The Blind Date

[Aligurl828]

"I give up!" Alison sighed as she picked up her glass of wine and looked across the table at her best friend, Kelly.

Kelly laughed, "Oh come on, it couldn't have been THAT bad!"

Alison's eyebrow rose as she set her glass down, "Kel, he actually asked to see my tax return information for the past three years!...it was our first date!"

With that statement Kelly choked on her wine before quickly setting the glass down to avoid more spillage... "Seriously?! Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry!"

Alison just shook her head, "Like I said, I give up. Who needs dating anyway?"

Kelly smiled thoughtfully. "Well, in honesty I was kinda hoping things with Charles didn't work out...because, well....There's this guy....."

With that Alison cut her off, "No way!...I do bad enough on my own, I really don't need anyone else to set me up!"

Kelly pouted, "Come on Al, give it one more shot...the guy is really pretty amazing...if I didn't have Andy...." she smiled, "Well, lets just say he wouldn't be single!"

Alison shook her head and laughed, "Hmmm...so when it doesn't work out, thats it?....The end?...No more blind dates..or set ups?"

Kelly smiled and nodded her head, "Yes. I swear!"

Alison exhaled, "Alright, your on."

Alison Riley: Professional Dancer
5'9, 115lbs, tan skin, dark brown hair, bright green eyes

[justabrick]

James Turner, masseuse
6'3
short dirty-blonde hair, deep brown eyes, athletic form

James sat nervously in the restaurant. For all the social contact required of his job, and his quite good looks, he still had little luck with women, and could never put his finger on exactly why things had never worked out. He was accepting of all kinds of people, but for some reason the perfect woman had never come along.

He shifted in his seat, straightening his collar, toying with the green bookmark that was to be Allison's sign of who to look for.

[Aligurl828]

Even as she opened the door to the restaurant Alison was asking herself what the hell she was doing there. She adjusted her black dress, yet again, before stepping forward. She glanced around the place and finally spotted what she was looking for. She took a calming breath and walked over to the table, she smiled, "I'm hoping your James?"

[justabrick]

James smiled as Alison walked in the door. He was relieved to see and hear her seem as nervous as he was. His nerves calmed, though, to see that, as far as first impressions go, she was about as attractive and seemingly friendly a person as he could have hoped for.

He smiled back. "I sure hope you're Alison." He stood, extending his hand to put into hers. "Please, have a seat," he said, pulling out the chair slightly. He couldn't help but steal a look at her, in that dress, as she turned to find her chair.

[Aligurl828]

Alison let out a relived breath, "Well its nice to meet you." she took a seat, silently thanking the fact that Kelly had good taste in men. She sat down and looked across the table at him, "Let me just appologize if this is awkward at all, Im really not experienced in the whole blind date stuff."

[justabrick]

"Oh, God, me neither!" James laughed, relieved further. "If you'd asked me a month ago if I'd go on a date with someone I'd never met, or even seen, I'd probably laugh in your face. Good to know I'm not the only one," he smiled.

[Aligurl828]

Alison laughed, "Yeah, Kelly is pretty convincing." she smiled at him, "So Kel tells me you're a mausseuse?....That's awesome."

[justabrick]

"Hah, yeah. I have a clinic just down the road, actually." James shook his head. Ladies tended to be impressed by his chosen profession, and most of his clients were female, but James always found it a little odd to talk about with someone he'd just met. "She mentioned to me you're a dancer. Sad to say, I've got like nine left feet... what kind of dancing do you do?"

[Aligurl828]

She smiled, "Well, good for you." she laughed when he admitted to having left feet. "I am currently working for the NY Dance Acadamy....I have a couple more nights of performances then I'm free for a few weeks before things pick up again, which I'm definatly looking forward to."

[justabrick]

"Ah, nice!" replied James. "Any plans for that time off? Or just taking some time to chill?"

[Aligurl828]

Alison shrugged her shoulders, "Guess I'm just going to play it by ear. Honesty, its been so long since Ive had actual time off, I don't even know if I know what to do." she laughed.

[justabrick]

"Yeah, I know what you mean," replied James, "I always forget how good it is to take time away from the usual routine, just do something different, y'know?" He paused. "Hey, know what you should do on your time off? Come by the studio! Nothing like a good massage to relieve stress. I'll give you a good discount." He laughed and winked.

(OOC: BRB, at like ??:30, whatever hour it is your time)

[Aligurl828]

She smiled and covered her heart exagerrating, "Wow, a guy after my heart!" she laughed, "I'll definatly make sure to come by to visit you tho.... once the final curtain falls there's not a bone in my body that doesn't ache."

[justabrick]

"Aww, poor thing! Well, y'know, if you're hurting, no reason you can't wait until your vacation. Even five minutes of massage can do wonders." In his mind, as they talked, James couldn't help imagining working his hands over Alison's slender shoulders and back.

[Aligurl828]

She smiled, "I might just have to visit you before vacation." She was suprised at how well they were getting along...it was refreshing to have good company. "So James, what do you do for fun?"

[justabrick]

"Oh, gosh, good question!" James knew he should have come prepared with answers to the standard questions. "Outdoor stuff, mostly. I enjoy the beach a lot. Frisbee, surfing, that kind of thing... long walks on the beach." He laughed out loud. "Hah, no, but really. I'm starting to play the guitar... not too great at that, yet... How about you? What do you do when you're not on stage?"

[Aligurl828]

She smiled, "Well I love to be outside too....I also love movies,most sports, basically I just like to relax and have a good time."

[justabrick]

James smiled back, "Sounds good to me. That's what life is all about, isn't it? Having a good time." At that point, the waiter came for their orders, and James let Alison order before telling the waiter his, the clam chowder. He turned back to Alison, a little unsure what to say. "So... have any brothers or sisters?"

[Aligurl828]

She ordered and listened as James made his order. After the waitress walked away there was a slight pause, "Yeah... I've got 4 brothers.....how bout you?"

[justabrick]

"Oh, wow! Yeah, I've got an older brother and a sister. They're out in the Midwest."

[Aligurl828]

"I see...my family is in the Pacific Northwest....so I only really see them a couple times a year." she smiled at him. She realized that she was really comfortable with him, which was crazy, considering she had only just met him.

[justabrick]

"Hah, we're two peas in a far-away pod. I hardly visit my folks, either. Hard to leave this place, huh?" James looked out the window at the City, twinkling in the cold night, then back at Alison. It was unusual, he'd never been this close to someone, especially a woman, so soon.

[Aligurl828]

She smiled, "Yeah, I love the city. But then there is always a part of me that misses the country too." she looked out the window, then back at him, "Ive gotta admit, Im having a great time with you."

[justabrick]

"You know, Alison, I have to say the same. This is so much better than I'd ever imagine" At that moment, their drinks and meals came. James took his drink in his hand, raising it up towards her. "Here's to strangers!" He smiled warmly.

[Aligurl828]

She touched her glass to his in a toast and smiled, taking a sip. She let the wine slide down her throat, warming her insides. She smiled at him.. "This is one time that I don't mind that Kelly was right."