Fan Fiction ❯ Eve's Garden ❯ Chapter 6

Chapter Six

When Eve awoke the next morning, Michael was already gone and she was alone on the couch.

Diane walked out of the kitchen with a can of soda, "Morning, sleepy head."

"Hey."

"So, slumber party last night, huh?"

"Funny. What time is it, Diane?"

Diane walked back to the kitchen and glanced at the microwave, "'Bout nine. Got any plans for today?"

"Not really. It's my last day off from work so I thought I'd veg some."

"So," Diane started, sitting down next to Eve, "What happened last night?"

Eve smiled. She knew what her friend was getting at, "Not what you think. I came over but you were out cold already. Michael asked me to stay and keep him company, so we just talked for a while. It's funny, we have a lot in common."

It was Diane's turn to smile, "Really…sure you two couldn't hook up?"

Eve sighed, "I told you, I'm not looking for anything right now. Besides, he's your ex, you trying to pawn him off on me?"

"The thought has crossed my mind. After all, I know the kind of guys you're drawn to. He's right up your alley. Very sweet, romantic, sentimental and devoted."

"Then why did you break up with him?"

"You know me, school to finish and a career to get started. I don't believe in marriage. Michael does. He told me once that when he was a kid and someone would ask him what he wanted to be when he grew up, he'd say a husband and a father. Sounds like he's more your type of guy than mine."

"You're right that I've fallen for guys who weren't ready for the commitment of a cable contract, but I'm at a point right now where I think I don't want to get married either. I've got a ways to go before I even start looking for Mr. Right, let alone start thinking of marrying him."

"Sometimes, it's when you stop looking that you find him."

"So I hear. But I just don't think I could give of myself enough right now to be much use to any guy. I'm feeling rather selfish of late."

Diane got up, "Ok, I'll leave it alone. Well, I've got to get ready for work myself. You want to hang out here all day or you heading out too?"

"Oh, thanks, no. I'll be leaving." Eve got up and found her shoes and keys and headed out the door. "I'll see you later."

Eve went back to her apartment. She took a shower, slipped on some comfy pajamas, read half way through a new science fiction horror book she'd picked up, ate an egg salad sandwich for lunch, and lay down for a cat nap.

When she awoke a few hours later, it was dusk. Eve contemplated going to the mall but decided she really couldn't afford any shopping in her budget, thought about renting a movie but didn't want to watch it alone, attempted to read some more but found she didn't have the concentration for it, and finally decided that all she really needed was to not be alone. She called George to invite him over for dinner, got his answering machine, called Diane's cell phone with the same result, flipped through her address book and couldn't think of anyone she really wanted to hang out with. She picked up the phone again and almost without realizing it, found herself calling Michael.

The phone rang three times and she was about to hang up when she heard the receiver on the other end connect, "Hello?" It was him.

"Uh, hi. It's Eve. Did I call at a bad time?"

"Hi, Eve. No, of course not." Eve was sure she could hear a smile in his voice, "Diane's not home, sorry."

"Actually, I was calling for you," Eve knew the words were coming out of her mouth, but for some reason, she couldn't tell what was going to come out until it was already spoken, "I was wondering. Would you like to come over and hang out, maybe rent a movie?"

"Sure, I can be over in thirty minutes if that's okay. Where do you live?"

Eve gave Michael the directions to her apartment and said that thirty minutes was fine. When they hung up, Eve changed out of her pajamas into something a little more appropriate for company and ran a brush through her hair.

Less than twenty minutes later, Michael showed up.

He was wearing khaki slacks and a well-fitted button down blue shirt that brought out the deep blueness of his eyes.

For someone that worked all day on a farm, Eve thought, he sure doesn't look like he just walked off a ranch. Which was silly, she told herself, since he wouldn't have gotten dressed up just to hang out watching a movie with her. Right?

Michael smiled, "Hello. I have to admit, I was a little surprised you took me up on my offer. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad you did."

"Actually, I was a little surprised myself. I hadn't exactly meant to at first, but I was feeling lonely and I remembered what you said, so I figured, what the hay. Want to head over to the movie store and pick something out?"

"Sounds good. What are you in the mood for? Comedy? Suspense? Action? Horror?"

Eve noticed the absence of Romance from Michael's list and was grateful for his empathy, "Hmmm. How about we go see what's new and what looks good. It's been forever since I rented anything, so I don't even know what's out now."

"Have have you eaten yet?"

"No, I forgot," Eve laughed, "We can pick up something while we're out."

Michael thought for a moment, "I have a better idea. Would you let me take you out to dinner? If you're feeling up for it, that is. I'd love to show you my favorite Italian restaurant."

Eve told Michael that sounded fine and they agreed that his truck would be more reliable transportation for the two of them than her car.

At dinner, as Eve was seated across from Michael, she began to feel uncomfortable under his scrutiny and asked if she could sit in the seat next him instead. Eve confessed that she didn't like to sit across from people when eating because they could watch her. She preferred to sit next to them so that she could feel more comfortable knowing they weren't staring at her through dinner. She admitted it was a silly paranoia, but she was very self conscious.

"You have nothing to be self conscious about," Michael responded.

Eve blushed again. The evening had started out innocently enough, but for some reason, Eve kept feeling more and more like it was a date.

The food was incredible and the two spent another hour talking before deciding that perhaps they should pay the bill and be leaving.

Eve and Michael decided it was getting too late to start watching a movie, so they settled on playing a game at her place. At two in the morning, and five games of Scrabble later, Eve drifted off to sleep, on the floor, with her head on Michael's chest.