Saturday, May 19: A Date?

by **Stephanie Kaltiera** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 11:43 pm

Stephanie sat on a couch in one of the lounges of the Union, playing a game on her phone and looking up frequently to see if she could spot David. She wasn't sure where they'd decide to go, so she'd opted to go for something that was neither too casual nor too dressy: a pair of trendy jeans and a nice top and sweater.

by **David Renko** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 11:53 pm

Renko stepped into the XUB looking like he'd actually spent some time cleaning himself up, and wearing some fashionable clothes. He'd taken a similar route to Stephanie choosing something that wasn't too fancy.

"You look nice," Renko said as he walked over to stand next to Stephanie.

by **Stephanie Kaltiera** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 12:08 am

"You don't look too shabby yourself," she smiled, rising and giving him a quick hug. "So what do you want to do tonight?"

Her other half certainly seemed to have some ideas. She shushed her.

"I'm always starving, so food would be a good start."

by **David Renko** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 12:13 am

Renko returned the hug.

"Food is always a good starting point," Renko said, "There's a nice Chinese place over off the Thames. Traditional food, almost as good as the stuff I used to it in Hong Kong."

by **Stephanie Kaltiera** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 12:20 am

"That sounds delicious. I'm game. Are we cabbing it or walking?"

by **David Renko** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 12:32 am

"Or I could drive," Renko smiled, "If you weren't to set on either of those."

by **Stephanie Kaltiera** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 12:42 am

"Or...you could drive," she smiled. "Didn't know that you had a car. Absolutely."

by **David Renko** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 12:45 am

Renko grinned before gesturing for Stephanie to follow.

"My parents had it shipped over," Renko said, "One of the the fringe benefits of them working for the British Government."

by **Stephanie Kaltiera** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 12:48 am

Stephanie readjusted her small purse onto her shoulder and followed cheerfully. "I can't wait to buy my first car. Someday, when I have money," she laughed. "I was close back before I got all hairy, but I've been trying to live off of that for the past few years."

by **David Renko** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 12:54 am

Renko lead her to one of the school parking lots where his carwas waiting.

"If you found a junker in a scrap yard I could get into working condition for you," Renko said, "That's how I got my first car."

by **Stephanie Kaltiera** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:00 am

Stephanie's eyes widened. "Oh...wow. That car is gorgeous," she said, barely processing Renko's offer.

by **David Renko** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:02 am

"She is," Renko said, "Was surprised I could find a 1968 Camaro even if it was a pile of junk when I found it."

"I didn't know you were into cars."

by **Stephanie Kaltiera** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:06 am

"I hardly know anything about cars, actually," she said almost circling the car while admiring it. I just know that your girl is very, very beautiful, and that I will be extra careful when I open the door so I don't scratch her paint," Steph smiled.

by **David Renko** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:14 am

"Under most circumstances you'd be right," Renko said, "But there's hardly anything you could do to it I couldn't fix."

"Not that I'm inviting you to..."

by **Stephanie Kaltiera** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:17 am

Steph smiled, "I wouldn't dream of it. Let's go before I ogle this anymore than I already have," she laughed.

"Do you think it'd be pretty easy to find a scrapped car for cheap? How much would you charge for getting it fixed up?" she asked as she got into the car.

by **David Renko** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:27 am

Renko got in the car, and turned it on.

"Depends on how bad of shape it's in," Renko said, "You could get one for anywhere from three hundred to a few thousand dollars."

"I don't think you could afford what I charge for renovation, but for you I'd do it for free so long as you provide the car."

by **Stephanie Kaltiera** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:39 am

"Really? That's incredibly generous of you," she smiled

by **David Renko** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:49 am

Renko smiled.

"I'm just a sucker for beautiful women," Renko said before driving off the school lot.

by **Stephanie Kaltiera** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:56 am

"Generous and blind. Are you sure you're okay to drive this thing?" she said, her cheeks blushing.

by **David Renko** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 2:02 am

"Knew there was something important I was forgetting," Renko said swerving just a little before correcting himself, "Good thing I've got you here otherwise we'd be in trouble."

by **Stephanie Kaltiera** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 2:13 am

Steph laughed heartily--it was a rich, warm laugh, and not one that you'd get aggravated listening to. "So, am I going to embarrassed by my inability to eat with chopsticks here?"

by **David Renko** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 9:38 pm

"Quite possibly," Renko said, "But I'll give you a hand, and I promise not to laugh."

by **Stephanie Kaltiera** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 2:46 am

"I'm going to hold you to that promise, I hope you know," she grinned.

by **David Renko** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 7:37 pm

Renko chuckled as he parked the car.

