Awkward Dates (Melanie)

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

As promised, Kevin had called Melanie the evening after he'd met her. The conversation had been brief, but the pair had agreed on a time and place to have their first date. Kevin was more than a little excited, and anxious. Would she want to see him again after tonight? Would he want to see her? He couldn't imagine the latter being true, but he was more than sure she might not want to see him. They would no doubt talk about themselves, getting to know each other and she would surely not want him and all his baggage if she knew the truth. He wanted things to work, but how could they if she knew all of him? Isn't that what drove women away in the past? That and his sister. Mostly his sister probably, and of course there was himself. He was a serial grave digger and it would only be a matter of time before he pushed her away, too.

He decided not to do that this time. It was a fresh start, a clean slate, and he could be an y Kevin he wanted to be. And now he wanted to be the Kevin that could get the girl! So he packed a thermos full of hot chocolate into his pack along with a couple granola bars and a blanket and headed off towards Fernley Park.

He had worked that morning and it was just after supper time. They had a few hours of solid daylight left, but they agreed that they didn't need to eat together, just spend time walking and getting to know one another on their inexpensive date. In fact it would be free for the most part, aside from the snacks Kevin had packed.

He had never been to the park but had passed it several times. It was one of the draws of the city apparently, with its lush greenery and menagerie of flowers. Melanie had walked it before, and he was looking forward to a reason to get out and look around at more of what the city had to offer.

When he got to where they agreed to, he found himself a bench and sat down, pulling his pack off and putting it by his feet. He was freshly showered, his hair still a little damp, his muscles still sore from work. He was wearing a white long sleeved button down shirt blue pinstripes that ran down it, the top two buttons undone to show the blue t-shirt hidden below. His shirt laid untucked over his dark mustard khakis, worn out sneakers on his feet. He slouched low, a common pose for the lanky boy, his hands gripping the handle on the top of the bookbag unsure if he should be looking for Melanie or staring at the ground. He felt so awkward!

He settled for looking around casually, his eyes finally meeting hers. He went rigid and gulped, sitting up a little before getting to his feet, pushing a smile on his face. "Hey." He greeted a little anxiously. She showed up!

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

Melanie was going to try her very, very best not to be too awkward tonight. She spent the day at the hospital in a sort of haze, quiet but happy and smiling. Some of her friends had asked her what she was so smiley about, and as soon as she said the word "date," they all got so excited. That wasn't a word she said often, but their reactions made her laugh and got her even more excited...and more nervous. She didn't want to mess it up. She really liked Kevin and she thought maybe he could really like her too, if he didn't already, which made her more anxious. There were a couple times after work where she had to just stop and take a breath, as neurotic as it seemed. She could do this! She could get the guy!

When she got home, she rushed up the stairs and took a shower, getting the smell of barf, pee and medicine off her. She wasn't going on a date smelling like the hospital. A little make-up, a little hair fluffing and curling, and a cute white summer dress later (like this but less see through), and she was ready to go. A little more encouraging words in the mirror and she was grabbing her purse to leave. Thankfully, Brandon wasn't around to ask her where she was going. She didn't want to get into details with him right now. She was still convincing herself that she could get the guy. It wasn't like it some outlandish date anyway. Just a walk in the park. The irony of the statement made her smile: this whole date should be a walk in the park. Maybe two awkward people cancelled each other out and made it more fun.

When she pulled up to the park, she took another deep breath and smiled to herself. It would be just as easy as dumping the soda on him. They had an easy sort of rapport when they got going, and she was looking forward to getting that going again. Her wings were tucked tight, her dress a little loose to hide the bulge, and she was ready to go. She took her keys, her phone, and her ID out of her purse before locking it in the trunk, and slipped both into one of the pockets of her dress. As she made her way over to where they agreed to meet, her flip flops scuffed softly on the ground, just enough that she couldn't really walk silently. Finally her eyes fell on Kevin sitting on a bench and she felt her stomach clench. No turning back now! She smiled wide and kept on walking, finally catching his eye. He smiled and she was glad for it, blushing a little.

"Hey." He sounded as anxious as she felt, but it only made her smile more. Good! She wasn't the only nervous one. "Hey!" she replied, keeping her gait casual as she made her way to just a foot in front of him. Her hands clasped in front of her as she wondered what to say next, trying not to be too awkward. She went for the first thing that popped into her mind. "How are you?" she asked, keeping her tone casual and sweet. It wouldn't betray the butterflies on acid fluttering around her stomach.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

"Hey!" He smiled bashfully and picked the bag up by the handle on the top. "How are you?" He slid one of the straps over his arm and held onto it as it draped over her shoulder. "Good.." He conceded. "Uh.. you?"

