First Date

Posted on Tue Mar 11th, 2025 @ 6:08pm by Jennifer Bryant & Drew Williams
Edited on on Tue Mar 11th, 2025 @ 7:09pm

1,958 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 5: Days of Fortune Past
Location: Salem Center, NY
Timeline: November 23rd, 1990

BOYS DORMITORY

Drew looked at his reflection in the mirror. To say he was nervous would be a gross understatement. He hadn't been sure what to where for the date but decided this was a special occasion and finally opted for his Sunday church clothes. He wore a blue blazer jacket over a cream color button up, blue slacks that matched the blazer and a pair of patent leather shoes. His shoulder length hair was combed out. He took a deep breath as he inspected himself once more. He looked at his watch and headed downstairs to meet Jennifer

---

Jennifer was unsure what to wear. She wanted to look nice for Drew but the restaurant also seemed like a fairly relaxed venue. She decided on an asymmetrical leopard print denim wrap skirt and a black sweater with her calf high black faux leather boots that she really liked. She grinned at herself as she did a little spin for the mirror. She hoped Drew would like it!

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MAIN FOYER

Drew waited by the front door of the mansion. He turned at the sound of steps on the main staircase and looked as Jennifer descended into view. She looked amazing, everything about her was perfection, especially her smile. She was simply breathtakingly beautiful in his eyes. He smiled back at Jennifer as she continued descending the stairs. "You look ... amazing ... beautiful ... like the winner of a beauty pageant."

"You are a flatterer," Jennifer said, her tone playful. She grinned at him as she walked down the stairs and out to where he stood. She took his hand casually, like it was the most natural thing in the world, and looked him over from head to toe. "You look very nice yourself, you know? Handsome."

Drew had to remember to breathe as the breathe taking Jennifer took his hand. He felt a warm tingling that spread from his hand throughout his whole body. It was a pleasant sensation. "I called us a cab and signed us both out already. Figured we would get to the mall faster by cab than on the bus."

"You are a gentleman, Drew," Jennifer told him. She looked down the drive as if expecting the cab to show up right as he mentioned it. Timing is rarely that perfect, but it would be soon.

Drew couldn't stop looking at Jennifer. "Mom and Dad always told me to treat everyone with respect. They are the ones who taught me how to be a gentleman." Drew was never one to feel comfortable talking about himself. "I hope you don't mind, but I called the mall today to find out the best place to have dinner. I made dinner reservations at this place called Maggie O'brien's. It's an Irish or English pub kind of a place that's supposed to have great food. At least that's what the person I talked to said."

"I don't mind. It sounds nice," Jennifer said as she rested her hand on the crook of his arm. "But I am curious. What made you change your mind about Golden Buffett?"

Drew gave Jennifer's hand a squeeze. "I would like to spend time sitting and getting to know one another as our food was brought to us and not spend it walking around a buffet trying to fill a plate."

"That makes sense," she agreed. "That was thoughtful of you, Drew."

Drew gestured at the arriving taxi cab. He gave Jennifer a mischievous grin as he faked a posh accent. "Your carriage milady." He opened the door with one hand as he took her hand with the other to assist her in.

She laughed at the accent, taking his hand and letting him help her in. "You're silly, Drew," she said affectionately.

Drew squeezed Jennifer's hand after sliding in beside her. "Only on Tuesdays or whenever a beautiful woman is involved." He looked forward to the taxi driver. "Salem Center Mall please."

The driver nodded and the car took off.

"It's Friday, isn't it?" Jennifer asked.

Drew nodded as the taxi left the gate. "That it is."

"You're sweet," was all Jennifer had to say to that. "Sweet and silly."

Drew blushed a deep crimson and gave her hand a gentle squeeze as he met her gaze. "Just being honest."

Jennifer laughed gently and squeezed his hand back. "Thank you," she said softly.

The cab ride took only a few minutes and the driver dropped Jennifer and Drew right in front of the restaurant. Drew handed the driver two twenty dollar bills for the fare plus a generous tip. There was hardly any wait and they were seated. Drew looked over his menu. "So what would you like to do after dinner? The mall has an arcade, roller rink and a movie theater."

Jennifer considered, looking up from the menu. "I don't know. Any of those things could be fun, really. What movies are out?" She furrowed her brow. "You pick. Sweep me off my feet." She grinned playfully at him.

Drew had never been a movie goer and it would mean being quiet and not having a conversation. He wanted to talk, get to know Jennifer. "How about the roller rink? We could skate, talk and have something to drink and maybe an after dinner snack. Sound good to you?" It would also provide an excuse to hold hands, something he was quite fond of doing with Jennifer.

