He's late: Strike 1. Chelsea sat at an outside table drinking a latte occasionally looking up and down the sidewalk, watching people walk by: a mother with a young daughter begging for ice cream, businessmen and women rushing back to work, or some just shopping, going to lunch, pretty much enjoying the day.
Looking at her watch, it was 1:20. With a deep, irritated sigh, she got up. From behind, she heard a panicked voice, "Wait, I'm here, I'm here."
She didn't turn around yet. I don't even want to be here really, but, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. When she looked at him, she noticed he was out of breath, and had a hint of sweat on his forehead.
He was reaching for her hand, but pulled back, in case it would've gotten chopped off. He slumped his shoulders, and smiled shyly. I'm thinking he didn't want to touch me knowing that I might actually hurt him.
I looked at him hesitantly, and checked my watch again. With a monotone voice I said, "Well Brian, I only have 20 minutes now, as I have an appointment, so..." I motioned to the table.
He smiled and said, "Awesome! I'm gonna go get a cappuccino." He walked in the cafe as I looked in my empty cup. Oh Brian! That's strike number 2, and we haven't even started talking yet! Shaking my head, I thought it would have been nice for him to get it for me, but whatever! Brian saw me in line on the way out. He put his hand to his mouth. "Oh I'm sorry! I should've asked if you wanted one."
Ya think dumbass. "No problem Brian. I don't want you to pay for my drink anyway. Hey, I'll meet you out there, ok?"
"OK!" As I watched him out there, my mind was racing. Why am I here? Is this even worth it? Well, I'm really not obligated to go back out there. And there's another door here. But of course Brian would be looking in here. Well I guess 10 minutes won't kill me.
******
"Tell me this Jen...if he likes me, and thinks I'm so cute, why couldn't he show up on time and at least offer to pay for my drink?" I called Jen after I got home from the most awkward "date" of my life. "And he's not much of a conversationalist either. He stared at me like a psycho killer most of the time. I actually spent more time listening to the couple at the next table. These people are going to spend some time with her mother and he is not happy about it!"
She laughed. "Chels, I'm sorry. He was probably just nervous. I'm serious, he likes you! He may still be intimidated by you!"
Chelsea smiled, "Good!" Her doorbell rang. "Hey, you're not doing one of your dumbass jokes where we're on the phone and you're here are you?"
"Shit, once was enough! I didn't know you could punch that hard!"
Walking to the door, she opened it to see Tom rolling up a sleeve of his white button up shirt. "You're lucky! It's Tom. I'll talk to you later!"
"Hey wait, wait, wait!! Tom as in Tommy and Chelsea sittin in a tree..."
I pursed my lips and looked at a puzzled Tom. "How old are you Jen? Really! I'll call you later."
"Hi handsome, what's goin on?" Now Brian need to take some lessons from this man! Pfftt, there's no way Brian could be even a miniscule as good of a person as Tom!
He looked back at me, raising his eyebrows and smiling. "You think I'm handsome?"
I ran up to him, and stopped short, grinning like a little kid, crooking my finger gesturing him to come to my level. I wish I knew why, but this man brings out the kid in me. He is so fun to be with!
He looked at me and I smacked his face very lightly, "Of course, you boob." Tom threw his head back and laughed that tongue-between-the-teeth laugh that he's so famous for. "So now I'm a boob!"
I danced around him laughing and poking him, "Well, I could call you a male body part, but that wouldn't be very nice!"
I continued circling around him, then all of the sudden he grabbed me up and threw me on the couch.
I screamed like a little kid, laughing and he just smiled at me, shaking his head. I started coughing and laughing, and as I calmed down, he stared at me, not saying anything. I whispered, "Hey Tom? Come here."
He was thoroughly confused as he leaned really close to my face. I looked at him really seriously, then said, "I really need to tell you something."
He waited, his expression serious and I said, "You're a boob!" I pulled him down to hug him and heard him groan. He got up and smiled. "No, you're a boob! I have to go!" He was halfway to the door, when I called out to him. "Why did ya come over? Seeing as I attacked you when you got here, did you want something?"
Tom laughed. "Yes there was. See what you do distracting me, throwing your body on me like that?"
I sniffed, wiping my eye with my invisible tissue. "Poor Tom, women throwing themselves at you. Are you going to be ok?" I stood up and walked him to the door.
He nodded sadly. "I suppose so. It'd be nice to have better friends though! But aaaaanyway, we, as in the cast and some of the crew are going to Charlie's Bar tonight, and I would like you to come." He walked closer to me, smiling. "But if you attack me like that again, well...ehehe..." his cheeks turned pink. "Never mind."
I raised an eyebrow. "Thomas Hiddleston, are you flirting with me?"
He walked to me, hands on my shoulders, and with a smoldering tone said, "Chelsea love, you couldn't handle my flirting!"
"Oh Tom." I closed my eyes thinking about today. "You know, I've talked to two men today. Total opposites!"
He pushed my hair back behind my ear. "So who was this horrid, nasty looking demon?"
"Remember Brian, from the wedding?" I scrunched up my nose.
"Chelsea! You didn't go out with him did you?" Tom stood back and threw his arms up in frustration.
"Just for coffee. Jen told me that he was really drunk at the wedding and that's why he was being an ass. So I met him for coffee, and eh, I wasn't feeling it."
Tom's entire body seemed to relax and he looked at me with puppy eyes. "Are you going out with him again?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. I mean, it's nice to go out, and it's not like I go anywhere to meet men. Maybe. Who knows?"
Tom took both my arms, smiling, "Well love, you're going out with me tonight!" He walked to the door and eye-fucked me. "Lucky girl!"
After he shut the door, I was in a trance and shivered. Holy shit!