The conversation was far from titillating and he cleared his throat. This dating thing wasn't his specialty, that was for sure. "So.." He started once she answered him, beginning their journey down the path. "I, uh.. packed some stuff. Not much, but, yah know.. we said date on the cheap, so I thought I could just bring some stuff." He cleared his throat again and hiked the bag up higher on his shoulders. "I have some hot chocolate in a thermos and granola bars. My sister likes granola bars so we like always have some.." He explained, not entirely sure why he thought he should. He was mostly trying to just fill the conversational void so he didn't seem like a complete tool.

"I also brought a blanket. I mean, it's little but in case we wanted to sit or something." He explained as if the reason for a blanket wasn't obvious. "Or... if you get cold or something." Why did he have to ramble on and on like a complete moron. He glanced over at her, noting her cute dress and smiled a little bashfully. "You look really nice.." He complimented in a small voice, obviously shy about it. White complimented her complexion greatly.

"Anyway.. I thought maybe we could just sort of get to know each other a little." He offered, having rehearsed some of the things he was willing to tell her in his mind already. "You first.." He egged, not asking anything specific, just hoping she would take it all and run with it. Girls were usually good at that sort of thing.

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

“Good. Uh…you?” There was that awkward Melanie had been expecting. “Good!” she chirped, rocking a little on her feet. Kevin cleared his throat and she smiled at the pinstripes on his shirt. Well, what next? “So…” He started walking and she took up easy strides beside him. “I, uh…packed some stuff. Not much, but, yah know…we said date on the cheap, so I thought I could just bring some stuff.” She was beginning to notice that clearing his throat was a nervous habit of his. It was cute. Maybe it was emasculating to say that, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t think it. He just had this boyish air to him, like a teenager in an adult’s body, but she found it somehow refreshing. It gelled well with her own youthful personality. He explained that he brought hot chocolate and granola bars and she nodded. In her mind, it was sweet he brought hot chocolate. Maybe that could be their thing…if he wanted to see her again after tonight.

“I also brought a blanket. I mean, it’s little, but in case we wanted to see or something. Or…if you get cold or something.” She decided it was her turn to speak up. “I might in this dress. Maybe I should have worn something warmer,” she commented, her hands pulling the skirt out a little, a nervous laugh escaping her. One of her friends at the hospital had told her to wear something that showed a little skin to give her an excuse to snuggle up to him later. At the time she had rolled her eyes, but later in the day she had settled on the dress she was wearing because it wasn’t a half bad idea. Kevin looked over at her and she caught his eye shyly. “You look really nice…” She blushed, smiling wider and pushing some hair behind her ears. Nope, this was just the right dress because he complimented her in it. “Thanks. You do too,” she replied quietly and looking back up at him.

“Anyway…I thought maybe we could just sort of get to know each other a little. You first…” She nodded and then looked up at him, a little surprised. “Oh, me first. Uhh…” she said with a smile, looking up towards the sky as she thought. “Hmm…well, I guess I could give the Cosmo magazine profile information.” She gave him a playful smile, lightening the mood. “My favorite color is baby blue, my birthday is November sixth, I love folk music and I enjoy being outdoors and taking long walks on the beach.” The “long walks on the beach” part was meant to be a joke, so cliché for Cosmo, but she actually did like walking on the beach, so it was a plus. “What about you?” she asked, turning the question back on him. Her hands held the skirt of her dress absent-mindedly, hanging loosely as they meandered down the path of the park. The smell of flowers was heavy in the air and she was starting to ease into this awkward date.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

He watched Melanie closely as they strolled casually down the path. The flowers were bright this time of year, and they obviously had good landscapers in the city. It was apparent they enjoyed keeping the city attractive. “Oh, me first. Uhh…Hmm…well, I guess I could give the Cosmo magazine profile information. My favorite color is baby blue, my birthday is November sixth, I love folk music and I enjoy being outdoors and taking long walks on the beach.” He gave a soft laugh, his smile genuine at the last part. It was hard not to like her. “What about you?”

