Donald called me at work and invited me over to his place. He wanted to make dinner for me. My friend CrinaeaeStarlef and I wrote a story on Wattpad, and ViolentBunny Collections is making it into a movie, and we were celebrating.

After work, I bolted through the front door, said hello to my roommate, Theresa, and dashed into the bathroom.

"Are you okay?" Theresa yelled, standing outside the bathroom door.

"Donald and I have a date. I am running a little behind schedule. Can I borrow your shift dress?" I asked.

"It's in the wash. What about my maroon silk camisole and my beige blazer? They will go great with your black skinny jeans and your black heels," Theresa suggested.

"Thank you! Can you place them on my bed while I shower?" I pleaded.

"Consider it done." I heard her walk away to collect and prepare the items.

Jumping out of the shower, I wrapped myself in a towel. Using the bathroom mirror, I tossed my wet brown hair, with red highlights, into a bun, leaving curly stragglers dangling at the sides.

I didn't have time to perform surgery with my make up, so I barely applied any; lipstick and mascara would have to do. Donald doesn't like it when I wear makeup anyway.

"How do I look?" After dressing quickly, I twirled so my roommate could get a good look at me.

"Jade, you are breathtaking!" Theresa gushed. "If you don't come home tonight, I am sleeping in your room instead of on the couch."

"Oh, stop. I will be home tonight." My face heated at her assumption. I hugged her and dashed out the door.

Since Donald lived on our street, I walked two doors down to his townhome. The grey bricked buildings looked similar; ours had a deck, and Donald's had a giant Jack Skellington on the door. He even had a Pumpkin King figurine in his window.

The Nightmare Before Christmas was his favorite movie. Several characters: Jack, Sally, and Oogie Boogie, were displayed on different areas of his body.

"Wow! You look terrific!" Donald had the silliest grin on his face when he saw me at the door.

I curtsied.

"Come on in. The table is set for dinner. Let me guide you to your seat, " he bowed before taking my hand and leading me into his dining room.

He'd covered the table with an eggshell-colored table cloth, with a black paper runnerdown the center, lengthwise, covered with love messages written in chalk: I love you, congratulations, you are my sunshine, you make me smile, how did I get so lucky, and a few more messages that made her heart smile. Five candles in a row sat in the center of the banner sprinkled with red rose petals.

Their lovely place settings were stunning: an eggshell colored plate with red trim and tiny hearts supported an eggshell colored bowl. Inside the bowl was a bouquet of red Hershey kisses on stems, wrapped in red plastic.

The silverware set on an eggshell-colored napkin with a black name tag tied to it with a red ribbon held a special message just for her: Jade, Gifted Writer.

Two clear wine glasses completed the look.

The table setting took my breath away, and tears glistened my eyes. His thoughtfulness melted my heart. I couldn't believe the amount of time he invested in preparing this special dinner for me.

"I am impressed, " I said. Donald pulled a chair out for me and planted a kiss on the top of my head. I couldn't stop smiling as I took my seat.

"I will be right back, " he promised. "We are starting with shrimp scampi and a caesar salad."

He placed my food in front of me, then poured wine into our glasses. He raised his glass and took my free hand and cleared his throat.

"Here's to the prettiest, here's to the wittiest, here's to the truest of all who are true. Here's to the neatest one, here's to the sweetest one, here's to them all wrapped in one, 's to you. Thank you for being the one who halves my sorrows and doubles my joys. I love you more than yesterday and less than tomorrow. May you have many more successes on your journey as a writer, and may those who read your stories hold love for you in their hearts. Cheers!"

I could hardly swallow because of the lump in my throat. I stretched my arms out; Donald walked into my arms, welcoming my hug.

Throughout the appetizers, Donald kept touching me: stroking my hand, playful caresses on the top of my thigh, and rubbing my foot with his foot.

Before I knew what was happening, my clothes were in the dining room, and I was upstairs in the bedroom.

Dinner was cooking, and things got heated during the appetizer round. After my kiss of thanks and a little snuggling, a very passionate Donald carried me to his bed to properly display his feelings for me.

Preoccupied with pleasing each other, food was the last thing on our minds, that is until I smelled smoke.

Laughing, I interrupted our second go-around, "I smell smoke."

"What? Oh no! The macaroni and cheese!" He exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "I will be right back."

I giggled as he ran, in the buff, to the bedroom door. I stopped and sobered up when he burned his hand as he flung the door open, and smoke flooded into the room. Choking, I sat up.

"The house is on fire!" he yelled, slamming the door shut. I jumped up. The smoke flew up my nose. Instantly my nose and throat were on fire.

"We have to... go out the... window, " Donald choked out. He snatched the sheets off the bed, tying them together while pushing my reluctant body towards the window.

"No. No. No, " I argued. I was butt naked.

"The stairs are on fire! And the smoke is too much, " he returned, opening the window and tossing part of the sheet out. He tied the loose end to the radiator.

We were both gagging and choking when he ordered me out the window. I shook my head. I was afraid of falling and breaking something.

I thought of the Pumpkin King. At the beginning of the movie, he dies in a fire, just like we were going to do.

It was then that I heard the fire trucks. Donald and I stood at the window, gasping for air. Smoke poured out the top of the window.

"We.. may have to... risk a fall, " he gagged, guiding the sheet into my hands.

I could hear the fire trucks flying down the streets to reach us. They weren't going to make it. I grabbed the twisted sheet and climbed out of the window with Donald's assistance.

Our neighbors were out. Some were standing at the bottom of the sheet, helping to steady it as I awkwardly descended. I made it halfway before my aching muscles gave out. The air rushed past me, whistling like a tea kettle.

I am not sure which of my neighbors I landed on, but he cushioned my fall, saving me from breaking any bones.

"Jade!" Theresa ran to me. She embraced me to help cover my nudity.

The fire truck arrived as Donald started exciting the window. The firefighters jumped off the truck as it rolled to a stop and immediately began pulling the hose.

Theresa led my coughing, aching body to the nearest steps as the ambulance arrived. Thankfully they provided a blanket for me to wrap up in.

The firefighters brought the ladder out to save Donald. Even nude, he was gorgeous. I watched as he clambered down the ladder with a firefighter guiding him.

Our neighbors clapped when he reached the top of the firetruck.

To my dismay, Donald called for everyone's attention while wearing nothing and said, "Here's to love, the only fire against which there is no insurance!"

Our neighbors cheered loudly, while clapping. Even the firemen cheered and brought a blanket to wrap around his waist.

I shook my head and blew him a kiss.