I don't know where this ends, but I think I'll keep going

T-MINUS 12 YEARS, 2 MONTHS, 28 DAYS, 9.5 HOURS (OR CRASH & BURN)

They skid up to the front of the El Diablo Cantina, a sleazy looking joint known more for its cheap shots than its decent Tex-Mex fare.

"Is this a safe establishment?" asked Bella. "It doesn't look like it would have a very high rating."

"It's the best Mexican food in town, right, Alejandro?" asked Randy greeting the maître d.

"Ha! Agujero en la pared!" replied Alejandro stating it was a crappy hole in the wall.

"You don't speak Spanish do you?" Randy asked Bella. She shook her head looking at Alejandro as if he just asked her to hand over her purse.

"He said they have the best food in the world!"

They headed in and Bella quickly took a table up front. Randy wanted to head for the back near the bar and its scarier denizens, but Bella wanted to be as close to the door as possible in case she had to make a run for it.

"Two shots of tequila," Randy ordered when the waitress came up.

"Oh none for me!" said Bella. "Can I please get a Zinfandel spritzer with 7-Up and lime. Light on the wine please. Should you be drinking and driving, Randy?" Bella inquired, her face full of concern.

"YOLO!" shouted Randy as the shots arrived. He pounded back one and offered Bella the other. She demurely declined as she sipped her spritzer through a thin straw keeping her purse on the table where she could see it. "Live a little. I thought you liked tequila."

Bella's lip quivered and her eyes focused on the table. Randy could see the clouds forming in her eyes. This is not what he wanted. He felt like such a jerk.

"It's her you wanted to date, isn't it?" asked Bella. "I get it. I'm not the fun one."

"That's not true. I just thought – I thought DBX was the one who wanted me. I mean the next morning, you reacted so - strongly about me being in your bed."

"Do you know what it's like to wake up and realize you don't remember what you did?"

Randy eyed the second shot of tequila and did understand, but he let her talk.

"It's – I want you to like me for who I am. I felt a connection, a genuine feeling for you at the Mercury on stage, Randy."

Randy had felt it too. Maybe there was a way to turn this around. He had an idea, but it meant leaving Bella alone for a minute and he wasn't sure if she would go for that. He excused himself but stayed in her sight lines as he approached Alejandro and whispered in his ear. He came back over to the table with Alejandro.

"I have to – use the little boys room, but Alejandro will keep you company until I get back and then we can leave, Bella."

"Senorita Bella?" exclaimed Alejandro. "Are you really Senorita Bella Del Sur? Hey everybody!" he shouted to the restaurant. "Southern Bella is in the house!"

To Randy's surprise many of the patrons got up from their chairs to get a better look and the majority started clapping. Was this Alejandro's doing?

"Please, you must sing for us. Serenade us with just one song!"

Bella took Alejandro's hand as he helped her from her chair, and he bent and kissed it gallantly. Is he hitting on my date? fumed Randy. He had only asked Alejandro to make a big deal of her so that she could sing a song and maybe loosen up and have some fun. He didn't want their date to end on such a sour note. Bella flushed and turned to Randy.