He rolled his shoulders, the bag hanging loosely on his shoulder. "Uhh.. green. Dark green. That's my favorite color and my birthday's in November, too. But it's the nineteenth. I like the outdoors and anything involving my hands and I bet I'd like long walks on the beach." He smiled over at her, having repeated his answers to the unspoken questions.

"I want to have my own company maybe one day, or work for a bigger company and climb up the ladder. I'd like to one day be successful and not have to worry about finances." He didn't want to give away that he had been worried about finances since he was a kid, but offering that little tidbit wasn't going to give anything away. It was clear he just didn't want to be a loser. "Maybe even take classes or something some day, though I'm not sure for what. Maybe business if I want to have my own company? I don't really know how all that stuff works." He offered, peaking at her.

"I suck at all the things that make a guy suave." He offered a little bashfully though he was smiling a little. "Singing, dancing, romance.. I'm a retard when it comes to those things. Just a heads up.. I mean, I try to be sort of romantic I guess. Uhh.. I mean if you want me to be I can try to be.." He cleared his throat again not even realizing it was his nervous habit like Melanie had figured out. "Is it just you and Brandon? No other siblings?"

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

“Uhh…green. Dark green. That’s my favorite color and my birthday’s in November, too. But it’s the nineteenth. I like the outdoors and anything involving my hands and I bet I’d like long walks on the beach.” Melanie giggled a little at the last statement, knowing Kevin was playing along with her joke. They had the same birthday month! What a coincidence! He talked about his hopes for opening his own company or working for a bigger one, and she found it endearing. Who didn’t want to not have to worry about finances? With a nice guy like Kevin, if he worked hard enough, she was certain he could fulfill that wish. He just had to find his niche, was all. “Maybe even take classes or something someday, though I’m not sure for what. Maybe business if I want to have my own company? I don’t really know how all that stuff works.” She smiled back at him before glancing to her feet and giving a shrug. “Business is a good place to start. You can’t really go wrong studying business,” she replied softly.

“I suck at all the things that make a guy suave.” The sudden comment made her look up at him with surprise. “Singing, dancing, romance…I’m a retard when it comes to those things.” Melanie laughed, finding his warning cute. She wasn’t any good at them either; she just acted like her and hoped that something she said or did could be considered romantic. For her, the most romantic moments were the small ones. Like his warning; that was romantic in its own way, but he obviously didn’t know it. “Just a heads up…I mean, I try to be sort of romantic I guess. Uhh…I mean if you want me to be I can try to be…” His stammering, the way he cleared his throat when he was nervous, all of it was adorable and she just smiled from ear to ear. “You don’t have to be anything but yourself,” she assured, knowing it sounded cheesy, but genuinely meaning it.

“Is it just you and Brandon? No other siblings?” He changed the subject so quickly, it was like driving on a wild, backcountry road, but she kept with the pace. “Yeah, just me and him. We almost had a little sister, but our mom…she died in childbirth with her, and our little sister died too. I was five, so I don’t really remember it,” she said quietly, sort of regretting bringing down the mood. “But we still had our dad, so he raised us.” Her smile was cheerful, genuinely happy she had at least had her dad growing up. At least she and Brandon weren’t orphans. As she looked up at the tall, lanky man walking next to her, she was still thinking back on what he said about not being romantic. Well, one romantic thing came to mind and she blushed a little to think of it. It was just a small gesture, but it was something to get this to feel like a real date. Shyly, she reached out and placed her hand gently in his. He had big hands and they were rough, but they were warm too and suited him well. Her eyes came up to his bashfully, her cheeks flushed, but she hoped he wouldn’t pull away. “You too, right? It’s just you and your sister?” she inquired, trying to get back to their conversation. “What’s her name?” He knew her brother’s name, but she could remember him telling her his sister’s. It might come in handy to know that…in case she ever met her. She hoped it was a possibility.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

When she told him he should be himself he gave a weak smile. He intended to be himself for the most part, but he was undeniably about to make himself seem better than he was. “Yeah, just me and him. We almost had a little sister, but our mom…she died in childbirth with her, and our little sister died too. I was five, so I don’t really remember it,” Kevin frowned. He knew what it was like to lose his mother so young. he'd been four when his mother passed and he opened his mouth to tell her but thought better of it. Maybe he shouldn't say she died. If anyone could understand it was probably her since she'd been through it, too. “But we still had our dad, so he raised us.”

