Separated by the Sea

A Date With Red

Dez POV
I was so anxious to spend time alone with Piero. What if he didn't like me after all? What if I was less than he expected me to be. I snapped the last clip into my thick, wavy, brown hair and examined my appearance in front of the mirror. I was wearing the same black skirt from yesterday, but wore a different shirt along with a pair of Converse shoes. I checked the time on my phone, 2:04. My mom was asleep and I didn't want to wake her, so I left her a note.

I'm going out for a little bit with a friend. I'll be back in a few hours. Call me if you need anything.
-Dez

I headed out to the parking lot and searched for Piero. I had no idea what car he was driving, but I saw him step out of a small car on the opposite end of the parking lot and wave at me. I jogged over to his car and joked, "Nice ride."

He groaned and explained, "It's a rental."

I sat in the passenger side of the car and once he sat in the driver's seat asked, " So where do you want to go?"

"I am kinda hungry. I haven't ate in a while."

"Do you know what's around here because I have no idea where I'm going," he admitted.

"I don't mind sightseeing. Just drive around and we'll stop at the place that looks the best."

He turned the keys into the ignition and we began to drive around. We drove for a few minutes before finding the perfect place to dine.

"Perfect," I said while exiting the car. We decided to eat at TGIFridays because Piero told me that he had never eaten there before. I was starving so I sped to the entrance, but Piero didn't have a problem keeping up. A woman with blonde hair tied into a ponytail seated us at a table so Piero and I were sitting across from each other.

"Can I get you guys something to drink?" The waitress asked.

"I'll have a Sprite, please." Piero told her politely. Wow. Wasn't he such a nice guy.

She then looked to me and I said, "Water, please."

After getting our drinks ordered she said, "I'll be back in a little bit to get your guys' orders," and she walked off.

"So what are you thinking about getting?" I asked Piero.

He was scrolling through the menu and stated excitedly, "There's so much to choose from!"

"Well, I come here occasionally and I always order the same thing."

"And that is ..." He questioned.

"Jack Daniels chicken. It's two pieces of grilled chicken and it comes with two sides. I get mashed potatoes and broccoli."

"Oh, that sounds good, but I was thinking about some ribs. I haven't had a high calorie meal in a while," he stated.

"Wow. I see you have a very strict diet. That must be how you got such a -" I stopped myself before I said something embarrassing like rocking hot bod or big abs and continued, " great physique."

Fortunately, Piero didn't catch my pause because he was still searching the menu. The waitress came back and we told her our orders. After she left Piero turned toward me and asked,

"So, where are you from?"

"A small town in the valley, about 3 or 4 hours away from here."

"I'm guessing you know where I'm from?" He asked.

"Actually, I don't," I admitted.

"My hometown is Naro, in Sicily."

"I know where Sicily is on a map, but that probably doesn't matter because I will never have the chance to go to Italy," I commented sadly.

"That's crazy! Why not?" He asked in disbelief.

"It's just my mom and I back home and she doesn't make that much money. She works at a retirement home and I work at Starbucks, part time." I sighed and slumped my shoulders. " I don't think I'll ever get to leave."

To clear the air of awkwardness, Piero asked me a different question.

"When is your birthday?"

I straightened out my back and replied, happy with the topic change, "Next month, April 22. I'm going to be the big two-zero. Man, I'm getting so old."

Piero laughed and continued the mini interview about me. "What is your favorite color?"

"I like purple, but sometimes I like pink. I say I like purple, but I have more clothes that's pink and zero shirts that are purple." I pointed at his glasses and stated, "I'm assuming that you like red."

"You figured it out. Not everyone can."

"Uh huh. Sure."

For another topic change, Piero asked, "How do you like living here in California?"

"It's okay..."

"You hate it here."

"OMG finally someone gets it! You're damn right I hate it here! It's always hot. I just wish that I could see it snow for once!"

Piero seemed a little shocked after my outburst, but he relaxed when I calmly asked him a question, "When are you going back to Italy?" I must have asked the wrong question because his posture stiffened and his jaw clenched.

"Tomorrow." He stated plainly.

"Aren't you excited to finally go back home?"

Before he could answer, the waitress brought us our food and we began to eat in silence.

As I was nearly done eating, a weird feeling washed over me. I looked around the restaurant and my gaze landed on a woman that was a few years older than me. Her eyes were glued on Piero and she was looking at him like he was the main course on the menu. I didn't like it one bit and asked Piero, "Hey, do you want to getting of here?"

With a worried expression he asked, "Why, what's wrong?"

I picked up my napkin, pretended to wipe something off my mouth, and said with my mouth covered, "There's a lady that is just staring at you."

Piero seemed unfazed and calmly stated, "Maybe it's just a fan."

I laughed and said, "No, I don't think you get what I'm saying. She is really staring at you." I widened my eyes on the word "staring" to add emphasis and he finally got what I was trying to say. It was adorable because his eyes widened, his eyebrows raised, and his perfect lips shaped an o. He was about to turn and look at her, but I whisper/yelled at him, "No!"

He was about to question me, but I began to explain before he could. "You can't look at her or she'll know something's up."

"Don't tell me that! Now I want to look even more!" After that he leaned in close and asked me with a wicked grin, "If I can't look at her, can you at least tell me if she's pretty?"

My mouth dropped in shock and I asked in disbelief, "How dare you?"

He chuckled lightly and said, "Never mind," before taking my hand and leading me out of the restaurant.

Throughout the whole drive back to my hotel neither one of us spoke and I was relieved when he finally pulled into the parking lot. Right after he parked, he jumped out of his seat and came to open my door before I had the chance to. "Wow, you're such a gentleman." He cleared his throat and stated,

"Thanks for hanging out with me tonight. It was nice getting to know you."

"Likewise," I said while looking past him and avoiding his gaze.

I was about to walk off, but he got hold of my hand and stopped me. I looked up into his warm brown eyes and before I could move away, he gently pressed his lips against mine and gave me the sweetest kiss in the history of ever. No way this was happening. I pulled back and his big brown eyes gazed at me.

"I'm sorry, but I can't do this. You're leaving tomorrow!" I groaned in frustration and stormed off to the entrance of the hotel, leaving Piero feeling rejected in the parking lot.