A mind made up

Message from the author:

If you enjoy this story, please give the chapter a like and help others find it, too. You are important to its success. And if you want me to write more chapters, please help me easily and quickly on Ko-Fi so I can do that. Thanks a lot.

Yeah, that shouldn't surprise me. But damn, it was fun writing this chapter. And even though I couldn't include the photo that the whole chapter was based on, I managed to include another girl and reveal the little surprise I had hidden in the story.

And now, please enjoy...

---

Chapter 46

This can't be true.

The warm wind of the early evening blows gently over my legs and arms and makes the skirt of my black dress flutter while the sun slowly prepares to disappear behind the roofs of the city. Orange light fills my world and the sounds of the city ring out around me. People talk, laughter sounds, cars honk in the distance and street music sounds somewhere.

And I'm nervous.

I've never felt that way before. At least not this much and a slight wrinkle plays around my nose as I look down at my hands and play with my fingers like only a girl can. I've been in this situation before and at 20 years old this isn't the first date I've been on, but it's definitely the date I've prepared for most intensively.

And yet I feel uncomfortable in the black evening dress with which I'm trying to emphasize my figure. Well, especially my large breasts. My best argument to draw attention to me, but I'm also lucky, it fills me with a certain pride that Finn noticed them when we first met.

I almost had to hold on to the milkshake machine, I was so shocked that he was suddenly standing in front of me, but I can also be proud of my reaction, my sassy but nice demeanor has often saved my ass.

And I hope that this, or my tits, will save me this evening too, considering the queasy feeling in my stomach as if I were about to be lifted into the air in an airplane. God, I hate flying. I hate being pressed in my seet like my breasts are pressed in this dress. I hate that my breasts stand out so much in this stupid dress. I hate that I didn't wear another dress. The white one with the blue flowers, for example. And I hate that I'm so nervous...

But the sight of Finn Lynchwood in his fancy outfit... I don't hate that.

He sees me. He smiles. He waves at me.

I briefly panic, real panic.

But then I am filled with the same feeling that always fills me when I see him. It's as if I'm almost looking forward to a flight over the sea and even the biggest challenges like a date with him suddenly don't seem quite so dramatic anymore when he smiles so reassuringly while crossing the street and coming to me.

I almost stumble as I get up too quickly from the bench where I was waiting for him, but I manage not to show my wobble. These stupid high-platform shoes. At home, they were still a good choice, but here I feel kind of stupid.

But then I see Finn's eyes almost pop out of his head as he comes towards me and his mouth is even slightly open.

He makes me laugh before he's even near me.

"Shit Bella," he moans and shakes his head. "I must have been sitting over my outfit for twenty minutes but now I feel underdressed." Then he points at me so that the people around us notice. I feel the eyes on me as he looks at me appreciatively. "You just look gorgeous." The unfamiliar, somewhat nerve-racking looks of the people around me fade as I concentrate completely on him and I feel the familiar warmth in my heart that I have been feeling for at least three months now by concentrating one eye... both eyes... and all my other senses on him. My nose wrinkles again, but this time it does so through one of my grins that I only save for very special people.

And Finn seems to notice, in any case, he lowers his gaze to my face, my nose or my lips as he watches me being happy because of him. Then my expression changes slightly.

"Twenty minutes?" I ask him mischievously and put my hand on my side, making sure not to apply too much pressure so that my body doesn't show too much under the dress. "No wonder you feel underdressed. Do you know how long it took me to do this?" I skillfully stretch my leg to the side and present my body to him in all its glory. I don't actually see it that way. Nothing special. But when he looks at me...

"Definitely long enough. Wow..." And he counters my biting humor with his usual composure and... There it is again, his grin, a little reserved, almost cautious, but he still dares to go out and compliment a lady when he sees her. And that lady is me.

And that lady doesn't know anything other than to attack him immediately! Pull yourself together, Bella. He's trying hard and you mustn't scare him off right away.

The thought makes me cackle like a little piglet and adjust my glasses. Nervousness disguised by sassiness. Normally my humor helps me hide my true, nervous and self-dissatisfied self, but here, on this date, it's all about showing who you really are and Finn deserves to see who I really am.

And that's exactly what I'm afraid of.

The realization comes at exactly the wrong moment. Finn leans forward a little, spreads his arms and wants to hug me, but my surprised 'Oh... okay...' almost ruins this warm gesture. We settle for a very short hug, with Finn deliberately keeping his hands on my shoulder while I pat him on his shoulder like a complete idiot.

Who the hell does something like that? What's wrong with you?

I want to hug him. I like the way he feels and when he touches me, when he pays attention to me, when our eyes meet and he smiles... I never feel better than when I can make him happy and when he makes me laugh...