His face was stoic, but on the inside he felt a little jealous. Kevin's dad didn't bother raising he or his sister. He just threw them out like garbage and he felt sick thinking about it. He definitely couldn't tell that to Melanie! She would feel bad for him and that was the last thing he wanted. He was tired of people pitying him. He wanted people to look up to him.

Suddenly he felt her hand on his, startling him. His instinct was to pull it away but he didn't, just becoming tense instead. He gulped, looking down at her fingers lacing over his hand and then at her, blushing crimson. This was okay.. he could hold her hand! He gently held back unsure how to hold a girls hand properly. Sure he'd held Kelsey's before, but not in many, many years. Was he squeezing too tight? Not enough? Would he hurt her? Should he sway their hands or keep them still? What if it got too sweaty? Or he had an itch? He was biting the inside of his lip, far too aware of the tiny gesture going on at his side.

“You too, right?" He cheeks flushed darker. "Huh?" Was she onto him? She knew his mom died? And she wanted to know if his dad took care of them? How! How had she known? "It’s just you and your sister?” "Oh.." he stammered, feeling like an idiot and clearing his throat again. "Uh, yeah. Just us" He said in a small voice, far too nervous for the beginning of their date. “What’s her name?” He gulped and chanced a look at the girl at his side. "Kelsey." He offered gently, looking down at their hands and then forward again.

"My parents died when we were kids." He half lied, his voice small. It would be better if she believed he had a normal life. She would feel more comfortable around him that way. No one liked a street urchin who had no past. "Our grandparents raised us. They were, uh.. they were really great." He gulped and forced a smile suddenly feeling really guilty letting the lie leave his lips. "We were four, but... I mean we had a great life and all, so.." He cleared his throat and hiked the bag up on his shoulder again. "Anyway.." He said wanting to get off that topic. "How did you fall into becoming a nurse?"

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

Melanie could see how much Kevin was blushing, and it only made her blush more, but it made her smile too. His hand was holding hers back gently and it made her heart pound. He was holding her hand too! It was like she was in high school and holding a boy’s hand for the first time. “Kelsey.” So that was his sister’s name. How pretty! Kevin and Kelsey. It was sweet to say them together in her mind. “My parents died when we were kids.” Not everyone liked the pity party, and she liked to err on the side of caution, so she only glanced up at him with her brow furrowed slightly. Poor guy. Both of his parents. “Our grandparents raised us. They were, uh…they were really great.” He stumbled to say it, but she assumed it was because he missed them. He used the past tense, after all. Wow, it really was just him and his sister. “We were four, but…I mean we had a great life and all, so…” He was so nervous telling her that. Maybe he just didn’t like talking about his family. Not everybody did. She just remained silent, glancing up at him with a furrowed brow, but when he said they had a great life, her frown changed to a small smile. Well, that was good then.

“Anyway…How did you fall into becoming a nurse?” Yeah, he wasn’t comfortable talking about his family. She wasn’t entirely sure why, but hopefully they would have more dates after this where she might find out. She smiled more, looking up at him and giving a little shrug. “I just like helping people,” she replied, letting her eyes face forward again as they walked hand-in-hand. “My dad, when we were going up, he would go into these spells where he couldn’t really get out of bed. I would always take care of him when that happened, and I got really good at just taking care of people. It’s rewarding. Plus, being a nurse, you deal with the messier side of medicine, and I don’t mind getting messy.” She gave a wider smile, looking up at him again before her eyes considered the flowers they were walking past.

“I went into pediatrics because I found out I have a way with kids while I was traveling in South America. There were a lot of really poor towns that I visited where the kids…I don’t know, I guess they weren’t really able to be kids. They had to help out their families so I kind of taught them how to play while they worked, made working more fun. I became pretty popular after that,” she told him, laughing a little at the end. She had loved those days, playing games while doing the laundry with the kids. Some were educational and some were just silly, but either way, it helped pass the time while they did what they had to to help their families. Her eyes came back to his and she felt a little embarrassed. “I feel like I’m bragging. If I’m boring you just let me know,” she said with a blush, her smile small and bashful. She didn’t want to sound pompous, but she was afraid she was starting to.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

“I just like helping people. My dad, when we were going up, he would go into these spells where he couldn’t really get out of bed. I would always take care of him when that happened..." He wondered if her dad still had the spells. Or maybe he'd passed away? Kevin didn't feel comfortable asking. His mind raced with her hand in his still, not sure if he should be doing something more than just holding it. Was he doing it right? Maybe he shouldn't be holding it so loosely. Did she think he didn't want to? He felt like such a girl as he considered all these things, hiking the bag up on his shoulder again as they walked and talked.

