Mary waited for the twins to get off the bus and waved them off to Taylor and her mom after double checking that they were going to be ok for the night. They wished her well on her date and promised to behave. Then Mary had to figure out what to wear.
It was movies and dinner, the standard date. But what was appropriate? She couldn't really do a dress since Warren was taking them on his bike. But were jeans too casual? She wanted to be comfortable but she also wanted to look good. Was this top too dressy? Were those bottoms too much or too less? It took her thirty minutes to shake herself out of her own thoughts, to remind herself that she was better than these date nerves, and grab the first things she saw while her mind was blank. Her leather jacket, a pair of black boots, blue jeans, red shirt, and a black crossbody purse that held her wallet, cellphone, a packet of tissues, lip gloss, and a small travel brush with a hair tie around the handle. It was very likely she would get helmet hair and a brush was always good to have on hand.
She locked up behind her and headed toward Warren's, giddy and grinning the whole way down the street. After worrying for long if he'd like her the way she did him, they were going out. Whatever happened tonight would change everything and she felt excited and nervous at the same time. But in a way that made her happy. Her pace picked up when she spotted Warren's house and she took the steps two at a time. She knocked and stood back a bit.
Zoey answered the door, red hair held in a messy bun by two paintbrushes and a sketch pencil. "Mary. Here for Warren?" Her smile was a bit too knowing and teasing, making Mary blush slightly. "Come on in." She turned, letting Mary past her. Zoey closed the door and called up the stairs in a sing-song voice, "Oh, Warren! Your date is here!"
There was some stumbling and a quick door opening and closing. Warren appeared a second later, pushing his hair out of his face. He got halfway down the stairs when he saw her and stoped, smiling. He was wearing new jeans, a black long-sleeved shirt, and boots. He had his leather jacket in his hand but wasn't wearing his usual fingerless gloves. "Hi," he said.
"Hi," Mary said back. How could he look so good in practically anything? It seemed unfair.
"So cute," Zoey said, looking between the two of them.
Warren looked at his mom and frowned slightly. Zoey only grinned wider. He came down the rest of the stairs, eyeing his mother. Was she up to something?
"Now, Warren," Zoey said, "behave and treat Mary like the lady she is. Don't do anything fresh or untoward, make sure she has a good time, and be home at a reasonable time. It's a school night, so be back by 10. 9:30 is better, but I know how time flies when you're having fun."
"Mom," Warren groaned.
Zoey turned to Mary. "Now don't let Warren be pushy or stubborn. Peace men are always like that. You just need to be firm. Can I see your phone?" Mary handed it over and Zoey tapped the keys as she spoke. "I'm putting my contact in here in case you need help or there's an emergency. I don't expect there to be but you can never tell. Especially when riding a bike." She handed the phone back and grabbed a disposable camera from a nearby table. "Ok, now come stand together."
"Mom," Warren said again, giving her an exasperated look.
"Oh, hush, Warren," she said gently. "I'm going to enjoy this a little longer and your father is going to love this. Let me embarrass you a little bit more, okay?"
Mary laughed and put Warren's arm around her shoulders. He looked down at her and she smiled back. "Remember that she does it out of love," she said in a low voice. "And I'll be wanting a copy of them, too."
He smiled softly and gave a mock put-upon sigh before looking at his mom. Zoey had already snapped a few pictures but took a few more for good measure. Warren did a great job letting her have her moment but shook his head when she wanted them to do the standard prom pose with him putting his arms around Mary from behind.
"We're going to be late for the movie," he said, slipping on his jacket and picking up two helmets.
Mary took the white one he offered and let herself be steered out of the house. Warren's bike was already in the driveway and he swung his leg over first. He held out his hand to her, fingers curling as she accepted and allowed him to help her settle behind him. She quickly put on her helmet to distract from how close she sat to him.
"Have fun, you two," Zoey said from the porch, waving. "Try not to get into trouble."
