Just Another Pretty Face in the Crowd

Chapter Sixteen - The Date?

We were quickly seated at a table in one of the restaurants' themed room. Sidney smiled softly at me, still embarrassed about what happened in the truck on the way over. I smiled back at him. 'I’m just glad we’re on the same page.'

“Hello, folks! My name is Andrew and I'll be your server tonight." Andrew set down cup coasters on the table. "Have you been here before?”

I never even heard of Buca di Beppo until I moved to Pittsburgh. Apparently it means Joe’s Basement in Italian. I shook my head before looking over at Sidney.

“Well, the small portions serve about two to three people. I truthfully would just share a small entree instead of ordering something for myself. The large portions are for bigger parties. They serve about four or five people.” My eyes widened. Just thinking of those serving portions made me feel full!

Sidney was smiling, amused, at my expression on my face.

“Can I get either you something to drink while you look at the menus?” the waiter asked.

“Just a water, please,” Sidney said, still amused that me.

“Can I just have an iced tea?” I asked more than ordered.

“Sure can. I’ll be right back.” The waiter disappeared and Sidney started laughing at me.

“What are you laughing at, Mr. Crosby?” I asked in fake anger.

He stopped laughing but I could still see the twinkle in his eyes. He was clearly amused by my reaction. 'Who wouldn’t be? The entrees must be HUGE.'

“You’re cute, you know that?” he said, his voice was coated with glee. His smile spread from ear to ear.

I could already feel the heat rising in my cheeks. I tried to hide my embarrassment by looking at the menu, trying to decide on what the two of could share. “I’m not cute.” I retorted.

“Well, I think you are.”

I didn’t think it was possible but my cheeks heated up even more. I was sure I looked like a tomato. “What’s your favorite pasta?” I needed to change the subject.

“You’re cute when you blush,” Sidney continued. He was clearly amused with me getting embarrassed by his simple compliments.

I tried my best to ignore him, knowing now he was just trying to get under my skin and embarrass me even more. “I like baked ziti.”

Sidney smirked a little, “You’re cute when you get flustered, too.”

“I’m not flustered.” I replied. “What do you want to eat?”

“Baked ziti is fine.”

'Oh! So, he is listening!'

I laid the menu down in front of me and looked at him. He was still looking at me, more like staring at me. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because you’re cute.”

I just rolled my eyes, “If anyone here is cute, it’s you.”

He smirked at me, “You think I’m cute?”

“Who doesn’t?” I asked. “I mean I’m pretty sure every girl in the world thinks that you are hot as all hell.”

“Do you?” he asked, his smirk was getting a little bigger. It was at that moment that I walked myself into a corner.

“What?” I played a dumb, hoping that he would just let it slide and forget I said anything.

“Think that I’m hot as all hell?” he asked, smirking. I'm pretty sure he was completely aware at what I was doing.

I looked down at the red and white checkered table cloth. How do I answer this question? Tell the truth and let the cat out of the bag. Or lie and make him think I'm leading him on... again. 'Both.' “Maybe.”

“What? Embarrassed that you think I’m hot?”

“I’m embarrassed that it slipped out like that,” I clarified. I normally kept those thoughts to myself and possibly told them to Sadie but never have I ever said it to someone that I liked.

Sidney laughed a little, “Yea, you’re definitely cute when you’re embarrassed too.”

“Here you guys go,” the waiter returned setting down my iced tea and Sidney’s water. “Have you guys decided on what you would like to order?”

“Small portion of the baked ziti, please,” Sidney answered. I was still trying to recover from my embarrassment. The waiter jotted down our order and then took our menus away, leaving us in silence.

“Why do you insist on making me blush?” I asked, not looking up at him. I was still fascinated with the red and white checkered tablecloth.

“You’re cute when you get all flustered,” he said simply. I could feel his eyes on me, examining me, wondering how far he could push me.

“I’m not flustered.” I denied.

“You could have fooled me,” he said, cheekily.

I just shrugged, starting to pull myself into my shell. I wasn’t used to the attention from a guy. I felt awkward and clumsy when it came to guys. He was just exploiting it.

He must have noticed my awkwardness because he changed the subject, “What would you have been doing if I hadn’t asked you out tonight?”

I thought about it. “Honestly? I probably would have had a Marvel marathon or watched Doctor Who on Netflix.”

