Change the subject for now

"I was just wondering what the plan actually was for the rest of the day," you say. It's not entirely a lie, because you had been wondering that quite a bit. More importantly, it puts off the more difficult conversation. You can see Gwen's disappointment in her face, but she doesn't say anything, and Allison doesn't notice.

"Oh. Well, it's good that you asked," Allison starts, before quickly wolfing down a few more bites of lunch. She then gathers herself for a moment before continuing. Apparently, she's prepared a bit of a speech. Uh-oh. "We agreed before that tonight we would go on a real, romantic date. It's my first date with another girl, and I know you want to make it special. It's also going to be our last date together, and I want to make it special for you too. So I was thinking that later today we would dress up formally, and then we could go out for dancing and dinner..." here it comes, you think to yourself "...at Chez Rousseau."

Chez Rousseau is a restaurant downtown. It's the best place in town for a romantic evening. Hell, it's probably the best place for a romantic evening in the whole state. It has a world-class chef, beautiful decor, attentive staff, an in-house band, a cozy but uncrowded dance floor... and of course, high prices. Like, insanely high prices. You find yourself replying the same way you always have when Allison brings it up: "Come on, Allison, you know I can't afford to take you there. Maybe in a few years, when I have a good job..." You trail off as you realize that, given the circumstances, your already lame excuse doesn't even make any sense.

"I know, John," Allison starts with an exasperated sigh, before continuing in a softer tone, "I mean... Sarah... I've been saving up. I've wanted to go there for a long time, and I thought... since you would never take me... and since I was already thinking about..." Allison trails off, then takes a moment to steel herself before starting again. "Look, I had sort of thought about taking someone else there after I broke up with you. It was just something I thought about when I was mad at you. But it wasn't fair, I know. I'm sorry I ever even thought about it. And now, I want to use that money to take you there. Because I think _you _deserve it."

It doesn't escape you that, as she says the words "someone else", she glances subtly towards your sister sitting across the table. So much for her never having considered hooking up with Gwen. Apparently, she was plotting a **** hook-up with your own sister long enough to save up the funds for it. No shit that wasn't fair!

On the other hand though... was it really completely unfair? One thing that's really been coming back to you time and again these past two days, something you've been having a hard time coming to terms with, is that apparently you were a shitty boyfriend. There were so many things about Allison you never knew before - her lesbian tendencies not the least of them. You aren't really sure how much you cared before. You liked that she was girlfriend, sure, but you weren't in love with her or anything. Now, suddenly, it's starting to feel like you are. You don't say anything about your anger, or your own guilt. Instead you just reach across the table, take her hands in yours and say "Thank you."

For a long moment you both sit there in silence, staring into each others eyes. A passing notion strikes you that somehow, just by looking into your eyes, Allison can see all of your inner turmoil. That somehow, without speaking a word, the two of you share a deeper understanding than you ever have with anyone else.

Eventually she speaks up again. "So anyway, I'm glad you're okay with it, because I had to call in the reservations yesterday. We definitely wouldn't have gotten in if we just showed up there tonight. The problem is... I made the reservations for two. I can still call in and change them if I do it now. But we have to decide."

With that, Allison turns to Gwen. You had almost forgotten she was there. "I can pay my own way, if that's the problem..." Gwen offers, glancing back and forth between the two of you, "...but I totally understand if you don't want me there."

You look at Allison. She looks back at you. "I'm kind of surprised you're looking at me," you start, "I mean, this was always your dream date. Are you really okay with it being the three of us? That can't really be what you had in mind."

"What I had in mind wasn't really an arrangement you would have appreciated, remember?" Allison responds. She makes a good point. "Honestly, though, I've been thinking about it, and it's fine. It's probably for the best, in some ways, if there's three of us there. We'll call less attention. Besides, the plan was for Gwen to keep an eye on us, remember? And at this point, it's not like we have anything to hide from her."

That's also very true. Generally, when people go out on expensive dates, there's only two of them present. On the other hand, generally when people have sex, there's only two of them present, and you already broke that rule, so...