"I'll do my best to hold it in till later," Renko said, "Probably be a bit strange if I started giggling in the restaurant."

by **Stephanie Kaltiera** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 6:12 pm

"I think anyone, anywhere would look at you strangely if you started *giggling*," she laughed as they walked into the restaurant.

"You'll have to help me through the menu, since I've never been here," she said once they'd checked in for a table and were waiting in the foyer.

by **David Renko** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 6:59 pm

It was a nice restaurant, decorated with traditional Chinese art. The restaurant was also rather busy, but Renko began talking to the hostess in Chinese. After a couple more moments the hostess smiled grabbed some menus and lead them to a table, skipping the line of waiting people.

Renko pulled out a chair for Stephanie, the waitress set down two menus for them.

"Apparently the duck is particularly good today," Renko said once they were both seated, "But it depends on what kind of food you like, spicy, seafood, vegetarian..."

by **Stephanie Kaltiera** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 8:35 pm

"I tried for a while to be vegetarian back in high school. Then...well, you can probably see how well that worked out once certain talents of mine appeared," she smirked. "I like meat, and lots of it. Duck sounds fantastic. I leave my stomach entirely in your capable hands for tonight. Order for us both, please," she smiled warmly. "I like it when you speak Chinese--it's a fascinating language."

by **David Renko** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 8:51 pm

<"Not as fascinating as you,"> Renko said, which made the waitress stifle a giggle. Sean placed an order for both of them in Chinese, and also ordered something to drink for the two of them.

"I'll do my best not to let your stomach down," Renko said, "I haven't heard many people call the language fascinating. Most girls seem more impressed if I speak French."

A different waitress came by with a bottle of red wine, and poured two glasses.

by **Stephanie Kaltiera** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 9:08 pm

<"French is okay. Nothing special, and too soft. German's far more fun,"> she said in very good German. She gently lifted her glass in a toast, "To the start of a wonderful evening," she smiled.

by **David Renko** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 10:13 pm

Renko smiled, and raised his glass.

"To a wonderful evening," Renko said before taking a sip from his wine, "I didn't know you spoke German, you are certainly full of surprises."

by **Stephanie Kaltiera** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 10:33 pm

"My grandmother was German, and I studied it in middle school and high school. I started mostly for choir, and then realized that I really liked it."

by **David Renko** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 12:29 am

Stephanie Kaltiera wrote:"My grandmother was German, and I studied it in middle school and high school. I started mostly for choir, and then realized that I really liked it."

"You were in choir?" Renko asked, "You're certainly a talented woman. I mean you're a defender of the world, cheerleader, dancer, singer."

by **Stephanie Kaltiera** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 12:59 am

"Well, my talents aren't limitless. Math and science confound me or put me to sleep. I'm barely able to make macaroni and cheese without ruining it, I can't draw anything but stick figures, and I haven't been on a date in nearly two ye--" Steph stopped herself and blushed a bit, awkwardly grabbing for her wine and taking a long sip.

"Well. I guess I'm good at putting my foot in my mouth," she said meekly.

by **David Renko** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 1:12 am

Renko smiled at Stephanie to hide a bit of internal conflict about whether or not this was a date.

"Don't worry about it, we all do it," Renko said, "One time there was an official embassy picnic, and I talked to this guy my age all evening. It wasn't until later that I realized the guy I'd been talking to was actually a Chinese official's daughter. I was so embarrassed that ended up running away and hiding in a tree for the rest of the day."

by **Stephanie Kaltiera** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 1:28 am

"Oh my goodness," she said with a grin of disbelief, "What made you realize that it was a boy and not a girl?"

by **David Renko** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 1:47 am

"Her mother interrupted our conversation, and said 'she' had to make sure she ate something," Renko said, "I asked 'don't you mean he?' and it went downhill from there."

Renko chuckled.

"I apparently went white with terror, and then red with embarrassment. She forgave me a few years later, but never let me live it down."

by **Stephanie Kaltiera** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:00 am

Stephanie laughed, "Oh wow. How old were you?"

by **David Renko** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:16 am

"Almost fourteen," Renko sighed, "Most of my interactions with girls have been like that. I'd say something embarrassing, lean on a half constructed wall, fall down some stairs, basically if anything could go wrong it would."

by **Stephanie Kaltiera** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:19 am

"Well, you've yet to do so tonight. Though I suppose the night is young," she said, her eyes twinkling while she sipped her wine.

by **David Renko** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:29 am

The food arrived, and the server laid out the meal in the center of the table along with two bowls of rice. There was duck, a plate of Chinese vegetables, and fish. There was of course no silverware other than chopsticks.

"Plenty of time for me to accidentally turn my pants to ash," Renko smirked. "Hope you don't mind a more traditional communal style meal."

It took him a moment before he remembered that Stephanie didn't know how to use chopsticks.

"Still need a hand?"

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