“I went into pediatrics because I found out I have a way with kids while I was traveling in South America." She had traveled? He felt a pang of uneasiness. She had seen the world and he was just a shitty street kid. "There were a lot of really poor towns that I visited where the kids…I don’t know, I guess they weren’t really able to be kids. They had to help out their families so I kind of taught them how to play while they worked, made working more fun. I became pretty popular after that,” And a philanthropist! What had he ever done for anyone? Nothing. He'd done nothing.. His heart sank into his stomach wondering if this relationship could work. He tried to stop himself from thinking like that. It was just a first date! But what if he wanted another? He silently stewed, loathing himself as he put her above him on some crazy pedestal.

He didn't let on to his thoughts, smiling with her and paying attention, finding he liked her more for her kind disposition and general love for mankind. “I feel like I’m bragging. If I’m boring you just let me know,” She was a little, but he didn't think it was intentional so he shook his head. "No.. no I wanted to know about you." He pleaded, clearing his throat. "It's interesting, I just... I've never done anything like that." He didn't know what else to say in regards to traveling. The most he traveled was there, to Scriptor Bay. Other than that he'd lived in several towns in Texas and had visited Vegas once, but that was really it. "I always wanted to travel.." He offered softly looking at the ground as he walked, still so vividly aware of the hand nestled in his. He didn't want her to think he was uncultured, though. "I've been to Niagra Falls." He lied, gulping afterwards and silently chastising himself for spouting the bullshit. Niagra Falls? Really? He'd seen a documentary on it, so he figured he could probably bullshit his way through that lie. "We went through the falls on one of those boats. It was beautiful." Just the kind of trip you would expect a well to do kid living with his grandparents to take. "We went up into Canada for a little. They have good maple syrup." He grinned not having any damn clue if the syrup was different there or not. Maple syrup was big there, wasn't it?

"I'd like to go to Europe, though." He continued more genuinely this time. "I think Spain and France would be fun to visit.."

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

“No…no I wanted to know about you.” Melanie blushed, easing a little. She would be more aware of her bragging, though, or at least what she was afraid would come off as bragging. “It’s interesting, I just…I’ve never done anything like that.” Not many people had. Honestly, Kevin could have been in Texas his whole life and she would still think he was interesting. Traveling the world was exciting, but you could have adventures and life altering experiences no matter where you went or didn’t go. Travel was a big part of her life, but she knew it didn’t have to be for everyone. “It was fun, but I like being home,” she offered, he hand feeling more comfortable in his with every second. “I always wanted to travel…I’ve been to Niagra Falls.” She smiled excitedly. “Really? That’s actually one place I’ve never been,” she admitted. “We went through the falls on one of those boats. It was beautiful.” She could imagine. Melanie had jumped over waterfalls and walked behind them, but she had never been through one. How awesome would that be? “We went up into Canada for a little. They have good maple syrup.” His grin made her giggle and she nodded. “I bet. I’ve never been to Canada, though.” That was one place she neglected on her travels, even though it was so close.

“I’d like to visit Europe, though. I think Spain and France would be fun to visit…” Melanie nodded. “They are,” she told him before she really considered what she said. She sounded like a snob and she glanced nervously up at Kevin. “I probably sound like some trust fund kid with all the travelling I’ve done, but I assure you, I didn’t get anywhere if I didn’t earn the money to do so. I did a lot of odd jobs to pay my way around.” She smiled a little playfully. “A lot of waitressing and working on farms. Then I’d backpack from place to place and save up a little every time so I could afford a plane ticket to the next place…or home. It was hard work, but it was a lot of fun.” Her smile was sweet before she considered the ground in front of them.