Warren and Mary waved back. "Hold onto me," he said and started the bike. The engine rumbled under them and Mary wrapped her arms around his waist, her front pressed against his back. Wow, he was solid. Warren kicked the kick stand up and pulled out of the driveway. Mary held on tighter at the movement but felt her entire body feel weightless as they zoomed down the road. The last time she'd ridden like this was back in Paris; enjoying life with her friends without worrying about anything but what she had been feeling right in that moment. She watched the road fly by from over Warren's shoulder and laughed as he sped up once they got to a road without any other drivers. His own laughter could be felt through her hands against his chest. Mary didn't mind when Warren took a longer route to get to the mall.
There was something to be said for going to the movie theatre during the week. Beyond a few people here and there, the theatre was pretty empty. They had no problem taking a few seats in the center back, settling down with a small popcorn between them. Warren didn't waste time taking her hand; Mary didn't mind and even linked their fingers.
"Have you read Pride and Prejudice?" She asked.
"Mom wanted me to give it a shot. I didn't think I would like it but it was actually really good. I had to fight a bit to keep reading since there was so much that didn't seem like it was relevant but then it all came together and I really enjoyed it. What about you?"
"Layla wanted to buddy read it and I thought I'd do a book report for school while I was at it. Kill two birds with one stone, you know? I'm curious about what they're going to cut to keep this movie within time limit."
Warren smirked. "Bet you a pork dumpling that Mrs. Bennet is as annoying as she is in the books."
"Veggie egg roll says they make Mr. Collins do the boiled potatoes line."
"Boiled…you remember that?"
"It was so stupid. The guy was trying way too hard and I don't think there was a single scene that I didn't have second hand embarrassment from him. But that line made me laugh for a good five minutes."
"I think the best cringe was when he was trying to name drop Lady Katherine DeBurge to Mr. Darcy. Like, dude, he's her nephew, I think he knows."
Mary chuckled. "Yeah, that's pretty bad." The lights dimmed and they turned to the screen. Warren tipped the popcorn toward her and she took a few kernels.
They shared a few quips here and there throughout the movie, being sure to keep their voices low and heard by only one another. Mary liked hearing Warren's voice in her ear and feeling his breath against her cheek. They chuckled together at the boiled potato line and both agreed that Mr. Wickham had a very punchable face. During the rainy confession scene, Mary couldn't look away from Elizabeth and Darcy as their tension grew and both of them bit at each other. Pride, assumptions, everything played into their exchange and, even though Mary had read how it all turned out, she worried about them and their ability to get over this moment between them. The ending of the scene left her anxious and Warren squeezed her hand in comfort. She looked at him and smiled reassuringly at his concerned expression. He offered the popcorn and she took a small handful.
"Can you imagine cleaning a house like that?" Warren asked, nodding to Pemberly as it appeared on the screen.
"But all that art," Mary mused wistfully, taking in the painted ceiling and the marble statues. "It's beautiful." She wondered how they'd managed to get them for the film. And that landscape was gorgeous if you didn't think about what kind of work it took to maintain it.
Mary was glad to see Mr. Darcy changed from his old self and loved seeing him interact with his sister. It was like looking at her and the twins. There was a little bit of Suzy in Georgianna when talking about their siblings, that was for sure. Mary actually saw a lot of her relationship with her siblings in the Bennett sisters; the good and annoying. Lydia still wasn't her favorite, though; especially when the whole elopement happened. Mary really wanted to punch Wickham but also wanted to shake Lydia out of her girlish stupidity. Did that make the actors good at their job or bad when they mad her have this kind of reaction to their characters?
She laughed at Mr. Bingley's nervousness at proposing to Jane and grinned when he finally proposed. She frowned at Lady Katherine's verbal attack on Elizabeth and was proud when Elizabeth came out on top, even if it was a bitter sweet victory in light of her acknowledging her newfound feelings of Mr. Darcy. But it was the final scene, where Darcy and Elizabeth are together and he calls her Mrs. Darcy that Mary grin and blush like an idiot. She pressed a hand to her lips as the two shared a final kiss and the screen faded to black.
