First Encounter (A Perri Kiely story)

Chapter 14

Perri took extra special care over his appearance today. He was determined to make the most of his newfound time by having an extended lunch with Laura. He prepared topics, jokes and questions to make sure he kept her attention. He would have brought revision cards if it didn't look weird. He only had a small part in the group number because he was a solo act this week. He found it strange practicing without Vanessa. His mind was only half on the task, he still managed to avoid Joe slipping and careening into anyone nearby. Lunchtime couldn't come soon enough. Perri's watch buzzed at 11:45 am. He said his goodbyes and speedskated through the archway to where he had put his bag before practice. As soon as his skates were off and his shoes on then he ran to his room to dump his bags and spray some more cologne, he didn't have time to shower but he hadn't broken a sweat at all.

He saw Laura making her way down the corridor as he locked up. She hadn't seen him yet so he tiptoed behind her and covered her eyes with his hands.

"Guess who?" he asked. Laura jumped but recognised his voice.

"Ashley Banjo?" she laughed at her own joke as Perri grabbed her shoulders and spun her round to face him.

"As if!" he scoffed. Earning a chuckle from Laura. "Did you manage to get a longer lunch break?" he asked hopefully.

"yep" she announced proudly. "I don't take many lunches so my boss was happy to give me some extra time off."

"whoohoo" he squeaked in a small voice. He leaned over her and opened the door. "After you." He said bowing low. Laura grabbed him and pulled him up

"Stop doing that!" she laughed

"I'm being a gentleman" He protested

"You don't need to bow though" she scrunched her nose. Perri thought she looked really cute. He let her open her door this time as he got into his side of the pool car. He drove to the same pub and directed her to a quiet area and a crescent shaped booth by a pretty bay window. A reserved sign sat on top of the table which was set for two.

"Oooh this table is nice." She said looking through the window to the countryside views. No sooner than they had settled in their seat, a pub worker came over with two glasses of coke. Laura raised her eyebrows, had he prepared ahead? She wondered. Perri handed her a menu as the employee told them she would be back to take their order. Laura watched her head back to the bar.

"I could have sworn this was a self-service place," She told him, looking confused.

"It is," he replied, taking a sip of coke and looking proud as punch. Laura was gobsmacked. He had called ahead, secured a lovely seat and arranged table service just for lunch. "Is that OK?" he asked, all his bravado had suddenly disappeared. Laura looked doubly shocked.

"You're acting like I'm the celebrity!" she stammered pointing at herself. Perri looked straight at her, his eyes large, his expression neutral, which set his lips in a cupid's bow curve.

"You are." He said simply. Laura's heart skipped a beat. She gripped her menu tight and scanned the contents. Perri quietly looked on.

"Er...So what are you going to have?" She asked....just to break the silence. Perri picked up his menu and finally ripped his eyes away from Laura,

"I'm actually quite hungry," he said, "I'm going for the salmon pasta, the garlic bread and halloumi fries." Laura's eyes widened.

"Wow, I've put on weight just listening to that, she laughed.

"Vanessa and Ash will make me burn it off!" He replied. The woman came to take their order and Perri relaxed a little, slouching back in the seat. The padded seat was one unit and Laura had daintily perched on one side while Perri was gradually spreading out on the other. How are you finding working at Dancing on Ice?" He asked as he fiddled with a beer mat.

"Good," She answered, "It's fascinating seeing all the work that goes on behind the scenes." Perri nodded.

"I remember my first tv appearance on BGT" I couldn't believe what they showed on the telly, we were waiting all day for that!"

"yeah there's a lot of editing." That's my favourite part, collecting all the footage and turning it into the finished product.

"If you like editing you can help me with my tiktok videos." He said, pulling out his phone. "I love watching other people's tiktoks, but mine aren't that good." He handed her his phone, "Have a look." He handed her his headphones. She watched a video of him in a red hoody flipping his phone up behind his back and catching it effortlessly while still dancing perfectly to the beat, she swiped up and saw another where he had reversed the footage so he was sliding up the spiral stairs in his dance studio, she chuckled as she swiped again and saw a sweet video of him dancing with his whole Diversity crew on his birthday. She wanted to keep going but she realised she had the real thing right in front of her, so she made a mental note to check them all out when she got home.

"They are really good" she said taking the headphones out and handing him them along with his phone.

"Thank you, I just wish I had more followers he said"

"I'm sure you'll get more followers, just keep posting videos regularly" she reassured him.

Their small talk continued until their order interrupted them. Perri's huge pile of food looked like he was feeding them both, Laura looked at her chicken salad and laughed. "I think I hate you."

"Don't hate the plate'" he rapped and clicked his tongue in a terrible cheesy dj impression Laura belly laughed. There was a comfortable silence as they ate. Apart from the MMMM noises from Perri who was moving to imaginary music in his head as he attacked his salmon pasta.

"How's your salad?" He eventually asked.

"It's not as nice as your pasta." she replied, Perri wrapped some creamy spaghetti around his fork and raised it in her direction.

"Do you want to try some?" he asked. Laura looked torn, she did, but she was trying to figure out whether it was appropriate second date behaviour. Was it even a date? What if she spilled it on her top, would he think she was an idiot? Perri smiled at her and brought the fork to her mouth. "Have some." It sounded like an order but it was spoken in a soft, warm voice, that combined with his unwavering eye contact compelled Laura. She found his assertiveness irresistible. She opened her mouth and he deftly fed her his pasta. It was delicious.

Perri was barely holding it together. The image he had just seen would stay with him forever. It took all of his willpower to not climb on the table and kiss her. But he wanted to do this right. He would treat this woman like a princess for as long as she let him. They returned to Bovingdon after their lunch and he stopped just before the doors to the building. He again felt the strong desire to lean down and capture Laura's lips in his. He thought them so kissable, full and shapely and in a pretty pink shade. Instead he pulled her in for a hug.

"Thank you for coming to lunch with me" he said as he released her.

"Thank you for taking me, and paying" I mean it though, I want to pay for the next one. Laura said pointing.

"There'll be a next one then...?" Laura wasn't sure if he was joking or whether he thought she was being presumptuous. She decided to take a punt.

"If you're lucky...!" She wanted to leave it hanging while she made a dramatic exit but Perri put his hand on the door as she tried to pull it open. The door didn't budge so she was forced to turn back and face the music. She held her breath while she waited for his reply.

Perri had no idea where his sudden caveman tendencies came from, his amygdala was fully in charge and that part of his brain wasn't letting her go until he had sealed the deal on another date. "I'm a lucky guy." He smiled, "and I want to take you out properly this time, on a Saturday night."

Laura wasn't sure her brain was firing correctly, between his proximity, so close she was catching his delicious smell, and his display of assertiveness and strength she was unable to think straight. So she just answered based on her heart...or other areas of her body....

"I'd like that." She replied looking up at him to show she was serious. Perri released his hold on the door and watched as she spun round and pulled it open as fast as she could. He stared at the door for some time after she had gone, ideas for dates swimming around in his mind.