A New Form of Therapy

A New Option To Chose From

I can't believe what I am doing. I'm going on a date. A real, out in public date. He's picking me up, paying for the meal, everything. I'm excited. Very nervous, but excited. It's been ten days since Justin and I had our talk. It lasted for over an hour, going back and forth and just saying everything that we were feeling. In all my years of being a therapist, I've never had that deep of a conversation before. I think we both ended with a better understanding. 

I step into my dress, careful to make sure it doesn't get caught on anything. I reach behind me and zip it up, struggling a bit to get it all the way up. I sigh in relief and turn to look in the mirror. I don't look as bad as I usually do, I think to myself. I put on a little bit of makeup and my hair is slightly curled, reaching down a couple inches past my shoulders. The dress is a simple one. It's white- the only white dress I have ever owned- and has quarter length sleeves. I haven't worn this dress in almost a year, particularly because I've never had a reason to. 

The doorbell from the front door rings and I smile at myself in the mirror. This is happening. Right now. I'm going on a date. I haven't been on a date in a long time. It seems like since I was a junior in high school. 

I walk over to my door, where the intercom is. I rarely use it; most people that visit me are given a key so they can let themselves in and they knock at my door. It was weird buzzing him in. 

"Come on up," I say and rush back to my room to finish getting ready. "Why do people have to be on time?"

I grab my jacket and bag before walking back toward the door. It's another nervous minute before there's a knock on the door. I go to open it immediately, but hesitate. I don't want to seem too desperate. I take a deep breath and count to six slowly. 

"Hi," I say, opening the door.

He's standing there. He looks amazing, much different than I've ever seen him before. I smile and step out of the apartment, locking the door behind me. 

"I'm glad you called me," he said. "I was hoping that you would give me a chance to show you who I really am. I promise I'm not another Justin Bieber." 

I smile. That's exactly why I called him yesterday. We talked for a short time, but it was long enough to get to know him more. His name is Marcus Longsten and he's actually about to graduate with a Bachelor's in Music Production. He's a year older than me. He likes me. That last part is the most important, to me at least. 

"Where are we going?" I ask as I get into his car. It's a newer model and very stylish. I'm not sure how he can afford it and go to college at the same time. I push the thought aside as he gets in behind the wheel. 

"I made a reservation at The Stomping Ground," Marcus says. "Have you been there before?"

"Can't say that I have," I say with a smile. I enjoy going to new places. 

"It's a bit of a drive, but I promise it will be worth it. What kind of music do you like? I'm assuming no Justin." He glances over at me with a smirk. 

"That would be a definite," I say, smiling back at him. "I like just about anything though. You can put on whatever." 

"We'll just let the radio decide then," he says. 

We settle into a comfortable silence as he makes a turn onto the interstate. It's about fifteen miles later that he turns off of an exit. I haven't been out this way before. I stare out the window as we pass buildings that are unfamiliar to me. They aren't busy restaurants or anything, more like family businesses. 

"The restaurant is just ahead," Marcus says. "I hope you like it."

"Hey, it's food. I already know I'm going to love it." 

Marcus laughs at my joke. He pulls into a parking lot and turns off the engine. The building itself isn't very large, it looks more like a two story house than a restaurant. I don't see any other open parking spaces. The place is very busy. 

We step inside and I am bombarded with the smell of home cooked meals. It smells amazing. Mashed potatoes, buttered rolls, and other foods keep hitting me as we walk farther in. Marcus talks to the hostess and we are seated right away, thankfully. As we walk through the rooms to our table, I catch bits and pieces of their conversations. There's a couple that is celebrating an anniversary. A family with a kid that is having a birthday. Another family is out just having dinner. The little kids are laughing at their father. It puts a smile on my face. 

"Here we are," the hostess says. "Your waitress will be Mary. She'll be with you shortly to get your drinks and order." 

"Thank you," we both say together and take our seats. "So what's good here?" I ask as I open the menu. 

There are three pages to turn through. I try not to take too long glancing through, but everything looks appetizing. My stomach growls and I don't look to see if he heard it. 

"I know the chefs personally, so I can guarantee that anything you get will be great." 

I nod, taking in the information, and focus on the menu again. I don't want him to have to spend a fortune, so I take the prices into consideration as well. Living alone and on a budget for the first year of living in Los Angeles left it's mark on me. I decide on the grilled chicken and a side dish of the mashed potatoes. 

Mary takes our orders and promises it will be out in just a couple minutes. We spend the time talking. 

"So, how did you learn about this place?" I ask, folding my hands under my chin. 

"I've been coming here with my family since I was little, mostly for special occasions." 

"And how do you know the cooks?"

He smiles, adding a small laugh, and fiddling with the cloth napkin. "They are my parents." 

I don't try and hide my shock. My eyebrows raise and my mouth opens slightly. I don't have to ask for an explanation. 

"We used to come here all the time," he starts. I enjoy listening to him talk. "My parents knew the owners when this place first opened and after the wife passed away from her battle with cancer, my parents started helping out. Just volunteering their time. They did that for a couple of years and I even worked here for a while during high school. The husband, a good friend of my dad's, just gave them the business four years ago. He moved away, somewhere in Hawaii or another island. They've put their entire lives into this place. It stays busy constantly." 

"Wow," I say. I don't know what else to say. It is a touching story. 

Our food comes then and it smells just as amazing as the rest of the food around us. We pause in our conversation to eat, but the silence doesn't last for long. I'm curious about his life and growing up. "How did you get into wanting to do music?"

"You see that stage over there?" he asks. I turn in my chair and see it. I'm not sure how I missed it before. "Along with being a busboy here when I was younger, I would perform here sometimes. Just me and a guitar. I'm not the best player in the universe nor am I the best singer, but I do love it. I like more of the behind the scenes stuff- the setting up, creating music, so on. But enough about me, what about you?" 

We sit at the table and talk for hours. I'm not sure exactly how much time has passed exactly, but I don't care. Just sitting here and talking and eating more than I ever thought I could. I can't help but compare Marcus to Justin. Physically, they look similar. The hair, the nose, the same colored eyes. But Marcus is completely different than Justin. 

Marcus has had this life, a real life. He grew up in a town right outside of Los Angeles. He grew up working hard in all aspects of his life; school, work, college. Justin and I have had several deep conversations, but they never felt like this. They never felt like I could sit and talk to him forever and not get tired of it. 

I don't know what it is about Marcus, but I'm glad I've given him a second chance. 

**{Insert Evil Laugh} Please don't kill me... If you haven't yet, please look on my page to read the little message I posted earlier! It explains more about what is to come and stuff!! Let me know what you think of this and the future of Leb & Marcus and Leb & Justin! There is SO MUCH more to come!**