The lights came on in the theatre and people started heading toward the exits. Mary took a few moments to sit with the ending, turning to Warren when she wasn't swooning over the ending. He was staring at her with a bright smile. "Good movie choice?" He asked. She nodded, not trusting that she wouldn't start fangirling over the film right that moment. He stood, gently pulling her to her feet. "Let's get some food and you can tell me what you liked."
They left the darkness of the theatre and blinked a few times in the light of the mall. A look at a nearby clock read 6:45 p.m. "So," Warren said as they stepped out of the walking area, though there were hardly any mall goers at the moment. "Paper Lantern for dinner?"
"Sure. You owe me a veggie egg roll and a pork dumpling."
"Why do you say that?" They headed toward the exit.
"The boiled potatoes line, of course, and Mrs. Bennett was far more annoying and cringeworthy in the books. This one doesn't even compare to the BBC version."
"I shouldn't be surprised, but there's a BBC Pride and Prejudice?"
Mary nodded. "I'll have to show you some time because they do more justice to the book. You can get a really good hate of Mr. Wickham in that one and Colin Firth is an amazing Mr. Darcy."
"Guess we'll check it out on our next date."
Mary blinked, looking up at him. "Next date?" She asked.
He nodded slowly, looking a little unsure. "Unless you don't want another date. I thought we were having fun but if you don't think–"
"No, I do," Mary said quickly. She smiled. "I really do. But let's finish this one first. I'm starving, for one thing. And I'd like a chance to plan something with you, too."
Warren smiled back, his expression lightening. "I'm all yours, Pics." Oh, why did those words make her blush so much?
She looked away and stopped. She gripped his hand tighter and pulled him as she headed toward a photo booth. "Come on," she said, sliding onto the bench.
Warren chuckled as he sat next to her and put in a few quarters. Mary leaned against him, grinning at the lens. The tiny screen counted down from three then flashed. Warren put his cheek against hers for the next one but poked her in the side on the third, making her squeak and jump. He was laughing on the fourth one. Two sets of pictures dropped into the tray. Mary laughed at their expressions but Warren rolled his eyes.
"You look cute here," she said, handing him one set.
Warren took the pictures and looked them over. He couldn't hide his slight smile and her stomach fluttered when he drew his thumb across the one of her smiles. Mary dug into her purse and pulled out a few more quarters, sliding them into the machine.
She scooted closer to Warren and grinned at the lens as it started a countdown again. Warren put an arm around her shoulders. She crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue, which made Warren chuckle. Mary tilted her head back to stare at his open face. She didn't know why she was so comfortable with him, why she felt the most free when he was with her, but she knew one thing for certain.
Mary reached up, her fingers touching his cheek. He turned to her, eyes bright with laughter that turned to surprise when she leaned closer. Her eyes drifted closed as her lips met his in a soft kiss, her stomach erupting into butterflies. A second passed and Mary worried for a moment she'd gone too far. Her mind was put at ease when Warren pulled her closer, cupping her cheek with his other hand, and deepening the kiss. She was a little surprised to feel his fingers in her hair but couldn't help but shiver at the tingling that ran down her spine. Warren's lips weren't soft but they were firm and warmer than she thought kisses were supposed to be. Of course, she didn't have anything to compare it to, but that was ok. She'd just have collect more of his kisses to see if it was normal or just this moment.
The photo booth dropped the newer pictures, interrupting their embrace. Mary took a few moments to catch her breath. Warren didn't let go of her waist as he reached for the pictures. She turned her head and gave a breathy laugh as she noticed that picture one was of them both making goofy faces, the second was of her surprising Warren with a kiss, and the third and fourth were of them holding each other close. Mary smiled as she took one of the sets, one arm still resting on his shoulder.
"I'm putting this in my locker," Warren said, slipping his two sets into his jacket pocket and zipping it shut.
Mary put her two in her purse, carefully slipping them into an inside pocket so they wouldn't get wrinkled. "I like that idea," she said. She looked back at him and smiled as he leaned in again to kiss her. She dug her fingers into his loose hair and felt a sense of pride at the hum that escaped him. It was almost like a purr. His hands spread against her back, pulling her in so there was little room left between them. Warren was growing hotter the more they kissed and he eventually had to pull back. Mary opened her eyes and stared in wonder as steam drifted from his lips as he took slow breaths.