But I messed up this moment.

"So. Are you hungry?" he asks as if nothing had happened, ends the hug and stands in front of me, close enough to signal closeness but not so close that it's creepy. He would only have to stretch out his arm a little, not the full length, and he could touch me. I want him to touch me.

"Meh. Not really."

You stupid bitch! What's wrong with you? You agreed to have dinner together! You've starved yourself half to **** for the last few days and are almost dying of hunger! He wants to take you out to dinner and you say 'I'm not hungry?' Fuck!

But that's exactly the problem. My hunger.

I chose this dress, even though it shows off my tits like I'm a **** girl on the market, because it's the only thing that makes me look sexy without making me look like a sausage in a coat. Okay, my breasts are a good argument. The rest of my body...

"Oookay..." Finn frowns while my face darkens a little. But then his smile lights up my world. "I'd still suggest we sit down. I've already reserved the table and..." He looks around conspiratorially. "I'm almost dying of hunger." Then he nods his head in the other direction. "But I can also quickly get something from MacDonnald's and we can go for a walk? According to Google Maps, there should be a lake nearby."

He has found out about the place where we have a date. He knows my home.

It was his suggestion to meet at a place that means something to me and he also thought it would do him good to get out of his usual surroundings. So we met not far from where I live and he was right. There is a beautiful park very close by where my father taught me to ride a bike. Maybe I should...

"It's okay," I interrupt my own thoughts and act completely instinctively. I don't think, I just react to what Finn tells me and it shocks me how easily I behave even though my head is full of contradictions. "If you've already made a reservation."

No! Now look at the way he looks at you! Stop being so nervous, you stupid cow!

But then I feel his hand on my shoulder and my body starts moving as if it were an ancient instinct or an urge to follow him. As if it were normal to follow him.

Bella Taubner. +2 (PS -78)

---

Finn leads me through the door and inside. First, he is in front of me, then behind me as he holds the door open for me. Then he is in front of me again and leads me through the full restaurant that I have loved to eat in since I was a child.

"Wow," he says in amazement, but concentrates entirely on me as he pulls my chair back and lets me sit down. I clutch my dress nervously so as not to show too much skin in here, blaming myself for this poor choice of dress one again. Then he sits down in front of me, facing the entrance door, pulls down his own stylish jacket and looks around the restaurant. "That looks great. Do you come here often?" Garry's Steakhouse has always been almost like home to me. I have the best memories here and unfortunately, my body also shows how much I enjoy eating here. But today I don't like being here for a different reason, but I have to and I try to hide my nervousness.

"The first time with a boy," I confess and almost fall off my chair when I realize that I told Finn the truth as if I can't lie to him.

Bella Taubner. +1 (PS -77)

"Eh... The prices here are fair and the food is delicious," I try to save myself. But this comment only makes Finn smile.

"I'm glad." That's the end of the matter for him and with a quick glance at me he pushes the menu across to me. "So what can you recommend to a starving carnivore here?" he asks, his eyes beaming at me over the edge of the menu.

"The... eh..." It takes me two attempts to grab the menu from the bare table and I scratch at it with my fingernails, then I hold the piece of cardboard that I already know so well in my hand and pretend to read it. In truth, I'm hiding behind the menu so as not to show how embarrassed I am about all this.

I love this restaurant, I love being here, I love the food here. But I'll never bring my dates here. Just this one time, this one exception.

Because Finn is really important to me.

I feel it. It's stronger than with other guys. And I'm even more ashamed that I brought him here for a completely different reason.

"I don't know" I murmur and continue to hide behind the menu. Behind it, I hear his sweet, liberated laugh.

"It sounded like you were here often." I can almost hear his mischievous grin. "The first time with a boy."

Say something! Answer something! Be sassy! Be sharp! Be quick-witted!

But I'm just glad that I still have the ability to think.

And then everything gets much, much worse.

---

"Or was I wrong?" Finn asks, not noticing the shadow that falls on our table. But then he flinches violently when a powerful hand falls heavily and painfully on his shoulder. "What..." Dumbstruck he turns around and his eyes rise and rise... and rise... until he stares into the unmoving face of a man thrice his size.

"Not at all, young man," the man growls menacingly at him and keeps his hand where he left it, heavy and threatening on my date's shoulder. "Bella never brings boys here. For good reason."

"Eh..." Finn loses himself in the violent aura of the man whose apron seems to be smeared with a strange red liquid and who in his other hand holds his trusty, huge kitchen knife that he named after his mother-in-law - much to his wife's dismay. "I..." Finn blinks and I can't take it anymore.

