requested by and dedicated to Rockgirl100
this is an old request, i'm so sorry it took me an outrageously long time to finish this...especially since it's short. still, i hope you like it!

~ First Dates ~

I hurried down the sidewalk, all the while keeping my head down to shield my already watery eyes from the wind. It was a cold day and I regretted not wearing a thicker outer layer. The only thing warming me was the nervousness running up and down my spine as I made my way across town toward the studio.

Maybe I should have chosen a different day to do this. But that thought was thrown from my mind as soon as it was formed-- I'd been gathering the nerve to come and do this for the past few days, and I couldn't wait another.

I got to the studio with no detours. Luckily, I entered to find the band I was looking for inside one of the rooms with windows, recording a song from the looks of their setup. After a few seconds of me creepily observing, a certain blond guitarist caught sight of me. I grinned and waved, watching as his face lit up and he played a chord before holding up a finger in a signal to wait. I nodded and stepped back, trying to show I was in no rush.

A couple of minutes later, he signaled to one of his bandmates, who gave him a thumbs up. He took his headphones off and unplugged his guitar before taking it off as well and setting it down in a case. He waved at them all before opening the door and walking over to me.

"Hey, Robbin," I said, waving a little. "Am I interrupting you guys?"

"Hey, (Y/N). No, not at all. We're done for the day. Anyway, how are you?"

"Okay, good. And I'm great, you?"

"Good. Better now that I've seen you."

I laughed and said, "I'm here to take you up on that offer of a date, if it's still standing."

"Yeah, of course it is. So you'll go out with me?"

"Yes," I said, "and you should consider yourself very special. I walked all the way across town in the cold to tell you."

It was his turn to laugh. "Wow, I'm honored. I feel extra-special."

"You should. Well, when did you wanna go out?"

"Whenever," he shrugged. "I'm not doing much these days besides recording, and we're almost done with the record."

"What about today? Unless you're doing something, of course."

"No, that's about it. Can you? Do you want to?"

"Yeah, silly, that's why I asked. I don't have anything going on either."

"Great, then. Let me just grab my jacket, it's in the room. Then we'll go."

"Alright, cool." He went back into the room, and my eyes followed and looked into it for a moment. I stifled a laugh when I noticed the other members of Ratt curiously glancing at me.

"They seem nice," I said when he came back.

"Yeah, they're cool. I'd ask if you wanted to meet them, but at the risk of Stephen and Bobby hitting on you I think it's best if that waits."

"Again, they seem nice," I laughed. "Well alright, if you say so. Can't see why they would, but okay."

"I sure can," he said, steering me out of the studio, "trust me. Alright, so did you have somewhere you wanted to go?"

"No, actually. I didn't think you'd be available today, so I didn't think to try and plan anything."

"It's okay, I have plenty of ideas. Do you like bowling?"

"Yeah, actually. I do."

"Great, that was easy," he laughed. "There's a bowling alley just up the next street-- have you ever been there?"

"No, actually. I don't come around this part of town for much besides work."

"You might like it-- they play the best music," he grinned.

"Well, lead the way."

He curled his arm and offered it out. I put my own around it from beneath, settling my hand on his forearm and leaving it to him to take us to the place.

"So what have you been up to these past few days?" Robbin asked.

"Nothing, pretty much. Just working and stuff."

"I haven't seen you around, I thought you'd left the job."

"Nah, it's still the same old thing. Well, mostly. I've been working in the evenings." I'd actually met Robbin through my job at the studio; that was where he'd asked me out.

"Avoiding me," he huffed. "I see how it is."

"No, no," I laughed, "my boss just switched up my hours for no reason. And I can't really complain because I need the job."

"Man, that sucks. I know that guy. He's always rushing us for no reason, as if we're not paying for the time there," he said, running a hand through his hair.

"Yeah, he's a jerk. But I guess we just gotta put up with him," I said. "Anyway, how's the album coming?"

"Really good, I think. I like how it's sounding so far, at least."

"I can't wait to hear it, when are you guys gonna release it?"

"March 27th, I'm pretty sure. Also, this is it."

He gestured upward and I looked up to see a large sign that read 'Downtown Bowling Alley'-- descriptive. He opened the door and held it there, opening his arm a little so I could let go and walk in.

"Maybe after I beat you at bowling, we can play pool." I said, gesturing to the green-topped tables.

"You're real confident about winning," he remarked. "Sure hope those aren't empty words."

"We'll just have to see," I replied, smiling. He raised his head a little and grinned while nodding in such a way that I couldn't tell whether he was agreeing or doubting my earlier words.

***

I held my arm back and aimed before swinging it forward and lettimg the ball go. It rapidly rolled toward the white pins in a straight line, assuring me that my aim had been spot-on. All ten of the white pins were knocked down with a crash.

"Beat that, Crosby." I turned to face Robbin with what I knew would be an obviously triumphant look.

"Technically, I can't, because--"

"Alright, nerd. No reason to continue," I interrupted, one corner of my mouth turning up. "Match it."

"No problem," he said with confidence. He stepped forward and chose the rather heavy black ball before moving back and taking aim. The ball went in a mostly straight line and ended up knocking down eight of the ten pins.

"No problem, was it?"

"Stop mocking me, you're hurting my feelings," Robbin said. However, he could barely keep a straight face while saying that, and we both laughed.

"Nice try. But fine, I will. Maybe we should call it quits on bowling so I no longer have any reason to."

"Okay, that hurt. I'm out of here." He started to leave.

"Get back here," I called. Robbin turned and lazily walked back.

"Aw, you wanted me to stay."

"No, I need another person so I can finish the game."

He gave me a dead look and I laughed, assuring him I was kidding before picking up the next ball. I didn't get all ten that time, but nine was still good enough.

Undaunted and confident as ever, he took up a ball and aimed. He got seven pins down that time.

"What happened?"

"You're distracting me."

"What? How?" All I was doing was standing there.

"First of all, I know you're judging me and it throws me off. Second, you make me nervous in general-- wait, I didn't mean to say that one..."

I laughed. "I'm just going to take that as a compliment."

"Yeah, you should," he smiled. "Your turn."

***

After bowling (which I won), we played pool. I wasn't as good at pool, so he won that game. Then we sat and ordered a pizza. We spent the meal making fun of the manager over at the studio and telling each other more about ourselves. I was really glad I'd finally gotten the courage to accept his offer of a date, because I had a lot of fun.

One thing was for sure: he'd been right about them playing the best music.