“Honestly, though, if I could have stayed in Scriptor Bay instead of travelling, I would have. I would have been perfectly happy just staying here my whole life,” she said softly and a little sadly. If she had been here instead of in Europe, she could have saved her father. He would still be here if she had only stayed…A moment of silence following and she realized he had no idea why she couldn’t have just stayed. What could she say to explain that? Well, what she always did. She looked back up at him and smiled softly. “I was doing missionary work for my church,” she lied. “They require all of us to go on a two year trip around the world and ‘spread the good news.’ Brandon went too, but before me since he’s older. Don’t worry, though, I don’t shove the Bible down people’s throats or anything. Mostly ‘spreading the news’ meant doing a lot of volunteer work.” She didn’t like lying to Kevin, but she had to in order to cover up what she was. If they got close enough and she told him what she was, she would explain that she wasn’t really a missionary. She hoped she could get close enough to him to do that…Their hands swung gently between them and Melanie walked a little closer to him. She liked talking to Kevin. “You mentioned wanting to own your own company one day,” she said, changing the subject. “Would that be a construction company or something else?” She had babbled enough about herself; she wanted to hear more about the cute boy walking beside her.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

“They are,” His heart sank a little. She'd been there, too? At least he had lied about the single country she hadn't gone to. That way she wouldn't probably know he was lying. Figured she wouldn't go to one of the more convenient countries to visit. He'd been to Mexico once, too, but talking about Mexico meant talking about the trouble he and Kit had gotten into. He wasn't interested in telling those sorts of tales yet.

“I probably sound like some trust fund kid with all the travelling I’ve done, but I assure you, I didn’t get anywhere if I didn’t earn the money to do so. I did a lot of odd jobs to pay my way around.” He met her smile with his own but he envied her. To have her money go strictly to that was such a wonderful luxury. He was glad she had been able to do that, though. Not everyone needed to have a touch time in life, and he was glad she had it semi easy. She seemed like a sweet girl, and he was glad she had gotten to do such neat things, even if he hadn't been so fortunate.

When Mel mentioned being a missionary he tensed a little, terrified she would go into one of her spiels about Jesus and all that. Kevin wasn't quite an atheist, but he wasn't exactly a believer either. He felt he belonged somewhere in the middle because on the one hand he felt that if there was a higher power, no one would have had to have a life like his, or worse because he knew there were millions who had it ten times worse than him. On the other hand, whenever he'd been in a really sticky situation he had found a way to crawl out somehow and he didn't believe it was always luck or coincidence. Divine intervention was a nice thing to think about, but he didn't rely on it, and he didn't necessarily believe it was Jesus up there. It could be Zeus for all he knew! Or something else entirely.

"Don’t worry, though, I don’t shove the Bible down people’s throats or anything. Mostly ‘spreading the news’ meant doing a lot of volunteer work.” Phew! That was a relief. "Oh, good." He said with a grin, "Because I think I' missed a lot of church.." He didn't feel it was necessary to get into the whole religion discussion now. Some people were touchy when it came to the big guy they believed lived upstairs and he didn't want a reason to have to talk about his strange past. That was a topic for another time.

"You mentioned wanting to own your own company one day. Would that be a construction company or something else?” Kevin bit his lip and looked ahead for a moment and then to Melanie as he rolled his shoulders in a soft shrug. "Probably construction because it's what I know most." He explained and then his grin grew in a teasing sort of way. "Maybe I'll find my calling on your brothers boat and become a fisherman." He joked and let out a soft chuckle, growing more comfortable with the feel of her warm hand nestled inside his own. "I guess I don't know, I just know I'd probably make more money that way and I'd be able to call the shots for once. I just want to be a big shot I guess, but in my line of work, and without a college education, becoming a big shot is tough to do." He offered. He wasn't sure if he sounded like a jerk or not, thought. "I want to live comfortably. When I start a family I don't want to have to struggle. I guess in my mind if I got my own company then I would be able to provide for my family." It was the first date and he didn't want to scare her with the whole kids and marriage bag, especially since he wasn't anywhere near ready for that yet! "Family is important to me. Obviously.. I think you get that, though. I want my own... Someday. I'm not in a rush, but.. I'd like to be a husband one day. A dad.. That whole two point five kids and the white picket fence is sort of appealing to me." He smirked a little looking down at her. "I mean, it's not for everyone! Just... something I'm aspiring to obtain I guess."

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

“Probably construction because it’s what I know most.” Melanie nodded, but noted the playful smile Kevin gave her. “Maybe I’ll find my calling on your brother’s boat and become a fisherman.” She giggled, liking the thought of that. If she could see him every week on her brother’s boat, she would relish the time with him. She hoped he would do well the next day, though she was nervous for him to meet Brandon. “I guess I don’t know, I just know I’d probably make more that way and I’d be able to call the shots for once. I just want to be a big shot I guess, but in my line of work, and without a college education, becoming a big shot is tough to do.” She couldn’t blame him for wanting to make more money. Brandon had wondered if he should just join someone else’s crew instead of manning his own boat, but he had similar thoughts to Kevin; he wanted to call the shots and he liked the idea of making more money, even if there was more you had to pay for if something got damaged on the boat.

