurt at first by the admission, she realized why he told her. It was because he wanted to be honest with her. That really touched her. It meant that he just didn't like her but respected her as well. That meant the world to her.
"We're here." Noah said pulling up to a large seemingly deserted cabin. For a second she was worried. Then the worry passed. This was Noah… and Noah was always a gentleman. As if to prove her point, Noah walked over and opened the car door for her. He held out a hand to help her out. She smiled as she accepted it.
When she got out, she got a better look at the cabin. She realized that she was mistaken; it was not deserted. There was smoke coming from the chimney. She saw shadows in the window. Light music drifted from the door and every now and again a burst of laughter came from inside.
Curious, she looked at Noah who offered his arm. She looped hers through his and they walked to the front door. Claire could now see the small sign on the side of the cabin.
The Cabin over the River Restaurant.
"Not really a creative name, is it?" She asked Noah amused.
Noah shrugged easily. "They don't have to be when they are this good."
He opened the door to let her in first. A greeter at the door smiled. "Welcome to CORR. What is your reservation under?"
"Noah Nixon." He replied. "For 6PM."
"Okay, Mr. Nixon. Right this way." The lady grabbed some menus and led them to a table in the back. When Claire stepped into the back, she sucked in her breath. The cabin in the front was deceptive. The trees hid the fact that it was sitting on a ledge overlooking a river. The back of the cabin was glass so that the diners could take full advantage of the view.
They were quickly seated.
"This is beautiful, Noah." Claire looked wide-eyed at the rushing water just beneath them.
"Yeah, they were hard to book especially on today. I actually made reservations right after last year's Valentine's." Noah shrugged.
"Really? After last year's? So you were sure we'd still be together?" She teased lightly.
She expected him to chuckle but he grew serious.
"Well, I wasn't sure but I figured that I could still give you the reservations if you wanted them. I know how much you like nature views and these are the best around." He said.
Claire sat stunned. She wasn't sure if Noah was being truthful. But after that incident with Rex, Noah had made it a point to avoid lying as much as possible. She wasn't sure if she felt relieved or hurt that Noah wasn't sure about their relationship. On the one hand, she knew she was young and wanted to see more of what the world had to offer but on the other she realized that Noah was one in a million.
"Thank you, Noah. But I wouldn't go without you. And don't you have faith in our relationship?" She asked.
Noah swallowed hard. "I do, but things happen. I don't want to presume anything. Mainly, I wanted to make up for the lousy Valentine you had last year."
Claire laughed a little. "Hey, if I don't get abducted in the next 6 hours, It'll be a good Valentine's."
They both laughed at that.
"Seriously, Noah, what do you think about us?" She asked.
Noah rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "To be honest, I wasn't sure what you see in me."
Claire looked at him in surprise.
"Rex tells me that I'm fun to hang out with, and that I don't smell like bananas. I'm not sure those are worthy attributes for a boyfriend." Noah said.
Claire giggled. "I'm sure the banana part is appreciated. I actually prefer vanilla."
"Me too." Noah agreed.
"Rex, should also add that you're a good friend." She added.
"He says that from time to time." Noah shrugged. "When he's not trying to beat me at something or other."
Claire smiled, remembering their competitiveness. "Well, Mr. Nixon, I can tell you that I see someone who accepts people the way they are, someone who is fiercely loyal, and someone who has the biggest heart of anyone I know."
Noah blushed. "Well, you're pretty special too." He mumbled.
"So, you can stop wondering what I see in you, and start wondering what we want to eat." She opened the menu.
"That's easy." Noah said sheepishly. "It's the prefix menu." He cleared his throat. "I… uh… it's a little expensive here."
Claire laughed again. She put down the menu. "Okay, then, you order."
Noah smiled with relief that she wasn't insulted. He flagged down a waiter to take their order.
Claire sat back and watched Noah talk to the waiter. When he left, Noah turned his attention to her. She was studying him.
"What?" He asked.
"Nothing, just glad to be here with you." She said.
"I'm glad too." He responded. Then realizing how that sounded, he added, "I mean I'm glad to be here too, with you, not that I'm not glad to be here as me… I mean with you because I'm here with you."
Claire placed a finger on his lips. "I know what you mean." She said.
"Good, because I wasn't sure what I was saying." Noah admitted.
They both laughed. It was a nice way to end the day.