I'LL GIVE YOU STARS!

  ❝    well that stubbornness sure paid off, huh?   ❞    his grinning is lopsided, nerves still aflame and heart pounding like a jack hammer at her touch, but he’s trying his best not to screw this up. you only got one shot at this, make it count or it could be awkward in the office for the next few weeks.his left leg starts to bounce up and down subtly, but he manages to flex his muscle to make it stop once he, too, notices the waiter.

before he can even muster an actual word, she’s taken the lead. he cant help but start smiling more. “ and for you, sir? “  the young waiter’s gaze travel between the two and smirks, before landing on chris’ again. even he can apparently sense the magnetism they share.   ❝   i’ll have a cheeseburger, too. no pickles, and a side of ranch, please. thanks.   ❞     the waiter nods his head, jotting down the rest of their orders and unhurriedly heads towards the kitchen. when chris looks back at her once more, catching her eyes already one him, his face flushes a pinkish hue.   ❝   so, uh… . where are your parents now? do they live here in the city?  ❞    

❝  ask  me  again  later  tonight.  ❞  boldness  rests  on  the  tip  of  her  tongue,  and  she  doesn't  bother  biting  it.  the  truth  is  electricity  through  their  fingertips,  a  warmth  that  she  craves  when  she  rolls  over  in  the  middle  of  the  night,  only  to  see  the  bed  is  empty.  it's  the  nerves  in  his  leg  that  she  quells  with  a  well  placed  hand  against  his  knee,  but  most  of  all,  it's  the  future  she  can  see  every  time  she  looks  at  him.  his  boyish  grin  is  something  to  look  forward  to  each  morning,  easing  her  from  the  tug  of  sleep's  tranquil  embrace.

the  precipitous  blossoming  of  her  cheeks  catches  his  eyes,  unable  to  submerge  the  corners  of  his  mouth  as  they  spread  even  further.  he’s  aware  of  the  music  playing,  the  form  as  it  starts  with  intro  continuing,  and  the  first  verse  followed  by  the  chorus.    the  forte,  loud  and  strong  with  the  softness  of  the  piano  structure  -    the  complexity  of  arrangement,  yet  ,throughout,  manages  to  be  lifting  and  up  beat.  it  was  the  perfect  composite  to  capture  a  moment  for  years  and  years  to  come.  they  just  didn’t  know  it  yet.  

his  heart  sinks,  churning  like  a  gale  wind  at  her  touch.  he’s  subtle  in  his  advance,  ticking  one  of  his  fingers  up  as  hers  linger.  he  goes  with  it,  a  crooked  smile  this  time.  ❝      i  think  i  need  a  break  from  the  hotdogs  for  a  while.  forest  made  me  eat  nearly  a  dozen  last  time.        ❞      he  laughs  modestly,  hands  still  remaining  calm  despite  his  whole  body  tightly  wound  up.  ❝    so,  uh,    no  adventures  for  me    —    i’ll  just  go  with  a  bacon  cheeseburger  …    maybe  …    we  could  share  a  drink,  though?  not  sure  if  you  like  malts,  but…    heard  their  chocolate  mint  was  pretty  good.          ❞

❝  sure,  why  not?  i  haven't  had  chocolate  mint  since  i  was  a  little  girl.  ❞  the  memory  elicits  a  soft  chuckle,  winding  her  back  in  time  to  an  old  fashioned  soda  shoppe  she'd frequent with her parents for as long as she can remember.  ❝  i'd  sit  at  our  piano  every  saturday  morning  while i  waited  for  my  father  to  wake  up.  the  longer  he  slept,  the  louder  i'd  play,  determined  to  make  it  there  before  our  booth  was  taken...  the  hot  fudge  sundaes  at  fizz  were  to  die  for.  if  they  hadn't  shut  down,  i'd  take  you  there.   ❞  she  marvels  at  his  gentle  touch,  thumb  running  in  a  circular  motion  over  the  top  of  his  hand,  attention  momentarily  averted  to  the  waiter  standing  idly  by  their  table,  much  too  shy  to  announce  his  presence.

