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VI

"Alright, really. Where are we going?"

"On a date."

"Where?"

"Where people normally go. The movies."

"It's like 12:00 on a Saturday. I doubt they'll be showing anything."

I decided to take Dawson on a traditional date. It was a little selfish of me, seeing that traditional is what I like, but I had no idea what to do. All my actions had been so spontaneous and so not me. I wanted to do something that was me, but Dawson was right. In our small town, there was only one theater that wasn't an hour or more away. The downfall was that it only showed movies Friday-Sunday from 5:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.

"..You're right. So let's go to Vinny's."

Vinny's was one of the only restaurants in town. It was a diner that was open 24/7.

"You got it boss," Dawson said saluting me as I drove on past the theater.

Within two minutes we finally arrived. We walked up to the door standing side by side. As we came closer, Dawson reached for the handle. I was ready for him to hold the door open for me, but instead he just opened it and walked straight in. Talk about a gentleman.

"Booth for two, please."

At least he has manners.

"Right this way sir."

"Thank you," Dawson followed the hostess over to a booth by the windows and I straggled along behind them.

"Your waiter will be with you in just a moment," she said while staring at Dawson as if I wasn't there.

"Thank you."

I was looking at the menu when I realized that Dawson was watching me.

"Can I help you?"

"You tell me, you invited me here and now you aren't even gonna talk to me? How rude.."

He had a smirk plastered on his face because he knew he was pushing my buttons. He did have a point though. I forgot that I was the one who invited him out and that I should probably make conversation.

"Well to be honest with you, I've never done this before."

"What? Eaten?"

"Ha. Ha," I mocked, "No," I looked back down at my menu and felt my cheeks heat up.

"Then what? What're you hiding Sav?"

He was still smiling at me like a kid who knew he was about to win a game. I didn't like it one bit, but I didn't have the courage to put him in his place. Plus it was our first time hanging out, and I didn't even know what we were."

"I've never been on a date okay?"

I put my menu down and met his hazel eyes with my brown ones. Only a couple seconds of silence went by, but you could still catch it. It was the type of silence of pure, undeniable embarrassment.

"And I've never been to Dubai. What's it matter?"

"I don't know how to act, or what to say.."

I stopped looking at him and resumed staring at the menu.

"If you read over the menu one more time I think you'll be able to tell me everything that's on it without even looking," he laughed at his own joke and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "How about you be yourself and tell me about yourself?"

"Fine. For starters, I'm confused."

"About?"

"Why did you ignore me? You took me out the other day and then you never spoke to me once or even looked at me until the party where you left me alone on my front porch."

There was silence again but this time it was a different silence. The type that settles after you strike a cord full of emotion. Now he was the one looking down at the menu.

"What can I get the lovely couple today?"

Talk about the worst timing ever. Our waitress was about mid 50s and was smiling down on us like we were the first couple she's ever served. Dawson was still looking down at his menu and hadn't moved a muscle. I couldn't sit there any longer and pretend like I was enjoying myself. I needed to get out.

"I'm sorry," I scooted out of the booth and basically bolted for the door. I was angry with Dawson for being such an asshole, but I was also embarrassed. I had put myself out in the open for this guy and I barely even knew anything about him. I went out of my comfort zone and I asked him to be my first date and it took a turn for the worst. I felt tears threatening to come out and I tried my best to hold them back as I unlocked my car door.

"Savannah!"

I heard Dawson call out to me, but I really just wanted to go home. I got the car door open but it was quickly shut.

"Wait," Dawson had a hand against the door and leaned into me, "please."

I didn't say anything. I just looked down at the pavement and waited for him to say something. Anything.

"I'm sorry for being such a jerk. I just," he paused for a minute and looked down at the ground.

"I want to do right by you. I know it sounds crazy because I don't know a thing about you, but I want to. I want to know everything. I'm just afraid of messing up. I know that you've heard the gossip from others about me, but I don't want that to be all you know about me. I just... damn it," he swung his head back up and I could feel him staring at me, "I just know you're too good for me."

I finally met his gaze and all I could see in his eyes was pure sadness. I had to say something.

"I want to give you chance Dawson. Whatever we're gonna be I wanna find out what it is, but you have to be honest with me. Why did you run away so fast?"

He was still looking at me and he still looked as if he had done something wrong.

"I know you're not like any of the other girls Savannah. I can see it in the way you carry yourself, and I can hear it in your words, in your laugh," he began smiling again, "I don't want to change anything about you. You're intact and I don't want to mess that up."

"And what makes you so convinced that you're gonna to mess it up? I know you've had some falling outs with other girls and I know that's a possibility here, but it's a possibility with anyone Dawson."

"You're not wrong," he looked over to the road as a car passed by. The sun was getting hotter and I could feel myself getting nervous as I realized how close we were standing.

"I'm sorry Sav. I'm sorry for running away before we could even test the waters," he was looking at me again and had sincerity in his eyes.

"It's okay," I gave him a soft smile, "now can we please get something to eat? Maybe learn each others middle names?"

He began to chuckle and looked towards the diner.

"Sure, but let's go somewhere else. I'm not sure that waitress is gonna want to wait on us," he smiled at me and opened up the car door for me to get in.