Rachel put her keys in her purse and glanced worriedly at her watch. 7:05 it seemed to snear. She hoped her date hadn't gotten there early! She walked in the Olive Garden.
Italien aromas flowed around the room. A warm and cozy vibe drifted around. Rachel smiled as she walked up to the person holding the reservations booklet.
"May I help you Miss?" he asked with a charming smile.
"Yes, my name is Rachel Hardcastle and I," Rachel started ot explain but he cut her off.
"Right this way Rachel!" He smiled and starting leading her weaving in an out of tables.
Rachel looked around at everybody in the resteraunt. Finally she reached the table. She gasped as she locked gazes' with a familiar pair of brown eyes.
"J-Justin?" Rachel said weakly as she sat down.
"Your waitor will be here shortly," the man said.
Rachel snapped back into reality, "Thank you," She said and turned back to Justin.
She was still in shock. Here sat the man she had spent three years of her life dating, she had spent over a year trying to get over, and had his child.
Rachel looked him over. He was wearing khaki pants and a light blue button up shirt. His blonde hair was still curly, and still adorable, just a little longer. And last of all, she found herself slipping into his gorgeous brown eyes.
Why was he here? How could this have happened? One thought...Lance!
"Justin, I had no idea," Rachel said. 'God, I sound stupid! Wait, why do I care? This is Justin!' Rachel scolded herself mentally.
Justin smiled and Rachel's heartbeat quickened, "Neither did I! Figures, this is something Lance would pull! I'm going to have to kill him when I get home!"
Justin rolled his eyes, "I can't believe he did this! This is just terrible!"
Rachel frowned slightly, "I'm sorry. I know this isn't what we expected, but terrible, I didn't think us spending time together would be that much of a chore!"
Justin winced. Seeing Rachel's hurt expression crushed him. He wanted to bury himself in a hole right then, "No, no, I didn't mean that. I just mean't it's terrible as in something Lance would do! I don't mind spending time with you. It's been a long, long time. It's good to see you again," He smiled. 'Really good to see you. Damn girly, you always had a body!'
His smile quickly made up for his mistake. Before Rachel knew it she felt a smile on her own lips, "I agree. We're stuck here so me might as well make the best of it!" Rachel studied him, "So, how have you been?"
'Terrible without you', "Okay. I'm doing pretty good. NBA offered me a position on the NC Tarheals and I'm going to take it. Basketball is my life. But my parents want me to at least go to school for one more year. So I'll do that then play."
"You always were really good at basketball. You and Haley used to always play! I'm sure she misses having you to play her," 'I miss you too' Rachel thought.
"So what have you been up to?" Justin asked studying her facial features.
His eyes wondered to the dress she was wearing. She looked like a Princess. He watched as she bit her bottom lip, a cute habit she had always had. He smiled watching her.
"Well, I've been busy. That's for sure! Things weren't clicking out in Texas. And after we ummm...well then I moved out here. And I'm only going to college for another year too. I've been working my butt off and I'm graduating next year if all goes well!" Rachel said proudly.
"That's great!" Justin smiled. He had a question he wanted to ask her, but he thought it would be awkward. He went against his gut feelings and asked anyway, "So, have you been dating a lot since...well since...ya know."
"I've been dating a little, but nothing serious. You?" Rachel wondered.
'No, I'm still in love with you. I told myself I wasn't all this time, but seeing you only confirms my feelings!' Justin wanted to say. Instead he resigned to, "Same."
Before Rachel could speak their waitor appeared, "Can I get you all something to drink?"
Rachel thought momentarily before answering, "I'll have an ice water please."
The waitor nodded as he scribbled on his pad. He turned his attention to Justin, "And you sir?"
Justin thought, "Hmm, Coke please."
The waitor nodded, "I'll be right back with your drinks!" He hurried off.
Justin turned his attention back to Rachel, "You look really good," 'Did I just say that? You idiot! Smooth Timbs!'
Rachel blushed, "You too," she said honestly.
Justin shook his head, "Rachel, this is ridiculous. We shouldn't let our relationship ruin a perfectly good friendship," Justin was surprised he just blurted that out. His mouth certainly had a mind of it's own that night.
"I know," Rachel said looking at her menu, "We just ease back into a frienship."
"I'd like to see more of you," Justin agreed.
"Me too," Rachel smiled.
"I'll be here all summer. We should hook up some," Justin said with smiling eyes.
Rachel nodded as their waitor returned with their drinks. They both ordered.
Justin payed like a true gentleman. Before either could argue, their night was over. They both regretted it coming to and end. It seemed like things were back to normal. They were laughing like old friends again.
Justin finally stopped laughing, "So, I guess this is goodnight!"
Rachel subsidded her giggle, "Yeah, I guess so." They both laughed.
"Give me your number and I'll call you sometime. Maybe I can get a hold of Nikki and Lance and we could all go out!" Justin smiled.
Rachel nodded. She took the pen and paper from Justin and wrote her number.
She handed him the paper and pen with a smile, "Goodnight Curly!"
"Night Princess!" Justin smiled and got in his car with a satisfactory feeling.
Rachel got in her car and headed home. Lance sure had been sneaky. But now she and Justin were on the road to recovery and a possible friendship. Rachel just hoped she could contain herself. Justin had surely only been looking for a frienship. But Rachel on the other hand felt herself falling back into her love for him. But she had a long time to figure things out. For now, she would just let things go with the flow.
