Love on the carpet

Tacos

Chris POV

We pulled up outside a little place that sells the best tacos in LA. I get out of the car and hold my hand out for Sam to take. We walk to the restaurant, I see my old friend behind the counter
"Hello Chris" he shakes my hand "and who is this beautiful lady?"
"This is Sam and she wants to try your tacos Pete. Told her they are the best in town, so make em extra special for me would you"
"Absolutely. Nice to meet you Sam"
"Nice to meet you Pete" she shakes his hand and he kisses the back of it. She smiles.
After we get our food we had back to the car, I tell the driver to take us to the park. I know a spot there, which looks over a beautiful lake. We pull up and I tell Sam to follow me.
"Your not going to kill me are you?" She asks with a smirk on her face.
"I don't know" I laugh "depends on what you say about the tacos"
She starts laughing too. We sit down at the bench and I tell her to dig in.
She takes a bite "oh my god" she moans "that's so nice"
"Right?"
We eat our tacos and just chat about random things.
"So where you from Sam?"
"Boston originally"
"No way. Me too"
"Small world"
"Is that how you know about Christopher Haven"
"Kind of yeah. They erm.....they took care of my brother when he was sick"
"Oh I'm sorry, is he okay now?"
She shakes her head "no.....he died when he was 18."
"Oh god I'm sorry Sam"
"It's okay you didn't know"
There is silence for a while, I'm such an idiot.
"Chris?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you for tonight."
"I should be thanking you, you helped make this night not so bad"
She laughs "aren't you used to nights like this?"
"Yeah but i still hate all the attention being on me. My anxiety kicks up a storm normally but with you by my side tonight it wasn't so bad"
"I'm glad I could help. So how long you in LA for?"
"End of the month and then I'm going back to Boston thank god. What about you?"
"Yeah me too. I leave for Boston in 2 weeks"
"No way. Well maybe we could hang out when we are both back"
"That's sounds good"
"What are you doing in LA then?"
"I'm a music producer, I'm currently running the LA office for my uncle while he tries to find a replacement. His last manager kind of walked out on him so I figured I'd help"
"Wow. You close to your uncle?"
"Yeah. He raised me and brother"
"Oh right. Parents?"
"Alcoholics and drug users. They weren't the nicest of people so my uncle made sure he got us out of there before we got hurt too badly"
The realisation kicks in, she was abused as a kid.
"Sounds like a rough child hood"
"It was, worse for my brother really. He always tried to protect me"
"So your the baby sister?"
"Yeah only by 2 years. You have siblings?"
"I do yeah, 2 sisters and a brother"
"So you know what's it like to want to protect them from everything"
"Oh definitely. We are all really close"
"That's nice"
I could tell she was getting upset talking about her brother so I changed the subject.
"So when you get back to Boston, what's your plans?"
"I run the Boston office for my uncle so I'll probably have no end of things to get sorted when I get back. My uncle is currently in England talking with a couple of artist about albums and stuff so he trust me to sort everything over here"
"You enjoy your job?"
"I do, I love it. And I earned it you know. My uncle wanted to just give me the job when I finished university but I wouldn't let him. I told him to put me through what anyone else would. So he did and I came out on top"
"That's amazing. I love it when a woman is strong and independent. You should always work for what you want"
"Damn right"
We talk for a while longer when I notice her shiver "you cold?"
"A little yeah" I take my suit jacket off and place it around her shoulders. "Thank you"
"No problem"
"Do you want to head back to the hotel?"
"No, I think I want to take a walk around that lake"
"Really?"
"Yeah, unless you want to go back"
"No. I'm happy to take a walk"
"Okay then"
We walk around the lake and look out at the beautiful view.
"This place is beautiful"
"It really is. I come here when I need to think. It's one of the only quiet places in LA"
"Yeah, I've noticed it's a loud and busy place. I miss my lake at home in Boston. I'll have to show you one day. It's a great kept secret"
"I look forward to it. You know your not what I expected?"
"I'm not?"
"No, when they told me they were giving my fans a chance to be my date tonight. I was so scared I would end up with someone who just either stared at me all the time or cried or screamed. Not someone who is a natural in front of the cameras and so relaxed around me"
"Well, your a human being and I would hate to waste this opportunity of talking to you by being a complete weirdo. Plus being in the music industry I'm kind of used to it all. The cameras and interviews. None of it bothers me"
"So are you a fan or did you just do this for Christopher haven?"
"Mostly for Christopher Haven"
"Ouch"
She giggles "I'm joking. I am a fan. I think your an amazing actor"
"Thank you. So which cap film is your favourite?"
"I don't really have a favourite. I love marvel so big fan but I think I became a fan of yours when you did sunshine. I love that film"
"You do?"
"Yeah. Did not get the recognition that it deserved at all"
"Thank you. That's one of my favourite roles I've played"
I smiled as she looked out across the water. She was such a sweet and kind person and she didn't just like me because of being Cap she actually thinks I'm talented. I really want to get to know her more and now I know she is from Boston. It's like the universe is trying to tell me something.