A Different Point of View

First Date

Bella was at the register, selling souvenirs to the last customers of the day.

"Remember: We put the fun in no refunds!" Bella called as the tourists left. Stan walked over and leaned against the counter as Bella started counting the money.

"So, how much did we make today?" He asked.

"A lot," Bella guessed, thumbing the stack of bills in her hand and beginning to count.

"Awesome!" Stan grinned, then frowned nervously. He leaned forward on the counter, drumming his fingers on the top. "So, uh, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to, I dunno, go get dinner or something?"

"Well, yeah, don' we usually?" Bella asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well... yeah, but I meant like... as a date?" Stan said, staring at his hands. He glanced up to see that Bella's face had turned red.

"Uh- yeah! Sure!" She sputtered. "That- yeah! That sounds fun!"

"Cool!" Stan grinned and nodded. "Uh, so, dinner at the diner? Like, tomorrow night?"

"Sure," Bella nodded in agreement. "That's good. Um, Ah should get goin'. Ah wanna check up on Fidds a'fore it gets dark."

"Ok," Stan said. "I'll pick you up at your place. Say... six?"

"Perfect," Bella smiled as she gathered up her stuff. "See ya tomorrow."

She waved goodbye as she left, letting the door swing shut behind her. Stan grinned, cheering silently.

"Yes!"

-----

Stan drove up in front of Bella's apartment and parked to wait. He checked himself over in the mirror one last time. He wore a white shirt underneath a black, half-zipped jacket and jeans. He tried to will himself to not be nervous. This was Bella, they knew each other. Everything would be fine.

A few minutes later Bella exited the apartment building. She was wearing a pink t-shirt and blue sweatpants, and her hair was kept out of her face with a flower hair clip.

"Hey," she greeted with a smile as she got into the car. "Sorry, Ah don' have any fancy clothes."

"No no, it's cool!" Stan assured. "You look great."

"Thank you," Bella blushed slightly. "So do you."

"Hehe, thanks," Stan blushed and smiled shyly, rubbing the back of his neck.

The ride to the diner was short but quiet. Bella kept glancing over at Stan, but she always looked away rather quickly, as though she was scared of staring for too long.

"You ok?" Stan asked as he pulled into the diner's parking lot.

"Huh?" Bella looked up. "Oh... yeah, Ah'm fine. Just nervous, Ah guess. Ah really shouldn' be- we've been friends fer so long, but Ah guess it's different in this case."

"Well, what's so different about it?" Stan asked.

"It's... well, it's a date," Bella explained. "It's just so different than just bein' friends." She sighed. rubbing her arm and looking out the window. "Can I... tell you something?"

"Yeah, of course."

"I..." Bella paused, "even as a kid... Ah wasn' good with dates. I always acted like I was really good at flirtin' and relationships, but in reality..." her voice dropped to a whisper, "Ah'm scared." Her voice then rose in volume as she continued to talk. "Anxious, shy, afraid- Ah ain't good with people. Ah'm absolutely terrified that Ah'm gonna fuck something up so bad or embarrass myself that-"

"Hey," Stan interrupted her, holding her hand tightly with his own. "Relax. It'll be fine, I'm sure of it."

Bella sighed, taking a few deep breaths to calm herself down.

"Thank you," she said softly.

"No problem," Stan grinned. "I'm... kinda the same way."

Bella giggled, a genuine smile forming on her face.

"Here we are, both upset an' anxious about some date," she began. "When we both already know each other! It shouldn' be that hard, should it?"

"No," Stan mused. "I guess not."

They eat sat quietly for a moment, leaning back against their seats.

"Let's make a deal," Bella suggested. "Let's treat this like any other dinner we have together- don' make it seem like a big thing."

"Yeah, let's do that," Stan agreed. They both stepped out of the car and entered the diner, Bella holding on to Stan's arm as they did so.

Both of them had fun that night. They talked and laughed like it was any other day. Half of the time they forgot it was even a date, instead taking the time to appreciate and admire each other, and realize just how deep they had fallen for the person sitting across from them.

Stan drove Bella home afterwards, but she stayed in the car awhile longer after they reached her apartment.

"So... what now?" She asked, looking at Stan. He frowned slightly, resting his head and arms on the steering wheel.

"I... guess we're dating now?" He guessed. "I mean, if you want to."

"Ah'd love ta," Bella beamed. "Like boyfriend an' girlfriend?"

"Yeah," Stan sat up and smiled back. "Like boyfriend and girlfriend."

"Perfect," Bella grinned. "Ah'll see ya tomorrow?"

"Definitely," Stan assured. Bella stepped out of the car.

"Hey Stan?" Bella spoke quietly. "Ah... Ah love you."

"...I love you, too," Stan responded, a blush creeping onto his cheeks. With one final wave, Bella walked to the front door of her apartment, unlocking it and going inside.