"I actually enjoyed that a lot more than I thought I would." Hayden advised me, offering me a smile from across the booth.

"It takes a lot of practice, so don't be discouraged. Just think of how long it took you to get good at soccer."

She frowned, "Excuse me? I will have you know that I was born good at soccer, mister."

I shook my head, even as I couldn't help but smirk in response to her words. "My mistake. Won't happen again."

"That's better. You're learning already." She replied quickly. I watched bemused as she raised her hand, taking it in from different angles. "Don't want to have to bring out this bad boy on the first date."

"Your pimp hand?"

She made a show of pantomiming a backhanded slap, "The pimp-est of hands."

"And yet I'm the loser." I muttered softly.

"You are." Hayden quickly agreed. "And a child at that too."

"I'm a child?"

Hayden merely nodded, smirking.

"How old are we talking?"

She pondered my question for a handful of seconds, her lips moving as if she made to answer before pausing once more. Finally she said, "I'd say you're nine. Yup. Nine years old."

"My point exactly."

"What?"

"I'm nine years old, and I'm on a hot date with an older woman. You," I began, gesturing towards her with a smug smirk, "meanwhile are on a date with a nine year old. That is a loser with a dash of something."

"Wipe that smug smirk off your face before I do."

"You can certainly try - but I will have you know that I keep a smaller, smugger smirk on underneath it."

Hayden sighed in obvious exasperation, leaning back against the booth as she glanced skyward. I could make out the words as she mouthed them, 'Lord, help me'.

"Looks like I won this round." I stated confidently, turning my attention back towards the menu in front of me. My grin returned as I heard Hayden grumble to herself from across the table, her words barely audible yet the threat within them all too evident.

"What are you thinking of getting?"

I watched as Hayden went through the menu, idly flipping the pages as she scanned each item. Her concentration was obvious, the draw of her eyebrows as the corner of her lip ticked up slightly.

"Hmm," She finally began, her finger coming to rest on the menu - tapping several times. "I think I have to try the Mushroom New York Steak."

I glanced at my own menu, quickly turning the page towards the dinner specials and reading what Hayden planned to order. I had to agree that it did sound quite good; the ten ounce steak topped with both cremini mushrooms and cabernet jus. With a side of both mashed potatoes and assorted vegetables I was sure that she would be taking half of it home with her.

"What about you?" Hayden asked in turn.

"I'm leaning towards the Liver and Onions,"

Hayden's smile quickly faltered, a look of disgust taking its place as she blanched. "You will not be kissing me this evening if you have onions." she advised me in all seriousness.

I chuckled. "I'm teasing. I'm actually leaning towards the Napoleon Parmigiana."

I could remember it being a favourite of my youth, that which I had always ordered. The breaded pork loin stuffed with a myriad of mozzarella, spinach, and marinara sauce had always been a messy yet intensely flavourful dish. With the accompaniment of assorted vegetables and fettuccine alfredo, it had proven to be a welcome distraction once I had realized the restaurant didn't serve chicken tenders.

Hayden seemed to agree with my choice, "That does sound quite good. I might have to try it next time."

"Next time?"

She smiled coyly at me, pale green eyes glinting with far too much assuredness. "Oh yes, mister. You are stuck with me now."

It was a struggle not to gulp as I saw the intensity within her gaze, the pure confidence she exuded as she uttered those words. It was akin to that of the Pope uttering words of faith, I imagined, his belief unshakable - unwavering.

Trying to recover what little control I had left, I answered. "We shall see about that."

As if sensing my inner thoughts her smile only grew wider.

I felt as if I was a fish on a hook, one that had already been reeled in and held aloft. Yet still I wiggled - unaware that it was too late.

Luckily the arrival of the waitress saved me, the woman's demeanour cheerful and upbeat as she introduced herself: Katie.

"Can I get you started with drinks, appetizers?"

I gestured for Hayden to start with a smile.

"I'll have a glass of the Jackson-Triggs, please."

'Red wine, huh. Didn't see that coming.' I thought - Hayden seeming as more of a coolers and spritz type drinker.

Katie turned towards me, her service smile still on display. "And for you, sir?"

"Just a water, please."

"Of course. I'll give you a few more minutes with the menu." With that she hastily departed.

"Red wine, huh?"

"What can I say?" Hayden asked haughtily, her chin tilted up in an arrogant manner. "I am a sophisticated woman. I know just how well it will compliment my steak."

"My apologies." I was quick to answer. "I hadn't realized I was in the presence of a wine snob."

Hayden's laughter was contagious, making me smile along with her. "Do you even drink?" She asked, resting her chin atop her hands.

Nodding, "Though only to numb the pain."

My comment earned me a patented roll of her eyes, a sigh of exasperation. "What am I to do with you, mister?"

I smirked as I found myself leaning towards her. "I can think of quite a few things."

