Angela looked at her in shock.
"How…You know about Ingrid?!" She stammered.
"I told you. I know all about you Angela. And yes I know about Ingrid and that you were Tony's first kiss. In fact I remember the day he told me about it."
"Wait a minute! How could he have? He didn't know it was with me until years later."
"Well that is true he didn't know it was you specifically. But I still remember that day….
BROOKLYN 1967
"So how did you enjoy the movie?" Tony asked Marie.
"Oh, it was great! One of the funniest movies I have ever seen!" She laughed.
"Yeah, and of course we got Robert Redford and Jane Fonda as the leads so that right there was good."
Marie nodded as they continued walking up the street. Tony had his arm around her and she was perfectly content. They had only been out on a few dates but she was falling in love with him. She knew of course her Father disapproved but it wasn't his decision. He thought that Tony was a no good bum and before they started dating she had thought so too. Tony did have a reputation for being a playboy and when he had asked her out she had been hesitant. But a few of her friends; Ginger, Sofia, and Lucia all encouraged her to go for it.
"After all you might as well know what it's like to date that hunk!" Ginger grinned.
So one day in history class she told Tony she would go out on a date with him. His face had lit up in a huge grin. On their first date he had taken her to the local teen hangout. It wasn't much-just some burgers, fries, and milkshakes but they had spent the entire evening getting to know one another. He had walked her home and all the way she had been expecting him to kiss her good night. But when they got to her door all he did was tell her he had a nice time and kissed her on the cheek. A part of her had been disappointed. She had heard from other girls what a terrific kisser he was and all she had gotten was a kiss on the cheek?
On their second date he had taken her bowling. At first she had been a little turned off but after a while started having fun. She wasn't athletic by any means but he was so patient with her and such a good teacher that before she knew it she was rolling the ball down the lane like she was born to do it. Yes, she did have a couple of gutter balls and her score was-well that's not important. The important thing was that she had a lot of fun. And she was sure that this time he would kiss her. But alas once again all he did was kiss her on the cheek after he took her home.
They were now on their third date so maybe third time's the charm? She hoped so because she was getting antsy. She knew other girls would just say: "THE HELL WITH IT!" and kissed him themselves. But she had been brought up as a good, decent, and respectable girl. Her Mother would be so disappointed-and her Father….well she didn't want to even imagine how her Father would react!
Tony looked down at her and felt his heart jumping. He had never felt this way about a girl before. Well except for that girl he had shared his first kiss with. What was her name? Damn! He couldn't remember but he did remember what an amazing kisser she had been. Ever since that moonlit night he had been trying to find someone who kissed like she had. But alas no one even came close. That was why he hadn't kissed Marie yet. What if she was like the other girls? No, wait a minute! She was nothing like them. The other girls were aggressive and opinionated. There wasn't anything wrong with that of course. When he took a girl out he wanted to have some sort of a conversation. He didn't want to be talking to a wall-so to speak. And with Marie thay had great talks. But for some reason he was so nervous about kissing her. From what he knew it would be her first kiss and he didn't want to mess it up.
"Hey, it's still a little early. How about we get an ice cream cone and go sit in the park?" Tony suggested.
"Yeah, that sounds good."
They walked to the local ice cream shop and got two cones. Mint Chocolate Chip for her and Cherry Vanilla for him. They walked to the nearby park and sat down on one of the benches. For a few minutes they enjoyed the warm night air and the sweetness of the ice cream. After they were done they sat back and he laid his arm across her shoulders.
"Tony, can I ask you something?"
"Of course you can."
"Who was the first girl you kissed?"
Tony gulped. She wanted to know about that? Why?
"Why do you want to know about her?"
Marie shrugged. "I'm just curious."
"Oh well...She was just a girl."
"Was it someone from the neighborhood?"
"UMMM actually no. She wasn't."
Marie turned so she was facing him. "Oh? Then where did you meet her?"
"It was at this Y camp I went to when I was 11."
"You were 11 when you had your first kiss?"
'Yeah, although I told the girl I was 13." He admitted sheepishly.
"Why did you tell her that?"
"Because she was 13 and I didn't think she would want to kiss me if she knew I was only 11 so I lied."
Marie chuckled. 'Oh Tony!"
"Yeah, I know. But hey I was just a kid! I'm just glad she didn't know that Bruce was…" He felt his face getting hot. 'Oh never mind." He waved a hand in the air.
"What? Bruce was what? Who was Bruce?" She fired off the questions at him.
"Oh, he was just another camper. From New Jersey, I think."
'Okay, what about this Bruce?"
Tony sighed. "All right I'll tell you. He was hiding in the bushes and was timing our kiss."
Marie looked at him aghast. "Tony! I don't believe you!"
Tony hung his head. "I know. It wasn't my finest hour. But hey I made good money!"
As soon as the words left his mouth he wished he could take them back.