"If we don't get going soon I'm going to do something I really shouldn't do in public."
Mary shivered, the hair raising up on her arms in excitement but nodded. "Ok," she said, a bit raspy. Warren held her a moment longer before sliding off the bench, his hand slipping along her side, down her arm, and taking her hand. He helped her out of the booth and a good thing because she thought her knees wouldn't be stable under his heated gaze. Yup. That definitely did something to her. She stepped close to his side, tucking herself under his arm, and they headed to his bike. Mary wrapped har arms around Warren's waist as he started the bike and felt that something more had been added to the moment. She still felt free as they zoomed down the road but there was a bit of comfort in her chest she couldn't describe. But it felt nice and welcoming.
The Paper Lantern was always open until 10 pm during the week even if there weren't as many people dining in. Warren managed to get them seated in a back booth. They sat across from one another, which allowed their legs to touch one another's under the table. The server who took their order gave Warren a knowing smile, which he returned with one of his signature glares. This person didn't have the immunity their friend group had; he scampered away pretty quickly back into the kitchen.
"So it's still working," Mary said. Warren raised a questioning eyebrow. "The glare."
"Usually does," he said, flicking a flame onto the tip of his finger to light the candle on the table.
Mary's lips twitched at the action and sipped some of her hot tea. The small things he did with his powers always seemed to make her happy. They weren't even anything spectacular but the little shows never failed to make her smile.
"About the kiss," Warren said suddenly in the silence. Mary paused, the tea cup resting on her lips. "I'm going to be honest. I liked it. A lot. But if my response was a bit more than you expected and you were uncomfortable, I'm sorry."
Mary couldn't help it. She snorted. Which didn't help when she had hot tea so close to her nose. It burned a little and she set her cup down quickly, coughing as the liquid slid where it shouldn't have gone. She wiped it up with her napkin and waved her hand when Warren looked concerned.
"I'm ok," she said. She set her napkin down and place her hand over his. "Warren, I liked the kiss, too. I mean, I really liked it. And your reaction." She blushed and tried not to look away as she said this. Open communication was what made their friendship so strong and she wasn't going to stop because it was embarrassing to talk about. "I've wanted to kiss you for a while and that seemed like a good time. If I did anything to make you uncomfortable–"
"Only in a good way," he said.
That made Mary blush even more and she did have to look away.
"Was that too much?" Warren asked.
Mary shook her head. "Just…wasn't expecting it." She looked up and met his gaze. "But I'm glad. That you liked it, I mean. I don't have any experience so I was just kinda going for it."
Warren blinked. "Was that you first kiss?" Mary nodded. He frowned slightly. "I should have done something better for you."
"You mean something better than making my toes curl and my stomach flip? You think you're that talented?" She meant it as a joke but really wanted to kick herself when her words registered. What? Why did she say that?
Warren smirked. "Toe curls, huh? Good to know. But I was talking about making it, I don't know, sweeter or something. I was kind of…"
"Passionate?" He nodded. "I don't mind. It was a good first kiss." That got him to smile a bit self satisfactory and she could stop the smile she gave him back.
Their server returned with their food and quickly placed it on the table before hurrying away. Warren put a dumpling and an egg roll on her plate; the spoils of their 'bet' from the movie. Mary slid some of her General Tso's chicken onto his plate in return.
"So," she said after taking a bite of her fried rice. "Thoughts on the movie."
For almost two full hours they talked about the movie, comparing it to the book and rating certain things on its own. Both agreed that they liked the rain scene and the ending. Mary loved the dresses from the grand ballroom scene and Warren admitted that he was tempted to not watch Mr. Collins' proposal to Elizabeth for the amount of embarrassment he felt. Mary laughed, nodded in agreement. It really had been terrible but so well done by the actors. It was just the right amount of train wreck.
They talked about the cinematic choices and the scenic shots, too. Mary wanted to visit every place they filmed, especially Pemberly. If that art was actually there, she wanted to study every piece.