“I want to live comfortably. When I start a family I don’t want to have to struggle. I guess in my mind if I got my own company then I would be able to provide for my family.” A family. There was something so personal about talking about a family with Kevin, even if it wasn’t her family, but she thought he would make a good family man. It made her smile, but he seemed a little perturbed by his confession. “Family is important to me. Obviously…I think you get that, though. I want my own…Someday. I’m not in a rush, but…I’d like to be a husband one day. A dad…That whole two point five kids and the white picket fence is sort of appealing to me. I mean, it’s not for everyone! Just…something I’m aspiring to obtain I guess.” Melanie was smiling wide and she felt a little blush on her cheeks just picturing Kevin in that life. Of course she imagined what it would be like to be the other half of that life, but she didn’t get carried away. It was just a nice thought.

“I’ve always wanted a family, too, someday,” she replied, looking back down at the ground. It was nice talking like this with Kevin. Hopes and aspirations; that was normal first date conversation, even if it didn’t always lead to talking about a family. She didn’t think it was that odd to discuss. “I mean, I’m in no rush either, but it’s always been a nice thought. I think all little girls dream of that at some point. Maybe that’s archaic and maybe that’s changing over the years, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing to want. I think it’s normal to secretly want to be a soccer mom with a mini-van and a little garden. Even though I know I would suck at the whole gardening thing. I enjoy nature, but I can’t grow it. Most of my work on farms consisted of picking and weeding, not growing.” Her tone became playful and she gave a laugh and looked up at Kevin. It was a quiet, sweet first date, with her hand in his, and she felt perfectly comfortable talking about these things with Kevin. Normally she would be afraid of scaring him off, but he started it, so she went with it.

As they wandered down the paths, she looked at the plant life everywhere, admiring all the bright colors. But as she was admiring it, there was a buzzing sound by her ear and she suddenly winced away from it, gripping Kevin’s arm with a gasp and a squeal, trying to escape the spawn of Satan buzzing near her ear. When she looked back, the bee was nowhere to be seen and she suddenly felt silly for clinging to Kevin like she was. With a nervous laugh, she backed away, still keeping her hand in his. “Sorry, there was a bee,” she explained with a shy smile. “I have an irrational fear of bees. One stung me as a kid and made my leg swell up to twice its size and I’ve been terrified of them ever since.” She laughed a little more, hoping he didn’t mind the way she launched herself into him.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

“I’ve always wanted a family, too, someday,” He wasn't all that surprised that she was interested in the whole family thing. Melanie seemed like the kind of girl who would. She was kind and smart and laid back, and he knew she would look pretty in a wedding dress. He blushed at the thought. It was way too soon to be thinking of her in a wedding dress. But she would. Not necessarily walking down the aisle towards him, but she would make some guy really happy for sure. Kelsey wasn't into the whole family thing. According to her there were enough fucked up people in the family and getting tied down to one and making more kids was just a bad idea. There were plenty of kids in the system who needed families, but she didn't want to take any of those "brats" as she called them, either.

"...but I don’t think it’s a bad thing to want. I think it’s normal to secretly want to be a soccer mom with a mini-van and a little garden. Even though I know I would suck at the whole gardening thing." He grinned thinking of her in a garden, even if she wasn't good at gardening. He pictured her in a little sun hat and dress, tending to tomatoes or cucumbers or something. It made him grin more, his teeth peaking through his lips.

Suddenly Melanie was moving closer to him, squealing as she grabbed tight onto him. He was taken by surprise and looked at her, unsure what was going on as she clung to him. "Are you okay?" He asked, feeling unsure and confused. On the one hand he liked that she had grabbed him, but on the other hand he wasn't sure exactly how to feel. Was that a good thing? He was so aware of her being there, so aware that he needed to protect her but wasn't sure if he would come off as overbearing and he had no idea what he was even protecting her from! "What happened?" He asked, looking around as she looked back to her side. What was it? He saw nothing.


