Schmitty got out of the car, fixing the purple bowtie he had matched with his navy suit. The air sways his red hair, making it tousle to the side as his light brown eyes stare straight ahead through the non-prescription glasses. He takes one last drag of his cigarette and releases a cloud of smoke into the night air, crushes the cigarette, and goes to open the door for Nikki on the other side. He holds out a hand for her and a warm smile.

Nikki sat with her legs crossed, allowing the slits of her dress to show off her thighs, one arm on top of the other, her hands clasped together. She had on gold thick hoop earrings, a dark purple gown that made an X through her stomach and back, clung to her sculpted body, two slits on either side of her legs, and white sleek heels on her feet. Bangs covered her forehead while the rest of her rose gold hair fell in loose curls around her.

She looks up and smiles at Schmitty, accepting his hand. He helps her up and closes the door. The chilly air dances through them, causing small goosebumps to erupt on Nikki's arm. Schmitty instantly removes his jacket and places it over her bare arms.

"You didn't have to do that," Nikki tells him sweetly as he guides them into the restaurant.

"I know I didn't have to but I wanted to. I'd do anything for you baby," his eyes twinkle under the stars as he looks at her lovingly. They reach the door, and he opens the door. She mumbles a quick thank you and walks in as he follows behind her.

He places a hand behind her mid-back and guides her to the hostess. "Welcome to Marvellos Chan'te," the freckled brunette girl greets as she hears the doorbell ring.

"Mavel," Schmitty speaks in a southern accent.

The lady instantly looks up with wide eyes, "Mr.- Mr.- Hawthorn," she breathes out in awe. He can see Nikki smile from the corner of his eyes, clearly amused by the exchange.

"Hello," Schmitty greets, "I have a reservation." The girl looks at him blankly. "Under Schmitty Hawthorn for two," he fills in the silence but the girl doesn't make any movements. Schmitty waves his hands in front of Mavel who just stays frozen.

"You broke the poor girl," Nikki says with a laugh. "Can we throw water at her?" Nikki suggests as she grabs a small bottle of water from her purse and opens it. Schmitty gives her a pointed look before lowering Nikki's arms.

"Let me try again," Schmitty tells her. "Mavel?"

"Ahh," Mavel gasps as the cold water hits her face. Schmitty turns to look at Nikki who stands there looking innocently and just gives him a grin.

"Ops. My bad Mabel, I was just bored of waiting to see if you reacted some time tonight."

"It's Mavel," the young girl tells her.

"I hear no difference," Nikki responds with a smile, "how about our table now?"

"Of course," Mavel says as she grabs two menus from her podium and guides them to the outside area. "Mr. Hawthorn requested the best table in the restaurant and we loved to comply with our special guest."

"Thank you," they mumble in gratitude, as they take a seat, opposite of each other. They wait for Mavel to give them the menu who is still giving Schmitty a starstruck gaze.

"Am I going to have to use my water again," Nikki says with a smile as she fishes out her bottle.

"No," Mavel quickly interjects. "I apologize for my lack of restraint. It's just- you are amazing Mr. Hawthorn. All the buildings you own and all the good you've done for our town. I never thought I'd get to meet you in person. Ever."

Schmitty cheeks turn a light pink color at his adoring fan. "You flatter me Mavel but I'm just a simple businessman, trying to make money from other rich people," he says with a laugh. "My advice is always to try your best and you'll do great things Mavel," he tells her with a wink.

"Thank you, Mr. Hawthorn," Mavel speaks. Nikki scoffs at his words as she crosses her leg and throws his jacket at him. He catches it with ease before slipping it on his back chair in one quick motion, impressing Nikki and Mavel.

"I think it's time for you to let the adults talk, huh," Nikki tells her as she leans on her hands situated on the red cloth.

Mavel nods quickly intimidated by Nikki's strong demeanor. "Of course. I apologize again." She gives them the menu and steps away not before saying, "It's an honor to have you at our restaurant, Mr. Hawthorn," and disappears back into the restaurant.

"That was quite endearing," Nikki speaks as she looks at the night sky. She turns to look at Schmitty who gives her a blank face. "I mean it. I always love to meet a fan of my husband."

"You didn't have to throw water at her," Schmitty reproaches.

Nikki gives him a blank stare as she responds, "I did. I was bored and it was annoying me to just wait. I hate waiting and you know it. Besides, you decided to play your last name card to get us this reservation so why do I have to suffer for your rashness inability to comprehend what saying your real name brings." Nikki huffs out and crosses her arms, annoyed that she had to explain herself.

Schmitty stares at her for a moment before nodding slightly, understanding where she was coming from.

"I know. I'm sorry, baby," Schmitty tells her as he leans over and grabs her hand, running smooth circles over it.

Nikki doesn't reply to his apology but instead comments on the restaurant, "It's such a beautiful place."