"We should put 'art museum' on out list of potential dates," Warren said, pushing his empty plate toward the edge of the table. The server took it away, leaving two individually wrapped fortune cookies in its place.
Mary leaned back in her seat. "So there's definitely more dates, then?" She said it teasingly but also with a little hope laced in.
Warren grinned. "Most definitely. Like I said, I want to see how far we go with this for however long you're here. If I get too pushy–"
"I'll let you know." Mary gently knocked his leg with hers. "I've been told Peace men are stubborn and need to be kept in line sometimes."
He chuckled. "You're not wrong. We're also hot heads."
"Oh, that was obvious from the beginning."
Warren shrugged in agreement and slid one of the fortune cookies toward her. She slid it into her purse for later. Reading the fortunes inside were hit or miss with her. Sometimes she could laugh about them and other times they mocked her. She didn't want to take the gamble with that tonight. Warren cracked his in half, offering her one piece while he ate the other. He scanned the piece of paper, smirked, and slid it into his pocket. Mary raised an eyebrow and he shrugged. Must have been a generic fortune.
Warren put money on the table to cover the bill and tip. He slid out of the booth offering his hand. Mary took it, enjoying how often he reached out to so often now that they'd crossed that holding hands in public line. She didn't think she was touch starved so maybe it was just Warren's touch she wanted more of.
It was cold as they left the restaurant and Mary shivered. Fall was coming faster than expected. Warren helped her climb up behind him after they secured their helmets. She wrapped her arms around him, glad for his heat and even more glad that he'd taken his jacket off so she could feel more of his solid back and warmth. She didn't want the ride to end as soon as it did. She even sat on the back of his bike, holding tightly even after Warren killed the engine.
His hands came up to rest over hers, running over each digit. He didn't try to take her hands off him but they both knew their night had to end. Mary reluctantly pulled her arms away, resting her hands on his hips as she dismounted. She took her helmet off and blew a few frizzy strands out of her face. Warren reached out and smoothed them away, gently cupping her face a moment later. Mary smiled against his lips as he pulled her in. He tasted a bit like soy sauce and that made her smile even more. They pulled apart but didn't drift far away from each other.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Warren said.
Mary nodded and headed toward her door. She dug in her purse for her keys and found the fortune cookie as well. For some reason, she felt she needed to open it right then. She smoothing the slip of paper flat. Be true to yourself and you will always know love.
There was no certainty for her future. She didn't know how long she was going to be around or if Warren would still like her once she was back in France. But she was going to be selfish and do what she wanted. The date and kiss had started a desire in her and she was going to harness that more. She was going to be bold.
Mary turned and strode back to Warren, who'd been waiting to make sure she got inside safely. She stopped next to him and firmly asked, "Will you be my boyfriend?"
He was stunned for a moment but grinned. Yup, the one that made her stomach go funny. "Thought you'd never ask, Pics."
She reached out, wrapped her fingers around the back of his neck, and pulled in him for a deep kiss. He didn't hesitate in trapping her against his chest and the side of the bike but she didn't care. She focused on the feel of his lips on hers, her fingers in his hair, and the way her entire body felt like it was on fire. And not just because she could feel Warren heating up against her as she gave his bottom lip a soft nip. His grip tightened and his hand ran up her spine while the other rested on her hip.
Eventually, the had to come up for air. Warren rested his forehead against hers, steam drifting from his lips like it had in the photo booth. He kissed her cheek and guided her a few steps away from his bike and back to the door.
"I'll be out front," he said, voice husky. Mary nodded, not trusting that her voice would even be stable after that. She headed back to the front door, opened it, turned, and waved before closing up after herself. She heard the rumble of the engine start and then drive away.
A laugh bubbled out of her. Mary Lamb was officially dating Warren Peace. She'd had her first kiss and now had her first boyfriend. She practically floated to bed.
A.N.: Hey, everyone. Yes, I know I've been away for a while. Life isn't too consistent right now and I honestly don't know what it'll level out but I'll try my best to get this story done. Come what may, I will try to finish this. Thank you for everyone who's stuck around. I really appreciate the support and reviews you leave me. i read every single one of them. Much love and take care.