What about Nick? What about Nick? Why do I need to worry about that? It’s not like anything is going on between us right now. For that matter it’s not like anything is happening between Mitchell and I. It’s just dinner. There are no laws that say I can’t have dinner with him.

Brianna had had Megan’s question floating around in her brain all afternoon. If she knew what was going on between her and Nick then she might actually be able to put and answer to that question. But the truth was she just didn’t know. And not knowing was no reason to not go out on a harmless dinner date with Mitchell, or any other guy for that matter.

Brianna was just about to put her earrings in when there was a knock at her door. Looking at the clock it was exactly 6p.m. Opening the door she smiled at the handsome strawberry blonde smiling down at her. His eyes swept from the top of her head to the toes on her bare feet. That’s when his smile faltered a bit. “Aren’t you ready?”

She looked at her feet, remembering her shoes were by her bed. “Oh, yeah. I was just putting my shoes on when you knocked.” Well my earrings and then my shoes. “It’ll only take a second and then we can go. Sorry.”

His smile was back. “Don’t worry about it. Get your shoes and we can go.” After Brianna walked back to her bedroom Mitchell took the time to look about her apartment, but never bothered to step in further than the foyer by the door. Seeing her return wearing a pair of flat sandals he smiled and opened the door behind him. “Good. Now we can go. I hope you’re hungry?” He shut the door behind them and then opened the passenger door for Brianna to get in. After he climbed in the driver’s seat she answered.

“I’m starving. I had to rush out this morning without breakfast or else I’d have been late for my exam. Then I decided to skip lunch and study so I’d be sure to have plenty of time to get home and get ready by 6.”

Mitchell looked over at her with his smile and grabbed her hand. “Well you can have anything you want.” After that they didn’t say much. Mitchell went South out of town and they ended up at a small café’ about 35 minutes out of town. Small was an accurate description. There seemed to be three to four separate dining rooms each with only a few tables. The candle light from each of the tables reflected a warm glow off the hardwood floor. There was a fireplace in the main room, but since it was summer there was not a fire burning. There was also lots of greenery and flowers throughout each of the rooms adding to the cozy, inviting environment. Mitchell gave the hostess his name and they were led to one of the back rooms. There were three tables in this room, but Mitchell and Brianna were the only ones seated in it. The hostess took their drink orders and handed them their menus. “Like I said, Brianna, you can have anything you want.”

An hour and forty-five minutes and a bottle of wine later the two were laughing and talking like old friends. “I can’t believe they didn’t card me for the wine.”

“Besides the fact that I know the owner you carry yourself in a very mature manner. I’m not surprised at all.”

“But really. I usually am carded everywhere. Well, except when I am with Nick.” Oops, why did I bring him up?

“Who’s’ Nick.” Mitchell asked as he took another sip of wine. He didn’t seem bothered.

“Oh, he’s only my very best friend. I’ve know him since I was 16. I know it must sound strange for a girl saying a boy is her best friend.”

“Nope, not at all. Some of my best friends are girls. So I can understand. Why don’t you get carded with him though?”

“Well, I can’t say who, but let’s just say he is rather well known. People are usually too busy looking at and fussing over him to pay much attention to my ID.”

“Ahh, I understand.” He seemed to think for a minute before continuing. “So you have Megan and this guy Nick. I’m glad to see you have some better friends besides John John.”

“Yeah. I don’t know why I keep hanging out with him. I know how he can be.”

“Well, you don’t need to if you don’t want to. I mean, you could always hang out with me instead.” There was that big smile again.

“Yeah, I guess I could.” She went to say more but was unable due to a huge yawn. “Oh goodness I’m so sorry.”

He laughed a little. “Am I boring you?”

“No, not at all. I’ve just been so tired lately, and busy with hardly and end in sight. Too much to do and not enough hours in the day to get them done and sleep at the same time. Really, I’m enjoying myself.”

“Well, maybe I should take you home so you can get a little rest. You still have more exams don’t you?”

“Yeah, I have two more.”

“Well, why don’t we take a walk outside in the garden and then I’ll drive you home?”

“You sure? I mean, I’ve really had fun and I hate to end it, but I really should try and study some more.”

“I don’t mind at all. There’ll be more time for us later; that is if I can convince you to go out with me again.”

“I think I can do that.”

“Great. How about that walk?”

The garden outside the restaurant was well taken care of. There was a grape arbor, a fishpond with a waterfall and various blooming flowers. The sun had set and the air while still warm was not overbearing. Brianna had to admit it was one of the better dates she could ever remember being on, even if it was so short. At her door Mitchell did ask for her number this time and wanted to know if it would be okay to call her Thursday after her last exam.

“Of course. I’d like that.”

“Look, I know you are tired and you have a lot of studying to do, but I have something that will help a little. That is if you are interested.”

“Something like what?”

“It’s nothing really bad or strong. Just something to give you an extra boost right now while you’re burning the candle at both ends. It doesn’t even really have any side effects. You won’t feel hung over later on or anything. Look, you can try it, and if you don’t like it, that’s cool. But you never know, it could help you get through these next few days without feeling so wrung out.”

“You sure? I mean will it interfere with anything?”

“Nah, it’s really safe. In fact you used to be able buy it at most 7-11’s up until recently.”

“Really? Well, I guess a little help would be nice.” Mitchell went back to his car and returned handing her several small white pills. “How many at a time?”

“With you? I’d start off with just one or two a day, depending on what you are doing. If you take it at dinner you should be able to stay up most of the night and study and then another in the morning with breakfast will get you through your exam and the day.”

“Cool. Is this like speed or something?”

“Yeah, something like it, but not as strong as speed or crank. Hell even my mom uses it now and then, especially around the holidays when they do a lot of entertaining.”

“Well, I guess if your mom uses it, it can’t be all that bad.”

“I’ll call you in a day or two. Let me know how the exams go and if you want more I could get ya some. If not, well that’s cool too.”

“Thanks Mitchell.” He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek before walking to his car and driving off, again waving out the window just as he went around the corner.

<~ Chapter 52 or Chapter 54 ~>

In the End

Karina 2003