“Marvel? As in the comics?”

“I’m more of a movie junkie when it comes to Marvel. I really only got into it after Iron Man came out. RDJ* played the role perfectly.” I answered. I was letting my inner geek show a little.

“I didn’t realize that you were are superhero fan,” he said, leaning back in his chair.

I smiled, “Huge superhero fan. Don’t get me started on Captain America.”

“Of course, you would be a Captain America fan,” he said, smirking.

“What? You want to change that Captain Canada?” I asked, smirking back at him.

He just laughed a little at my respond.

'That's right! I got a few jokes.'

“What would you have been doing?” I asked. I was almost afraid of the answer. I nearly stopped myself from asking him the question.

He stared at me, I could tell he was trying hard to hide the debate that was going on in his head. Unfortunately, it showed in his eyes. He was debating on being truthful about his answer or not.

“I probably would have ended up on the couch with a beer wondering why the hell you said no,” he finally answered.

I cocked my head a little in confusion. This was Sidney Crosby. He could have any girl in the world. He could have gone to any bar in Pittsburgh. Yet his answer to my question was to contemplate why I didn't go out with him.

“There is no way I wouldn’t have asked you out tonight,” he said clarifying my confusion. “The decision of what I was doing tonight was completely in your hands. I was either going to be here tonight or I was going to be at home with a beer.”

I looked down at the table again. The blush was back again. I didn’t realize that I had that much power in my answer.

“All I can say is I’m glad you said yes,” Sidney said, quietly. He was sincere and genuine. He really was glad that I was here with him when he could have been here with anyone.

“I’m glad that I said yes, too.”

Sidney smiled at me. He glanced at my hands, which were in a tight ball. They were constantly moving because of how nervous I was. “Are you always this nervous on dates?”

“This is a date?”

“What else would you classify it?” Sidney asked.

I stayed quiet and didn’t look at him.

“Why are you so nervous tonight?” he repeated.

I wasn’t used to this. I hated being under a microscope by someone who considered themselves my date. “I don’t know.” I mumbled.

“Liar, you do know.” he called me out. “Why? Is it something I said? Is it because of what happened in the truck?”

“No. It’s none of that,” I said, softly.

“Then what is it?” he asked just as softly.

“I guess I’m just not used to all this. I haven’t really been on a date before,” I said. I was too busy trying to keep my grades perfect to even try and date people. If I did manage to date someone, I always found some way to mess it up.

“You…” he said. It was like he was in shock and his brain was trying to process what I had just said. “You've never been on a date before?”

“Does studying in the library with a guy count?” I asked, half amused at my answer.

“You really never been on a date?” he repeated.

“I never been on a date.” I clarified.

“Why didn’t you say so?” he asked.

“You never asked. Most people just assume everyone has a social life. It was all about the grades and softball.”

“I mean I was the same way but seriously you never went on a date? You never had a boyfriend?”

I shook my head. “I’ve had boyfriends. I just never went out with them.”

“Why?”

“I was too busy focusing on my grades and softball career,” I answered. “I guess guys don’t like girls that want to make something of theirselves one day.”

Sidney shook his head in disbelief. “You should have told me.”

“It's not exactly something that you want to broadcast to guys,” I mumbled.

“I’m sorry,” he said, suddenly.

I looked at him, questioningly.

“About what happened the truck. I know I said it earlier but I feel like a dick, now more than ever,” he explained.

“Don’t worry. All is forgiven,” I answered, smiling softly at him. “You didn’t know. I shouldn’t have been keeping secrets like that.”

“You weren’t keeping secrets,” he said. “I jumped to conclusions when you were just hanging out with your friend.”

“Correction: my best friend.” I said. “He’s my best friend.”

“So, it’s accept that he’s in your life or don’t even bother trying, eh?”

I couldn’t help but giggle a little. He did the Canadian thing!

“It’s because I said eh,” he said, knowing exactly why I was giggling.

All I coud do was nod. He did it once before when I was around but I had better control of myself than I did right now.

“Yea, yea, yea. Keep on laughing you, American,” he said, trying to make himself look serious when he really wasn’t.

Finally, our food came. The baked ziti was served in a big dish and the waiter placed smaller plates in front of us. It smelled delicious and made my mouth water. I didn’t enough have to eat it, the smell alone made me feel full. Unfortunately, my stomach didn’t agree with that statement and let out a little growl.

