The Sensational Six #72

Nina's friends were happy for her, and Erisa promised to send her a message a half an hour into their dinner, just in case. She decided that she wanted to eat at the okonomiyaki restaurant where they could cook the food right on the pan in front of them on the table. She always liked going there with her family when she was younger, and that summer the entire food court had been renovated.



Nina: Wow, you look great.

Patrick: You do, too. So, shall we?

He was wearing a white button-up shirt with blue pinstripes on it with khaki pants. The clothes fit him perfectly, as though they were tailored to show off his physique. She was wearing a casual pink dress with a cardigan over the top to better cover her chest (can't put off the wrong vibe, of course).

Nina: Let's.

They walked arm in arm into the restaurant and were seated on either side of the table, the hot pan between them was turned on, and they looked at the menu.

Nina: Oh, I love the bacon okonomiyaki. We should get that, with takoyaki for an appetizer!

She was looking excitedly at the menu and didn't notice his face distort into a sneer.

Nina: Oo! Yakisoba! I forgot about that, we should have that. *looks up smiling* What do you think?

Patrick: Hm, let me see... *looks at Nina's body* I don't think bacon okonomiyaki is such a good idea...

She looked at him quizzically, then looked down at herself, at her belly and her legs. She thought that she still looked great.

Nina: I look like my mom looked when she was younger, and she looked great (still does, I suppose)! There's no way he meant that about my weight... So? What do you want to eat?

Patrick: I'm going to eat a steak, and you're going to eat the vegetable medley.

Nina: Oh, am I? *flirty smile, laughs tactfully* 'Cuz I'm pretty sure I'm gonna eat okonomiyaki at the okonomiyaki restaurant.

He smiled at her and laughed a little bit and seemed to relax a little.

Patrick: Okay, it's a special day.

Nina: You're darn right it is. I'm not so sure about this now...

Patrick: *after ordering* So, how are you holding up? Your classes going well?

Nina: Oh yeah, you know Peres-Sensei is kinda a weirdo, but she knows her stuff, so I think I can learn something in her class.

Yeah, I know. I have her, too, but a different hour from you.

Nina: Haha, right, I didn't like, see you in there before, and trust me, I looked after you popped outta nowhere in lunch this week!

Patrick: Well, you're not the easiest girl to hide from, you know that? Smart and perceptive, I'll bet you know almost everyone in school.

Nina: I don't know about that. I mean, I've met most of our classmates, but there are some who, I don't know, keep to themselves, or like, appear from the blue like ninjas or something.

Patrick: Haha, right, I wonder who you're talking about now.

He laughed and they paused as the waitress mixed the okonomiyaki concoction, and promised she'd be back later to finish cooking it.

Nina: How about your classes? Do you have a favorite?

Well, I guess I do well enough in Japanese class. Some of the literature is interesting, too. It's nice to live here and get a bit of a variety of things to read, other than just in English or just in Japanese, you know?

Nina: Oh, I know exactly what you mean. My parents are from America and Japan, so this whole thing that I'm experiencing is new to them, too. I guess whoever was making the rules for Port Matthew really tried to find a balance between the two countries. It'll probably sound stupid, but I really feel like I'm tied to this island, like I can really understand its place in the world.

Patrick: Well, I can see what you're saying. I mean, you are kind of the product of two places same as this island is. A lot of us don't come from relationships like your parents. My family's been here for two generations, and they came from Europe before that.

Nina: Wow, do you still have family in Europe?

Patrick: Oh, I'm sure I do, but we're not very close to them. Distance, even with the internet, is hard to overcome.

Nina: Yeah, I know how that feels too. I have cousins in like, both America and Japan, but I only see them once or twice a year at most.

Patrick: Right, so you see what I mean.

Nina: Totally.

They exchanged a few more pleasant words as they dug into their food (which was delicious). She ignored her buzzing phone, only reaching to press the button to make it stop. He gave her a suspicious look, but she smiled and neither pursued the matter. She ordered a piece of chocolate cake for dessert, and they split it down the middle, but she only ate a few bites before giving up and letting him finish it. He picked up the tab, paid, and they walked out, satisfied with the meal.

Patrick: So, I was thinking that we could go for a walk around Mt. Plains before heading home for the night.

Nina: Um, that sounds fine I suppose. This is so weird... I'm not sure I'm ready for this...

