White Sundresses and Elevators

White Sundresses and Elevators

The street lights shone on the wet sidewalk reflecting up at his eyes, he glanced at his watch it read 7:40. Although the rain had stopped, he decided to take a cab instead of walking the 9 blocks to the restaurant. He’d make it on time but for the 10 bucks it’ll cost to take a cab it’s worth it. A snap of his fingers, his hand raised in the air, and a loud yelp “TAXI”! One pulled up rather quickly as it was just at the end of the street.

He opened the back door and climbed inside shutting the door rather abruptly. With a slightly annoyed tone, the taxi driver said, “Hey man you got to wear a mask in here”. “Oh shit, yeah sorry got it right here”, He said apologetically. “It's not my rule just something the company has in place for safety”, he grumbled. “No sweat man we all got to do it these days”. “Where are you heading tonight”? “Uhm, going to the restaurant Endeavour on the corner of 8th and 5th”. “Nice place and you’re going by yourself? That’s the sort of place you take a girl or guy whatever you kids are into these days”, He sneered in a sarcastic tone”. “I’m meeting somebody there if you must know, but let’s get going I don’t want to be late”, Darren murmured.

As the cab pulled away from the sidewalk and began driving through relatively uncrowded streets he thought, “You barely know this girl why the fuck are you going to this restaurant, does she even have the slightest interest in you at all? You’ve said four things to her, 2 were awkward “Hellos” in the elevator, 1 in the lobby where you complimented her white sundress and, 1 in the hallway where Chelsea introduced you as the quiet neighbor”. “What makes you think she will even show up tonight? She’s probably going to blow you off, and go out with some other guy with a nicer car, better job, and is more attractive”. “I get it you’re all heartbroken since Sarah left you and you’re still living in the apartment you guys rented together, but this is not the move”.

The red light from the intersection pricked him in his eyes and the cab driver spoke loudly “you alright kid you look like you just seen a ghost am I driving alright”? He nodded quickly “not a ghost per se but something along that line and yeah you’re driving fine”. “Well cheer up man you’re going to a nice place tonight and I’m sure whoever you’re meeting there won’t want to look at that sad mug of yours, besides even if it goes bad it’ll be better than my night”. “Thanks for the pep talk I’d say I didn’t need it but I’d be lying and that’s what got me in trouble in the first place,” said Darren. “What’s your name man”? “Darren, and yours”? “Hector” he replied with a proud overtone. “Hector the cab driver eh, well thanks again for the pep talk” Darren replied nodding his head.

The light from the intersection went from red to green the motor from the cab spooled up and the car began to accelerate. Darren re-immersed himself in his thoughts again. “Man, you got this, this is nothing but another date with another girl that’s way out of your league. You’ve done it before and you can do it again you just have to get out of your own way. You got the whole package, good job, nice apartment, you take care of yourself, you got it. Besides even if it is a bust and you stare through her most of the night and aren’t interested in her personality you can at least eat good and get a nice buzz on red wine for the walk home”.

The car’s brakes squealed ever so slightly from the rain that just passed. The cab pulled over about half a block away from the restaurant. “This is you man and that’ll be $12.45”, said Hector. Darren handed him a folded 20 and said “Thanks Hector keep the change”! Which Hector replied, “appreciate it, go get him or her or whoever you’re meeting GOOD LUCK”! Darren closed the door to the car and began walking.

As he got close to the restaurant, he saw her standing there. Her blonde hair pierced the evening sky like a thumbtack on a bulletin board. At the moment he planted his foot at the door of the restaurant she turned around and looked at him and flashing a smile She said “Hi, it’s good to finally see you not in an elevator how are you”?

***

“I don’t know Chelsea I’m not feeling it”, she sighed. “Alyssa come on, what else are you doing tonight? You’re probably sitting under a blanket in your apartment about to binge-watch the office on Netflix for the millionth time you got nothing to lose”, Chelsea said exasperated.

“Yeah, you’re right I am on the couch and under a blanket but I’m not watching the office, okay fine I’m watching the office.” “Yeah, that’s what I thought, also why are you talking to me on the phone if you’re watching TV, she said frustratedly? “It’s just background noise”, said Alyssa. “BACKGROUND NOISE SO YOU DON’T REMEMBER YOU’RE SINGLE AND LONELY”, Chelsea barked.

There was a long pause on the other end of Chelsea’s phone. “Well, when you put it like that, I suppose it sounds like a sad evening alone. I don’t even know what I would wear Chelsea” Alyssa retorted. “I’m sure there’s something in that apartment of yours, you’ve been online shopping this entire pandemic”. “Nah Chelsea I’m going to call him and cancel I’m just not into it” Alyssa sighed. “Don’t you hang up this phone, I set this whole thing up so you wouldn’t inevitably drink a bit too much and call Scott over at 1 am again and regret it in the morning”.

