The Date

I can't believe Bunny set me up on this stupid date, she knows how I feel. I've been waiting at this park for a half hour, this guy is really late. The park is beautiful though, wild roses grow along the foot path and it's always so clean and beautiful in the summertime. On July 4th they light the fountain up red white and blue, but that's a few months from now. I was able to get some beautiful sketches of the trees, roses, and fountain while I've been here so it wasn't a total waste. I was packing my pencils and starting to leave the park when I heard someone call out to me.

"ANASTASIA!" Dimitri called out as she walked away from the fountain. Seeing her turn to look he waved the flowers he brought and called out again. "Anastasia it's me Dimitri!" Turning to walk back Anastasia prepared for a lame excuse as to why he was late. As she got closer his apology began. "I'm sorry I was so late. I lost track of time, it is inexcusable but I hope you will have these daisies as an apology." Dimitri handed her the daisies as apologized again.

Smelling the daisies Anastasia was not mad. he had been honest and brought flowers to apologize. Bunny must have told Dimitri about her favorite flowers. "I'm not mad, and there's really no need to apologize. I understand losing track of time. thank you for the daisies." Anastasia sat on the fountain, looking woefully at the flowers she had been given. Even still her favorite flowers can make her so sadly nostalgic. Vic had always given her daisies when they first started seeing eachother. But as time went on the sweet little gifts dissapeared. "Do you not like them?" Anastasia was startled out of her daydream by the question. "What?" she asked not paying attention at first. "I asked if you dislike the flowers?" Dimitri asked looking at her concerned. "Oh I love them, Daisies are my favorites. Even though some sad memories are attached." Anastasia toyed with a leaf as Dimitri sat quietly beside her, fidgeting with a coin in his pocket. Geese honked in the background as the sun began to set, neither one ready to break the sad silence that now surrounded them. "What... memories, are attached... if I may ask." Dimitri spoke first as the fireflies began to flicker and the fountains lights came on. Anastasia sighed and then began to speak. "The reason, my friend set us up on this date. Is because I haven't spoken to let alone been on a date with a man in two years. The last time I was with somebody things started out great, he would give me daisies every chance he got. sometimes he'd pick wild ones, and over time he stopped." Anastasia spoke with tears in her eyes, but smiling at the memory, speaking the last word with a lump in her throat. Taking some tissue from her purse she wiped her eyes as the quiet loomed once again. The frogs began to croak as the evening ebbed on. "Would you like to go to dinner with me... Tonight?" Dimitri asked Anastasia gesturing to a small restaurant across the park. Thinking for a moment Anastasia nodded taking Dimitris outstretched hand. They began to walk across the park passing through the vines of a willow tree Dimitri stopped and cut a wild red rose from its bush. Trimming off the thorns he brushed the hair out of Anastasia's face and pinned it behind her ear with the flower. Anastasia blushed, he was so close to her she could smell his cologne. She wanted for a moment to hug him, to be closer. Turning away quickly she took the rose from her hair and smelled it.

Sitting down in the restaurant Dimitri smiled to himself. He had seen how Anastasia looked at him, hopefully she was softening toward him. "C-Could.. I. ask you more about your last relationship.?" Dimitri asked, ready to be shot down quickly. But Anastasia thought for a moment. "Why do you want to know more?" Unsure about his motives she wanted an explanation. "I just, want to know more about you. I can see that you've been hurt, I want to understand how." Dimitri spoke plainly and Anastasia saw no reason not to talk about it. "Alright ask whatever you want and I'll tell you. But then I get to ask you something, deal?" Anastasia held out her hand to shake as she spoke and Dimitri took it as he asked his first question. "Deal! How did your last relationship end?" Anastasia told him the story of the wedding day. Stroking the petals of the rose as she spoke looking longingly at the petals. When she finished Dimitri just nodded not having words for the sadness she felt. "What was his name?" Dimitri looked at the table as he spoke, spinning his fork on its end as he contemplated the story he heard. "Victor long" Anastasia spoke bluntly taking a drink from the soft drink she had gotten. Dimitri thought for a second fidgeting with the coin in his pocket again. " What was her name?" Anastasia looked down and picked at her nail polish while she spoke softly "I never found out." Dimitri went quiet, and neither spoke a word until the server brought the food. Both thanked the waiter and began picking at and toying with their food. neither one having an appetite. "I hope, you'll give me a chance to show you that I am different from your ex." Dimitri spoke quickly and he looked nervous. Anastasia smirked and looked at him. Nodding softly she began to eat, thinking about the storm ahead.

When dinner ended Dimitri walked Anastasia back to the fountain. Neither one speaking, neither one knowing what to do next. "I hope you'll see me again Anastasia. I'd love to know you better." Dimitri spoke first, gripping the granite fountain and staring at the soft lights as he prepared for rejection. Anastasia leaned against the fountain and sighed as she turned her face into a cool summer night breeze. "I'll come out with you again." she spoke softly but clearly. Dimitri had been so kind and gentlemanly tonight she couldn't justify saying no. Dimitri smiled at her and hugged her close in the moment of excitement. Anastasia squeaked in surprise blushing as Dimitri hugged her. "I-Im sorry I was... excited" Dimitri let go quickly and turned away flushing with embarrassment. "I still have to ask my question." Anastasia wanted to change the subject quickly. "Ask away" Dimitri smiled as he waited. The light danced on the fountain and Anastasia laid her head on his shoulder. "Are you always so gentle. Or do you change behind closed doors?" Dimitri thought for a moment not knowing how to answer it. He decided to be a bit risque with his response. "Behind certain doors I can change from losing control. But I am always this gentle in every other way." Dimitri smirked playfully as he spoke. He'd only just met Anastasia but he already knew he wanted her. Anastasia blushed as Dimitri spoke, how could he be so forward. She had been holding back dirty imaginings all night. Calming herself down, she flirted back. "Maybe sometime I can see that change, sounds like a bit of fun." Her heart rate increased as she spoke. It's been so long since she's flirted she forgot how exciting it can be. Dimitri stepped in front of Anastasia pressing her against the fountain as he moved closer. "I didn't think you could be flirty. I thought you only had the capability to ignore me." He chuckled as he joked with her. moving closer to tease her. "Haha I thought you understood why I was so cold then. you weren't paying attention at all were you." Anastasia smiled as she played back, trying not to show how flustered he was making her by being so close. Dimitri smiled and whispered into her ear to get even closer to her. "I can see that you're flustered, your face is so cute when you try to hide it. I wonder. How well could you hide it if I kissed you."