Heather

Fletcher got my number from Ali and texted me Saturday morning. 

I re-read his message over and over this morning, making sure that I have the right time. 

Maybe: Fletcher

Hey, it's Fletcher. I can pick you up around 10:30 tomorrow if you'll be awake by then. It takes about 30 minutes to get there and I figured we could get brunch.

Me

Sure!

Fletcher

Can't wait ;)

Fletcher arrives early to pick me up. Thankfully, I'm already ready. I was goofing off watching Hulu and transferring items from my normal purse to the tan crossbody bag I would be using today. 

I glance in the mirror one last time to double-check my outfit. I decided on a floral-print orange romper with trumpet sleeves. The lace-up front gives me the opportunity to make it a little bit sexier. I leave the string slack before tying it in a bow, so that it gives a subtle view of cleavage. My mom's necklace glints in the light that has trickled in through the open window. I'm also wearing a pair of gold, medium-sized hoop earrings with my hair down and wavy. 

I slip on a pair of brown suede ankle boots before walking out the door to 

Our conversation is comfortable on the car ride over. 

"How do you like Idaho?" He asks. 

"It's not too bad."

"Moving here senior year must really suck," he says. 

I nod my head. "Yeah, it does."

"Did you leave a lot of friends at home?" He asks. 

"My best friend Mac." For some reason, Ryder pops in my mind, too. I cringe at the fact that even on a date with another guy, I feel like I can't free my mind from him. Despite the fact that he and I are way over. 

I take control of my mind and push Ryder out of it, although I still feel his lingering presence in the back of it. 

"We've gotten to Facetime plenty of times since I've moved here, but it's never the same," I say. Fletcher nods in understanding. 

"What do your parents do?" I ask Fletcher, eager to get my mind away from what lay behind in California. 

"They're in real estate," he replies. "They work together at the same real estate office. It's not too exciting to me, but it's supported them and my sister and me."

"Older or younger?" 

"She's four years younger. She'll be starting high school next year. I can't believe that she's even gotten that old." Fletcher seems to go off into a daydream then, which leaves me in silence. "Want to listen to music?"

"Sure." 

Fletcher flicks on the radio to an awful country station. I don't want to say anything, but Fletcher glances over and sees my facial expression. Without another word, he scrolls through the stations until he stops on one that plays modern hits. The familiar strains of a Halsey song come on and I relax in the seat. 

Six more songs and two short commercial breaks pass until Fletcher parks the car in a lot behind another strip mall. This one has a couple of cute boutiques and a bakery and café called The White Tulip. He walks around the car to open the door for me and offers his hand to hold as we walk to the bakery. 

Inside, it reminds me of the many hipster-attracting bakeries that dot Fair Oaks Avenue in Pasadena. Exposed brick walls pair with reclaimed wood tables made up of a variety of wood species. Fresh sourdough loaves line the shelf behind the counter. A variety of bagels sit in wire baskets on the counter with neatly handwritten labels. 

"Half of an everything bagel with lox and cream cheese, please," I tell the clerk. After Fletcher puts in an order for a hearty breakfast sandwich, he pays for our food. 

Fletcher motions for me to pick a table. After filling up my water glass, I select a secluded table near the back of the cafe. It's the quietest part of the shop, away from the entrance. 

We eat our food slowly, enjoying the flavors as well as the silence. But that doesn't stop me from exchanging flirty glances with Fletcher. 

My phone is face-up on the table when it buzzes. Fletcher and I both look down to see Kayne's name appear with a notification. I reach for it to put in my bag, but not before Fletcher sees Kayne's face appear as a call came through. The phone keeps buzzing in my purse, leading Fletcher to tilt his head at me. 

"If you need to take a phone call, it's okay. I'll be right here," he says with a genuine smile. 

I bite my lip, trying to decide what to do. Finally, I say, "I'll be quick, I promise." I give Fletcher an apologetic look and head to the bathroom at the back of the shop. 

"Kayne, what's going on?"

"Heather, where are you?? I need your help with your social media knowledge." Kayne's voice contains a whimsical tone.

"I'm out with Fletcher right now," I reply. 

"Heather, I told you not to trust anyone."

I lower my voice to a whisper. "What if I told you I was collecting evidence based on a hunch?" 

"I'd say that you've read too many Nancy Drew novels." Kayne chuckles into the receiver. 

"Look, I'll come over tonight after dinner," I say.

"Come before dinner. Alice says she'll make enough." 

"Kayne—"

He interrupts me. "Heather, she's insisting. Don't break the poor old woman's heart."