Patrick: Are you alright? This isn't too much for you, is it?

Nina: Oh no, no. I'm really fine, let's go.

She beamed up at him and they walked out into the warm night air.

Patrick: *looks up and down the street* There really isn't much to do after dark in Mt. Plains.

There was a row of shops behind them in the MPC Station Shopping Center, further to their right was The Pole, and to their left was a park, and across the street was the train station itself.

Nina: Yeah, it's not as busy as Port Matthew is. It's just such a bother to take the trains in, and you have to pay for it and blah blah blah.

Patrick: Haha, yeah, I agree. Let's go this way.

He turned left and she followed, and he turned left and they walked up the street past the architectural museum. She kept silent and stared longingly at the museum.

Nina: The day he... That day he talked about being an architect...

She looked away quickly and tried to think of something else.

Patrick: Nina, clearly something is on your mind. I'll listen if you wanna talk about it.

He stopped and put his hands on her shoulders. Few people were on the street to see them.

Nina: No, it's, no. I'm fine, I'm not gonna talk about it anymore. I mean, this is our first date, I don't wanna ruin it by causing some kind of problem and alienate you, you know?

Patrick: *kind smile* Haha, well, I did hear your story about what happened last month. I did kinda know what I was getting into. Come on, let's sit down.

They walked over to a bench and sat down under the pale yellow glow of a streetlight. She brushed a strand of her short dark hair out of her face and looked at Patrick.

Nina: Okay, so, on his last day, before we were in the car, we went to East Bank Beach, we were talking with some of our friends, and he mentioned his interest in architecture. It's really stupid that when I saw the museum I thought about that. It's like, I honestly can understand that I have to keep going forward, putting one foot in front of the other, and I thought that I was ready, but maybe I'm not and mmf-!

He leaned over and kissed her. She was too surprised to react, and when he pulled back he smiled at her.

Patrick: You think too much and you talk too much. *charming smile* Just relax, Nina. You're doing fine.

He put his hand around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him and leaned towards her to kiss her again, but she put her hands on his chest and pushed him away.

Nina: No, Patrick, I can't. I can't do this. *stands up, steps away* I thought I could but I can't. I'm sorry.

She turned and ran, her emotions fighting her brain. She rounded the corner of the MPC Shopping Center and stopped and leaned back against the building and put her hands on her knees and breathed deep. She leaned back again and closed her eyes and bounced the back of her head against the glass.

Nina: How could I be so stupid? I wasn't ready for this! But he's so cute, and charming. He was a perfect gentleman all evening, and all I could do was think about Marv. God! Nina, pull yourself together-

Patrick: There you are!

Her eyes popped open and she saw Patrick standing there, full of confidence, with that charming smile on his face, and a look of sympathy in his eyes.

Patrick: Come on, I'll get you home.

She nodded and took his hand and they walked to the parking garage to his car, an old Pontiac Firebird Trans Am from the 1990s. He opened the wide door for her and she sat down in the leather seat and buckled herself in as he went to his side and started the car.

Patrick: You know, this car was my dad's.

Nina: Really? I didn't think they still made these.

She felt so small in the big sports car.

Patrick: Nope, they don't. You know your stuff. Anyways, it was his, but he died when I was very young. I couldn't even talk yet. I don't remember him very well, but my mom's showed me a buncha pictures, and my uncle kept this car for me until I was ready to drive it. When I'm in it, I feel like I'm really connected to him, probably this has helped me cope with it better than anything else I've experienced.

Nina: Wow, I had no idea. I'm so sorry.

Patrick: No, it's okay. I just want you to know, Nina, that we all lose people close to us. It doesn't mean that you have to suffer alone, or suffer at all, really. If you trust me, I can help you out more. I'm sorry if I pushed you too fast, that wasn't my intention.

Nina: No, no. I'm sorry for panicking. It's just... Well, you know, I guess. I'm really trying hard, and this I feel was a good first step. I'd love to see you again, I think I had a good time, mostly.

Patrick: Alright, that sounds fine. Just send me a message, and we'll go out again. Baby steps I suppose, right?

Nina: Haha, that's right.

He drove her to her house, and squeezed her hand before she got out of the car, but did not move to kiss her again. She smile demurely at him and he watched her walk into her house before pulling away. She was too distracted by her own personal shame that it didn't occur to her that he knew where she lived even though she hadn't told him...