Choices
The First Date
I stood in front of the mirror fighting with internally with myself over what to wear. I know it sound like a girly thing to do but I was nervous for my date with Danielle. Right when we got back to Pittsburgh I called her out of the blue. I didn’t even really mean to. I was just playing with my phone and it called her. I didn’t even realize I called her until her voice was heard coming from the phone. I was going to ask her out anyways so I just sprung onto the opportunity. Thankfully she said yes and we made our date for Saturday. Well today is Saturday which brings me back to my dilemma of nervousness.
I’m usually never nervous with a girl. Usually I can charm anyone enough to make them nervous. I never have felt the butterflies in my stomach but for the first time I felt like thousands were soaring in my stomach.
Slipping the tie around my neck I meandered around my spacious bedroom in search of my black dress shoes. I was glad that when I got to Pittsburgh Mady was more than eager to design my apartment for me. The black wood furnishings stood out against the white walls and the walnut hardwood floors. Across the far wall there were windows with a balcony that overlooked the city. On the adjacent wall a large dresser with a television sat across from my king sized bed. Black and white filled the room for it was always my favorite color combination. I had a huge master bathroom and a closet on the last wall which I liked for I had many suits. I walked around the room and finally found my dress shoes under my bed.
I let myself have one last glance in the mirror before grabbing my phone from the dresser and exiting my bedroom. I passed through the living room, grabbing my keys from the hook by the door, and made my way to the car. I drove silently to her condo trying to keep my nerves in check. A small smile crept to my face as I parked my car in her driveway only to see her sitting on the porch steps waiting for me. She looked good. Her black dress was snug dress that went down to her knees but flared out a bit at the hips. The sweetheart neckline suited her style and she looked amazing. I slowed to a stop and she got up and walked over towards the passenger’s side.
“Hey. Thanks for picking me up.” She spoke as she jumped into my car and buckled her seatbelt. Her small smile on her perfect face made my hearth do back flips in my chest. I backed the car out of the driveway and towards some restaurant Mady said Danielle loved. i forgot the name but I remembered what it looked like so that was good.
“I’m just glad you said yes. I hope you are hungry we are going to your favorite place…”
“La Da Dolce?” she interrupted with that smile of hers plastered on her face. I nodded my head and she squealed throwing her arms around me in an embrace. I nearly froze when her arms encircled my body but soon composed myself enough to keep the car on the road. I pulled the car into a parking spot. Damn her smile nearly blinded me her grin was all the way across her face. I ran to the side of the car and opened it for her which caused her face to turn crimson as she grabbed my arm and stepped out of the vehicle.
“Mr.Hossa nice to see you. Your table is ready.” The hostess Mari chirped as we walked into the restaurant. I nodded my head and followed her to our table in the back of the restaurant. The restaurant was beautiful; no wonder it was Danielle’s favorite. The entire wall was a glass window that overlooked the river which danced with the lights of the skyscrapers. The city seemed endless. Inside there were many tables with candles and light music. It was a nice place.
“You didn’t have to take me here.” Danielle said as she scanned the menu trying to decide what she was to order.
“I know I didn’t have to but Mady told me this was your favorite place. So why give you second best when I could give you what you love.” I smiled as I looked up from my menu to see a small smile on her face. She was always smiling, that’s what had attracted me to her. Her smile was just never on her lips. No it was all over her face. When that smile graced her lips her eyes sparkled and her attitude just perked up. It was refreshing to be around.
The waitress came over and took our orders with a cheerful smile and a smirk my way. Danielle’s eyes narrowed to slits as the waitress walked away making sure she shook her ass. Typical. I was sick of girls that did stuff like that. Can’t they clearly see I am on a date? I brushed the thought from my mind and turned my attention back to Danielle who was staring out the window at the skyline.
Being with her was easy. I didn’t have to try and impress her. I felt no need to. I was just myself around her. She didn’t care that I played hockey or how much money I made she just cared about me. The awkward Slovakian man who enjoyed the simple things in life.
“Anything else I can get you?” the waitress asked as she began to put our food on the table. Danielle nodded her head but the waistress didn’t pay attention to her. Her attention was on me. She wasn’t even paying attention to what she was doing. Her smirk was placed on her lips as she stared at me while putting down the food. She set Danielle’s plate down in front of her on the edge of the table so it slid off into her lap.
“What the hell!” Danielle screeched as she jumped up from her chair brushing the pasta off her dress. I instantly stood up and handed her a napkin which she took and began to clean of her dress.
“Oh did I do that?” the waitress acidly spoke causing tears to spring into Danielle’s eyes. In two seconds she was sprinting towards the bathroom as the waitress just watched.
“Well now that she’s gone…” she started, gently caressing my chest with her hand. I snatched her hand and gently pushed her away from me with a snarl across my face. She sighed before muttering how she was going to get the manager which I nodded and sat back down with my face in my hands. This was going to be a long night.