Schmitty is taken aback for a moment before agreeing. It was a very classy restaurant. They had booths on the inside, filled with waiters who stood by the sides in case anyone needed something. There was a man in the corner, playing a sweet melody on his wooden violin. Since it was near Christmas time, the place was decorated with flowers and small Christmas lights that displayed a warm white color. The table clothes were red, each table pieces together with different ornaments in the center. "Nothing but the best for my wife," he tells her.

"Callum suggested it?" she asks as she looks around at the other people around them.

"Yes, he's way better at this than me."

"Did you ever wonder how he found out about this place? It's in the countryside," Nikki thinks to herself as she taps on the table.

Schmitty shrugs, "maybe he brought his sister here once, you know how they used to travel together and try new places before he came to work with us." They all had a life before they chose to work for them. "Sometimes I wonder what their life was like," he voices out loud.

"No reason to worry about the past Schmitty. I know for a fact they're happy to be working with us and not against."

"Hi-" a timid voice squeaks out above them. They turn to the redhead as she places two cups of water on the table for them. "I'm Amber-" she says, staring directly at Schmitty and completely ignoring Nikki, "I'll be your waiter tonight.

"Hello dear," Schmitty greets.

"Another fangirl," Nikki says bored. Amber turns her attention, her eyes widening as she notices Nikki for the first time. Her whole demeanor changed in an instant as she scrutinized Nikki.

"Who's the whore?" Amber quickly voices out.

Nikki spits out her water as she stifles a laugh, finding humor in the abrupt turn of events."Here I thought you were just another ditzy girl," Nikki tells her.

Amber scoffs, "Well we all can't be homewreckers like you, miss."

Nikki flips her hair back as she stares at the waitress, clearly unfazed by her. "My name is Solage Diamond and how about you worry about not getting our orders wrong instead of my love life."

"How about you leave a happily married man alone," Amber keeps her ground.

"If he was so happy- then why is he out with me instead of his wife?" Nikki questions.

"You know he's married and you still came," Amber raises her voice, "that is so despicable."

"What's despicable is a young girl thinking she knows everything by one glance and starts spitting nonsense without having her facts." Nikki stares at Amber, challenging her to say another word.

Schmitty clears his throat in hopes of de-escalating the tension. "Amber, this is a business owner I and my wife were hoping to team up with."

"Then why isn't your wife here?" Amber questions without missing a beat.

"The nerve of some people-" Nikki mutters.

"Not that I owe you an explanation, but my wife caught a cold but insisted I attend to not lose this transaction but it seems like you're helping me not get it either way."

Amber's eyes widen, "Oh- I am so sorry Mr. Hawthorn."

"I'm not the one you owe an apology to dear," Schmitty tells her as he eyes, Nikki.

"Of course, Miss Diamond, I apologize for my abrupt and rather brazen words. I lacked all professionalism, but I was just worried that others may think this was something more than it was."

Nikki scoffs, "some apology," she murmurs under her breath. "It's fine dear, but I would feel better if I had your most expensive wine- free of charge I'd assume."

Amber blinks, "I'm not sure if that's possible-" her words falter.

"I understand, I guess I shall be dining somewhere else." She turns to Schmitty, "goodbye Mr. Hawthorn."

"Miss Diamond, please," Schmitty plays along.

"Miss Diamond please don't take it out on him. I will personally make sure you get the bottle free even if it's taken from my pay," Amber finds a reasonable solution that makes Nikki stop in her tracks.

"Well I normally wouldn't accept but I didn't appreciate being insulted. Especially by a waitress-" Nikki gets one last jab. Amber forces a smile and disappears inside, fetching the bottle for them.

"She didn't even get what we wanted to order," Schmitty pouts, his stomach already growling.

Nikki can't help but laugh at his situation. "At least you didn't get insulted," she says as she brags the menu and places it up. Her eyes aren't focused on the menu itself but on analyzing the people around her. She was hungry but not for the food, for blood.

Schmitty follows her lead and checks out the people around them. They watch as an old couple is seated across from them and smile. "This restaurant is full of aristocrats," he points out.

"The best kind of people," Nikki says as she places her menu down just as Amber comes back with a cart, two glasses, and the bottle in the center. She places it for them and fills it halfway.

"Dear," Schmitty speaks, "do me a favor and send them a bottle of this as well." Amber watches to see who he nods his head towards. "Also, do you mind getting us two steaks as well and 2 pieces of flan on the side?"

"Of course Mr. Hawthorn," she replies, receiving their menus and scurries away.

"I didn't know they had flan here," Nikki points out as she leans on her entwined hands.

"They have a little of everything here," he replies.

They spot Amber and watch as she goes up to the couple and pours them some wine, leaving the bottle for them as well. The couple searches for them and lifts their glasses at Schmitty and Nikki who do the same.

"Do you think they'd call us over?"

"Of course, love. Trust me."

"I do," he responds as Amber reappears with their food. She places them down and bows before disappearing. The young couple sits in silence, enjoying each other's company, and the food.

