Johnny Castle's Second Chance (COMPLETED)

Chapter 18

His phone rang, surprising him. Mike got up off the couch, his flannel shirt hung open revealing his white T-shirt.
" Ya, this is Dobbs."
" Mike? Hey, it's Char."
" Oh! Char, what's up?"
" Ummm, well, I've packed everything, and I kind of wanted to see if maybe you'd go out to dinner with me?" She felt uncertain. But was not disappointed.
" Yeah, sure. I could eat. Let me pick you up?"
" All right. When?"
" I can come now if you're hungry."
" All right. Sounds great!"
" See you in a few." Mike hung up. He hadn't expected to hear from her. Knowing that her time in town was drawing to an end, he decided to take her up on the offer. He thought of s great place to take her. The amazing thing about Char was, she liked real food, and he knew she would very likely enjoy a nice steak dinner as much as he would. So he plotted his way to her house but had the steak house in mind. He arrived at Char's place and went up to her door. Knocking, he waited patiently for her. The weather had turned terribly cold with the threat of snow again. Winter was truly trying to set in, but then, that was Buffalo for you, sunny one moment, blizzard the next.
Char opened her door, and he caught a wide of her perfume, light and citrusy.
It made him feel at once filled with lust. She just smelled so good. Mike however did his best  to reign himself in.
" Hey." He said, leaning against the door." Ready?"
" Yes, thanks for going with me." She shrugged her coat on.
" Sure. Well this is your last weekend in town. So I thought of a place for us to go. Thought you should have a proper going away dinner. "
" Oh? And where shall we go?"
" I have a place in mind. It's that great steak house a couple towns over. That all right?"
Nodding in agreement," Yeah that sounds fantastic!" She shivered.
"Come on kid. Let's get out of here, my truck's warmed up."
" I'm ready. Let's go."
As they walked down her driveway to Mike's truck, Char's heel caught a patch of ice and she slid. Just barely in the knick of time Mike caught her.
" Jesus Char! You all right?" He held her arm tightly as she rebalanced herself.
" Uh huh, I think so." She nodded, heart pounding. She still clutched his arm too. Mike looked at her in the dim outside light. He couldn't help it, she just smelled and looked so pretty. He placed his hands at her waist, helping her regain her footing.
" Easy baby. You scared me, you're just getting better from the robbery. "
" Thanks for catching me." She huffed. The cold air was making her cheeks rosy.
" Sure Hon. " he was feeling especially tender for her this evening.
" Okay. Let's get in the truck. I'm starting to freeze."
Mike let go, then opened the door for her. Again smelling her as he was closing the door, he groaned to himself, he wanted her all ready and their evening had just begun.
" So you're sure steak sounds all right?" Mike asked.
Nodding fervently, " Definitely."
" Great. So, you all packed?"
" Yeah for the most part, just you know the last minute things left really."
" Wow."
" I quit my job at the diner."
That news was like a blow to his heart. It was starting to be real. She was truly leaving, and there wasn't anything he could do. Chat had made it clear that she wasn't taking anyone with her. Still, it hurt a bit. He'd finally started to really get to know her and God knows, the chemistry they had was better than anything he'd really ever experienced before.
" How'd the boss lady take it?"
" Really well. She told me she'll miss me though and to make sure I stop in anytime I come home to visit."
" She's a really cool lady. I bet they're really going to miss you kid. " he almost added that he was going to as well but changed his mind and bit his tongue.
" I'll miss them too."
They rode in silence for a bit, bit before long they arrived at the steak house. As soon as they opened their doors they could smell the mouth watering aroma of steak being cooked on charbroilers.
" Oh, my, God. That smells amazing!" Char closed her eyes and took in the scent.
" Let's get inside. It's fucking cold out here. He grabbed her hand and led her to the doors.
Their hostess seated them promptly and the waiter came by in a few minutes with menus.
" Get whatever you want all right? I worked some over time this week so we're good."
" I intended on buying my own..."
" Nah, I got this, it's your going away dinner. Just let me do it Char."
Here eyes grew wide , but then she understood there was no baking down on his side. So she accepted it and relaxed.
" All right then, if you're sure."
" Yeah, I am."
They looked over their menus then the waiter came back and helped them with their order. They chatted lightly as they waited for their food. Mike asked her about Kellerman's, she glossed over the meeting with Johnny though. He listened, but as he watched her he could see the light in her eyes as she spoke of her next adventures in life. It made her even more attractive. His heart felt like somebody was stabbing it with a knife, but he kept calm as possible.
