chapter three: Dinner for Two Kevin had the dining room all set up--tablecloth covered the varnished wooden table, and a golden candelabra serving as an elegant centerpiece. Kevin and Brendan had never owned such an object in their lives, and it soon became clear why Mrs. Leonard insisted that they use hers. That is, if the reason why was for them to have their romantic sides shine for their special someones. The table was set--two plates on either side of the table complete with spoons, forks, and knives set atop clean cloth napkins. Glasses were placed to the side, and all the utensils were gleaming in the bright and warm candlelight. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The doorbell rang, and Kevin abandoned his station at the stove to go answer the door--he didn't want to leave poor Mina out in the cold. All awkwardness rushed into his veins as he gaped at the person at his door. "Hi, Kevin," she said, blushing, looking quite shy. What was with this holiday? Surely not all couples reacted this way on such a supposed romantic night like this! "Good evening, Mina," Kevin answered, remembering his manners and how to use his tongue. He stood aside so she could enter, and he clumsily helped her out of her coat and placed it on the coat rack. "Smells great in here," Mina said with a grin as she walked about the living room. Kevin said, "That's from the candles. Don't get too excited--I haven't started to cook yet." Mina laughed, though not teasingly. "You're going to cook?" Kevin shrugged.  "Sure!" He smiled and gestured for her to follow him into the kitchen, where a pot of boiling water was sending steam cascading up towards the ceiling. He took his place in front of the stove again and Mina sat across from him on a stool, watching with her arms resting on the counter. "All right," Kevin sighed, "I think I can do this." Normally Mina would worry about that last statement, but from what she had heard from Brendan, Kevin was quite the chef. "You, missy, will be my assistant, so get your butt up and get over here," Kevin said, holding out a box of pasta towards her. "Hmmm... what are we making? Spaghetti?" Kevin clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Of course not, Mina. We're going to be cooking chicken alfredo tonight. Spaghetti's too... too elementary." The two laughed and Mina began to break up the noodles and drop them into the bubbling pot of water. There was a moment of silence when a high-pitched scream penetrated the air. Mina seemed to be terrified, but Kevin looked nothing short of indifferent. "What was that?" she whispered worriedly. "Sounded like Tate... do you think she's all right?" Kevin chuckled. "She's been scared half to death, most likely. Looks like Brendan's date is going well." Mina blinked, but didn't press on the subject much further. Instead, she carried on with her noodle-breaking and placed the last few handfuls into the pot. "Now all's we have to do is wait until the pasta softens, and then we can get this party started," Kevin remarked, rubbing his hands together and pulling an apron over his head. Mina giggled good-naturedly, and casually brought up her hand to cover her mouth, but he noticed anyway. "What?" he asked. "So I have an apron..." The noodles were soon ready and Kevin carried the pot and instructed for Mina to grab to sifty-thingy. He meant the collander, but couldn't quite think of the name. No matter... Mina knew what he meant. Kevin picked up a noodle from the pile and gave it a taste-test. He slurped it down and said, "Perfect." Although, he nearly laughed aloud. He had thought of recreating that famous spaghetti scene from the movie "The Lady and the Tramp," but deciding against it. He could have barked too, but again, he had yet another second thought. About twenty minutes later, the couple found themselves at the dinner table, twirling the forks around their plates as they ate the freshly cooked alfredo. Perhaps it was just a little too creamy, which Kevin had admitted he'd done completely out of nerves, but Mina smiled and reassured that it was great--she quite liked it creamy. "Would you like some Sprite?" Kevin offered in a very gentlemanly tone of voice. He paused before adding, "It's all Brendan and I have." Laughing, Mina nodded, and Kevin generously poured her literally a glassful. She wasn't sure if she could take a sip without spilling some on the spotless tablecloth, but figured that even if she had spilled, it wouldn't leave a stain on the cloth. Still, she hesitated, but then Kevin wisely pulled a straw out from his pocket and placed it in her glass. With a chirping of "Thanks, Kevin!" Mina took a sip, not noticing Kevin fumbling around in his coat pocket for the present he had bought for her earlier today. Curses, he thought, Where'd I put it? now patting his jacket, trying to locate the little box he had misplaced. But with a sigh of immense relief, he found it in the pocket of his khakis, and held the soft-covered container in his hand, waiting until the meal was finished to give it to her. And, soon enough, it was, and Mina said gratefully, "That was delicious!" "I've got one more thing to give you," Kevin answered, swallowing. Jokingly, he added, "And no, it's not dessert." She laughed again, although it was momentarily interrupted by a soft hic! Fighting back a laugh, Kevin outstretched his arm and held the small box out to her, and she slowly took it, her eyes alight. Kevin wasn't sure if her eyes were gleaming from the candles, or out of genuine surprise. Inwardly, he hoped it was the second option. Holding her breath (both literally and figuratively... the hiccups were slowly getting more frequent) she opened the box and said in a hushed whisper, "What is it, Kevvy?" Shifting embarrassedly in his seat, Kevin said, "Do you... remember that time we went out to Skokie's over fall break?" Seeing her nod, he continued on, "Well, you had a flower in your hair from when we were in the woods, and I plucked it off, I guess... and um, there it is." Mina said, "Awww... Kevin...." and in response, he blushed and shifted again in his chair. Indeed, glittering into the soft light was a pink-petalled flower, in full-bloom, but only about an inch or so in size. Curiously enough, it was coated in a substance that looked like-- "It's glass," Kevin prompted, noticing her running a finger along it's short stem. "This guy was able to coat it in molten glass for me, but a couple of the petals came off in the process, so it's missing a few, but I thought you'd want it.. do you like it?" She was speechless. Kevin took that as a 'yes.'  Well, in Mina's case, it was probably a 'Yes!' So far, so good.. both for him and for Brendan. But how was Robbie doing up in Wisconsin? Or Ryan down a ways with Joey? So deep in thought was he that it took him a while for him to realize that Mina had just abandoned her chair and given him a kiss on the cheek. This only succeeded in making him flush even more, and laugh again as the hiccupping fit continued.