Issue 1 Downtime

Alex stood by the bus stop where he was supposed to meet Brigid, checking his watch as he shifted nervously. He was looking rather good, dressed well for the date, and he'd gotten the address for the restaurant from Christie. Still, his mind was racing (like usual) with all kinds of illogical fears. she wouldn't show up. She wouldn't like the date. She'd decide to headbutt him in the middle of dinner for something he'd said... well, okay, that last one was more an amused thought than serious, but it was still there.

Brigid didn't keep him waiting too long, as she walked towards the bus stop. Was that... a dress she was wearing? Yes, yes it was. Breezy and not inappropriate, but certainly more revealing than what she usually wore.

Come on, you can do this...

She smiled as she neared him.

Alex felt his stomach tighten as she approached. Okay, you can do this, he thought as he smiled at her. "Wow," he said sincerely, "You look great." I'm underdressed.

"Thanks! I figured, you know, why not?"

"I can see no reason why not," he said, grinning a little. "I... ah, hope dinner will be okay. I got the name of a pizza place that's supposed to be really good to go to..." Shit, she's dressed like that and I'm taking her for pizza. Shit shit shit...

"Sounds great," she smiled. "I like pizza..."

...and I'm overdressed.

"And it's supposed to be a nice place," he said, thinking quickly. God, she looks great, he thought, hoping it didn't show TOO much in his expression.

"I'm sure it'll be wonderful. Lead the way?"

"Of course," he said, standing aside and letting her get onto the bus first. "Feels good to get away from campus," he commented as they took a seat.

"Yeah, it's good to just forget some of the craziness a bit," she said as she sat down next to him.

Alex got a little thrill as he felt... well, hell, it wasn't even her, it was just a fold of her dress, brushing against him, and immediately told himself he was being pathetic and to calm down. Seriously, it's Brigid. You talk to her all the time. It's ok.

"Penny for your thoughts?" She said with a sideline glance to him.

"Just... thinking that I'm being kind of dumb," he admitted with a sheepish grin. "I'm never nervous around you, until it turns into a date and then I start freaking out."

"It's still me if I'm not all bundled up, yeah?"

"Definitely," he said with a smile. "I just... keep thinking of ways I could screw this up. And... I really don't want to because I really like you and that probably explains why I'm babbling without thinking right now. Which I should probably stop."

"Well I don't know, you babbling is kind of cute," she smirked with a faint blush.

He couldn't help grinning as he looked over at her. "Did you know that the tips of your ears turn bright red when you blush?" he teased, a little less nervously.

"I ah... never bothered to look," she chuckled, blushing deeper.

He grinned. "Well, now that we've established that we're both apparently cute when we're kind of embarassed..." he joked, feeling his nerves settle a little bit.

"Yeah, I won't tell if you won't."

"Well, I can't go having you get embarassed with too many people around, so that sounds good to me," he said. "Oh, wow, that was a fast trip," he said as the bus pulled up to the stop in Salem Center.

"Time flies, huh?" She smiled and stood, heading to get out.

"Exactly," he said, following her off. I am on a date with her. Eat your hearts out, boys...

"So," he said, looking around and getting his bearings before leading her down toward the restuarant. "Fair's only fair... penny for your thoughts."

"Eh, I was kind of thinking about what the heck I say to Haley when I have to apologize to her. The Headmistress wants me to do that."

"I'm sorry' is usually a good way to put it," Alex joked. He turned a little more serious once that was out, though. "Just be straight up about it, I guess. 'Shouldn't have done it,' all that stuff. And be ready to take some grief from her, probably."

"As long as she doesn't fling me out of a window, I guess I'm okay."

"I'll wait outside to catch you. Just in case," he said with a little smile, holding the door open for her.

"At least I know you can do that, now." She chuckled and walked in.

"Hey, what can I say, I'm a useful guy," he chuckled. "Best person to have around if you need furniture moved!"

"Well, the best guy," she teased. "I'd probably ask Christie too."

He scoffed good-naturedly at that. "I'd like to see her get a couch around a corner like me," he joked.

"She'd probably fling it through the corner, but it's the thought that counts."

"I don't see how that means I'm not the best one to have to move a couch," he said, grinning as they took a seat.

"Presentation mostly," she laughed as she sat down.

Alex chuckled and winced. "Oooh, ouch. I'll have to work on that one."

"I don't know, she seems pretty competitive."

"Mmmm... I don't really know that there are any of us who aren't competitive," he admitted.

"True. Just depends on what we're competing for, huh?"

"So," he said, after they put in their order, "First week's up... what else did you want to get to do and see now that you've made it to civilization?" he asked with a smile.

"Still totally going to make me choose, huh? Did you find any good places?"