The Dinner Date

Chapter 9: The Dinner Date

Jane had been staring at her phone for what seemed like

hours, her finger hovering above the screen. The text from Michael flashed

again, just like it had when she first saw it: "Hey, Jane. I was thinking we

could meet up at the restaurant tonight. How about 7?" It was clear, simple,

but still, the thought of getting ready felt like a challenge. She had to make

the right impression—she always did.

 Her mind raced as she walked to her closet, feeling

indecisive about what to wear. She ran her hands through the rows of clothes,

each option seemingly unworthy of the occasion. It wasn't a formal dinner, but

it wasn't exactly casual either. She wanted to look good, but she didn't want

to try too hard. After all, it was just dinner. But when it came to Michael,

everything felt more significant.

 She pulled out a few outfits and tossed them onto her bed. A

light, floral dress? Too summery. A blouse and skirt combo? Too stiff. Jane

sighed, still unsure. She eventually settled on a simple yet elegant black

dress that was easy to wear and comfortable—something that wouldn't scream "I'm

trying too hard," but still had a touch of class. She paired it with a soft

cardigan and some understated jewelry, finishing off her look with flats.

 As she stood in front of the mirror, Jane found herself

adjusting her hair once more, wondering if she should have gone for something

different. She checked the time on her phone. 6:50 PM. It was getting close,

and she still felt a flutter of nerves in her stomach. Maybe she could just

back out? But no, she had agreed, and she needed to do this. Michael was kind,

considerate, and honestly, she wasn't sure what she was afraid of anymore.

Maybe it was simply the fact that she had never felt this unsure about something

so simple before.

 "Okay, let's go," she muttered to herself, taking one last

glance in the mirror before heading out the door.

The restaurant was nestled on a quiet street, its warm

lights glowing softly against the evening sky. Jane walked towards the

entrance, feeling a little more at ease. She wasn't sure if it was the smell of

food in the air or just the thought of seeing Michael again, but her nerves had

started to settle, albeit slowly.

 She pushed open the door and stepped inside, scanning the

room as she held onto the handle. The ambient chatter of diners filled the

space, but her eyes were focused on the area near the back, where she hoped to

see Michael. She glanced around, feeling slightly out of place in the fancy

atmosphere, and then… there he was. Michael. He sat at a table near The window,

dressed casually yet still effortlessly stylish, as usual. His warm smile

appeared almost immediately when their eyes met.

 Before Jane could take another step, a voice called out to

her, pulling her back from her thoughts.

 "Madam?" the waiter asked, his voice polite and

professional.

She turned to him, a slight smile on her face. "Good

evening."

 "Good evening," the waiter replied. "If you would follow me,

please?"

 Jane nodded, her heart picking up pace again. She followed

the waiter as he led her through the restaurant, weaving between tables until

they reached Michael. He stood up when he saw her, a smile spreading across his

face.

"Hey," he greeted, his voice warm and inviting. "Glad you

could make it."

 Jane felt the butterflies in her stomach do a little dance.

She smiled nervously as she sat down across from him. "Thanks for inviting me,"

she said softly.

 The waiter handed her a menu, but Jane barely glanced at it.

Michael had already ordered for them. She wasn't surprised—he was always one

step ahead, anticipating everything.

 "I hope you don't mind," Michael said with a sheepish grin.

"I thought it might be easier if I just ordered. The chef's special tonight is

amazing."

Jane shook her head, a little flustered but touched by his

thoughtfulness. "No, that's fine. I trust your judgment."

 "Good," he said, sitting back down. "So, how was school

today?"

 "Typical," Jane replied, settling into the conversation.

"Nothing out of the ordinary. A few boring lectures, a couple of assignments…

You know the drill."

Michael chuckled, clearly understanding her response.

"Sounds like your usual day, huh?"

 "Yeah, pretty much." She looked at him, her cheeks warming

slightly. "What about you? How was work?"

 "Busy," he replied, a twinkle in his eyes. "But you know me.

I like staying busy."

 "Yeah," Jane nodded, smiling softly. "I guess you do."

 They both fell into a comfortable silence, the kind that

didn't need to be filled with words. The atmosphere around them was

perfect—quiet, relaxed, the clink of cutlery and the soft hum of conversations

filling the space.

 The waiter returned with their meals, setting the plates

down in front of them. Jane's mouth watered as she caught sight of the

beautifully plated dish. Michael had really picked well.

 "Go ahead," he said, gesturing to her food. "Eat whatever

you like. It's all on me tonight."

 "Thank you," Jane said with a smile, taking her fork and

digging into the dish. It was delicious—rich, flavorful, and exactly what she

needed to unwind.

 They continued to eat, their conversation flowing naturally.

It wasn't rushed, but it wasn't awkward either. Jane found herself laughing at

something Michael said, the tension in her shoulders easing more with each

passing minute.

 "By the way," Michael said, after a while, as he leaned back

in his chair. "I've been meaning to ask… Have you thought about what you want

to do after graduation?"

Jane took a moment to think before answering. "I have no

idea," she admitted. "I'm still figuring it out. I mean, I have some ideas, but

nothing solid yet. You?"

 Michael nodded thoughtfully. "Same here. I'm still figuring

it all out too. But hey, we have time, right?"

 "Yeah," Jane said, the words settling over her. It was true.

They had time.

 The evening passed in a blur of good food, easy

conversation, and shared smiles. By the time they finished, Jane realized she

was already feeling much more comfortable in his presence than she had

anticipated. There was no pressure, No awkward silences—just two people

enjoying each other's company.

 As the waiter brought over the check, Michael reached for it

before Jane could protest. "Don't worry," he said, with a wink. "It's my

treat."

Jane smiled, grateful for the kindness in his eyes. "Thank

you," she said quietly.

 As they stood to leave, Michael pulled on his jacket, and

Jane followed him out into the cool night air. They walked side by side, the

city lights shimmering in the distance. There was something effortless about

the way they walked together, and for the first time that evening, Jane felt

like she could truly breathe.

"Tonight was nice," she said, glancing up at him. "I'm glad

we did this."

"Me too," Michael replied, his smile genuine. "We should do

it again sometime."

"Definitely," Jane said, feeling a sense of calm settle

within her.

"It's getting late I should be on my way now" she said, they

both walk out of the restaurant with Michael holding her hands.

 He offers to take her home this time which she couldn't turn

down.