Chapter 6: Where do we go from here?
I left off looking for a gift for Ariel's graduation. I had no idea what to get. An older saleslady said she had an idea for me.
"Buy her a gift card from her favorite restaurant. We sell them all here at the store. Also, buy her two movie tickets to the theatre good any time."
"I don't quite understand how that helps me," I said.
"Well, she's not going to the movies alone and I'm sure she's not going out to eat by herself. See, if she invites you to go with her. Just understand she might ask someone else but you will know where you stand."
I did what the lady suggested and bought two movie tickets to be used within a month and a fifty-dollar gift certificate to the Red Lobster. Ariel told me once she liked eating there. I picked up a card to put the certificates in and signed it, Love Joey.
I headed over to her house where the reception was being held. Mary and the rest of her family were already there. Robert was there and introduced me to his date. He told me it was one of the other engineers that he worked with. They have become good friends. I have to say Robert did well. She was one good looking woman.
Lee and Claire greeted me and said Ariel was around there somewhere. I talked to different people and put my card in a box with dozens of others. I saw Ariel and when she saw me she came over and gave me her usual hug but gave me a light kiss on the lips. Again I had to wonder why.
She thanked me for coming and said she wished she could spend a lot of time with me but since it was her party she had to make the rounds. I told her I understood and maybe we could get together for dinner and even a movie some time. I was hoping when she opened my card she would get the hint.
"I'd love that," she said. About that time some of her classmates came up to greet her and I watched her give them her usual hugs and kisses on the cheek.
I hung with Mary and Nancy through most of the celebration. I knew Mary could see through me but didn't say anything. The food was great and I really enjoyed spending time with Mary and Ariel's family.
I talked to Ariel before I left and wished her the best. "Please call me when you have time to get together. I know your life is pretty full right now." She gave me a hug and again a light kiss on the lips.
It was almost a week before I heard from her. In fact it was a Thursday evening. "Joey, hope I didn't wake you up. This is Ariel."
"No, I was awake. Besides I wouldn't mind being woken up if it was by you." I heard her laugh lightly.
"I just got around to opening all my cards and gifts. I just wanted to thank you so much. You didn't have to get me anything."
"But, I wanted too. We all have to eat and I figured you need a night out to relax. I'm happy you liked it."
"Well, the reason I'm calling is because I don't want to go to the movies alone. I was wondering if you would like to take in a movie and have dinner at the Red Lobster on Saturday. My treat, or should I say, your treat," she laughed.
"Let me check my calendar, yep I'm free Saturday." We set up a time and I would be picking her up at her house. If I could find that saleslady, I would kiss her for the idea.
I picked Ariel up and we decided to go to dinner first. We ordered a drink, appetizers, our meal and even a dessert. We blew the whole fifty dollar gift certificate. I thanked Ariel for the wonderful dinner. She wanted to thank me again but I explained to her that she could have gone with anyone and I was happy she chose me.
We talked while we were eating. I knew she was a busy person and asked her what type of a schedule she kept.
"Well, I work five and a half days a week. I only work till noon on Saturdays. I go and exercise after work twice a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays. I recently started going out for Karaoke with some of my friends at the clinic. Karaoke is every Thursday and I promised myself I'd try to go at least every other week. I really love singing."
"Wow, that's a pretty busy schedule," I mentioned.
"Oh, that's not all. Friday is my day to just relax. Saturday is my date night. It's the night I go out with friends like we're doing now. Sunday, is family day. I do my best to spend time with my family. Of course sometimes we visit other relatives or they come to our house. That about sums up my week. What about you?"
"We don't want to get into it. I work, sleep and sometimes go out. I do visit with my Aunt and Uncle at least every few weeks. Somewhat of a boring life. Being here with you is one of the best times I've ever had besides taking you to the wedding. So, would you like to go out next Saturday?"
She looked at me somewhat sadly. "I'm sorry Joey, but I'm already going out with friends."
"Oh, ok, sorry I asked."
"No, let me explain. Joel and Peter from school gave me four tickets to a Cincinnati Reds baseball game for graduation. I thought about asking you to go but you told me you didn't like sports. So I asked Joel and Peter to go since they gave me the tickets. We're just friends, I want you to know that. I've known them for years."
