Dead Serious

Chapter 8 - The Time I Went On A Date

Luckily though, she loved it so we went out to one of the poshest restaurants in town. Or so I thought. I think some places misunderstand what posh actually means. This place was totally French. It looked like any ordinary fancy restaurant but the menu, both dishes and ingredients, were all in French, which you can probably tell I don't speak. I do speak Spanish though! Pero que no iba a ayudarme aqui! Which means that wasn't going to help me here! Even the wine list was in French so I got the waiter to get us the cheapest good bottle. I was trying to impress Naomi obviously, but I was also keeping up the ruse that I was a well paid banker. So I was really just trying to act like I belonged here.

We ordered the same dish, praying that it wasn't anything to do with snails or frogs. Thankfully it turned out to be chicken. Perfect.

Naomi looked great, just like she had when we first met. Her hair was tied into a ponytail and she was wearing this cute white jumper. God, I sound like a girl. Anyway, I was so nervous about tonight. The only time she'd really liked me was when she'd been drinking, and even worse, the only time I was ever funny was when I'd been drinking. Sure we'd spoken every day over text and stuff but this was different. I was too scared to ask Tom and Aaron for advice so just kept reminding myself that she'd already seen my little jimmy and hadn't laughed. That was a huge reassurance, believe me!

"So what's it like working in a bank?" She asked after we'd finished our food. I was pretty quiet for a long time. I wasn't expecting her to ask, she was supposed to be bored of banking!

"It can be pretty stressful" I told her, figuring that a banker wasn't totally different from a funeral director right? "Let's just say that I don't always see people at their best"

You may be saying to yourself that I shouldn't be lying to her but you have to understand something. I really liked her and I didn't want anything to get in the way of whatever the hell was happening between us. And besides, dead people isn't exactly dinner table conversation right?

"It must keep you pretty busy though. Are you there every day?" She asked.

"I am"

"Except Sunday obviously since banks are closed then" She giggled.

"Oh yeah. That's right" I nodded nervously. I couldn't believe I had forgotten that.

"So what's with going out every Saturday night? I mean, I get that you need to have fun and stuff but why that?"

Aaron said that Vanessa understood once she knew the truth. But I wasn't ready to give up yet.

"The weekends, Saturday, is the worst. Everyone seems to want to bank then" I told her.

"That's pretty weird. Does that mean that it's dead through the week?"

"You could say that" I laughed.

We paid the (ridiculously expensive) bill and then began walking to where she was going to catch a bus home. I'd offered to drive her home but she reminded me that we'd both been drinking and I hadn't taken my car. Smooth, Sam. Real smooth.

"Can I ask you something?" She said. I was tempted to point out that she just did but I figured that was a bad plan.

"Sure" I settled on.

"Why are you so nervous all the time?" Naomi caught me off guard. I wasn't expecting that question.

"I'm not nervous"

"You're not?"

"No. I'm terrified" I laughed, as did she.

"Why?"

"I don't know. I guess I'm just not that good at talking to people" I shrugged.

"But you are!" She stopped and turned to face me. "You're really nice, you're funny and you apparently really love hygiene" She grinned. I could only laugh nervously. I'd forgotten until then about the first thing I'd said to her. "You do tend to ramble on a bit though" She said.

"Yeah I do do that" I admitted.

"I know what it's like to not know anyone. I started at the university and didn't know anyone" Said Naomi.

"So how did you get over it?" I asked her.

"I didn't. Not really. But eventually you have to talk to people, you know. Whether it's about work or assignments or just about food or sports or whatever. You don't know until you try" She smiled as if to tell me she wasn't meaning to give me a lecture. I knew she wasn't but I appreciated the gesture all the same.

"Thanks. I guess I'm getting better. I'm still super nervous right now though" I said.

"Oh trust me I've noticed"

"Is it that obvious?"

"Well I have been standing here for the last five minutes waiting for you to kiss me" She smirked.

"Oh" I said in surprise. And then stood in an awkward silence for a few moments because that's just what I do. "I guess I better do that then" I finally shrugged.

"Yes. Please do" She laughed.

So that's when I did it. I stepped up to her and put my lips against hers. I'll admit I had no idea what I was doing but she didn't complain. We held hands once we started moving again and I waited with her until her bus arrived. Yes, I kissed her again before she got on. I'm not totally hopeless you know.

Once again, please don't roll your eyes. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE STORY!