The Date Part 2

You cruise through the city, making steady progress toward the highway you had to take. Initially not much is said outside of polite small talk as the pair of you settle into the mood of the evening.

You had always been comfortable with each other but there was a new electricity between you now. This was an official date. You had progressed to a different level of your budding friendship and you both were well aware of it. You feel good and she seems to feel good as you drive through town with the top down. You could see clouds forming but for now it was still nice out. The evening air refreshing and not too cold yet.

Eventually she can't help but ask. "Where are we going?"

You smile. "Do you trust me?"

She smiles a demure smile back at you. "Yes."

"Let's leave it a mystery then. Hmm?"

She settles into her seat and takes a big deep breath. You could tell she was as excited about tonight as you were.

As you get close to the highway you find a spot to pull over. You hit the switch and the whirrrrrrzzzzz of the automatic top kicks in. The white canvas roof slowly rises up behind you. Casey watches it go, you sit and try to act cool.

About halfway up you hear a disconcerting grrrrnnnnnggg noise of something grinding. The roof hesitates in vibrates in place. It sounded like something was about to give! Your cool out the window you hop up on your seat and quickly grab the front of it and give it a steady but gentle pull. Grrrnnnghhh BZZ...whirrrrzzzzz. You let out a breath as it starts to move on its own once more. The problem spot passed it then whirs slowly to rest as it should. You take your seat again.

You look at an amused Casey. "Erm. Still working out the kinks." You explain, a bit embarrassed.

She nods.

You latch the roof down then pull back out onto the road. Before long you are taking the exit out onto the open highway.

"We're leaving town?" Casey asks.

You nod. "Yep, I wanted to do something different."

"Oh...okay." She shifts nervously. "Um...sure." You watch her check her phone to make sure it was on.

Only then do you consider how odd this was. She had no idea where you were taking her and you were leaving the city. God, from her perspective you could be taking her anywhere. A deserted back road, somewhere far away and isolated...shit. You hope she didn't think you were some sort of psycho or something!

You try to calm your nerves. She said she trusted you. She would see that trust was well founded.

"I hope Felix and Elsie have fun tonight. Them and their games, hey?" She says in an attempt to start the conversation.

You nod. "Yeah. They'll be fine. El really likes Felix."

"Felix is pretty smitten himself. Elsie is a nice girl. Very pretty too."

"Ha! Is she ever!" You say way too enthusiastically. "Er...I mean...for my sister, you know, she's pretty hot. I mean...no! Not as pretty as you of course."

For fuck sake! Could you be more awkward right now!?

The conversation starts and sputters a few more times separated by long bouts of uncomfortable silence as you drove. You each sit in the dark trying to think of something to say. The easy back and forth the pair of you usually had harder to capture this time for some reason. Sexual tension? Nerves? First date jitters? Something.

Casey finally simply laughs and calls attention to the obvious. "Okay, I think we're both a bit on edge."

You shake your head and laugh too. "Yeah, sorry." You smile at her. "Let's start this again. Hey. I noticed those posters in your living room. Did you actually meet the cast of all those shows?"

In the dim lighting of the interior you can still see her eyes light up at this topic. "Yes! Yes I did. My parents got me back stage..."

And off she goes. She tells you about meeting the cast of each of those shows and where and when she saw them. She then transitions to talking about her own fledgling career and her hopes and dreams. You learn that not only did Casey love the theater, it was her one true passion in life. Musicals in particular. She talks with fire and an uncontainable enthusiasm. You listen to her with rapt attention. You loved her joyful fervor. It was infectious. God, to be so passionate about something. To know the one thing you were born to do. It must be wonderful!

"Sorry...we're only talking about me." She says at one point after she had been talking for some time.

"That's okay." You reply. With a golden voice like hers you think that she must be one hell of a singer. You then ask. "May I hear you?"

She pauses and studies you for a moment. "You want to hear me sing?"

You nod. "Yeah! I'd love to. I mean...if you want. If it is not too weird or anything."

She is quiet.

You grimace, angry at yourself for asking such a bold question. "Sorry, it was stupid..."

She touches your arm. "I would love to sing for you Jesse Bailey."

"Oh...cool." The tension drains from you. "Cool."

She pulls out her phone and taps a couple of things. A swell of orchestra music rises up out of the speakers.

And she sings!

A more beautiful sound you could not imagine. It wasn't the voice of angels but of God herself! Was this a dream? You watch and you listen as she pours her soul in to the wistful and sad song sung in another language. You didn't understand the words but the emotions shone through. You lose yourself in the sweeping power of her pure clear voice. The reflected light of the headlights outlines her head and shoulders in an ethereal glow against the darkness of the car's interior. Her eyes were closed as she sang.

She finishes her final fading note and the orchestral track ebbs to a conclusion soon after. You sit in silence for a long surreal moment just staring at this stunning fire haired diva who sat beside you. This was a dream...this had to be a dream.

Casey slowly opens her eyes then says. "Jesse...the road. The road!"

You snap back to reality and return your attention to driving. You swerve hard back into your lane. You look back to her, then the road, then back to her. Back and forth, momentarily speechless. "What was THAT!?" You finally manage.

She laughs softly as she puts her phone away. "Did you like it?"

"Like it? Like it!? Oh my god Casey! How are you not a superstar!? Wow!"

Her head bows and she says in a quiet voice. "I...I never get the roles. They always choose someone else."

You look at her in disbelief. "Are they CRAZY or something!? Holy shit! Excuse my language. But... You are amazing!!!"

She shrugs. "You know. Square peg, round holes. Story of my life." She lets out a shuddering breath. "But I'm still involved. I'm working hard. Voice coaching, supporting roles, and lots of other stuff. No small parts and all that."

"Ha. Don't worry Casey. With a voice like that...wow...you'll catch your break. I know you will."

"Thank you Jesse." She whispers.

Ahead you could see the lights of your destination on the horizon.