"Daaad" I moan annoyed when exactly the thing I was so worried about happens. Then I lower the menu and stare at the man who has protected me all his life. "Let it go. This is Finn." But the look of the man with the short hair and the stubbly beard still radiates ****.

"Oh, is that how it is," whispers Finn, raising his eyebrows. "Oh, is that how it is," he exclaims, relieved, and holds out his hand to the man. "I'm Finn Lynchwood. Nice to meet you Sir."

"And what are you doing here?" the man asks threateningly, not paying attention to his friendly gesture.

"I... eh..." Not realizing how close he is to being thrown out, Finn clears his throat, stretches and looks the man straight in the eye. "I wanted to take your daughter out on a first date and we chose this restaurant. I didn't know you work here."

"Would that have made a difference?" asks my father.

"Dad, can you... like... please..."

"Shush honey," he brushes me off and continues to concentrate on Finn. "Let him explain."

"It wouldn't have made a difference, Sir," Finn says in a firm voice. "She wanted us to meet here and I thought it was the best way to give her a pleasant evening."

Dead silence spreads over the table and while I want to sink into the ground, Finn and my father stare into each other's eyes. It's bad enough that Dad might think I'm bringing just some boy here, to our family restaurant. But Finn is not just some boy and the fact that I can't tell my dad that just makes me angry and nervous.

But then my father puts his hand on my shoulder and pats Finn on his shoulder in recognition. The tension is broken and he smiles while my date stares at me as if he wants to ask if he just escaped ****.

"I like him," says my father. Then he presses Finn's shoulder again and almost pushes him off his chair. "For now. What's your name, boy?"

"Finn Lynchwood, Sir" he says, trying to sit upright.

"Garry Taubner," says my father and shakes Finn's hand. Then he grins. "Then I won't embarrass you any further. Do you want to order already?" Finn nods eagerly but I cut him off.

"Can you take our order please?" Finn looks at me and notices my pleading voice. But Dad just laughs.

“Our waitress will be with you in a minute.” And before I can answer, he turns to Finn one last time. “What do you want to do with my daughter afterward?”

“Either a walk around the lake or I’ll take her home straight away.” Garry almost bursts out laughing and looks at me goodbye.

“Clever little boy.” Then he disappears.

---

"Say…” Conspiratorially, Finn leans over the table. “Is it possible that next time you’ll let me know before you put my life in danger?” he asks and laughs, but I blush.“My father…” But Finn waves him off.

“That’s why you said the prices here were cheap,” he interrupts me gently, and with a carefree grin he makes me feel less awkward.

“Yes” is all I can answer. I know it's not a good idea, and I was determined not to, but I still lie on out first date. Anyway, I hide the fact that I can't afford much. My family works hard to pay for two colleges and I'm grateful to them for that.

But you still bought that stupid dress to look pretty and now your tits are bulging out and your ass looks like a damn runway.

God, I hate airplanes so much.

"I feel the same way about my little sister." Finn draws my attention to me and makes me forget my anger that I barely have enough money to pay for his food here.

"What do you mean?" I ask, confused.

"Rose." He shrugs. "She didn't have the easiest childhood, but recently we've been getting along great and I wouldn't let anyone come between us."

"Is that why I've seen you so rarely together?" He nods.

"She was a real beast until now but... For some time now..." Another shrug. He wants to tell me something important, I can see that from his look. "She is..."

"Hey there!" I hang my head in resignation. It had to happen. "What can I get ya?"

Of course she's not wearing a uniform and of course she's dressed like a little tease. With her seductive curves and her revealing outfit, she's on the hunt for tips to supplement her college money and bring customers to the restaurant. God, how I hate my little sister sometimes.

But Finn doesn't let that bother him and orders his food with a Coke and a smile.

"And you sis? The usual?"

"One moment," Finn interrupts. "Sister?" He looks from me to my sister. "Okay, now I see it."

"You should," says the slightly younger and much more annoying girl cheekily and winks at my date. That bitch! "After all, I know your sister." Finn makes big eyes and thinks for a long time.

"Heather?" he asks skeptical. But Heather nods.

"Rose has already told me a lot about you, Finn." Then she looks at me. "And you're on a date with my silly ol' big sister? Lame," she doesn't give him a chance to answer.

"Shut up Heather and take my order" I command annoyed but Heather shrugs it off.

"Yes ma'am. Right away ma'am. What can I get ya Ma'am?" I look at her angrily, then mumble something. "What?"

"The salad," I repeat the unusual order with clenched teeth. But I'm not going to be hungry for three days just to fall in front of Finn now." But of course, Heather doesn't play along and Finn also looks at me questioningly while Heather writes the salad under his half pound of big, juicy meat.

