ofsunshineandlolipops

Of Sunshine and Lolipops

He took her out to dinner, although neither of them called it a date. It wasn’t that they were “involved” or anything. It was simply because she’d just been fired, and he wanted to make her feel better without forcing all their loud mouth friends onto her fragile ego. They were the last of their friendship circle considered single, and everyone was saying that it was inevitable. The innuendo had been flying thick and fast, which was why it was even more important that no-one else know about it. Other people might have seen it as a date, that’s all.

When he picked her up from her house, he took her right from the door, but it wasn’t a date. They’d gotten to the restaurant street just as the rain started to bucket down. They ran from door to door, trying to find a restaurant that they could afford. After all, this was casual and it wasn’t a date. Finally, frustrated, he went into one of the restaurants without looking. It was a good choice, a nice semi-italian one.

They ate and chatted, in the corner of the busy restaurant. They watched and made snide comments about some of the other people who were obviously there on a date, or something very like it. She sighed longingly when some guy got down and begged the ultimate question. He laughed, too loudly, at the immediate, but delicate, refusal. Their meal arrived at that time, so the impromptu show lost its lustre. They began to eat, slowly and awkwardly at first, because they had to make sure it wasn’t a date. After a while, they both laughed and returned to their casual chit chat between mouthfuls. He finished quickly, so he sat there and watched her concentrate on getting the last slippery bits of risotto, amused by the determination etched on her face.

When he paid the whole bill, she tried to slip him some money. He didn’t take it, saying “Hey, you’re nearly broke remember?” She couldn’t help but feel guilty - it wasn’t a cheap meal - but she was forced to accept it. The rain had cleared, and they took a stroll down by the lake that their city straddled. The stars and the crescent moon reflected their bright light on the inky lapping blackness of the water, the sky seeming to extend up and down forever into the horizon. The calmness of the water impressed itself on them, ending conversation. Which they were content with, simply to walk in silence. But it wasn’t a date, they reminded themselves, and kept walking apart, even if it was too cold. As they passed a couple on the boardwalk, her hand brushed his and for a moment their fingers entangled. But it wasn’t a date, so they quickly moved apart.

Finally, he dropped her off home. He escorted her to the door, as any proper gentleman would. Before going inside, she turned to give him the customary goodbye hug, but then… but then, as their arms closed around each other, she turned her face up and moved to kiss him. He saw it coming, but moved out of the way of the potential kiss. It wasn’t a date. She was left looking at the moon, as he disengaged and took a measured step back. Still close enough for her to reach out and touch, but far enough for the distance to be felt.

“That wasn’t a date, remember?”