BLIND DATE 2

                He led her to a chair and gently let her sit. She flashed him a sweet smile and he nodded in acknowledgement. He went over to the opposite seat and sat, facing her. He honestly didn't know what to say or do on that date. He has never been on a blind date, never been set up for a date. He was going to drop a strict warning for his mom when he gets back, but for now, he had to play along and not give Melissa any impression that he wasn't into this date. 

       He wondered how she would feel if she found out that she was just set up on a blind date. What if she finds out that he never requested to go on a date with her. He took a deep breath before speaking to her. He gestured to the menu that lay in front of her. 

       "So, what do you want?"  he asked. 

       She picked up the menu, her eyes never leaving his. She opened it with the smile still plastered on her face. She picked macaroni and cheese and he picked what she picked. They ate their meal almost in silence, before Ethan remembered that the purpose of a date was getting to know each other better. He drank water from the glass and wiped his lips with the serviette. 

       "It's been a while, Melissa. What have you been up to?" 

      Melissa looked up from her food and gave a little shrug.  "I've just been here and there, you know." 

        "You've not been in San Francisco, I guess." 

      Melissa swallowed.   "Not at all. I've been in New York. I just came back to see my sick mom." 

        "Oh, your mom's sick?" 

        "Nothing serious," she waved it.  "You know how dramatic parents can get when they wanna see you." 

        Ethan smiled. Speaking of parents, he could relate. 

        "So, are you working over there or something?" 

      Melissa picked on her food before she spoke again. 

        "Well, I run my own little fashion company." 

     It's no wonder, she looks like she just stepped out of a magazine cover. 

         "Oh, wow, that's great," Ethan complemented and drank water again. He was already full and didn't want to eat. He just had some food before leaving home on his date. 

           "You say you run your own fashion company, that means you own it." 

         She shrugged again and waved it again.   "Well, it's just a small thing. Mel Wears." 

        His eyes widened.  "You own Mel Wears?" Ethan couldn't believe it. Her clothes were making waves already. It was popular. 

        She nodded and smiled shyly. He was amazed and tried to remember her in high school. If she was a sound student back then or a dull one, but all he could remember was a shy, naive Melissa who was always walking with either Fiona or Flora. 

       They ate the rest of their dinner talking about other things, the things they loved and disliked, the things they had in common and all. But, in all Ethan didn't find himself attracted to her, not in the way his mother would have wanted him. He loved her personality and that she was doing so well for herself, but he didn't think they would go beyond being friends.