"You made money off this poor girl?"
Tony picked his head back up. "Yeah, I did. And I know it was a rotten thing to do. '
"Do you at least remember her name?"
At his reddening face she knew that he didn't.
She sighed and shook her head.
"Okay, okay. I know I sound like a jerk. But I couldn't help it. I also know I'll never forget that moment. It was one of the best moments of my life. I mean the weird thing was she wasn't usually the type of girl I go for. She was tall, clumsy, and very shy. But there was something so sweet and endearing about her." His face and voice took on a dreamy and far away look.
"Oh Geez Marie! I'm so sorry!"
"About what?"
"Well here we are out on a date and I'm all googly-eyed for another girl. "
Marie laughed. "Hey, it's fine. I was the one who bought it up!"
"No, it isn't fine. I mean yeah I will always remember that night but it was five years ago and we will never see one another ever again. She probably has forgotten all about me."
'I doubt that Tony. You are a hard guy to forget." She said softly.
Tony smiled and brushed his hand over her cheek.
"And you are a hard girl to resist."
Before she knew what was happening Tony lowered his head to hers and gently kissed her. It was slow at first but then increased in intensity. After a few minutes they pulled apart.
"That was better than I expected." She smiled.
"Yeah, it sure was."
She smacked him on the arm.
"OW! What was that for?" He looked at her in confusion.
"That was for that poor camp girl!"
"Marie, you don't even know her!"
"That doesn't matter! Tony, girls stick together!" She smirked and kissed him on the cheek.
PRESENT DAY
Angela burst out laughing. "You really hit him?"
"Damn right I did! I was insulted on your behalf!"
"Well thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Angela, look I know that you are having a hard time believing that Tony does love you-especially with the way he had blurted it out like he did. But believe me he does."
'And soon he will prove just how much he does love you.' Marie wanted to warn her about what was coming but she knew that she couldn't. It wasn't her place.
"Marie, I'm sorry I just can't."
"Angela, stop! Look, you need to talk to him. And yes it will be a long and painful one but the two of you need to get everything out in the open."
"Yeah, I know. It was just...I needed some time alone."
"Yeah, I get that, But now you need to talk to him."
"Okay, I will."
Marie smiled. "Good. Okay I have to go now." She stood up.
"I guess I better get going too." Angela started to stand up but Marie waved her back down.
"No, you stay here."
"But, how will I talk to Tony?"
"Oh don't worry about that! Tony will find you! He always does."
Angela smiled. "Thank you Marie."
"You're welcome. And Angela?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you for taking such good care of my little girl." A tear fell down her cheek but her smile was warm and genuine. She blew her a kiss and turned and walked away.
##################################
Tony was beyond restless. He was agitated, scared, and going out of his mind! Where in the hell was she? Had she been in an accident? Was she at Andy's? All kinds of possibilities swirled through his head.
You're the meaning in my life.
You're the inspiration!
"What the…how did the radio turn on all by itself?" He switched it off.
You're the meaning in my life
You're the inspiration!
"Okay, this is weird. Oh great, the radio has some stupid short in it!"
He would have to get it looked at but he had more important things to do. And finding Angela was definitely at the top of the list.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! This is D.J. Bob. You all remember that tune from Chicago right?"
'Yeah, I remember." Tony answered him.
D.J. Bob chuckled. "It reminds me of Happy Days when they would all go up to Inspiration Point and make out."
Tony laughed. "Yeah, that was a good show."
"It was a good show." D.J. Bob said.
"Hey, wait a minute. D.J. Bob sounds like that guy from the gas station!"
"So anyway…." D.J. Bob started talking about something else but Tony was only half listening.
Make out?
Inspiration Point?
A weird but warm feeling overcame him.
'Wait a minute! What's this? Mike ot at Inspiration Point?'
'Oh, that's make out.'
"Well it's too bad that you didn't get to finish your list.'
"Yeah, I came so close.'
'I guess it was something you really wanted?'
'Well it would give me a real sense of completion.'
'Completion's good. Completion's good.'
"Oh my God! Is that where she is?!" He pulled into someone's driveway and turned around.
"It has to be! Maybe the radio turning on by itself was a sign or something. Not that I believe in that stuff but.." He was rambling but he couldn't stop.
After about ten minutes he pulled up to Inspiration Point. He exited his jeep and began looking around.
"Oh, please let her be here!" He said a silent prayer and kept on looking.
Then he spotted a car.
It was a jaguar.
A few feet away he noticed someone sitting on a bench staring off in the distance.
It was her!
He breathed a sigh of relief and jogged towards her.
"Angela!"
Angela turned her head.
"Tony!"
He stopped by the bench.
"How did you know where I was?"
"It wasn't easy."
Angela shrugged, "I don't know how I ended up here."
Tony sat down.
"Angela, We need to talk."
##########################
A/N: As always the lines from the show the credit goes to the writers!
