Jessica sat uncomfortably at a secluded table of Bellaggio which was surprisingly uncrowded for a Saturday night. Every few seconds she would take a drag from her cigarette and then exhale, quickly glancing up at the entrance. Every second that passed, she could feel her heart beating harder and faster. Part of her wanted to see Nick and there was another part which silently continued to berate her. She was being foolish – setting herself up to get hurt. The voices floating around in her mind were muddled yet insistent. She wasn’t quite certain of anything except a strange gnawing sensation in the pit of her stomach. She was nervous. She shouldn’t be nervous. To her, feelings of nervousness had always been equated with sentiments of fear and danger.
She quickly ground out her half-smoked cigarette and stood up. She had to get out of there, her nervousness was getting the best of her. She grabbed her purse glancing up at the entrance.
“Shit,” she swore under her breath, as her eyes fell upon Nick standing there glancing around the deserted café.
Please don’t see me, she prayed to herself. Nick looked in her direction and waved slightly. At that moment she wished desperately she could vanish into thin or become a fly on the wall. She didn’t care which one.
Jessica flashed Nick an uncomfortable smile through clenched teeth. “Going somewhere?” with an impish grin as he approached the table.
Crimson blush crept onto Jessica’s face. “Actually I was going to move to a table that was uh…,” she wracked her brain for a feasible answer.
“Closer to the window?” Nick supplied with a big smile.
“Yeah.” His smile made her nervousness dissipate slightly.
“Shall we?” Nick prompted. Jessica looked at him strangely for a moment. “Move to a table closer to the window,” he repeated.
“Oh yeah. Of course,” Jessica moved hesitantly slightly tempted to make an escape. She followed Nick however. Aware of her discomfort, he didn’t say a word. They sat down at a table by the window. Before either could say a word, a waitress bustled over to take their order. Nick ordered nothing, but Jessica politely asked for a double latte hoping that it would calm her ragged nerves somewhat.
“So…” he began. “Tell me about yourself,” he said. “Four words,” he quickly added.
“Four words?” Jessica repeated in confusion.
“Yeah. Four words that best describe you,” he explained with a smile.
Jessica found herself smiling slightly despite her nervousness. “Let’s see…creative, loyal, caring and..,” her voice trailed. “Lonely.” The moment the word escaped her lips she regretted them. “Now you, she blurted quickly hoping to cover.
He paused for a few seconds, his eyes boring into hers before he responded quietly. “Honest, kind, free-spirited and lonely.”
Few people ever surprised Jessica but in that moment Nick did. There were so many things she wanted to say but couldn’t.
“How long have you been living in New York?” she asked instead.
“Born and raised in the Big Apple,” he said with a smile. “Great city, “ he added. “What about you?”
Before she could answer, the waitress made her way over and set down Jessica’s latte. “Thank you,” Jessica said with a nod. She took a careful sip. “I’m from North Hempstead. Small neighborhood,” she added almost as an afterthought.
“Sounds nice.”
“I guess if you like that quaint atmosphere. Certainly a change from life here.”
“You been back to visit yet?”
At the mention of going back, Jessica’s eyes clouded over and she immediately appeared uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry,” he said noticing her discomfort. “I didn’t mean to pry.”
“It’s alright,” Jessica told him. “I haven’t been back and don’t plan on going there any time soon,” she was surprised at the calmness in her voice. It felt good to say those words. “I guess you could say my parents and I don’t really get along.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
“It’s alright. I’m still living,” said with a forced smile. “What about you and your parents?”
“Well let’s see, my mother’s wonderful. Always supported me even when she knew I was making a mistake. Always forced me to figure things out the hard way and I love her for that,” he said, remembering that despite her distaste for Melissa she had helped him pick out the ring. “My father on the other hand is a whole other story.”
“Annoying?”
“More like egotistical, control freak,” he said calmly.
“Sounds familiar,” she replied with a smile.
After Jessica finished her latte. Nick had insistently paid for it and also insisted on driving her home. Jessica had told him that it wasn’t necessary, she only lived a couple of blocks away. He wouldn’t hear of it though. He didn’t want her walking home alone late at night.
Jessica had reluctantly agreed. As they rode home however, Jessica found herself glad that she had accepted. She had loosened up considerably. She hadn’t realized how much she had missed having someone to talk to these past few months.
“Favorite color?” Nick asked.
“Blue.”
“Green,” he added. They had been playing this game the whole way home.
It was her turn now. “Movie?”
“Aliens.”
“Pretty Woman,” she said smiling at his choice. So far each of their answers had been complete opposites. “I have another one. “Favorite actress?”
“Sigourney Weaver.”
“Me too.”
“Really?” he asked with curiosity.
“No, actually I just wanted our answers to match for once. It’s really Julia Roberts,” she said with a smile.
Nick let out a laugh as he steered the car slowly into the driveway of her building. “Is this it?” he asked her.
“Yeah,” she said somewhat forlornly. It was late but she hated having to leave. She still couldn’t believe she had enjoyed herself with a perfect stranger. It was an obvious indication that for the past moments she had been in dire need of companionship of any sort.
“Thanks for tonight,” she whispered. “I had a good time,” she added hastily unable to bring her eyes to Nick’s face.
“Me too,” Nick said with a smile.
For a split second Jessica thought Nick was going to kiss her but she surprised her once again and didn’t.
“Well, bye.” Jessica said awkwardly as she got out of the car.
“We’ll do this again?” Nick said, his tone almost hopeful.
“Yeah,” Jessica replied hesitantly starting to feel uncomfortable. She hoped Nick didn’t expect anything from her. She hadn’t planned on this becoming a regular thing when she called him. She wasn’t ready for that. Not even close.
She closed the door and watched Nick’s car drive off. She turned towards her building and suddenly felt an eerie chill race up her spine. Almost as if someone was watching her. She looked around cautiously but to her relief there was no one there.
Nick drove down the street, a smile upon his lips. He couldn’t deny that Jessica was absolutely gorgeous but somehow he wasn’t interested in that for a change. He actually wanted to get to know her. The more he had learnt about her tonight, the more intrigued he had become.
He knew that things with Jessica would certainly be different. That was if she ever called him again. Maybe it was because he hadn’t had such a comfortable conversation with anyone since Melissa.
As he continued down the deserted street he realized that this was the first time he had opened up to a girl, or anyone for that matter in a really long time. It was strange because he had solemnly swore that he wouldn’t let that happen. He had already gone through enough pain with Melissa and refused to go through that ever again.
He walked quickly, slightly out of breath. For a moment there he had thought he was caught. When she had turned around he had quickly ducked into the shadows and hid behind a large bush. Holding his breath, he waited for her to turn back around. The moment she had entered the building, he had taken off walking quickly towards his own place.
He had calmed down somewhat now and was chastising himself for almost slipping up. Aside from the near mishap tonight though, the night had been quite productive. He had stood outside her building merely getting to know the faces of the people who lived there. The would be important to him later so it was best to get to know them now.
The most interesting development however had been when Jessica arrived home though. She had left alone but return with someone. Their relationship looked innocent enough but he couldn’t say for sure certain. He had never seen this guy before. He could be an old friend, family, even a boyfriend. He wasn’t certain. One thing he was certain of though was that he would only create difficulties. Difficulties that he certainly had not anticipated.