We sat in silence the ride back to her condo. I wanted to say something but apologies can only go so far. She sat there with her puffy eyes staring at her soiled dress. This wasn’t how I planned the night. I pulled into her driveway and we just sat there staring at our laps.
“I’m sorry for overreacting.” My head snapped up and I looked over to her to see a tear slide down her cheek. I was baffled. It wasn’t her fault. Nothing was her fault. It pained me to realize she thought it was all her fault. I would have reacted the same way if I was in her shoes, well except I don’t cry.
“What are you talking about? You didn’t throw the food on yourself.” I said with a chuckle. I grabbed her hands and put them between mine staring into her eyes. I didn’t want to end this date on a sad note. We were supposed to be happy. This night did prove to me though that I did have feelings for her. Heck if I didn’t have feelings for her I wouldn’t be caring about how she felt. I would have laughed when the food fell on her. All I felt was sadness.
“Go get changed. I’ll wait right here.” I spoke to her in nearly an inaudible whisper.
“You sure? I’m queen klutzy; who knows maybe I’ll fall down flights of stairs next. I don’t want to ruin the rest of your evening.” She spoke with a laugh.
“You didn’t ruin it not at all. The stupid bitch did. I want to continue this date and try to make the best of the rest of it.” I said with a smile. A smile grew on her face and she leaped out of the car and towards her house. Hopefully she would come back out.
I sat outside her house for nearly a half an hour. I knew she wasn’t going to come back. Why would she? The date sucked. It wasn’t either of our faults though. Maybe it was my fault though. Maybe I should have asked for a new waitress… The what if’s kept floating through my mind until I saw her walk out the door. I laughed when I saw she was wearing skinny jeans with a t shirt. She flashed a smile before stepping into the car.
We drove the streets of Pittsburgh just taking in the city. Every few minutes Danielle would point out some of her favorite places to eat, her favorite bars, and her favorite stores. Just driving around with her was fun. We talked more about our families and things we like to do. We really did have a lot in common.
“We gotta get ice cream!” I practically shouted when I saw a vendor walking the streets selling ice cream cones. Before she could speak I pulled into a parking spot and left the car to get two ice cream cones. Danielle just sat there laughing as I chased the guy down the streets for the savory treat.
“You’re kidding right? Ice cream in the middle of winter?” she asked with a laugh as I returned to the car with our ice creams in hand.
“Yes serious! Now take it.” I laughed and handed her the ice cream before sitting back in the drivers seat. We sat in silence eating our cones as we watched the snow fall around us.
“Thank you.”
“For what?” she asked, quirking her eyebrow in the process as she looked at me.
“For choosing to come back out with me even after the first horrible half of the date.” I spoke with a smile as I turned the car onto the road to take her home.
“ I’m glad I chose to too.”
I’m usually never nervous with a girl. Usually I can charm anyone enough to make them nervous. I never have felt the butterflies in my stomach but for the first time I felt like thousands were soaring in my stomach.
Slipping the tie around my neck I meandered around my spacious bedroom in search of my black dress shoes. I was glad that when I got to Pittsburgh Mady was more than eager to design my apartment for me. The black wood furnishings stood out against the white walls and the walnut hardwood floors. Across the far wall there were windows with a balcony that overlooked the city. On the adjacent wall a large dresser with a television sat across from my king sized bed. Black and white filled the room for it was always my favorite color combination. I had a huge master bathroom and a closet on the last wall which I liked for I had many suits. I walked around the room and finally found my dress shoes under my bed.
I let myself have one last glance in the mirror before grabbing my phone from the dresser and exiting my bedroom. I passed through the living room, grabbing my keys from the hook by the door, and made my way to the car. I drove silently to her condo trying to keep my nerves in check. A small smile crept to my face as I parked my car in her driveway only to see her sitting on the porch steps waiting for me. She looked good. Her black dress was snug dress that went down to her knees but flared out a bit at the hips. The sweetheart neckline suited her style and she looked amazing. I slowed to a stop and she got up and walked over towards the passenger’s side.
“Hey. Thanks for picking me up.” She spoke as she jumped into my car and buckled her seatbelt. Her small smile on her perfect face made my hearth do back flips in my chest. I backed the car out of the driveway and towards some restaurant Mady said Danielle loved. i forgot the name but I remembered what it looked like so that was good.
“I’m just glad you said yes. I hope you are hungry we are going to your favorite place…”
“La Da Dolce?” she interrupted with that smile of hers plastered on her face. I nodded my head and she squealed throwing her arms around me in an embrace. I nearly froze when her arms encircled my body but soon composed myself enough to keep the car on the road. I pulled the car into a parking spot. Damn her smile nearly blinded me her grin was all the way across her face. I ran to the side of the car and opened it for her which caused her face to turn crimson as she grabbed my arm and stepped out of the vehicle.