"Who's using the other ticket? You said you had four."
"I asked Nancy to go. She loves baseball so I asked her."
Damn, I'm so stupid. I could easily sit through a game if I was with Ariel. I didn't want to act too down. We still had a movie to see. "Ariel, I don't hate sports, I'm just not good at playing them. If you ever want to go to another game, I would be glad to go with you. I've never been to a professional sports game of any kind."
"Now, I feel bad in not asking you, I'm sorry."
I tried to cheer her up, even though I was a little down myself. "Don't worry about it. We'll go to a game another time; I promise. Let's go see a movie now."
She picked out the movie she wanted to see and we found out that we each got a free popcorn and beverage because of the gift certificate. We really weren't hungry but took the popcorn and drink anyway. Popcorn just goes with going to a movie.
During the movie she reached over and held my hand and smiled. I just held on to it for awhile not sure what to do. I was really in uncharted territory here. After the movie I drove her back to her house. I rushed around and opened her door.
"Joey, we're friends. I like that you open doors for me but you don't have to do it all the time. If we go to a formal event, it's somewhat expected but not for everyday purposes."
"I'm learning, thanks for not thinking of me as a fool."
"You're no fool. You're a sweet wonderful friend that I care about. Stop putting yourself down, I don't like that you do that." replied Ariel.
I walked her to the porch. We stared at each other for a few seconds and she leaned forward and gave me a gentle kiss and then looked at me. "Thanks again for a wonderful night. Maybe we can have lunch or something this week. Well, I better go in."
I left and got in my car and wondered what I did right and wrong. She kissed me but yet is going out with some other guys the following week. Even though I really cared for her I think she saw me only as a good friend.
On Sunday I had dinner with Mary, Henry and Nancy. They asked me about my date with Ariel and I told them it was great. That's when Nancy mentioned that the following Saturday she was going to a Reds Baseball game with Ariel and her friends. She was really excited. She even said she wished I was going. That's when I told her we could go together next time.
"I thought you didn't like baseball? asked Nancy.
"Not on TV, it's to slow but I've never been to a professional game. I think I would like to try it."
Henry spoke up. "Why don't we all go? I have a friend that could probably get us some tickets for next month. What do you think Mary? Would you like to go?"
"I'd love to. It's been years since I've been to a game. Even the hot dogs and beer are good at the stadium. Nancy, when you see Ariel Saturday ask her if she would like to go with us next month." Mary looked over at me and smiled.
I was a little happier but I needed to see her and take her out before next month. I gave it some thought and I called her Tuesday evening and asked her if she would like to have lunch with me on Wednesday.
"Don't you need to sleep in the afternoon?" asked Ariel.
"I promised the boss I'd make a couple deliveries for him in the morning so I'll just sleep later in the day." It really wasn't true but it was a very small lie. I just wanted to see her.
I stopped by the clinic and couldn't believe how big it was. It was a miniature hospital. I went to the reception desk and mentioned I was there to see Ariel. The receptionist was very nice to me and asked me to sit down. It was only a few minutes later that Ariel came down the hallway. She was smiling. Damn, she was so pretty.
"Been waiting long?" she asked.
"No, just a few minutes; this place is big."
"I only have an hour so we can eat and talk at the restaurant across the street. We can just walk there."
"Fine with me."
We sat down and ordered the special. That way there was a short wait for our food. The place was quite busy. A lot of the clinic people ate there. Ariel told me a little about the clinic. It was more than just a doctor's office. They did radiology and out-patient surgery among other things. She said they employed about eighty people.
While we ate, I asked her if she would go out with me a week from Saturday. I knew she had the game Saturday.
"Where do you want to go?" she asked.
"Anywhere, everywhere, I don't care. I've never been many places so I'm willing to give anything a chance."
"Ok, give me till next week to find somewhere different. You know you can always come to karaoke night on Thursday."
"I'd like to go hear you sing but it starts at nine and I begin work at eleven. I can't drink because I don't want alcohol on my breath at work."
"I understand but maybe someday you could stop in for an hour."