*** Flashback ONE ago ***

Throughout James and I's date, I couldn't help but think of that kiss. I should be enjoying myself, and I am, but all I see is the look Sid gave me after he pulled away. It was like he was trying to tell me something but was too afraid to say it out loud.

"Tess? You there?" James is waving his hands in front of me. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just thinking about something."

"Uh oh. I hope you're not imagining me naked, I don't think you could handle that just yet!" He flashed me a warm smile.

I challenge him almost instantly.

"I don't think you're ready for this jelly." I motion my hands down my body trying to be as over the top as I possibly could.

"You exude sex appeal, Tess." he starts laughing. "And was that Destiny's Child?" He sat back drinking the half empty bottle of Bud Light, holding his gaze with mine.

"Of course not, my body is just too bootylicious for ya babe." I wink at him almost causing him to choke on his beer.

"I like funny girls, Tess." James leans forward, his elbows resting on the table and his hands clutched under his chin.

"What are you trying to say Mr.Neal?" I throw him a sheepish smile.

"You're pretty cool, that's all." He sat back in his chair, adjusting his position. He frowned when he noticed I was staring. "Hey, so what movie did you want to see?" He changed the subject rapidly.

"Whatever you'd like James. Though I can't promise I'll keep my hands off you." Every move I made was real. I was beginning to like James and even though it seemed he liked me too, when I got too flirty he'd back off.

Something wasn't right.

"Ah well, perhaps we should see a G-rated movie, just to prevent you from taking advantage of me in a dark theater." There he goes again. He's so confusing to read!

After dinner we head over to a drive-in right outside of the city. A perfect getaway fro a Penguin to take his date without all the media attention. The lots were completely packed and all the spots up front were filled leaving James to park his car behind a giant truck.

"What a view," the sarcasm was dripping from my words.

"Do you wanna stay? Maybe we can sneak up front!" He shifted in the driver's seat, his arms occupying the arm rest. He was determined to keep this date going and I wasn't about to be the party pooper.

"I'll follow you."

Both of us exit his car, hand in hand, we sneak up to the swings just right of the huge screen. It reminded me of that scene from Grease, only without the music or the cheesy dancing hotdog commercial.

"What movie is this we're watching?" I swirl my swing around like I used to when I was a kid.

"Honestly. I don't know. I just didn't want to take you home yet." He copied me exactly, twisting the steel chain link.

I felt a buzz from my pocket. Untwisting my swing I dig for my phone; it was Sid.

"You can take that if you need to." He suggests. "I know you're a very in demand woman."

"Nah, it's nothing. I'll talk to them later." I push my phone back into my pocket.

"Oh Tess. I can tell when a girl is distracted, though usually I'm the one distracting them." His pearly white teeth shine in the dark and that literally was all I could see of him. He was nothing more than a dark figure.

"You're full of yourself Neal." I say with a deadpan delivery. "I know this isn't how you really act."

"I'm not used to dating, I guess. Well, dating one girl at a time." From what I could see, he was looking down, his feet kicking the rocks beneath him.

"So you really do get around?" Anybody who's anybody knows that hockey players have reputations. James Neal seems to have one too.

A womanizer.

"If that's what people are saying about me." He sighs.

"People are dicks. Most of these people are probably teenage girls who have no life and are jealous that they haven't married you yet." I've seen the message boards. Even after I met Sid I checked talk-sports to see what people were saying about him so naturally I did the same for James.

Though the girls on James' board aren't very supportive of anything he does beside hockey.

"They don't even know me." He finishes.

"I know you well enough that you aren't what they say you are. But James, you don't need to impress me." I interject.

"But I do. I'm sure I'm not the only guy interested in you." I couldn't tell if he could see my facial features so I tried not to show much of a reaction, especially after the rumors in the paper about me and Sid.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I giggle.

"Of course you do. I know what the papers are saying about you and Sid. I can read," he scoffs.

"Sid and I are just friends."

"Sometimes I think Sid actually likes you, Tess. I can't blame him. How can I compare to him?" He says evenly.

"You can't compare to him. He's an amazing guy and he's my friend. I don't date friends and I certainly don't go swinging at a drive-in movie theatre with my friends either." He started laughing.

"This is a lame date, I know. I promise to make it up to you when we get back from New York." The guys had a game against the Islanders this week.

"Believe me, this is one of the best dates I've been on in a long time. You owe me nothing except a bag of popcorn. I can't watch movies without popcorn."

He jumps out of the swing, nearly falling in the process. "Extra butter?" I nod my head yes as he runs off to the concession stand.

I grabbed my phone quickly, checking my messages.

S: I'm sorry about earlier, I'm an ass.

I text him back.

T: It was unexpected. Sid, I think we need to talk about this.

Seconds later I got a reply. He must have been waiting.

S: Nothing to talk about, that stupid article got me worked up. I have no feelings for you anymore.

What a zinger. No feelings for me anymore; I had no idea he still had feelings for me.

T: Well enjoy your trip tomorrow.

Almost a full minute passed before he texted back.

S: Enjoy your date with James.

I quickly spun around looking for a black SUV.

T: How do you know ---

Before I could finish my text James appeared beside me with two bags of popcorn and two waters.

"Extra popcorn for the pretty lady texting." He hands me my treats, taking the swing next to me. I laugh in response.

"Just business. Early practice tomorrow." I lied. I didn't have practice tomorrow. It wasn't even soccer season yet!

He flashed me a smile before shoving a handful of popcorn in his mouth, his eyes focused on the movie.

I flicked a kew kernels in my mouth, the extra butter making the popcorn melt instantly on my tongue. I wanted to ask James if he mentioned to Sid that I was out with him but if he didn't, that means Sid is here watching us.

Either way, I feel like someone is watching me.

Notes

Okay! So from here on out (at least for the next couple chapters) I'll be writing in the present tense. Which means that I'll be writing as Round 3 of the SCP are happening.

I hope my format isn't too confusing. Occasionally I go through my previous chapters to check the fluidity of the story but if you're too confused about something, let me know so I can fix it or answer your questions!

Thanks for reading! xx