Double Dates

Chapter 4: Old Friends and Engagements

James and Amelia dropped Percy and Skylar off at their apartment. Amelia smirked at Sky and blew a kiss. Skylar shook her head and flipped her off.

Amelia giggled and waved as James pulled away.

"What time is our romantic dinner at?" she asked.

"Four o'clock. I thought we could do some shopping around the restaurant until it's time for our reservations," James said with a smile, grabbing her hand in his.

"You hate shopping."

"I only like shopping when it's with you," James said, quickly glancing in her direction. Amelia brought their clasped hands to her lips and gently placing a kiss on his knuckles.

They drove into the north end and window shopped for a bit. When they started to walk down the street to her favorite Italian restaurant, Fiore's, she gasped.

"I told you, romantic dinner," James said with a smile. Amelia stopped and pulled him to place a chaste kiss on his lips.

"I love you," she whispered, as she pulled him ahead.

The maitre'd asked if they had a reservation and James gave his name. The two of them followed the maitre'd up the stairs to a secluded table with a vase of roses and candles.

"You keep getting yourself brownie points by the minute," Amelia muttered as he pulled out the chair for her. James smiled and said he would be right back he just had to make sure some things were in order. Her eyebrows furrowed as she tried to think of dates. It wasn't any sort of anniversary, nor birthday. Which kinda only left two things: a proposal or break up. She gulped at the thought of a break up. She hoped to god it wasn't a break up.

James came back with a nervous smile and shaky hands. The waitress asked if they were ready to order. James ordered for both of them.

Conversation was small and Amelia's nerve started again just slightly.

If only she knew how nervous James actually was.

Dinner came and went and nothing happened that she thought she had to worry over. The waitress asked if they would like anything for dessert. Amelia ordered two cannolis to bring home and a cup of tea for herself. She sipped the tea as James told her stories of the current eighth graders and how there were two new girls, just like Skylar and herself. She laughed at the thought of what notes they passed and how they would have swooned at just the sight of him.

"One day, remind me to show you the notes Skylar and I passed during chemistry," she remembered as James signed the check and grabbed the cannolis. He handed her a rose which she spun in delicate circles between her thumbs and forefingers.

"I'm definitely going to take you up on that," James said. He offered his elbow which she took without hesitation and down the sidewalk in the brisk New England winter air.

When they walked past the car, James didn't say anything, and neither did she. They walked to the ice rink not far from the restaurant and James got them both skates. He admitted to not knowing how to skate and Amelia promised to not let him fall.

"Suppose I get a broken leg, or arm," he started skeptically. She rolled her eyes, "Suppose world war three breaks, suppose a meteor hits. You can hold my hand if it'll make you feel steady."

"I don't know how," James said, "But you managed to make that sound a little risque."

She giggled at their Downton Abbey exchange. Slowly they slid onto the ice; Amelia went on gracefully while James went on with uneasy knees. He frantically gripped her hand and she let out a little yelp in pain. Instantly, he let go to apologize. Without the support of Amelia, James' legs went out from under him. As he fell, he grabbed her knees on instinct and brought her down on top of him. She giggled and slowly rose to her feet. Amelia offered James her hand with a smile, but he waved it off and started to struggle on the ice.