Afterparty For Two

[Betty Quinlan]

Maybe McSpanky's wasn't exactly the most romantic place for a first date, but it was the only place open late that was within walking distance from the school - and it was practically deserted at this time of night. Usually Betty would have jumped at the chance to parade at date such as Nick around in front of so many jealous admirers, but tonight she wasn't really up for it. She wasn't trusting herself around other people - she was sure to end up going giggly at any second if there was someone to gossip with on hand. Plus there was the ever foreboding threat of running into the respective dates she and Nick had ditched. Britney and Larry (or whatever his name was - Betty made a mental note to pull out a yearbook the second she got home and look him up) were sure to hit the more popular spots looking for them.

Besides, it was kind of nice - just the two of them, sitting across from each other in the booth. The only other people in the restaurant were these two elderly people who were mumbling softly to each other across the building. And the employees, of course, but they had taken to hanging out in the back until they heard the bell ring signaling someone had entered the store. She and Nick were virtually alone, and she liked it.

She picked at her salad quietly, stabbing a cherry tomato with her plastic fork, occasionally throwing a glance up to look at Nick. She would have eaten more - she was starving actually - but she really wasn't up to embarrassing herself by scarfing down a double cheeseburger and a large order of greasy fries in front of Nick. She ate the salad slowly, sticking to her story that she really wasn't hungry, but would love to accompany Nick out anyway. They weren't talking much, but Betty was content. Underneath the table, she had made certain to rest her own knee against Nick's, one leg against his. It was a little trick she had picked up somewhere along the line - it drove boys crazy, she found, if she occasionally moved her leg an inch or two, rubbing against his as she passed.

She delicately nibbled at some lettuce, eying Nick the entire time. Would he start up some interesting conversation sometime soon? Betty was almost too frightened to talk - afraid she would say something stupid and cause Nick to walk right out the door. She licked some dressing off her lips slowly, and racked her brain for some interesting conversation, but could find nothing to talk about - her brain was frozen.

Just say something! She ordered herself, Anything! Rather embarrass yourself than bore him!

"Did you have a good time tonight?" She practically blurted out. She quickly recovered, throwing him a sweet smile. "Wasn't it a wonderful dance? I can't wait 'til the next one..."

Well...it was something.


(( Sorry it took me ages to get this up - some crazy stuff's been happening at my house. XP ))

[Nick Dean]

McSpankys. It took a real woman to admit thats where she wanted to eat. Then again, it was the only place open this late at night. Nick didn't care where they were, Betty was a barely a foot away and he had her all to himself. Wow, that sounded really selfish. Well.. after wasting so much time, maybe we've earned a little bit of selfishness. The dim lighting of the restaurant reflected against her soft, creamy skin, giving an angelic glow. Even absent mindly poking at her salad, she was stunning.

A salad. Why did women always get healthy food? Like.. grilled chicken, or a salad. Nick could never understand it. His mother was always trying to push the crap down his throat, while he would despratly explain that there was nothing wrong with grease-laden fries and a hamburger. Glancing down at his nearly gone hamburger, then back at her salad, he pushed the barely touched box of fries towards her. "Here, have a few fries, I'm getting a little full.." A lazy smile crossed over his face as he stared at her, his dark eyes tracing over every delicate feature. Those rosy cheeks, her dark captivating eyes, satiny hair, full red lips..

Betty's knee then came to rest against his, and the warmth of her absent minded touch had him going mental again. As if he needed to go crazier over Betty. Did she know how intoxicating she was? How his mouth went dry at the mere sight of her? Probably. Nick was sure he had made it painfully obvious at some point or another. Every once in awhile her knee would move and he would feel his heart skip a beat. Ah, the power women had over men. Or at least the way that Betty could make him drown in emotions he never knew existed. He had been awfully quiet here, maybe because of Betty's knee against his. So far lost in his thoughts about her, he wasn't even talking to her.

Happy to hear her voice, Nick grinned, eagerly answeringher question as calmly and collected as he manage. He felt better than he ever had before. It was a higher high than mastering a new skateboarding trick, getting a cute girl to smile at you, or proving himself cool once again. It was the ultimate feeling, knowing that Betty Quinlan was talking to him, and was eating alone with him. He had to wonder how he ended up so lucky.

"The dance was wonderful, much like it's organizer.. Plus I went with a bad date and ended up leaving with the perfect date. I don't think it gets any better than that." Long finished with his meal, he pushed the garbage aside, grasping her hand gently across the table. He swallowed, feeling her soft hands against his rough hands, feeling as though his calloused hand would mar the perfection of hers. Looking into her eyes, he could see the depths of her soul, beauty, brains, confidence...