"See ya Finn Lynchwood" she whistles and turns away from the table, showing us that damn perfect ass in those way too tight and fucking way too short jeans.

"I like her," he says as he turns back to me.

"For real? What's... to like about... that?" But when Finn laughs, my bad mood disappears again. He's really trying and I shouldn't make it so difficult for him.

"As I said. I know Tammy's behavior."

"Tammy?"

"That was the little beast you saw with me and Rose." Then he tells me about his sisters. Tammy the bratty little beast, Rose who is like his best bro to him and Jasmine who is just learning to take good care of the family. "Mom is... a bit out of it at the moment and it's up to me to take care of the family." He sounds like... I wouldn't have thought he was that grown up and I find myself listening to him intently, being happy for min, smiling with him. Something in him, his voice, his demeanor or the way he presents himself... Something makes me trust him.

No, I do trust him. But it's as if...

If he takes such good care of his family, then… maybe… he takes such good care of me too?

Bella Taubner. +3 (PS -74)

---

"And since we got Tammy in order, she gets along well with her sisters too. So, yes, it’s wild and complicated but… I think we have found a way as a family."

I can only stare at Finn and realize that I lost something while he was talking.

There is no more nervousness. There is no more anger. There is no more fear.

There is only him.

I trust him. I want him to take care of me. With him… With him, I feel safe and secure.

Bella Taubner. +6 (PS -68)

I just stare at Finn, lost in his eyes and when he notices my behavior… he does nothing.

We sit opposite each other for a while and stare into each other's eyes and... Never in my life has anything been so real, so true, so... intense.

I'm getting horny.

Not the wet pussy and throbbing clit horny...

It's as if Finn is penetrating me, with a skillful knowledge of me that makes me safe. It's as if he's giving me the time and space to realize what I've known since the moment he said something about the Roman Empire in the basic history course.

He's the right one.

---

"Sooooo here's your order." Heather balances his plate deftly on her slender arms while I lose myself in Finn's, who is staring with a greedy gaze not at my sister's small perky breasts but at the flesh on the plate. Then he takes the other plate from Heather and puts it in front of me.

My salad.

My stomach is screaming with anger but if I want someone like Finn, then I have to pull myself together and...

"Come on Bella." My gaze rises from his arms to his face. Heather has already disappeared and... And I realize that I wasn't staring at his arms. My hunger is so great that it is enough to tear me away from those arms... that face... and his voice and...

"What... Finn, what are you doing?" I ask as he shares the steak that my father prepared for him and throws it on my salad.

"I can see how you're staring at the food," he grins at me cheekily. "Or do you think I could really manage the biggest steak in the house? Here. Now eat meat with me."

"I... well..." I look at him in surprise. Surprised why I deserve such a gentleman. Then he leans forward and grins with bare teeth. "Besides, your father would kill me if he saw me starving you." I put my hand over my mouth to suppress my loud laughter, but Finn shows no mercy and controls me like a man should with his girl. "Or he laced it with rat poison and is about to come running out of the kitchen screaming wildly."

My loud, happy laughter echoes through the entire restaurant and I know that Heather, and probably also Daddy, is watching me as I experience a moment of pure happiness with my date.

---

Message from the author:

Okay, we're not quite done with Finn and Bella's first date and I'm going to finish it from Finn's POV. Mainly because I didn't manage to include the photo that this chapter is based on. But hey, that brings two pieces of good news for you. First, we get to know Heather better and, surprise, she's Bella's annoying little sister. And friends with Rose. And also, you can now answer a poll on what I'm doing with the second half of the next chapter.

One of the Lynchwood girls will get a one-on-one session with Finn and move her path forward. Not Rose though because I have other plans with her and besides, it fits better with Tanmy, Jasmine or Michelle. Michelle is still the strongest against her puppy path (hard intensity of sex scene) while Jasmine needs a nudge in the right direction (medium intensity of sex) while Tammy just needs some affection (light intensity).

Personally, I think that Michelle needs to accept her fate the most, but I also want Finn to cuddle his little princess to bed and to finally give Jasmine a worthy man by her side.

After that, as promised, Lisa and shit, that's definitely going to be a good chapter, starting her carreer as an E-Girl and making her world neon.

And somehow I like to incorporate fathers into this story. Lisa and her soft, caring father and Bella and her monster father. Or do I like to make my MCs suffer? Well, at least I came up with a last name for her, her sister and her family. I think Taubner sounds quite good.

Anyway. Have fun with the poll.

https://strawpoll.com/w4nWWLDYWnA