❝  one  chocolate  mint  malt,  and  a  cheeseburger,  extra  mustard,  please.  ❞  grey  eyes  flick  back  toward  chris,  heart  engulfed  by  the  fire  his  infectious  laughter  ignites.  she's  stealing  a  kiss  tonight,  no  ifs  ands  or  buts  about  it.

he’s   practically   out   of   breath   trying   to   get   to   the   door,   opening   it   just   as   an   elderly   couple   were   leaving.   they   thank   him,   one’s   rosy   cheeks   brighten   against   the   paler   hue   of   her   skin   and   mentioned   what   a   handsome   and   helpful   young   man   he   is.   he   smirks,   his   own   face   suddenly   flustering.   not   only   because   of   what   the   woman   proclaimed,   but   because   he   knows   jill’s   in   there,   waiting   for   him.   when   joseph   and   forest   kept   egging   him   to   make   a   move,   he   was   hesitant.   she   wasn’t   like   any   other   woman   he’d   known.   she   was   kind,   classy   and   kept   it   feminine,   yet   didn’t   let   her   beauty   dictate   her   attitude,   while   at   the   same   time,   able   to   hold   her   own;   tough   and   resilient   -   a   force   to   be   reckoned   with.   he   didn’t   think   he   was   worthy      –            and   now   he’s   here,   after   finally   having   the   nerve   to   ask   her   out,   scanning   the   restaurant   in   its   sea   of   people,   for   that   one   face   he   could   never   stop   thinking   about.

❝                           well,   i’m   hoping   i   still   do,   if   she   sticks   around   long   enough.         ❞                                    the   corners   of   his   mouth   pull   into   a   reticent   grin   as   he   chuckles,   taking   his   seat.   he   rolls   up   the   sleeves   of   his   pine   green   button   up   shirt   to   the   mid   of   his   forearm,   unable   to   take   his   eyes   off   of   her.   she   always   looked   so   radiant,   without   even   trying.   ❝                  sorry   for   the   wait,   by   the   way…   traffic   on   a   rainy,   friday   night…      i   had   to   park   a   few   lots   down   just   to   get   here.         ❞         

❝  i'm  not  going  anywhere,  chris.  ❞  she  hangs  onto  his  bashful  gaze,  drowning  out  the  incessant  clamor  that  hugs  the  diner  from  opening  to  close.  the  night  is  infantile,  moonlight  swelling  through  fossil  grey  clouds,  shimmering  on  their  chipped  laminate  table  like  something  out  of  a  classic black  and  white  movie.  the  jukebox  clicks  into  place,  playing  a  tune  she'll  remember  long  after  the  butterflies  settle.  “stand  by  me”  by  ben  e.  king.  she  won't  admit  the  choice  of  song  is  making  her  heart  skip  a  beat,  thinking  about  them  slow  dancing  cheek  to  cheek,  her  wrists  linked  at  the  nape  of  his  neck,  and  his  palms  resting  comfortably  on  the  small  of  her  back.  a  slight  blush  finds  its  way  onto  the  surface  of  pale  cheeks  at  the  visual,  lips  tugging  into  a  warm  grin  that  says  it  all.  she's  wholly  smitten.

raindrops  pitter  patter  on  the  window,  reflecting  a  slew  of  miniature  worlds  inside  each  puddle.  passerby's  walk  with  hurried  steps,  hoping  to  catch  the  bus  before  their  suits  and  dresses  are  soaked  in  the  summer's  torrential  downpour.  she  watches,  amused  by  the  synchronization  of  various  umbrellas  thrust  out  toward  the  sky,  as  if  they  were  shaking  their  fists  at  the  heavens  above.  ocean  blues  bounce  to  grill  13's  double  doors,  the  bell  chiming  with  triumphant  vigor.  emerging from the storm outside is the  man  she's  been  waiting  for  all  along,  dashing  through  the  diner  as  she  patiently  sips  on  a  cup  of  coffee.  just  in  time  for  the  teenage  waiter  to  stop  gawking  at  his  crush  and  make  his  way  toward  them  at  a  snail's  pace,  pen  ticking  rapidly  in  hand.

❝    ah,  there  he  is.  ❞  her  voice  is  silken  smooth,  hands  without  a  trace  of  a  quiver.  she's  dressed  in  a  creme  colored  button  down  shirt  and  ashen  pencil  skirt,  heels  tapping  rhythmically  to the beat of "crazy little thing called love" playing faintly on the jukebox. she may or may not have selected it before he showed up. ❝  you  look  nice.  ❞  she  states,  resting  her  elbows  on  the  table,  adoring  smile  curling  into  the  corners  of  her  lips.  ❝  got  a  hot  date?  ❞