“Mr.Hossa nice to see you. Your table is ready.” The hostess Mari chirped as we walked into the restaurant. I nodded my head and followed her to our table in the back of the restaurant. The restaurant was beautiful; no wonder it was Danielle’s favorite. The entire wall was a glass window that overlooked the river which danced with the lights of the skyscrapers. The city seemed endless. Inside there were many tables with candles and light music. It was a nice place.
“You didn’t have to take me here.” Danielle said as she scanned the menu trying to decide what she was to order.
“I know I didn’t have to but Mady told me this was your favorite place. So why give you second best when I could give you what you love.” I smiled as I looked up from my menu to see a small smile on her face. She was always smiling, that’s what had attracted me to her. Her smile was just never on her lips. No it was all over her face. When that smile graced her lips her eyes sparkled and her attitude just perked up. It was refreshing to be around.
The waitress came over and took our orders with a cheerful smile and a smirk my way. Danielle’s eyes narrowed to slits as the waitress walked away making sure she shook her ass. Typical. I was sick of girls that did stuff like that. Can’t they clearly see I am on a date? I brushed the thought from my mind and turned my attention back to Danielle who was staring out the window at the skyline.
Being with her was easy. I didn’t have to try and impress her. I felt no need to. I was just myself around her. She didn’t care that I played hockey or how much money I made she just cared about me. The awkward Slovakian man who enjoyed the simple things in life.
“Anything else I can get you?” the waitress asked as she began to put our food on the table. Danielle nodded her head but the waistress didn’t pay attention to her. Her attention was on me. She wasn’t even paying attention to what she was doing. Her smirk was placed on her lips as she stared at me while putting down the food. She set Danielle’s plate down in front of her on the edge of the table so it slid off into her lap.
“What the hell!” Danielle screeched as she jumped up from her chair brushing the pasta off her dress. I instantly stood up and handed her a napkin which she took and began to clean of her dress.
“Oh did I do that?” the waitress acidly spoke causing tears to spring into Danielle’s eyes. In two seconds she was sprinting towards the bathroom as the waitress just watched.
“Well now that she’s gone…” she started, gently caressing my chest with her hand. I snatched her hand and gently pushed her away from me with a snarl across my face. She sighed before muttering how she was going to get the manager which I nodded and sat back down with my face in my hands. This was going to be a long night.
We sat in silence the ride back to her condo. I wanted to say something but apologies can only go so far. She sat there with her puffy eyes staring at her soiled dress. This wasn’t how I planned the night. I pulled into her driveway and we just sat there staring at our laps.
“I’m sorry for overreacting.” My head snapped up and I looked over to her to see a tear slide down her cheek. I was baffled. It wasn’t her fault. Nothing was her fault. It pained me to realize she thought it was all her fault. I would have reacted the same way if I was in her shoes, well except I don’t cry.
“What are you talking about? You didn’t throw the food on yourself.” I said with a chuckle. I grabbed her hands and put them between mine staring into her eyes. I didn’t want to end this date on a sad note. We were supposed to be happy. This night did prove to me though that I did have feelings for her. Heck if I didn’t have feelings for her I wouldn’t be caring about how she felt. I would have laughed when the food fell on her. All I felt was sadness.
“Go get changed. I’ll wait right here.” I spoke to her in nearly an inaudible whisper.
“You sure? I’m queen klutzy; who knows maybe I’ll fall down flights of stairs next. I don’t want to ruin the rest of your evening.” She spoke with a laugh.
“You didn’t ruin it not at all. The stupid bitch did. I want to continue this date and try to make the best of the rest of it.” I said with a smile. A smile grew on her face and she leaped out of the car and towards her house. Hopefully she would come back out.
I sat outside her house for nearly a half an hour. I knew she wasn’t going to come back. Why would she? The date sucked. It wasn’t either of our faults though. Maybe it was my fault though. Maybe I should have asked for a new waitress… The what if’s kept floating through my mind until I saw her walk out the door. I laughed when I saw she was wearing skinny jeans with a t shirt. She flashed a smile before stepping into the car.
We drove the streets of Pittsburgh just taking in the city. Every few minutes Danielle would point out some of her favorite places to eat, her favorite bars, and her favorite stores. Just driving around with her was fun. We talked more about our families and things we like to do. We really did have a lot in common.
“We gotta get ice cream!” I practically shouted when I saw a vendor walking the streets selling ice cream cones. Before she could speak I pulled into a parking spot and left the car to get two ice cream cones. Danielle just sat there laughing as I chased the guy down the streets for the savory treat.
“You’re kidding right? Ice cream in the middle of winter?” she asked with a laugh as I returned to the car with our ice creams in hand.
“Yes serious! Now take it.” I laughed and handed her the ice cream before sitting back in the drivers seat. We sat in silence eating our cones as we watched the snow fall around us.
“Thank you.”
“For what?” she asked, quirking her eyebrow in the process as she looked at me.
“For choosing to come back out with me even after the first horrible half of the date.” I spoke with a smile as I turned the car onto the road to take her home.
“ I’m glad I chose to too.”
9/22/13