"Who the fuck are you calling old?" I hear Alice's voice scold him. I laugh in response. 

"Oh shit. Gotta go. See you at dinnertime." Kayne hangs up before I can respond. I can see Alice rushing Kayne out of the house with a broom for talking about her that way. 

I resume my seat across from Fletcher. 

"If you want to, there's a play today at the community theater." He's finished his danish and has a bit of powdered sugar down the front of his shirt. 

"You've got a little something right there," I say. He looks down at his shirt, his lips turning into a pout. 

"Aw, man. This is one of my best shirts." I smile at the thought that he wore the best to our date. He tried just as much as I did to look nice today. 

While he tries to shake as much of it out, I dip the end of the napkin in my water glass. I lean over the table to dab the wet cloth on his shirt. He looks up at me with a goofy grin, causing us both to laugh. 

Fletcher's gaze is hot on my face as I try to get the last of the sugary dust. Before I can pull away, he steals a kiss. It's just a peck at first; he pulls back to gauge my reaction. I smile in response, making it clear that I'd like for him to try again. He gets my signal and lightly presses his lips to mine again. 

After pulling away, Fletcher's lips linger near mine as he says, "So, do you want to go to see the play?"

"Sure. What is it?" I straighten up in my seat, fishing for my mirror compact in my purse. My reflection shows my lip stain has come off a little bit. I could tell at first because some of it is on Fletcher's lips. 

"Crimes of the Heart," he replies. I laugh internally at the irony of the play. I retouch the lip stain and then wet another napkin to dab at Fletcher's lips. 

"Alright. Now I'm ready to go." Fletcher grabs our trays and disposes of them in a bin of dirty dishes. 

"We have some time to kill before the show, so I can show you the lake." He offers. I nod my head appreciatively. 

As we approach the lake, I can see a boat floating along on the water with tourists on the bow. Fletcher catches me looking at it. 

"That's the local cruise ship. Much smaller than the Princess commercial liners. I thought about taking you out on it, but I was afraid that it wasn't a good first date."

"You're right," I say. Fletcher meets my eyes with his own. "It's more of a third date activity." Fletcher grins and I lean in to peck his lips. He responds by wrapping his arms around me and deepening the kiss. It reminds me of a similar moment during the game "Catch and Kiss" that we played at the party a week earlier. 

His hands move up and down my back in a soothing line. They finally stop at my waistline, pulling me in closer to him. 

"We're going to be late for the show if we dally any longer," I say. 

"I wouldn't mind that," Fletcher retorts with a lustful look in his eyes. I chuckle at him, pressing my hands into his chest. 

Fletcher holds my hand, leading me down the street to the theater. We walk about a quarter of a mile away from the bakery and the car lot. Fletcher purchases two tickets and hands them to the ticket taker, who rips them into stubs for us to keep. 

Fletcher picks our seats in the middle of the auditorium with a perfect view of the stage. "It's the last day of the show today since the summer theater series is ending." 

"Oh, well we certainly went out at the right time." Fletcher grabs my hand and squeezes it. His thumb subtly massages my hand throughout the play, making it hard for me to concentrate on the plot. 

As we leave the theater, I feel blown away by the production. For a community program, the acting, costumes, and scenery was fantastic. 

Our walk back to the car is made difficult by a rainstorm. Neither of us having planned ahead, we stroll hand in hand getting drenched. Fletcher's shirt clings to his torso, giving me a sneak peek at the muscles underneath.

As the rain begins pelting us, Fletcher pulls me under a store awning. No one else is around us, most likely all taking shelter inside the shops. 

Since they walked a while to get it, maybe it starts raining at some point and he pulls her under an awning and kisses her. No one else is on the street because the rain is pelting.

Then he says something that makes my heart flutter.

"You're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen," he says before crashing his lips to mine. He presses me against the wall of the store, leaning his body against mine to get impossibly closer. He's feeling the same craving to get closer that I am. It takes a lot from me to not wrap my legs around him to discover the part of him of which I was currently most curious.

His fingers caress my cheek as he runs his hands through my damp hair. I rest my arms on his shoulders, twirling the hair at the nape of his neck. 

After making out under the awning, the rain slows to a drizzle so we are able to rush back to his car before the rain picks up again. 

On the ride home, we don't speak except through shy glances at each other. Although I didn't get to see the boutiques that he promised, I surmise the date as a success. 

(A/N) What do y'all think of Fletcher? Finally Heather gets some action!

What's your perfect first date? Answer in the comments!