Another long pause at the end of Chelsea’s phone, a sheepish Alyssa spoke up “Yeah I’m still so embarrassed about that especially because it’s not the first time”. “So, what are you going to do? Call Scott again, cycle through the endless pile of Tinder weirdos, or take a chance with my neighbor, she asked?

“Uh, fine I’ll go! I’ll text him to confirm right now,” she said annoyed. “Now I need to find something to wear and do my make-up”. “If this was a lunch thing, I’d wear that white sundress the one I told you he complimented me on in the elevator when I was leaving your place 3ish weeks ago, the one that makes my boobs look good”, Alyssa said boastingly.

“First off nobody goes on a first date to lunch, and you said it was weird the way he complimented you. It reminded you of the guy in The Breakfast Club, but I know the one. I swear he’s not weird though”, Chelsea said with an upward inflection in her voice.

“I’m looking through my closet now, I got this one black dress I ordered it’s a similar shape to that white sundress but it has a little frill on the bottom but ends just above the knee, and it’s not as open in the front”. “Perfect! Send me a picture”, Chelsea exclaimed! Alyssa’s phone camera made a flash noise and echoed into Chelsea’s phone. “Picture is on its way, I do really like this dress actually and I haven’t worn it yet,” Alyssa said as a smirk appeared on her face.

“Ooh, nice I like that a lot, and all the more reason to go tonight,” Chelsea said encouragingly. “Well Chelsea I’m going to do my make-up and get ready to go meet him and considering I was going to cancel I have to rush now,” Alyssa said trailing off. “Okay that’s fine well make sure you text me when you leave and when you get to the restaurant also when you leave to go home”, Chelsea said concerningly. “Yes Mother”, Alyssa said sarcastically. “UHH okay bye, let me know how it goes”, said Chelsea as she hung up. Moments later Alyssa’s phone vibrated, a Text from Darren read “Perfect, I’ll see you in 55 minutes 😊”.

***

Alyssa’s Uber pulled up just around the corner from the restaurant, “This is fine here”, she said. “Okay”, the driver replied. “I am going to tip you in the app is that okay” she inquired? “Yes, Ma’am that’s perfect”, he said.

She opened the door and got out and closed the door quickly as there was traffic behind the car. The sound of her shoes echoed between the downtown city buildings as she walked. “He’s not even here yet” she exclaimed in her head as she arrived at the restaurant.

Just then a taxi pulled up to the curb about half a block away and she thought this must be him so she turned around as not to look like she was watching for him, but keeping an eye on the glass window on the front mezzanine of the restaurant so she could see his reflection. A tallish man with shaggy dark hair got out of the car and began walking in her direction.

As his steps got closer and finally stopped, she turned around and saw the awkward person she had met in the elevator briefly and said “Hi, it’s good to finally see you not in an elevator how are you”? “Uhm, yeah I am good, yeah good”, he said stumbling on his words. “Well do you want to go inside, it’s starting to drizzle again”, she said. “Yeah, let's do that, masks on”, he replied immediately.

“Hey guys how are you doing tonight”, the hostess said with a wide grin on her face but hidden by a mask? “Excellent, thank you. A table for two please”, Darren replied. “Yeah, we have a nice table for you in the back of the lounge that’s ready right now, do you guys want that one,” the hostess said excitedly? “That’s good with me if it’s good with you” he inquired to Alyssa? “Yeah, that’s good let’s go” Alyssa responded. “Perfect your server Sandy will take you right over” as she gestured to a man standing a few feet away.

“Come with me guys I’ll show you to your table,” Sandy said but partially muffled by a cloth black mask. As they walked over toward the table, they saw the restaurant was fairly empty with signs placed on every other table that read “closed for social distancing”. “Right here guys,” Sandy said as he pulled out both of their chairs. They both sat down and glanced at Sandy. “Before I bring you any Menus do you guys want to start with drinks, water, wine, a cocktail perhaps”, Sandy stated?

“I’d love a glass of Merlot,” Darren said boldly. Alyssa perked up surprised that he said Merlot. “I got this nice one that just came in, it’s a bit pricy but it's nice it’s called Tua Rita Redigaffi,” Sandy said once again muffled by the face covering. “I love a good Merlot, I’ll take one”, said Darren. “I’ll also take one”, Alyssa said with enthusiasm. “Sounds good I’ll get them right away,” said Sandy as he walked away.

“I love that you love a good Merlot,” said Alyssa as she leaned back in her chair taking off her mask exposing the smile that’s a perfect compliment to her eyes. “Well, this is a good start we both like red wine, with that mutual appreciation it can only get better from here”, said Darren “I’m certainly hoping so,” Alyssa said cocking her head slightly. “So, tell me about yourself”, said Darren. “Is that the first question you want to ask me?” she said inquisitively with a smirk on her face.