Eventually their food came to their table. Both their mouths watered at the sights of their juicy filet mignon. Char had opted for the baked potato with the works. Mike had chosen fries with gravy. The veggie of the night were green beans.
" Mike, I just wanted to let you know that I have enjoyed your friendship. I'm really sorry that I always judged you as the " Bad Boy" you've shown me that there's more to you than the crude guy that always tired to harass me for my number. "
" Char, don't."
" What?"
" Just stop what you're doing. Please. Let's just enjoy this steak. There's no goodbyes. You'll come back to town to visit. Stop trying to make this a goodbye." He was serious, his eyes locked on hers." let's just have fun. Like we said."
She watched him and nodded." All right Mike."
Suddenly a woman came over," Dobbsy?" She sounded very shocked and then glared at Char.
" Mary." He set his fork down.
" I thought we had a date tonight!"
" I tried to call you, but you didn't answer." He said calmly.
" This is that chickie from the diner! " Mary said.
Char had set down her fork. Smoothing her napkin in her lap.
" So you're blowing me off for her tonight? What was I? Just filler until she was around?"
" Mary, let's go talk outside a minute. Char I'll be right back." Mike started to put his napkin down.
" Listen, Mary? Is it? " Char started calmly and cool as a cucumber.
Hand on hip,Mary glared at Char.
" Mike and I are friends, and I invited him out. He'd didn't tell me he had other plans, so I'm very sorry. This is my last weekend in town, and we were just having dinner one last time. Whatever happens after this weekend is none of my business. But just for tonight...he's my company. We have an understanding with eachother. And we are nothing serious. Friends, nothing more, nothing less. So if you don't mind, I'll make sure that Mike calls and makes plans with you soon, because you're probably a very  nice girl. But right now, you're interupting our last dinner."
" Why! I never! You can forget calling me ever again Dobbsy! Lose my number! And you, well have your fun Honey while you still can!" Mary stomped out of the restaurant.
" Soooo, what the Hell was all that?" Char asked.
Mike shrugged, " I hung out with her like one time this week. Guess she thought we were gunna be more."
" I see. Well. That one's got a bit of a temper! Geez!" Char grinned.
" Yeah, I kinda forgot about that." Mike chuckled.
They finished dinner and Char had a glass of white wine. Mike had a beer. They talked like old friends. The night was really good. Once they were ready to leave Mike escorted her safely to his truck. The weather had turned a little nasty. Snow covered his windshield.
" Hey, you get inside and start the truck, I'll clean it off." He directed her.
" You got it." She took his keys and climbed in, sliding across the bench seat and turned the key in the ignition. The truck roared to life. Mike finished cleaning it off and hopped in.
" Man! It got really cold!" He rubbed his hands together to warm them.
" I know! Winter is really coming now."
" Yeah it sure is. So what do you wanna do now? Go home?"
" No, not yet. I'm not ready."
" Hey I know some place we can go. "
" Where?"
" The pool hall. They're open till 1 AM."
" Oh, yes! That'll be fun! Great idea!"
" Hey, why don't you slide over here and get warm?"
" All right." She slid across the bench seat and got as close as the gear shift allowed. They both shivered until the heater finally warmed up.
It took Mike longer to get to the pool hall because visibility had been cut down by the snow. However they arrived safely. There were only a few vehicles in the lot as they pulled up.
" Wow, looks like we'll have our pick of tables maybe." Char said.
" No doubt." They both zipped their coats up to fight against the icy air. The wind had picked up, blowing Char's hair all over. As they stepped inside they felt the instant warmth and looked around, there were 8 tables in the room and only 2 had players at them.
" I'll go get some quarters, you go pick a table." Char said. As she unzipped her coat and tried to straighten her hair some. There was one unruly piece that she didn't know was sticking up because of the wind. Mike saw it and a smirk flashed across his face. Char went to the counter and asked for change. The other was happy to oblige.
" Didn't think I'd get any business tonight. Tell you what, all music on the juke box is free tonight. I'm just happy to have any folks in here. Here's your quarters honey."
" Thanks!" She went and found Mike. " Hey, so the  owner said the music is free tonight. I'm going to go pick some songs."
" All right. Eh, maybe I'll pick a couple too. " he followed her over to the juke box.
" Great!" She picked some fun songs, then Mike took his turn but the last sing he decided to keep secret.
" Let me see Mike!" She prodded.
" No! The last song is a surprise."
