A man in a designer suit sat relaxed in his seat, he stared across the white tablecloth, over the uneaten bread at his date, who didn't seem quite as confident. They were seated in a French restaurant constructed in what seemed to be a modernized version of an art deco style, large chandeliers hung from the ornately trimmed white ceiling, Corinthian columns of real marble further were a further highlight of the restaurant's decor. The sparse murmur of voices and a classically trained pianist flawlessly playing an pleasing tune, this was an age-old trick designed to allow the patrons to comfortably get lost in their conversation and order copious amounts of appetizers and wine. Finally, the man in the designer suit broke the silence. The two individuals had known each other once, but they had not seen each other in years. The well-dressed man was entrepreneur Levi Rowand and the Woman was Vanessa Shelford.
"Vanessa, it's been some time, how have you been?"
Vanessa, paused before replying with a simple, "It's been good, how about you?"
Levi smiled, "You know what's been going on with me! I am sure you read all about it. I sold my company, I made some money, other than that I am kind of in Limbo, just looking for new projects. I've been in the tabloids recently, you probably read about some of my crazy exploits in the supermarket checkout aisle. I am, as we speak both simultaneously dying and deeply involved in Scientology. I could tell you more, give you details, I am sure you would like that, but you know what? I haven't read a single thing about you, the tabloids don't cover Vanessa Shelford, I don't know if you have an inoperable brain tumor, or are pregnant out of wedlock, or what level you are involved with any number of cults. Look, I knew you in high school, I am sure that in the last fourteen years plenty of interesting things happened to you."
Vanessa laughed and shook her head at the comments regarding the tabloids. She had seen his face adorning tabloids from time to time, usually regarding his relationship with Natalia Ricci, the Italian model. The well-dressed man across the table sat back and smiled slyly, clearly expecting a response from Vanessa.
Pausing, Vanessa spoke, "I feel so weird, your Levi Rowand, I feel like your a different person than the person I used to know."
Smiling, Levi spoke, "Because I wear nice suits, start companies, date models? I promise, beyond aesthetic appearance I am quite the same, what about you?"
"I'd like to think I am a lot different from back then. I think I've grown a lot."
The two were interrupted by a waiter, do either of you have a wine in mind?
Levi effortlessly began to speak French, "Monsieur, je voudrais le meilleur vin disponible, seulement le meilleur pour ce chercheur d'or."
After pausing slightly the waiter responded, "Of course monsieur." he scuttled off to fetch the wine.
"You speak French?" Vanessa exclaimed, clearly impressed by her date.
Levi smiled, "Just enough to impress beautiful women. It comes in handy from time to time."
Vanessa laughed a slight crimson hue came over her face, "I am flattered."
"Oh you know I have always found you to be beautiful. You remember I asked you to the homecoming dance, senior year, back in high school. You're at least twice as attractive now."
"Oh, please, stop, your embarrassing me, plus I feel so bad about how that all turned out anyway. I was really mean back then."
"You were 18, that was a long time ago. All is forgiven. Look at me now, I turned out alright. Hell, I think it's good to be knocked on your ass once in a while, it keeps you sharp."
"You certainly did turn out alright, I can hardly believe it. I thought you were such a loser in high school, meanwhile all the guys I dated, god, they turned out so...so...I don't know...so boring."
Levi smiled, "You should get to know me, I'll bore your socks off."
Smiling Vanessa confidently spoke, "I doubt it."
In a moment of silence Vanessa and Levi looked at each other, Levi wore a dark blue suit with a black tie, which was juxtaposed to his slightly disheveled hair and a light beard, his blue eyes were intense and almost mystical, his voice deep and relaxed. Vanessa wore a dark grey dress with glittery sequins that exposed a mild amount of cleavage and snugly hung around her hips displaying her curves. Vanessa was a blonde, her hair was straight but curled at the ends, it was clear that she had put a lot of work into her appearance for her date with Levi. Vanessa's eyes were brown, and her lips were full, there was something inherently haughty in the way her face rested.
The Waiter returned with the wine, he poured a glass for both Vanessa and Levi and left the bottle on the table.
"Merci Monsieur" Levi stated before lifting up his glass for a toast. "To reunions." the glasses clinked and Vanessa repeated the toast, "To reunions."
After sipping their respective glasses, Levi started the conversation again.
"You said you wanted to get together and reminisce, let's do that! Let's, reminisce!" Vanessa for the first time sensed a slight cadence of anger coming from Levi, it put her on edge, causing her to slightly look away.
Levi started speaking, more intensely than before, "Fine, I'll start then. First off, I remember being in love with you, I was obsessed with you. I don't know what I was thinking, I guess teenage boys are like that sometimes, I thought some silly thoughts about some cosmic connection. You, the head cheerleader, such a popular girl, me, pretty much a nobody, electronics club, chess player, I honestly don't know what the fuck I was thinking to pursue you, you were way out of my league. We had chemistry class together, you copied off me for tests, I brought you my homework to copy. I asked you out and you said no, then you contacted me, when you knew I was back in town."
Vanessa drank some of her wine, "I am sorry."
"For what? Rejecting me? That happens, it was high school, there were a lot more rejections after that, believe me. I've rejected a few, its life!"
Vanessa looked ashamed then meekly said, "I didn't just reject you."
Levi smiled, "Oh yes, you were kind of mean about it."
Vanessa, "I wanted to say I was sorry, I shouldn't have led you on, and had you come to my house thinking you were going to take me to the movies. You were sweat, I didn't expect you to bring flowers. Even then I felt bad when I opened the door with my friends and saw you standing there all dressed up. I had already decided though, I couldn't back out after I told my friends the plan, so I took your flowers, thanked you and then shut the door on you. God kids can be so cruel."