“Sorry, there was a bee,” she explained smiling shyly and pulling away a little. "Oh.." Was that all? A bee? He had to grin a little. It was endearing the way she overreacted to a little bee, but Kevin didn't like bees, either, so he supposed it wasn't that much of an overreaction. “I have an irrational fear of bees. One stung me as a kid and made my leg swell up to twice its size and I’ve been terrified of them ever since.”

Kevin actually laughed a little and tugged her hand a little, pulling her closer. "Well, you don't have anything to worry about. I won't let the big bad bee sting you." He said playfully, feeling himself relax a little as he took on the role of the protector. It was cute and sweet and made him feel good the way she had clung to him. He was looking down at her and grinning, hitching the bag higher on his shoulder as it kept sliding down a little. "Did you want to take a break from walking? Have a snack?" He asked, raising a brow as the unsure tone came back.

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

Melanie relaxed more as Kevin laughed and pulled her a closer to him. “Well, you don’t have anything to worry about. I won’t let the big bad bee sting you.” She grinned, looking up at him with blushing cheeks, her stomach tying in knots. Not only had he pulled her closer, but he wanted to protect her. It was just a little bee, but she liked the idea of it, of him keeping her safe. He was grinning too and she was glad they had grown more comfortable with each other. Her eyes dropped to the ground, her hair falling in her face a little as she watched their hands held in each other’s. It was so nice to just walk and talk with a man, holding his hand as they went along. Wasn’t this something she had wanted for so long?

“Did you want to take a break from walking? Have a snack?” Melanie looked back up at him and smiled brightly. “Sure!” she chirped before looking around for a spot. There was a tree not far off and she felt it would be a good place to sit and have a snack. “Over here,” she said softly, tugging him gently toward the tree with a sweet smile. Once they reached it, she helped him lay out the blanket, which smelled very much like him, she noted. She sat back on her heels with her legs tucked under her, her dress covering her bare legs and warming them a little. The sun was setting now, and the air was growing chillier, so she was grateful for a little more warmth. When Kevin offered her a granola bar, she thanked him and bit into it, looking up to the darkening sky. The sunset was bright orange, but the glare of it only made the sky above them a deeper blue. It was lovely, looking at the sky through the tree branches they were under.

Melanie looked to Kevin again and smiled more. “Well, I told you my irrational fear. Do you have any?” she asked in a playful tone. Her eyes were bright and curious, enjoying sitting next to him and being still. All the time they had spent together was walking and she had to be careful not to trip or run into anything. Now, just sitting with Kevin, she could give him her undivided attention.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

He let her lead him to a spot under a tree and then he pulled out the blanket. She helped him set it up on the ground and he took a seat, spreading his long legs out in front of him as he fished the granola bars out. He handed one to Melanie and then placed the other on his lap as he pulled out the thermos and two plastic cups. It would probably be cool enough now to drink from plastics cups, he thought.

“Well, I told you my irrational fear. Do you have any?” she asked in a playfully and he looked up at her as he finished pouring the first cup, handing it off to her before pouring his own and covering the thermos. "I don't think being afraid of bees is irrational, especially if you swell up from them." He said truthfully knowing she was being playful. He sipped the hot chocolate, noting it was a little weak. The powder packets were never strong enough, but he used milk so it was still pretty good.

Kevin placed his cup in the grass and opened his granola bar, thinking about the question. "I never thought my fears were irrational ones." He said truthfully with a shrug. "There are a lot of things I'm afraid of, and I guess some of them are silly, but.. they're things I'm afraid of for a reason, yah know?" He took a bite from the granola bar and chewed slowly, looking back at Melanie. She looked so pretty in her dress, he thought. How did such a cute girl say yes to his offer on a date?

"I don't like guns." He offered, looking back towards the path as people strolled casually on by. "Like, they freak me out to no end. I guess that's maybe an irrational fear, but... well guns kill and.." He gulped, not wanting to think about guns. "They're just dangerous. Weapons in general sort of bother me a little. When it's too dark or too quiet I get sort of freaked. I like to sleep with the television on." Kelsey was the same way. She hated dark and quiet. "I have a lot of strange quirky fears." He offered, not willing to go into details behind each of those weird fears. To him they weren't irrational, though. Something had happened to cause each of those fears. They hadn't manifested on their own.

"So what's a girl like you still doing single, anyway?" He asked, smiling and wanting to change the subject to something more chipper. "Did you just get out of a long term thing or something?"