You Are On My Mind

First Date

Danny Reagan fiddled with his coat buttons. He had a feeling his date wasn't exactly happy with the way things had gone. She had been grumpy all through the school day, and even more so during the date. He was an idiot and questioned her eating choices- more than once. The first time it was at the movie, where he questioned her multiple snack runs and choices. It was mainly variations chocolate and salty chips, with a root beer. He ate like that all the time, but he figured with the figure his date supported, she was careful with calories. Then he insulted her while she ate her steak and cheese pizza. She had three slices, and of course he had to be an ass about it.
Danny sighed as he looked over at the blonde in the red beret. She wore a black, knee-length pea coat and brown chunky high heeled boots along with a blue scarf. Beneath her coat was a light pink sweater and denim skirt with black stockings. He looked away again before looking back. "I hope I didn't offend you when I was questioning your eating habits."
"Oh, you did." She was quick to answer him.
He frowned, "I didn't mean to. I just..." he treaded carefully, not wanting to offend her further. "I didn't think someone as good looking as you could scarf multiple chocolates and chip bags, along with two sodas and three slices of pizza."
"You think I'm good looking?" She looked sideways at him, her rosy cheeks even rosier.
Danny felt his face grow warm. "Uh... yeah. Yeah, I do. I mean- you're thin and pretty and have nice ti....diness about you." He groaned, "usually I'm so good at this. Sorry, Linda."
"I know you're good. I see you flirting with the other girls, which brings up a question. Why me? I mean, I pale in comparison to those girls. They're all more shapely and worldly and.... fake, to be honest. So why me? Especially with my reputation." Linda was classified as the 'way too conservative Catholic school girl who only ever kissed before'. She was honestly okay with that branding; she believed she had to save herself for her husband. Unfortunately, most of her dates didn't believe or agree with that thinking.
"I dunno. It's... it's kinda like eating your Aunt Agnes' dried up, over seasoned, over cooked, over charred steak all your life. Then you have a really good New York strip, and it's like 'so this is what it tastes like'."
Linda screwed her lips in a contemplative pout (something Danny was quickly falling in love with), thinking about what he said. "Sooo.... I'm just a better hunk of meat?"
"Yes." Then, very quickly, he added, "no."
The blonde shook her head, her curls bouncing beneath her beret. She walked in front of him, and started crossing the cross walk.
Danny's eyes widened and he swore he never ran that fast in his life. Just a second before a car sped past the walkway, Danny grabbed Linda's arm and practically hurled himself and herself back to the sidewalk.
Linda's eyes grew wide as she sputtered, watching three more cars whiz by. She barely registered Danny helping her stand.
"Are you okay?" He started brushing off her coat, something he learned from his Mom.
"You- you- you- you saved me." She looked to the road and back at Danny, "thank you!" She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
He chuckled lightly, "don't mention it." Without thinking, he kissed her temple.
Linda, surprised, stepped back and looked at him, the world slowly fading away. She watched him smile crookedly and shrug, blushing. She leaned in and kissed his cheek, matching his smile when she stood straight.
Cautiously, Danny smoothed some hair away from her face, then kissed her lips. He noted that the tube of chapstick she carried was well put to use, as her lips were the softest lips he had ever felt. He smiled at her when they pulled away from each other; offering his hand, he nodded towards the way home.
Linda grinned and clasped his hand with her gloved one. Their fingers interlaced, and she felt very warm inside. "I guess you're not such an ass after all."
"Thank you... I think."
Linda laughed, her breath freezing in the cold of October. Once back on the sidewalk, safe from passing cars, she pecked his cheek once again.
Danny squeezed her hand, thinking, this date wasn't so bad after all.