“Is there anything else I can get for you?” the waiter asked, smiling.

“I think that will be all. Thanks,” Sidney said, smiling back. He had already grabbed some of the ziti and was about to begin stuffing his face in its deliciousness.

I grabbed the spoon and scooped a little onto the plate. I wanted to be careful about eating it because I was wearing a cream color dress, my only dress. Ruin this dress and I’m screwed for all events till I find a new one, which will be impossible.

“Bon apetite,” I muttered to myself and began eating.

*****

“I’m sorry about earlier,” Sidney apologized for the millionth time as we walked up the stairs of my apartment building.

“Will you please stop apologizing! It was just a misunderstanding! I forgive you!” I said, laughing at him. If he was thinking I was going to blow the matter out of portion, I wasn’t. He may have jumped to conclusions but I would have too. I can only hope that he would be as forgiving to me as I am to him.

“But I feel bad!” he said, pouting a little.

“Don’t!”

“I ruined whatever we just went on!” he said, still pouting.

“Whatever it was, you did NOT ruin it,” I glanced at him. He seriously felt bad about what he did in the truck. “If it was ruined, I would have asked you to pull over and I would have gotten out and tried to find my way home.”

Sidney stopped half way up the last flight of stairs, “I would not have let you walk home in the cold.”

“See, even though you were angry, you would have still made sure I was okay. You, sir, did not ruin anything,” I said, looking over my shoulder at him.

“But -” he started climbing again, trying to catch up to me.

“Can it, Crosby!” I shouted as I pushed the door up on my floor.

He burrowed his brow a little. “But-”

I turned around and gave him a fake glare. “What did I say?”

“Can it,” he said, faking a sad voice. I knew it was fake because I saw the amusement twinkle in his eye again.

“That’s right,” I said smirking. I turned back to my door and was about to turn my key when I was spun around.

I was completely caught off guard when he pinned me to the door and caught my lips with his. It was just as electrifying as before. I never felt anything like it though. It made me fall for him even more. I could feel his arms wrap around me, pulling me closer. I don’t even remember how my fingers managed to start playing his hair, twirling the ends. This kiss started off as innocent. It probably was supposed to stay innocent, but I couldn’t help but allow his tongue to play with mine.

Unfortunately, he pulled back as both of our lungs started screaming for air.

“I wasn’t angry,” he said, leaning his forehead on mine.

I couldn’t comprehend what he was talking about. My mind was still spinning after our kiss.

He smirked a little, “Earlier. I wasn’t angry.”

I guess I made a face of recognition because he laughed a little at me.

“Then what were you?” I asked, quietly. I don’t think my voice would work if I went up any higher than it did.

He didn’t answer me. He just continued starting down at me. It felt like he was examining me. I broke the gaze first, looking over at the opposite wall.

“You’re right.” He finally spoke, breaking what felt like an awkward silence.

I looked at him confused.

“You’re right about not being cute,” he clarified.

I felt my heart sink. Was he calling me ugly after we just pretty much made out in the hallway in front of my apartment? 'What a dick!'

“You’re beautiful.” he continued.

'Never mind!'

I blinked at him, still registering what he said. “Come again?”

“You. Are. Beautiful.” he repeated. He stared down at me, I could see the worry creep into his eyes. I don’t know why he would worry about saying something like that to a woman. I’m pretty sure that’s every woman’s dream. And here I was, living it.

Before I could stop myself, I stood on my tippy toes, gaining a little leverage. I was only 5’4”. He kissed me twice. It was time that I kissed him. I guess I caught him by surprise because he didn’t respond back right away.

I never, ever felt this way in my entire life. Being in his arms, it made me feel safe. Everything around us disappeared when he kissed me. Even when he held my hand, I knew that I was untouchable. I felt safe.

Unfortunately, the kiss had to end. 'Why does it always have to end?'

With the kiss, he let his death grip go, “It’s getting late and I have practice in the morning. I also believe that you have to get up early, too.”

'Oh, how considerate! NOT!'

“Good night, Sidney,” I wasn’t ready for him go but all perfect endings must come to an end too.

“Good night, Dru,” he whispered it and pecked me on my forehead, sweetly. “Sweet dreams.”

I watched him walk away from me, ignoring the slight pang I felt in my chest.