Opposites Attract

Chapter 6

Chapter 6;

Eric p.o.v

Damn, I'm so nervous! I know it was me who'd asked Kate, but it had only just now sunk in that we were actually doing it.

Since I had no idea if she was considering it a date or not, I had no idea what to wear or what to cook. I'd decided to play it safe with my black skinny jeans and cream jumper.

It was only half an hour until she was supposed to be here, (we'd agreed on 7pm), and J was still here. He'd promised to go out to a friends tonight, but he was determined to make me as uncomfortable as possible before he left.

The food was in the oven, the films were out for Kate to choose from, and I was dressed but still fussing with my hair in the hallway mirror - it wasn't doing what I wanted it to.

"E, you look fine man! Stop worrying. She said yes, didn't she?" J shouted from the living room. I sighed, deciding my hair is as good as it'll ever be.

"Yeah, I know. Just nervous I guess." I groaned as I went to sit down on the sofa.

"You perform to hundreds of people at a time and you're scared about one woman?" He laughed. He had a point, but it didn't make me any less nervous. "Oh, I gotta get going, man. You sure you're good?" He asked as he grabbed his bag and coat.

"Yeah, man. Thanks for this, by the way." I grinned. He'd arranged to go out and then to his friend's place after so that Kate and I could do tonight. He grinned back at me, gave me a one armed hug and left.

I still had 15 minutes until she was supposed to be here, so I tried to calm down by watching tv with a beer.

Exactly on time, the doorbell rang. I took a deep breath as I awnsered, not having to fake the smile that was now plastered all over my face.

"Hey." Kate beamed as she stepped foward and hugged me tightly. I didn't expect it yet but wasn't going to complain a bit.

"Hello, yourself." I sighed as I wrapped my arms around her waist, loving the feel of her in my arms. All too soon she pulled away and I had to stop myself holding her to me.

Her hands surprised me by going to my cheeks. "Tell me if I'm wrong, but is this a date?" She asked straight out, looking slightly worried.

"I-I'd like it to be." I smiled. She stared at me, looking as if she was trying to work something out.

"Me too." She said quietly as she removed her hands from my face, only to be replaced with a soft pressure of her lips. I sighed deeply, all my previous nerves gone.

"So," I began happily. "Dinner?"

"Sounds good - I'm starving!" She laughed. I took her hand and led her into the kitchen. "What are we having then?"

"Homemade pizza and garlic bread." I grinned, very pleased with myself. J had just sat there, laughing at me as I'd struggled to make it earlier. I'd been determined to make it, not giving up like J had suggested and buying it or getting a takeaway. When I finished, I was covered in flour and in desperate need of a shower.

"Wow, I'm impressed!" She was leant against the counter, arms by her side as she watched me get the food from the oven and place it on the side.

Even though she was only wearing skinny jeans and an oversized jumper, converses and her hair in a lose ponytail, she looked absolutely beautiful.

"It's only pizza." I laughed as I plated up the food. "Would you like a drink? We have wine." I offered.

"Umm a little glass please." She awnsered. "Yeah, but no other guys I know cook from scratch." I listened as I poured the wine. I closed the short gap between us, handing her a glass.

"Well, I kind of had to learn. J can't - won't - so it's down to me." I laughed.

"Hmm. Well then, I expect every meal to be home made." She laughed. When she laughed, I couldn't stop myself staring at her - she's so carefree, so happy. She took a sip of her drink as she watched me. "What?" She asked. I just shook my head, deciding we should probably eat.

"Right, you go sit down and I'll bring the food in."

"I'm here now, I might as well take my own in." She laughed. I agreed and we each took our plates and drinks to the table.

A few minutes later we were sat in a comfortable silence. We kept glancing at each other and laughing and I couldn't get over how soon this had all happened.

"You have something to say, don't you?" She surprised me, making me look up at her. I had been trying not to stare but for the last few minutes, I had seen her looking at me almost constantly. "You can tell me, you know." She placed her knife and fork down on her plate and looked at me, leaning towards me over the table.

I smiled back warmly as I struggled to word it. "Ok, don't take this the wrong way but ... well, you're different to everyone else around here."

"How?" She smiled as her hand came to rest on mine.

"Well, you come from a rich, well respected family who no doubt expect you to have some equally rich, well respected boyfriend. Yet you choose to piss them off by choosing me." I paused - I didn't want to say the next part as it made it ... well, real, I suppose.

She motioned for me to go on. "Why? Why me? You could have an easy life - not have to lie to your parents about seeing some 'street rat." - Once her father's own words. I knew how I must sound, but I was genuinely curious.

She smiled as she awnsered, almost immediately. "Yeah, I could've chosen someone they actually approve of, but I don't care about money or status. And besides, none of them have what you do." She sat back in her chair, looking pleased with herself.

"And that is?"

"A personality." She replied simply. "Even when we were at school, I got fed up of those morons and it was you I was fascinated by."

She laughed. "And I know it's only the first 'official' date, but I already know I was right to think that."

"... wow. I don't really know how to respond." I told her truthfully.

"Don't." She shrugged with a smile. "Just eat, think later." She winked.

We both laughed and I obeyed, happy I hadn't made things awkward.

         ...............................

Kate p.o.v

"Is there anything else that you want to know?" I asked as we were sat on the sofa after dinner. We'd been talking for what felt like hours so far. I'd asked about his upcoming tour and music, and he'd asked practically every question available to me, not that I'd minded.

I certainly hadn't minded the way he'd stared at me as I'd awnsered every question, fully aware of him sitting only inches from me. "Well, there is just one more thing. You don't have to awnser it if you don't want to." he stumbled.

"Ok, go ahead." I smiled.

"Well, why did you break up with Josh? You seemed so happy together." I didn't mind talking about this, and to be honest, I'm glad that we're getting this out of the way now.

"Honestly? I just ... I didn't love him anymore and hadn't done for months. We'd both changed and I think we both knew that. I didn't want to hurt him but I would of either way." I confessed sadly.

"Hey, it's ok." he reached up and touched my cheek, gently wiping away a tear that I hadn't noticed had escaped. "It hurts now, but it will get better, promise." he smiled kindly.

We were sat so close to begin with, and I could feel us both getting closer together now. I closed the gap and kissed him cautiously. It got deeper for a while before I pulled away.

"Right, that's enough of talking about our exes. What should we do now?"