"The roller rink it is," she agrees happily. "I have to warn you, I have ice skated but I've never really roller skated before. So, if I fall on my butt, you have to promise not to laugh at me?" She wasn't really expecting to. She had enough adjacent hobbies. But she hadn't done specifically this before.

Drew smiled affectionately at Jennifer. "I promise not to let you fall. I'll hold on to you if you want. That way if you do fall, we both will. Fair?"

Jennifer shook her head. "If we both fall, it'll be harder for you to help me back up."

Drew shrugged. "Then we will take it real slowly. Kind of like gymnastics training earlier."

"Or try to only fall one at a time," she joked.

Drew laughed. He gave her hand another squeeze. "I'm pretty sure that I will be the one to fall first." He felt like he already was, he wasn't talking about gymnastics training though.

She squeezed back. "Then I'll have to help you up."

The waitress came over to take their drink and food order, promising to be back in a minute with their drinks.

Drew took the moment to gather his thoughts. "I want to thank you for teaching me some gymnastics moves. I think it will come in handy. What other things do you like to do? What's Halifax like?"

"Halifax is not that exciting," she said. "But I like music. I like movies. I like skating. Ice skating, I mean. This'll be my first time roller skating. I'm excited but kinda nervous."

"I grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Right off campus for Harvard. Not a bad place to grow up if you like college towns, I'm also into music. I play lead and acoustic guitar. Some keyboard and piano. I like to draw and paint...dance that kinda stuff. Mom is from one of the Boston Socialite families. She even had Angela attend a cotillion on her sixteenth birthday."

The waitress arrived with their drinks and assured both of them that their food would be out shortly.

"What about your family? Any brothers or sisters?" Drew asked before taking a sip of his peach tea.

"No brothers or sisters," she said. "My dad's a cop. We..." She hesitated and then shrugged. "Anyway, I'd love to hear you play the guitar sometime. I'm sure you're good at it."

She took her drink and smiled at the waitress. "Something smells good."

"I kind of wanted to be a musician before my powers began manifesting beyond what people would think normal. Then I decided to learn more about the physics involved with my speed." Drew appeared thoughtful and a hint of sadness crept on his face. "When a reporter showed footage of me running around the countryside near Cambridge...I figured any scholarships I was going to get were pretty much over with and no school was going to accept my application."

"I'm sorry," Jennifer said, reaching for his hand. "None of us are really getting the lives we expected. But you are amazing, Drew. You're going to do great things. You're brave and caring and you help people. And we're learning a lot here at the school." She smiled softly and squeezed his hand. "And I still want to hear you play."

Drew smiled at Jennifer. He gave a nod of his head. "I would love to play for you sometime. Maybe when we get back to the Mansion tonight. Tell me your favorite song and I will play it for you."

"I'd like that," she said softly.

The next few hours were magical. They held hands throughout most of dinner as they spoke about family and growing up. Then they went and spent two hours at the roller rink. The first hour was spent just circling the rink hand in hand, laughing and having a good time. There were a few falls, but these were taken in good humor.

Their next stop was the arcade. Drew won a large, stuffed plushy that resembled a polar bear that he gave to a joyful and appreciative Jennifer. Jennifer won a tiny, plastic frog that could be made to jump if you pushed down on its tail. She was a little frustrated she could never really aim it.

The cab ride saw Jennifer sitting close to Drew in the back seat, his arm wrapped around her back, a hand lightly resting high on her waist as she snuggled close to him. They got back to the Mansion and went to the music room where Drew played the piano and played several of Jennifer's favorite songs.

The night ended with the couple standing outside Jennifer's dorm room. He handed over the polar bear plushy and raised her free hand to kiss her knuckles. "I had a wonderful time tonight."

Jennifer looked into Drew’s eyes. She saw a kind and gentle soul. She closed her eyes and leaned forward.

Drew felt immediately nervous. He DID want to kiss Jennifer. He bent his head down and gently kissed her soft lips. The feeling was amazing. He had never kissed a girl on a date before. Only a couple of times during a game of spin the bottle and once during a game of truth or dare. His arms wrapped around her and the polar bear plushy. He felt a tingling sensation course through his body. He finally broke the kiss. His heart felt like it was going to pound right through his ribcage. He stared into her eyes and he stepped back. "Um, good night." He turned and fled.

Jennifer had wanted the kiss to last longer. She took a deep breath and released it with an audible sigh, a smile playing across her lips. She was also feeling tingly all over. She opened the door and backed in before closing the door. She leaned against the door and hugged the bear plushy tight as she thought of the kiss.

Jennifer eventually pushed off the door and set the plushy on her bed before turning to her chest of drawers. A couple of minutes later, clad in her nightgown, she crawled into bed and hugged the plushy close. Her thoughts went over their date and decided it had been the perfect first date.

 

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