.Mitch: The Date.

I have been on countless first dates. Many guys have tried to make that crucial first impression in many different locations over many years. Despite vowing to give everyone a fair chance by sticking it out to the end, generally they do not go well. In fact, I have, over the years, compiled a whole list of the 'Worst Ever Dates' ranging from the boring to the embarrassing to the just plain weird. Unfortunately, they just keep coming and the list is forever being scribbled over and rearranged!

    Getting  ready for my date with Mitch was the most nerve wracking experience of my life. I wanted so badly to make a first impression that would push our meeting earlier that day far far out of his mind and replace it with the sultry, seductive image that I usually strive to create. But how? Outfit after outfit was thrown on the bed. Short or long? Tight or flowing? Smart or casual? Sexy or cute? I was stuck. After all, I couldn't look too tarty as this was his attempt to apologise to me, meaning that he wasn't necessarily planning to get into my knickers. Even so, I didn't want him to view me as the ten year old girl he'd first touched lips with under the bunk beds. Eventually, I chose a navy cotton shift dress teamed with my black leggings and a pair of simple brown boots. And just in time, as I touched up my lip gloss, the doorbell rang. 

    "Wow- you look..."

    I smiled.

    "...grown up."

       Oh. Well at least he'd noticed, I suppose. Following Mitch to the car, I took a moment to look him up and down and see how well he scrubbed up. I wasn't disappointed. He looked amazing. Black denim jeans, a red and black checked shirt and pointed grey boots- the perfect indie boy look! I almost wished I could skip the date part and go straight back to one of our bedrooms. He turned to look at me with a sparkle in his eyes and a smile playing on his lips. He absent mindedly flicked his fringe out of his face. I melted. 

    "Are you okay?"

    "Huh?"

    "Just wondered if you were feeling okay, you're looking at me funny."

    I felt my cheeks flush.  Caught in the act. Nodding sheepishly, I climbed into the passenger seat as gracefully as I could manage and waited for him to whisk me away.

Mitch chose Echo, a bar in the centre of town, as our destination. We sat on leather sofas in a quiet corner sipping Mojitos and chatting animatedly. Everything was going perfectly, he was interesting and he was making me laugh. Two more positives amongst a whole lot more. The alcohol was swimming through my system. I moved in closer. Our knees brushed. Then our arms. My skin tingled. I held my breath. I wanted him to kiss me. He had to. We made eye contact. Holding each others gaze. I wondered what he was thinking. Was he feeling this too, or was it just the jumbled mixture of alcohol in my body and his obvious good looks that was making me feel this way? 

    "Excuse me? Are you finished with these glasses?"

    A voice jolted me from my thoughts and diverted our attention from each other. At least, it momentarily interrupted my longing for Mitch. I turned crossly to glare at the culprit and met a pair of startling blue eyes. Oooo, nice... The bartender leaned over me and gathered our empty glasses from the table. I felt his breath dancing on the back of my neck. 

   "Sorry, to barge in on your date."

   Without realising what I was doing, I babbled a reply that surprised myself almost as much as it surprised Mitch.

   "Our date? Oh no, we're just friends."

   Poor Mitch looked a little crestfallen. Maybe he had intended to pull me after all? I couldn't help feeling a little flattered. The damage, however, was done. I gave the barman my best smile and introduced myself. And that was how I met Joseph...