A Stooge's Teacher

Ch. 3 - Innuendos and Greek Food

Chapter Three – Innuendos and Greek Food

The door opened with a force and Colin stepped back instinctively. "You're ten minutes early." She said, looking flustered. He didn't reply because the sight of her had knocked out his breath. Her auburn curls fell loosely around her face and her clothes accentuated her natural beauty. What immediately caught his eyes, however, were the cute dimples around her mouth that were deeper because of her exasperated look. She cocked her head and wove a hand in front of his face. "Earth to Colin! – I said, come in." Colin shook his head. He didn't realize he'd been staring. "Sorry! – You look stunning, Rachel." He stepped forward and handed her a single white rose. "I know it's corny, but I can't risk any more charges." Rachel chuckled and closed the door behind him. "Thank you. Please, come in. Make yourself at home. I just need to grab a purse and put on my shoes." She gestured him forwards, towards the living room. She turned back and opened a built-in closet to retrieve a vase with which she walked into the kitchen. He heard running water and a small ouch. "Everything okay, Rachel?" He asked. "Yeah. Just burned my finger a little bit testing the water temp. Can I get you anything to drink?" She called back from the kitchen. "No, thanks. I'm okay. We'll be off in a few minutes." Rachel entered the room through another doorway to his left and put the vase containing the rose in the center of the dining table. "Right. I'll just be five minutes." She smiled at him and Colin couldn't help but marvel at his luck. While listening to her shuffling down the hall, he started to take in his surroundings. The room was large and the window front offered a spectacular view of Downton Hartford. To his left, a round dining table seating eight stood on a platform. To his right, was an L-shaped, dark grey lounge-style sofa. It was decked out with throw pillows in different sizes, textures, and colors, though each picked up either the wall or couch colors. The couch faced an enormous TV and partly hid a row of four huge built-in book cases, all holding rows, and rows of books and DVDs. A sliding door seamlessly finished off the wall. Colin was curious and walked towards the door which stood ajar. He was just about to look around the corner when he heard a small cough behind him. "Are you peeking?" "No, never!" He'd shot around at the sound and looked like a deer caught in headlights. "Yeah, a likely story, Mister." She scolded. "Play your cards right and I might ask you back in tonight after dinner." Colin grinned while she blushed crimson at her own words. "Well, I won't refuse that invitation when it comes around." He walked over to her, grinning at her embarrassment but ignoring the innuendo. "Are you ready?" Rachel's mouth curved into a smile when she replied. "Yeah. I am." She took out her keys and ushered him out. Colin walked ahead and called for the elevator. He led her inside, gently touching her on the small of her back. When his hand had first made contact, he felt her tense for the briefest of moments, though for himself nothing seemed more normal or comfortable.

Once outside, his driver saw them approach and he started to get out, but Colin gave him a sign to leave the gallantry up to him. He stopped at the car and opened the back door. "Uh, such a gentleman." Rachel joked although this didn't feel like a joke at all. The rose, the subtle but easy body contact, the car service, the gallantry. All those little things that had just happened during the last ten minutes, made Rachel feel incredibly aware of herself and the man next to her. She had zoned out and just now realized that he was looking at her intensely. "Well, now I'm sorry for zoning out." Colin's smile was easily the most contagious thing she'd come across in some time. She couldn't help but smile, too. "That's alright. May I ask, what had you wrapped up in your thoughts?" He moved his body to sit sideways, facing her. "Oh, ehm. Just the general idea of being on a date is making me feel awkward. – I haven't been on one in years." She looked down and her warm smile changed into a thoughtful upward turn of her mouth. "And I probably shouldn't have admitted to that." "But that doesn't seem right. I honestly can't imagine that any man would be able to resist your charm and beauty." Realizing what he'd said, Colin looked at the floor and chuckled at his forward manner. "But maybe it will help to know, that I haven't been on a date such as this one in – probably – ever." Rachel's head shot up. "How do you mean?" He registered her confused look and immediately went on. "Oh, no! Please don't think I meant that in a bad way. It's everything good, honestly. It's just that usually my dates aren't this casual because women always expect me to live up to my last name and what society demands of that. The white rose would have been deemed inappropriate, a red rose would have sent the wrong message, and not bringing anything would quite simply have been thought of as rude." Rachel's expression softened and her eyes sparkled. "Well, now I also understand those comments about your nanny's disapproval. – I love the rose. White is beautiful." Her body was angled the same as his, with one knee resting on the seat and her torso facing him. Colin beamed. "Thank you. It means a lot. To be honest, I was so nervous about tonight. Like I said before I haven't had a date like this and making mistakes –" He was using air quotes here. "was never something I was really worried about, just because I knew what was expected." Rachel shook her head a little and replied. "Since this is a very unusual date, I will just go ahead and keep it unusual by saying that how you describe society makes me want to run away screaming. It all just sounds fake and so surreally insignificant. This makes me celebrate my dad all over again for not forcing us into those circles." Colin had followed her words attentively and noticed her last comment. "How do you mean?" "Well, my dad was born into Boston high society circles. After attending Harvard and thus following his family's traditions, he fled to Montréal where he had gotten a job in business – don't ask me what he did. All I know is that he succeeded big time and his father, my grandfather, turned out to be super proud of him and didn't disown him as planned." Rachel's face shone with love while she talked about her family's history but Colin was sure he detected a little bit of sadness in her tone, too. He felt reminded of his relationship with his dad. What would Andrew McCrae have done had he, Colin, run off? The thought had occurred to him a couple of times but then again, he loved the affluent lifestyle his family money afforded him. Why give it up? He turned his attention back to Rachel. "I mean I went to prep-school and all but our life was still very much normal, especially back in Montréal." Now she definitely looked a bit sad as if she were remembering a happier time. Colin wanted to know what caused her face to fall but he decided that it was better to keep the conversation a little lighter for now. "Oh man, I got myself a Canadian!" He said dramatically. Rachel chuckled at his sarcastic comment and quipped: "Guess we're both out of our leagues here!" "So, how was the can of future? Or what did you call it?" Rachel laughed and answered: "You mean the can of worms that is the future? Well, my homeroom was very happy with the fact that I conceded to them leaving a bit earlier after my open disregard for the rules. They are very good negotiators. But when that was settled, they were tame and listening quietly." "Which grade are they?" "Junior year. And this week will give them a glimpse at what their futures could look like." "Why this week especially?" "It's Shopping Week." "Isn't it always – I mean for women?" "Very funny, Mister! But yes. It is." Rachel grinned. "At Chilton, we have this program adapted from college Shopping Week, you know the first week or two when you try out classes. In our context, it means Juniors participate in university classes at Southern Connecticut State and Yale or intern at local businesses." "Okay, that sounds cool." "Well, it is, but most Juniors are pretty reluctant to accept that high school has to end and mostly don't want to focus on Senior year and college applications. But that is what I wanted to achieve, decrease anxiety about the future." Colin cocked his head. "You?" "Yeah, I implemented the program four years ago. We're running it for the third consecutive year now." "Wow, that's impressive!" Rachel blushed slightly. Why? Praise for her professional accomplishments had never been a problem for her but hearing it from Colin, an interesting, successful, and hot stranger, was different. The car stopped and Rachel reached to open her door when Colin grabbed her hand. "I'll do that. – Remember my nanny!" His smile was disarming and the private joke had her burst out laughing. Colin came around quickly to open her door. Rachel took his offered hand and stepped out.