The Walk

He was tall with sandy blond hair and cool blue eyes. His personality was passionate, focused in serious. He slowly pulled into the parking space in front of her brick house and contemplated going inside. He glanced at the back seat where a book and single rose lay in repose on the passenger side back seat cushion. The red rose petals blazed against the charcoal grey seat. He began to perspire. Tonight the was night...the night he'd...

"Hi Nick! How's the summer treat'n ya." She happily asked.

He jumped and ran to get the her car door while she easily slid in tucking her short, flouncy skirt around her. He glanced quickly at her bare porcelain legs that glowed like fine china. She was wearing white healed stiletto sandals. He wondered what it would be like to touch her, to see her naked. He had thought that for the last 2 summers he'd visited her.

He came round to the drivers side and tried to sound casual.

"Is there anywhere in particular you would like to go for dinner?" He asked as he looked into her grey eyes. Her eyes tended to always dance to a lively tune whether she was listening or talking. Why did he not use a contraction to sound more casual? Why did he sound like a normal guy who is 24? He reached over to the back seat and handed her the book and rose.

"Wow, Nick...this is soo nice of you. What's the cover of the book?" She declared very jubilantly.

"Well it's titled..."

"Oh I see 'How to Find Your Way in The Real World' Gosh that's so sweat." She smiled happily up into his eyes. Her golden was fixed pin straight and hung like long, golden ribbons around her face. She was beautiful. He wanted to gasp every time he gazed her. He had thought about kissing her and gazing into her eyes all through the school year.

"How has seminary been going?" she asked sweetly.

"Ooh" Should he tell her now? "It's been going well. I'm trying to think of what kind of orders I would like to take." Again with not using a contraction.

"What are the orders exactly in the Catholic faith? I don't know anything about being Catholic." with that she laughed. He laughed with her. He couldn't help but laugh every time she laughed. He really wanted to kiss her, he wanted to get dinner over with, he wanted to hold her hand. He wanted her not to consider him to be out of reach.

He painfully got through dinner. He discussed the different orders that can be taken in the Catholic faith, he discussed next year at school (a lie), and listened to her breathlessly discuss working "in the business world". She went on to discuss her dreams for the future. He didn't care. He only wanted to ask her if she had a boyfriend.

He paid the check and let her walk ahead of him. So many men glanced over as she walked by. Her golden hair, china skin and lively personality drew attention everywhere. Her toes were painted pale pink. She turned around and said "Coming Nick?" She giggled and kept going.

Once back at her house he toyed with just leaving. He didn't know if he should tell her. Would it ruin their friendship?

"Tessa, would you like to take a walk" He said too stiffly (or so he thought). She didn't seem to notice.

She furrowed her brow in thought and bit her glossy lip. "We don't have to take a walk." he said nervously.

"Oh no, we can. Where should we walk?" She said with an encouraging smile.

"We can just walk around the neighborhood."

"Ok". She chatted continuously while they walked. He couldn't pay attention. Should he just say it? She kept talking. He had no idea what she was saying. Tessa was always talking. He loved that about her. He preferred to say little.

"Tessa." He stopped but she kept walking and was ahead of him now. She was still talking. "Tessa" He said louder. She stopped talking and turned around.

"Oh hey. What are you doing back there?" she said with a giggle.

"I like you." He stated blandly. Oh dear, that was not articulate.

She smiled widely. "I like you too Nick." She was about to start walking.

"Uuh. No." He stepped towards her until he was facing her. He tilted his face downward and looked directly into her grey eyes that had clouded.

"No, I do not think you understand me. I like you." Using the word like was putting it mildly.

She didn't answer nor did she move. He wasn't sure she was even blinking.

"I left seminary. I've thought of nothing but you and have decided that I can't become a priest. I can't never marry. I was only thinking of you."

She nodded. "You aren't a priest anymore?"

"Well I was never priest. I was studying to be one but I decided I want to be with you. Have you ever thought of me that way?" He pleaded.

"I thought we were friends. I thought you weren't interested in women." she said with sadness.

"Well no, not exactly. We are friends and I have always been interested in women but I thought I could love God and just not be married. That maybe serving him is enough but...well. What do I say Tessa? I just think about you. I like you. I decided to quit seminary because I can't have both of those feelings." He didn't mention that he thought a lot about kissing her, about touching her body everywhere and about wanting to sleep with. He thought now wasn't the best time to discuss those feelings.

"Have you ever thought of me that way?" He repeated.

"Nick, wow. Umm. Let's talk about this a bit more. We can date." She said slowly with a lot of deliberation.

"Yes, let's go on a real date!"

She smiled broadly. He desperately wanted to kiss her. He'd never kissed a girl and wanted to.

"May I kiss you and then look into your eyes afterward?" He said while looking directly at her.

She laughed. "Sure!" She didn't seem to have any hesitation.

He leaned in and pecked her lips. She reached in and pressed herself against him. She began to kiss him more furtively. He felt himself burning. He had made the right decision in quitting seminary.