By the time 5th period rolled around, I was dancing with anticipation. I’m not normally a girl that got super excited for a date, but I don’t know, there was something about Jon that really made me smile. Because I did not have a 7th period class, I got to eat my lunch during both 6th and 7th period, which meant I had about 90 minutes to have a lunch date. I felt like I was in school again, usually when I teach the classes fly by, but it seemed that 5th period was taking forever.

I was just finishing up talking about Abraham Lincoln and the Gettysburg address when a loud bell rang and the class woke up from their day dreams to sprint out of the room and for lunch. It was 11:54 so I knew I had a couple of minutes to go sign out at the main office. I grabbed by bag and phone and headed out of my classroom to the main office.

“Hey Lizzy! How are you hun?” Said the receptionist who was mean to everyone but me, students included. Her name was Suzanne and to be honest, she never shut up. I really did like Suzanne though, she was probably my only friend at the school. It was weird, she was my age, 23, but had a job of a 74 year old.

“I’m good Suzanne, i’m just checking out because I will be stepping out for lunch.”

“Suzanne, how did you know that? Maybe i’m going by myself” As I said that, my phone buzzed with a message from Jon telling me he was outside “I gotta go Suz, he’s her- shit, I shouldn’t of told you that!”

“You just have fun and be back by 8th period!” She beamed as I left the main office and towards the front doors.

I saw Jon’s BMW sitting right in front. He looked identical to himself this morning only now he had on a light blue v-neck and khackis. I strolled over to the car and saw him texting on the phone. He looked up in time to see me nearing the passenger seat and he almost fell out of the car he was running to my side so quickly to open the door for me. Guys never had done that for me, and I loved it.

“Sorry, my mom always told me to open a door for a lady whether she is 4 or 84 and I guess it has stuck.” Jon laughed as he walked to the driver’s seat as I got into the car.

“Well, it was very unexpected, guys never do that these days.” I replied

“Sorry to do this again, but anywhere you would want to go? I’m seriously starving!”

“Even though it’s a chain, there is a chipotle and a panera in the next town over.”

“I could seriously go for a huge ass burrito right now!”

“How come every time you talk to me, you’re hungry?” I laughed

For the rest of the ride, while I told him the directions like I did when we went to the diner, we talked mostly about food until I asked him why practice was cancelled when I saw his gear in the back seat of the car.

“Oh, Coach’s two daughters were really sick with a fever, he probably has it, and he didn’t want the team to get it so he thought he would just cancel it.”
“I guess that’s good, I don’t want to be around someone with a 104 degree fever” I said

We turned into chipotle, and after much convincing from him, he was going to pay for my burrito. We walked into chipotle, and got in the already long line. Chipotle lines go pretty fast so I was not getting impaitent like I usually do when there is a line. Jon was being very respectful towards me, not getting too close, asking me questions, and truly just being very nice. Something men these days almost never do. Not to mention professional athletes.

After we ordered our food, we grabbed our drinks and sat down in a metal booth. Jon’s burrito was huge, almost the size of a baby, and I accidentially let out a small laugh.

“What?” He asked when he saw me laughing and he began to laugh “What?”
Through my giggles I told him “Your burrito looks like a small baby compared to mine!”

It wasn’t really funny, but Jon lost it, there were almost tears in his eyes. I was getting a little freaked out until he told me why he was cracking up so much.

“Here I am, trying not to get a lot so I don’t look like a slob in front of the girl I like, and I turn out looking like the biggest pig!”

I started laughing as hard as him until I stopped when I really thought about what he said did he just say the girl he likes? I looked across the table to see him starting to engulfing his burrito and look up with a chunk of guacamole hanging from his mouth and I laughed, grabbed a napkin, and reached across the table to wipe it off his face. His face was priceless.

Once he finished chewing, I got the nerve to ask him about what he had just said to me “Jon, did you just say ‘the girl you like?”

“Well, yes, actually I mean it’s kinda sudden but like-”
“No, no, it’s fine because I like you back”

With this his face lit up like a Christmas tree. He smiled blushed, and dove his head back into his burrito. I realized that I didn’t really know anything about his hockey career.

“So Jon, you play for Albany right? When do you think your first NHL game will be?” I asked

Jon’s face turned gloomy at that second. He looked like I shouldn’t of brought it up. I instantly regretting ever saying anything.

“You see Liz, i’m kinda a troublemaker, a hot head if you will.”
“Wow, I never would have guessed. Remember when you actually got mad at me when my car wasn’t able to get fixed?”
“Yeah.” He shrugged and let out a light laugh “I was worse in the beginning of college, I was suspended for being a dick so many times and honestly, I wish I could of gone back and slapped myself. I back talked, yelled, called my teammates names. No wonder I wasn’t a crowd favorite.”

“Jon, you don’t have to stay that person though” Here we were, in a Chipotle, having a heart-to-heart conversation

“I don’t know, I don’t want my horrible, young, immature self to ruin my potential career for the Devils.” He looked down at his demolished burrito “Hey i think it’s time we get going, you have another class?”
“Yeah, I do.” I knew it had been an hour and I would probably have another 20 minutes to digest the baby burrito in my stomach.

We walked out into the brisk October air and I was taken back at how cold the wind was. Without even commenting, Jon put his arm around me and rubbed by upper arm to keep me warm as we walked back to the car. Mr. Perfect isn’t so perfect after all is he?

I smiled at Jon and he smiled back as we drove to the high school again. This is going so fast, I need to slow down. But look at him, he looks so happy!

“Thank you for everything Jon and-

Without notice he leaned over the consol in the car, kissed my cheek, and unlocked the door. I was in utter shock

“I believe that you have some freshman waiting to hear about the civil war.” He winked, waved and drove off leaving me with my mouth open. I shook my head and laughed walking back into the school.

Notes

Alright so i guess all my chapters start with the letter C now? It was a coincidence, but I guess I can just roll with it. :) comments/suggestions are always welcome!

PS my computer loves to screw up the format of this so please tell me if you are having trouble reading it. Thanks!