"The food has me sated," Nikki says as she dabs the corner of her lips with her napkin.

"It was exquisite," he tells her as he lays back on his chair. "Nikki, our new friends haven't called us and we've been here 40 minutes," he tells her a bit worried.

Nikki smiles at him, "that's not a problem dear. We just have to make the first move," she stands up and Schmitty follows, placing a hand on her back.

"Hi there," Nikki tells the couple at the booth.

"Oh dear- you were right- it is Mr. Hawthorn," the black-haired lady tells her husband.

"I told you-" the silvered hair guy responds. "Please, sit down-" he tells them without a moment of hesitation.

"May we?" Nikki asks politely.

"Of course- of course," the wife responds as she points at the empty spots on the booth. "We wanted to invite you guys since you were so wonderful to bring us this bottle but we didn't want to intrude," she tells them, bringing a smile to their faces.

"Thank you," Nikki responds.

"By the way, I'm Mary and this is my husband Bill," she greets with an extended hand.

"I'm Solage and you know Schmitty," Nikki shakes her hand as well as Bill's.

"How can we not know Mr. Hawthorn. He is a legend. Rose from the ashes after the death of his family."

Schmitty looks down on the ground, feeling the tightening of his chest and a small but clear ringing in his head. He places a hand on his temple as they converse about him. "It was just tragic," Bill speaks. "How could anyone do that to his whole family but he was lucky to have been with his at the time girlfriend."

"I bet he was lucky to have all that money as well," Nikki says with a laugh, "helped give him time to mourn and not worry about other things."

The couple looks at her confused, "other things? Like what deary? What could be more important than being the only one left to carry out their entire legacy."

"So many other things," Nikki tells them done with the conversation. She understood it was pointless to try and make them see another point of view when their whole life had kept them sheltered.

Schmitty tried hard to concentrate on the words being spoken but all he could hear was yelling in his mind. "Solage-'' he breathes out, "do you have an aspirin?"

"In my bag," she tells him as she points at the bag she had left at their table. There was no reason to worry about someone taking it, no one needed it here.

He smiles at her and walks towards it, leaving them alone to have a different conversation. He grabs the bag and pulls out a bill bottle, labeled aspirin as the yelling continued. He carefully placed one on his hand, then another, and another. He took all three pills at once, making them go down with the water. He stands there for a couple of seconds before the yelling vanishes completely and he can breathe normally.

His feet start tapping at the upbeat tempo from a piano and he moves his shoulder lightly back to the table, stopping their conversation about who Nikki was supposed to be. He extends a hand out to Nikki and smiles, "shall we dance?"

Nikki smiles at him and accepts his hands, wondering what had gotten into him but not wanting to question it. He places a hand around her waist while she places one on his shoulder and their other hands lock together. They sway to the beat of the music, laughing as they twirl around the place as others stared.

"Everyone is staring at us," Nikki tells him.

"They're jealous they can't get their pompous asses to join us."

Schmitty watches as her face lights up at his comment and feels his insides warm up. He always loved making her smile and making her happy which was very rare in itself. What he enjoyed most was having her in his arms, so much he never wanted it to end, but as the songs kept playing, they soon tired out.

They walk back to the booth and sit with a huff. Nikki fans herself, trying to cool down her rosy cheeks. "You guys danced marvelously," Mary compliments.

"You guys should have joined us," Nikki tells her.

"Oh no- our dancing days are over."

"I bet you guys can still move as you did back then."

Mary and Bill laugh at her statement. "We sure can dear," Mary says with a laugh, "Bill still has the endurance of a teenager," she says with a wink.

Nikki and Schmitty uncomfortably laugh along before Schmitty checks his phone for the time. "Solage, maybe you want to get your purse? I believe it's getting late."

Nikki nods at him and agrees. When she walks away Schmitty stands up and shakes hands with them. "I don't know if you guys would like to join us at my house later for some drinks?" Schmitty offers, already knowing they wouldn't turn them down.

"We would love to," Bill responds.

"Wonderful, it's just straight ahead and takes 2 lefts then a right. Let's say midnight?"

"We'll see you there."

Nikki comes back and smiles at them, "it was great meeting you. I guess we'll see you later then?"

"Yes dear," Mary responds. The young couple nods their heads and walks toward the exit.

"Did you pay in cash?" Schmitty asks Nikki?"

"Of course Mr. Hawthorn but you forgot you had a reservation here. Your name is in writing."

"Or is it?" Schmitty says with a sly smile as he shows her the piece of paper with his name written at the bottom. Nikki smiles and slow claps for him. "The student seems to have become the master."

"Why thank you," he bows, "I learned from the best."

"Where are we off to now?"

"I was thinking- our neighboring town."

>>>>>>>>>>

I took a test for the second time and now I'm anxiously waiting on results. So I wanted to wish everyone with test and life in general, good luck.