"I'm listening..."

"Where is the gangly shy girl you once were?" I laughed.

With a shrug, "I've always been like this. With you though it seems that I have the self confidence to just let go. To be weird, or crude, or anything, without having to worry about you judging me. Or making me feel weird."

"Oh, I'm judging you. I'm just subtle about it."

Ignoring my sarcasm, she asked "Do you remember when I was ten?"

I nodded, "Yes. Though you might need to narrow it down. It was a whole year afterall..."

"Obviously, smart ass. You and Dalton picked me up from school one afternoon. In April, maybe?"

I nodded once more, "We picked you up every day from school though." I pointed out.

"I know. But this one time I remember Derek was picking on me." Seeing my expression, "He was two years older and in grade seven at the time.

"He kept pulling my ponytail and pushing me when I'd turn around."

Hayden glowered down at her hands as she replayed the memories, hands clenched in front of her. I knew that feeling. That feeling of helplessness. Anger was all it bred. Anger and hate.

"And?" I urged her on.

At once, in an instant, her anger was gone. A smile lit up her features as she turned her gaze upon me.

"I remember you were there. You must have seen him push me and got out of the car before Dalton could. You had Derek by the scruff of his shirt and held him off the ground."

"Me threatening kids? Doesn't sound like me at all..." I stated, a smirk revealing my sarcasm.

"Oh, of course not." Hayden was quick to answer with a smirk of her own. "Though that's when I first realized I had a crush on you."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, of course. I was ten years old and you were this cool, older guy that had protected me."

"And am I still that cool, older guy?" I probed.

She made a vague gesture with her hand, "Kind of? I don't want to say yes and inflate that ego of yours too much."

"Too late. It's going to be a struggle just to get my head out of the door now."

As the waitress returned, both Hayden and I placed our orders. I smirked when she ordered another glass of red wine for when her meal would arrive, pointing towards just below the rim of the glass with a sheepish smile

Our conversation flowed pleasantly as we waited for our meals to arrive, Hayden's wit matching my own as our teasing banter went back and forth. The nervousness that had lingered when I first picked her up was now gone and forgotten, replaced with an unshakable realization that being here, on a date, with her felt undoubtedly right.

"Oh, that smells so good!" Hayden exclaimed as the waitress set our food down in front of us.

"Parmesan?" Katie asked me with a smile.

"Please," I answered, moving my plate towards the lip of the table so the woman didn't have to reach over me.

As the grated cheese began to coat my meal, the woman asked, "How much would you like?"

Meeting her gaze, "As much as you think I deserve."

It was a struggle to keep my features neutral as my words sunk in, panic emerging on the woman's face in response to my answer.

"That's enough," Hayden interjected, frowning as I met her gaze. "I apologize for him. He can be such a dick sometimes."

The waitress laughed nervously as she moved away, offering us one last parting glance over her shoulder.

"You're no fun." I scowled.

"One of us has to act like the adult here."

"As you keep reminding me. Such a tyrant."

"Keep it up and you'll get no television privilege for a month, young man!"

"You're not even my real mom!"

"Thank god for that," Hayden muttered softly. "That woman must be a saint for having put up with you for so long."

I dismissed her claims with a shake of my head, "I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm a gem."

"No, you're a pain in the ass. My ass, to be specific."

"Keep it up and I will literally be a pain in your ass." I was quick to answer, following my words up with a salacious wink.

She almost choked as she took a sip of her wine, glaring at me as coughed several times - face turning a slight shade of red. "You are incorrigible." She finally uttered, though her smile was quick to return.

"Indubitably." I answered.

Dinner felt far more romantic than it had any right to be given the casualness of the restaurant. Yet it held a certain magical charm, with the soft candle light and gentle murmur of conversations around us, I allowed myself to be swept away by the tide that was Hayden.

We talked even as we shared our meals - Hayden murmuring her pleasure around a mouthful of my Napoleon Parmigiana, advising me that I'd most certainly be bringing her here for dinner in the near future.

I couldn't help but agree - wanting nothing more than to spend another day in her company. Or even all of my days.

I settled the cheque as Hayden sipped the last of her wine, a silly smile now gracing her features. She appeared slightly flushed, the pink hue of her cheeks complimenting her pale complexion. Perhaps it had been the third glass of wine that had done her in.

I glanced at my watch, noting it was just past nine - still early given it was a Saturday night.

"Would you like me to take you home now?" I asked, though internally I was praying that she would decline.

"Let's go back to your place and put a movie on." Hayden offered instead, answering my prayers. "I want to cuddle a bit."

I couldn't stop myself from uttering the smart ass comment even if I tried, "You are just trying to get me into bed."

Her smirk mirrored my own, teeth emerging slightly - eyes taking on an almost feral gleam to them, as if I were now more prey than her date. "Who said anything about me having to try?"