22/10/2001 - 9:16 p.m.

Part 6

The hoots of her laughter echoed down the empty street. She glanced at him, catching his eyes and regretting her response.

"Oh God," Lisa said, trying to regain her composure, "it's just that, well..."

"That was the most awful line you've ever heard in your whole life?" supplied Michael. She nodded. "I had something rather better planned, but, it didn't come out."

"That's OK." She looked at him, standing before her, crimson with embarrasement. He must've really wanted to talk to her or he'd never have made it down in the first place, but she wasn't really interested in him. The second to last thing she wanted to do was end up going to dinner with him, but as the last thing was going to dinner alone, she decided at last that she could hardly do better. Anyway, who knew, maybe he wasn't completely objectionable.

"So, now that we know we're not going to the police department together, have you had dinner?" she asked.

"No." He was beginning to feel rather out of his depth, and very glad she had taken over.

"Would you take me out for Italian? I know a pretty good place: red paper napkins and Spanish waiters, but it's not bad. I expect you can afford it, I usually can."

"That sounds good."

Lisa turned and he followed her down the street to the bus stop. She surveyed him again while they waited; dark blonde, green eyes, taller than her- she certainly could've done much worse.

The silence was making Michael uneasy. He was aware that she was surveying him; certain he ought to say something; terrified at both.

"So, which apartment is yours?" she asked, glancing at the building opposite their corner.

"Third floor, corner apartment. The light. Jeff must be back," he said.

"Jeff?" her mind raced: why did he have to be bi? Why did she have to find out so early in the evening? Now it didn't matter whether she took to him or not, she wasn't going to have him. Damn him!

"My roomate." Her brain screeched to a halt and took a breather. "He said he might bring his girlfriend back. I guess they skipped dinner."

"They might have it there," she suggested.

"Jeff? Hardly. He eats Ramen noodles and instant soup. I admit, I'm not much better, but I don't just take a girl home and screw her. Not without having dinner first."

"Been a while, Mike?" she asked, just as he realised what he said. Luckily, they both laughed, and the bus came around the corner to defer that line of question for a while.

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