"Betty.. I already danced with you and got you on a date in the past few hours.. so this question shouldn't be too hard." Nick tried to swallow the lump in his throat, wondering why there were beads of sweat forming on his neck again. "Would you.. be my girlfriend? Go Steady.. Date me.. Whatever you want to call it.. I've just never felt this way, and I refuse to just let you walk out of my life.." He then pulled her hand towards him, leaning forward to place a tender kiss atop her hand while gazing back up at the breathtaking brunette.

({Ack.. sorry, this wasn't my best.. I had my hair colored tonight... I think I breathed in too many chemicals.. x.X;;)

[Betty Quinlan]

The salad was hardly appetizing, so when Nick shoved the greasy box of heart disease (or, as the normal folk called them - fries), Betty had to refrain herself from pouncing on the. She took one and ate it slowly, one small bit at a time, telling herself she'd control the hunger in the safety of her own home with a midnight visit to the refrigerator. There was a carton of Rocky Road in the freezer that could satisfy her hunger.

She listened to Nick's reply to her attempt at conversation peacefully, still nibbling at the same French fry. She had expected flattery, and was ready to tell gush and tell him the same things in return, so she was taken aback when he suddenly shoved the food aside. She jumped slightly, but as he took her hand, she subsided into peace again, continuing her slow eating of the fry.

And so Betty was caught unaware by Nick's words. Once again she was anticipating merely flattery - Nick's charms at work, to which she would reply with more flirting and coy teases. But no... Would you be my girlfriend? The words echoed in Betty's mind a few seconds after they were spoken, and she practically tuned out the rest what he was saying to focus on that. He was asking her out! She had waited for ages, until Cindy and Britney were out of the pictures, and after one night of sulking, her wishes had just come true!

Everything was happening so fast! She had been so utterly convinced he cared absolutely nothing for her; she had been wishing both he and his date would drop dead on the dance floor, but now here they were - hand in hand in McSpanky's, staring into each other's eyes. After the one dance they had, she had supposed they would say their adieus and retreat back to their respective dates, but instead they had ended up here. Even after he had taken her out, she still hadn't really expected...

She swallowed the fry so fast she almost choked on it. Her time to think was up, and she pulled her hand away from Nick's delicately, placing it over her heart as she gushed, "Why, Nick, I'd thought you'd never ask! I'd love to be your girlfriend!"

Her eyes glistened with joy. She was going out with Nick Dean. Years of work, and it had happened over a single night - one of those nights you'd remember forever. She smiled across the table at him, positively bursting with joy. She couldn't wait to tell the girls about this...


(( Whew - I feel like I've been out of the RP for ages - I've been so busy lately! School's taking it's toll on me and it hasn't even started yet! ))

[Nick Dean]

Nick could have sworn his heart lept into his throat the moment Betty said she would be his girlfriend. Betty Quinlan, Nick Dean's Girlfriend.. Hell Yeah. His girlfriend. Repeating it happily a few times in his mind satisfied him as he gazed over at her, that charming grin slapped across his face. "Betty.. I.. I had my doubts about even asking you.. I've been so scared of rejection. But now I see that fate has finally put us together, and I think it's great. But it's getting late and I better walk you home before you turn into a pumpkin.. or however that fairytale goes.."

Smirking at her, he quickly threw away their trash and took ahold of her hand. Carefully lacing his fingers though hers, they left McSpankys, heading towards Betty's house at some late, ungodly hour. It was a surprisingly quiet walk, but pleasant nonetheless. The night was definitely chilly, reminding Nick that fall was on its way, and that he better revamp his wardrobe with some warmer clothes. Taking a moment off from his thoughts, he looked at the woman at his side, taking in the perfection of her features, yet again awestruck by her.

Once they reached Betty's house, Nick turned to face her, grinning inwardly at the sight of the pretty brunette in her vibrant red dress, with his old leather jacket draped around her shoulders. "Betty, I had a wonderful night, and I apologize to anyone who was expecting you home earlier. I'll see you in school, maybe before then.." Winking at her, he turned, jammed his hands into his pockets and briskly strutted off, glancing over his shoulder at her a couple more times, as he made his way home.

(OK.. well. I think thats a decent place to end the thread. Sorry for the crapness.. a wee bit of writers block has set in I'm afraid..)