" Oh, all right. You wanna rack 'em or break?"
" You break." He got the pool balls situated as set up.
Char broke quite successfully, sinking a striped ball. " You got solids." She called out.
Mike watched her sink another ball, but on the third try she missed the pocket, giving him a chance he sunk a few balls and they had a good even run. They turned out to be good competition for eachother.
" You're pretty good kid." Mike approved.
" Thanks! I used to shoot pool a long time ago.  You're really good too!"
Char won the first game, but then feeling the heat of competition Mike won the next 2. The last game was won by Char. Shook they were even. Suddenly on the juke box came Mike's mystery song. " Frank Sinatras " The Way You Look Tonight"
Char knew she hadn't picked it.
" Oh, I love this song!" Her face lit up.
" Dance with me." Mike said, not asking.
" For real?" She looked up into his dark brown eyes.
" Yeah."
Softly she answered," All right." She walked over to him and suddenly she was carefully pulled in close. The other players didn't care about them, so it was like their own little world for a moment.
" Was this the mystery song?" Char asked , her lips close to his ear."
" Yeah."
" It's such a good song." She sighed.
Mike held her close. They swayed to the music andc suddenly he placed his lips on her forehead tenderly.
" I'm gunna miss ya Char."
She looked up again into those dark pools and nodded in understanding." I'm gunna miss you too Mike."
He reached up and brushed away that one unruly hair. " Just, be careful out there huh? Look after yourself and be smart."
" I will, I promise." She rested her head on his shoulder.
  But he reached siren and tipped her chin up slowly. Caressing her jaw line. He bent down and kissed her. That usual chemistry between them kicked in and soon they got lost in a moment in time. The juke box had long since stopped playing, but they didn't give a shit. In that moment nothing mattered. When they did finally break away Mike still held her close.
" Mike, let's get out of here." Char said with a huskiness that she tried to cover up.
" All right babe. Whatever you say."
They donned their coats and braved the weather yet again. Once the  truck was warm, he started driving.
" Where should we go?" She asked.
" My place." He carefully navigated the slippery roads, shortly they made it back to his place. Once they were in the door they got out of their coats avid shoes. The second they outside layers were off they pounced at eachother. He guided her up to the kitchen wall and leaned over her. Kissing her hard. She held onto his chest. Things started to taut v heat up, so he picked her up and took her to the living room, carefully depositing her onto the couch. They made out for a good half hour before things finally progressed to his bedroom. They made love for hours. Taking their time and going slow. Mike got her off twice. Once he finally got his he peeled off the condom and disposed of it in the garbage basket by his bed. He grabbed a soft flannel to wrap around her an once she was cozy, he wrapped his arms around her sheltering her from the chilly night air.
" God, Char...you're So fucking sexy..." He tested his chin in the crook of her neck.
" Oh, Mike. You just have to keep surprising me don't you? That was really good!" She sighed, closing her eyes to the world. She felt warm and spent. In mere moments she was asleep and then he joined her. Both of them lightly snored.
Neither of them broke away. They stayed curled up in eachother the whole night. When morning came Char was the first to wake. She felt his strong muscles still on her, and it was oddly comforting. Mike eventually woke and took a breath, smelling her next to him.
" That was a good night. I'll fucking miss this shit Char."
" I'm sorry Mike. Maybe I should get up and get cleaned up."
" There's no hurry, just stay for a couple more minutes, please."
" All right."
There was a profound feeling that they were both experiencing, like an elephant in the room though, they left it alone. Soon enough he let her get up. She found her clothes and proceeded to get dressed. He did the same, but  when she went to give him the flannel back he stopped her.
" Maybe, just keep it. It's gunna be really cold once we get outside, it'll help you stay warm."
" All right." She liked the shirt anyway, so it was no hardship to put it back on. They both dressed for the weather and then he took her home.
As they pulled into her driveway she took a chance and asked," Hey, are you coming out tonight for my going  away party?"
" You want me there?"
" I, yes, Mike I'd really like that if you could?"
" All right doll, no problem." He nodded," I'll walk you up if you want."
" That's okay, thou stay in here where it's warm okay?" She searched his eyes, then leaned in for a kiss. It lasted a long moment." I'll see you later tonight."
" You got it." He watched her as she slid out of the truck and made her way carefully up to her apartment. When he couldn't see her he drove off.
They both had pleasant but also somber thoughts of the night before. Char turned on the TV avid made some tea. Mike stopped at the diner for a coffee before going to work to get in a few more hours.