I'm Fine

Chapter Six - Mr. McKinley

January 

"Well, boy, I'm at it again. Another date, another pretty lady." I commented as I struggled with putting on my bow tie. Bear responded with three short barks. Probably criticizing my attempt.

"I know, I'm usually good at putting on a bow tie, but I'm nervous. Plus, I never wear a silk bow tie, which is probably what makes this attempt that much harder. I have to shake something up. I feel like nothing is working." I muttered as I began to get frustrated with the silk dancing between my fingers. Bear wandered over and rubbed his body against my leg.

"I know, buddy, I know. We will find the right girl." I reached down and patted the top of his head. He sat on his back legs, staring straight up at me. I got down on his level, stretching my legs around him and pulling him in close.

"Hey, not all of them were bad. There was one that talked loudly, and I know you were very fond of her." As if he could understand me, he began to let out a low growl.

"Hey, I'm kidding. Oh wait, there was the one that sneezed all over you." I joked as I began to scratch the back of his head. He started panting, obviously not genuinely understanding the conversation we were having.

"There was also the one with the pretty voice." I said quietly. Bear stopped panting and lowered his head into my lap. "Yeah, I liked her too." I let out a sigh before standing up and attempting the bow tie again.

"Don't worry, buddy. We will find someone like her again." I commented as I started to get the silk to work with me finally. Once I was done tieing it, I turned to grab my jacket and gave Bear one more scratch behind the ear.

"If it doesn't work out tonight, I know I still have you to come home to." Bear began to pant again and let out a small bark. I let out a chuckle as I slid on my shoes and made my way to the door. As I grabbed the handle, I turned to the nearest mirror and made sure everything looked alright.

"Here goes nothing." I tried encouraging the person in the mirror.

I arrived at the restaurant a few minutes early. I always tried to do this because the one girl that arrived before me, never let me live it down.

She swore that she was standing there for hours alone, in the cold, when I was only ten minutes late from the discussed time. I made my way in and approached the man behind the front counter.

"Hi, reservation for two under McKinley." I stated, trying to keep my calm but knowing full well that I was coming off as nervous. The man was nice enough to act like he was ignoring it.

"Yes, I have your table ready now. Do you want to be seated now or wait for the other person?" He asked.

I froze; I never thought of it that way. Usually, I sit first and get some water ordered, but then again, is it more respectful to meet them at the door? Even if the man didn't sense me panicking before, he was now.

"Sir, might I suggest claiming your table now. Once the other person arrives, you can greet them before pulling their chair out." He mentioned with a look of calm in his eyes.

This was usually what I did, but I never did the chair thing. I did say I wanted to change things up tonight. I couldn't get out a response, so I simply nodded to the man and followed him to the table.

As he sat me and took my drink order, I began to feel calmer finally. I still felt the urge to jump every time someone entered the room, but I had to remind myself that this place is too fancy for a panic attack. I tried to distract myself by looking at the menu.

Just skimming through the appetizers almost gave me a stroke. These prices were unbelievable. I knew I was nervous in general, but this wasn't the kind of place I would take a girl for the first date.

In fact, I've never taken a girl to a place like this. I only decided that this was the right place for this date because my date was a college professor. There was no way I would ask her to go to a bar-and-grill type of place on the first date.

Just as I thought I couldn't get any more nervous, she walked in. Of course, she is wearing a slim black dress that flowed down to her knees. Her hair is curled and pulled back towards the top, letting the bottom curls fall free down her shoulders. I was speechless; she was stunning, breathtaking...beautiful.

As she approached the table, I remembered my manners. Hastily, I made my way around and pulled out her chair. As I made my way back around, I quickly grabbed my water glass and took a chug, hoping to calm my nerves. It didn't work.

"Hi." She said shyly.

"Hello," I muttered back. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you." She blushed. Thank God she was as nervous as I was.

"So, how do you know Darrell?" She began. This conversation starter was perfect because he is the reason we are meeting tonight, and I wondered the same thing.

"He is an old friend of mine. He worked at the school, where I teach, before he decided to become a professor." I calmly stated, praying that my voice didn't sound as shaky as I thought it did.

"Oh yeah, where do you teach?" She asked.

We talked for some time, getting to know the basics about each other. She now knows that I am a twelfth grade English teacher, who runs the student council and lives in an apartment with my dog, Bear. I was nervous about discussing the apartment with her, but I've just learned to lay it out on the table immediately.

I dated a girl who found out that I lived in an apartment on the third date, and suddenly she was no longer interested in me. I never understood it because I have plenty of money. Enough to buy a house and still have extra, I just wanted to wait to buy a home with someone special. I couldn't imagine just me and Bear living in a large house alone.

I learned that she was a professor of multiple classes, mostly ones revolving around the law. She also lived in an apartment and was the president of the student council in high school.

It wasn't much, and I wanted to know more about her, but the waiter had asked for our order three times, so we finally decided to look at the menu. I still was disgusted at the prices, but I felt good about spending this kind of money on her, she seemed genuine and sweet.

"Oh my goodness, these prices." She commented from behind her menu.

"Yeah, this place runs a little bit higher than normal." I tried to joke, "But please don't let the prices scare you, I don't mind." I lied.

"No, there is no way I am going to allow you to spend this kind of money on me." She replied as she closed her menu and pushed it away.

"Honestly, it's fine." I insisted as I tried to slide her menu back towards her. She reached over to push it back my way, but instead, her hand landed on top of mine. A warm smile began to spread across her face.

"Honestly, what sounds good to me right now, is a big greasy cheeseburger." I felt a smile creep across my face as I turned my hand underneath hers and clasped my fingers around her hand.

"Well then, let's go!" I announced eagerly.