Darker Places Than I Want To Feel Ch. 02

She took a big breath and let it out slowly. "I'm sorry. I didn't know who you really were. I was afraid that you might hurt me. Being safe...it's important to who I am now. I guess I misjudged you, like I've done for so many other things in my life."

She could see the tension release from his shoulders. They were nice shoulders. He had a nice face too. It was kind and soft and his eyes...they were so very gentle. She could get lost in those eyes. She could see the red mark her slap made on his cheek. The thought of it now, and that she hurt him, made her wince.

He squinted in the late afternoon sun and looked over to where her nephews were playing. "So no more bullshit?"

"Nope, no more bullshit. No more lies and no more fantasy," she said softly.

He walked forward and offered his hand and Sarah held it.

"But I get to ask a question in return."

He shrugged his shoulders, "Agreed."

They shook hands. She turned and walked across the park to gather up her nephews. She stood watching him for a moment while her youngest nephew Michael, tied his shoelaces. Then, taking the children's hands, she left him standing there while the autumn wind played with the leaves at his feet.

*><*><*

Ryan glanced up from his reverie to see her sit back down on the cushion. She smiled meekly and slowly slid the bowl with the soy sauce and wasabi to the end of the table. She raised an eyebrow as a warning for him not to tease her and he complied with her wishes, offering only a wry grin.

"So. Do you have a boyfriend?" He asked calmly as if nothing had happened before that moment. He nimbly set a piece of pickled ginger on a sushi roll with his chopsticks.

"No."

"Do you have a lover?"

"No." She picked up her chopsticks and carefully picked up a sushi roll.

"Do you have friends outside of your family?" he asked then he stuffed the piece of sushi in his mouth.

"Yes...one."

"Hmm." He paused while he cleared his mouth. "Any one I know?"

"Yes...you."

Ryan smiled and nodded then placed another roll of sushi into his mouth. They finished the rest of their meal in silence. Twenty minutes later they walked out of the restaurant towards his car.

She smiled sweetly and reached over and took his hand. "It was good, thank you."

"I'm glad you liked it. I thought since you said you liked seafood you'd probably like sushi."

"I did, thanks. I don't know why I never tried it before."

Ryan opened the passenger door for her and she slipped onto the passenger seat. She pulled her dress up and out of the way while he closed her door. He walked around the car and got in behind the wheel.

"What's next?" She asked clicking her seatbelt closed.

"A movie at the Bijou if you're interested."

"Which one?"

"It's one of my favorites, Casablanca. Have you ever seen it?"

"Nope. It's a world war two action film isn't it?"

"There's some of that in it but there's a lot more."

She glanced over at him as he pulled his car out of the parking lot. "It's one your favorites, huh?"

He nodded and turned the corner.

"You can tell a lot about a person by the books they read and the movies they like."

"Yes you can, what's your favorite movie?"

"Hmmm. I don't have just one but the first one to comes to mind is Chinatown."

"Oh. Roman Polanski. I like that one too."

She looked out the passenger window as the buildings and passing cars whizzed by.

*><*><*

"Would you like me to drop you off in front of the theatre while I try to find a place to park?"

"No, I'll be fine. I used to spend all evening wearing heels like this so a little walking won't harm me but thanks."

Ryan managed to find a spot only two blocks away from the movie theatre. The Bijou was located in a trendy upscale neighborhood. The streets were lined with little shops and bistros, sidewalk cafes and boutiques. It wasn't a part of the city that Sarah had ever visited before. She loved all the store windows filled with everything from art and craft work to books, movie posters and memorabilia. She wanted so much to be a part of this world but she felt out of place, like an intruder until Ryan took her hand and that seemed to wash all those thoughts away. She smiled up at him and squeezed his hand gently hoping he would understand.

They walked over to the ticket booth and he took out a little coupon book.

"They sell coupons?"

"Yeah, I come here often enough so it saves me a few bucks." Ryan pushed open the double doors that led to the lobby and held them for her.

"Do they show new releases here?"

"Sometimes but this is more of an art house where they offer classics and foreign films more than first run stuff. You can see those at the Cineplex. I come here for the good stuff."

"But can't you see these films on cable tv?"

"You can, but there's something about see a film on the big screen that puts the magic back into going to the movies."

He ushered her to a set of steps that led to the balcony. "Now here's the real reason I go to the Bijou." He whispered as they started climbing the steps. Once they arrived at the top of the stairs he swept his hand over the view. "The balcony. Best seats in the house are center front, second row."

"Why not the front row?"

"The railing gets in the way. Besides, I'm a little acrophobic. It's a bit of a drop."

She glanced over the front rail of the balcony and nodded. Then she joined him in the second row.

A moment later the curtain that covered the projection screen began to draw back and the previews started to play. There was a preview about a Spanish film and a German film and another classic, The Wizard of Oz.

"Oh, I've always wanted to see that one on the big screen," she whispered.

"Okay, it's a date." He handed her a brochure that listed all the movies that were scheduled in the theatre and when they were shown. "Find a day when you're free and we'll go. It's a perfect film to see from the balcony," he added with a big grin.

The movie started and suddenly they were whisked away to exotic Morocco and the outside world didn't exist anymore. Sarah reached across and took his hand. It felt warm and nice in hers. She hadn't felt like this for a very long time and she didn't want it to end.

*><*><*

After the movie he drove her home and walked her to the entry door to her apartment building in silence. She turned and kissed him on the cheek and he smiled then he leaned towards her and returned the kiss on her cheek.

Sarah reached over and fussed with the collar of his coat for a moment. "Can I see you tomorrow?"

"You can see me any time you want. I have classes until 3pm. So whenever."

"Can I see you at school?"

"Sure, my office is in Brighton Hall, room 320. But if you come there I'll put you to work."

"Doing what?"

"Filing and registering student project work...It's endless and tedious so I can always use the help."

"Ok. I'll be there at 1pm," she said with an impish smile.

"You'll have a long wait," he replied with a smirk.

She shrugged and then turned to go. He held her hand a moment and turned her back to him.

"Thank you," he said holding her hands in his.

Her eyes twinkled with mischief. "You're welcome, but wait until you see if my help is any good."

"It will be, I'm sure of it," he replied letting go and stepping towards the sidewalk in front of the building.

She stood there a moment outside of her apartment as he walked towards his car. On her face a gentle smile emerged as a thought played across her mind. It was something she didn't want to believe could happen but she knew that somewhere deep down inside her soul she wanted it to be...just once, she wanted it to be.

*****

A NOTE TO THE READER:

This story is a work of fiction. All of the characters, their names, and the places that they visit, are purely from the imagination of the author. Any resemblance to persons, places, or things is not intentional and purely coincidental.

If you believe in coincidence I'm happy for you. However, if you read my other stories you know that I do not, but the lawyers like to see that word in there anyway.

Thank you for reading my work, I hope you enjoyed it. If this is the first time you've read one of my stories, welcome. I hope you take a look at the rest of my work. If you are a returning reader, welcome back, it's nice to see old friends.