Though things have been shaky between me and Champ, this dinner was supposed to help everything fall back into place. He was the only one who never looked at me like I was some crazy girl. He had always treated me like a real person – which is part of the reason why I never understood his constant need to jump into bed with every girl he meets (including her own sister). But that was supposed to be in our past now. He had promised that tonight was going to be a new start for us. We were supposed to meet up at this somewhat nice restaurant two towns over, and it was supposed to be really nice and romantic. But how's the night ACTUALLY going? Well, Champ is two freaking hours late, and he hasn't bothered calling me. He hasn't even sent me a simple text.

"Hey sweetie," the waitress says gently as she comes by for the third time. "How are you doing over here? You ready to order?" She asks as she places down another glass of water in front of me.

"No. Um," I take a breath and try to even my voice out, "I'm still waiting for my date. I'm sure it's just traffic or work or something," I reply as I try to smile. Wow, that sounded more pathetic than it did in my head.

"Okay. Well if you decide you want to order something, just wave me down." She gives me a sad smile as she grabs my first glass of water which is now empty.

I pull out my phone and try to ignore all the stares and whispers around me. God, I've never been more humiliated during a date. What's worse is that it's not even just the wait staff; the other customers keep sending me pity looks. If Champ's not here in the next 5 minutes, I'm out of here. I look at my messages and my phone log. I'm hoping that I just overlooked a text or call – nothing. I open Facebook, and I can't even wait for it to load. I'm done waiting for him, and I'm just done with him. I grab my keys and move to leave, but suddenly I feel a hand on my shoulder. I smile. Maybe I was just overreacting. I turn to look at its owner, and it's not Champ. I feel disappointment rise in me again. It's a redheaded woman in a leather jacket who has an apologetic look on her face. A pity pep-talk is literally the last thing I need right now.

"Sorry I'm so late, babe," she loudly states as she sits in the seat across from me. "I got held up at work, and then I ran into Sam who we both know can't keep his damn mouth shut for one second." I open my mouth to question her when she leans over the table and whispers to me, "Hey, I'm Nicole. Just go with it, yeah? Whoever didn't show up is an asshole."

I'm both confused and touched by this stranger's kindness, but I decide to play along since she's trying to save me from one of the biggest embarrassments of my life – plus it doesn't hurt that she's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. "I'm Waverly," I whisper back to her.

She smiles and waves down the waitress. "Hi, my girl and I ready to order now." She then turns to me again and says, "Again, I'm so sorry you had to wait for so long." She reaches over and grabs my hand.

"Hey, you're here now, and that's what matters." I smile as I entwine our fingers. My hand starts to tingle. My breath catches in my throat.

"Hi, um, I'm glad that this sweet little girl didn't get stood up and all, but can I take your order now?" The waitress says as she awkwardly gestures. Her interruption makes me realize that I have been staring into Nicole's warm eyes as she casually rubs my hand with her thumb.

"No problem. Wav, go ahead. You order first," Nicole says. Hearing a shorten version of my name leave her mouth made me nearly forget what I wanted.

We send in our order, and as dinner goes on, we start to get to know each other a little better. I still can't get over the idea that she was willing to spend her night with a complete stranger. Throughout the rest of dinner, I make up excuses to hold her hand again. This sensation was like one I've never felt before. Champ's hand always felt so awkward in mine. However, Nicole's feels like…I don't know…like it was made especially for mine.

The night comes to a close, and I'm still amazed that I have spent the entire night with this complete stranger who saved my pride. As I reach for the check, she grabs my hand and shakes her head.

"I don't think so. After how long I made you wait, there's no way you're picking up this check." She smiles.

"Nicole," I say in a whisper, "I can't let you pay the full check."

She leans forward and replies, "I can't let them think you're dating a mega asshole who makes you pay for a date that I was super late for."

I smile at her. This girl really is something special. "Fine, but you must let me repay you in ice cream."

The waitress comes back for the check, Nicole hands her the check and says to keep the change. She gets up and offers me her hand, "As you wish." She says this with a simply smile, and I can't help but swoon inside.

"I love The Princess Bride," I gush as we walk out of the restaurant.

"The what?"

I stop dead in my tracks. "You know the movie, The Princess Bride, right?"

With her free hand, Nicole rubs the back of her neck. "No?" Her answer comes out hesitantly.

"Okay, well we've got to fix that like right now. We're buying ice cream and going back to my place to watch it."

"So I'm going back to your place already? Wow, and this is just our first date," Nicole says with a smirk.

"No! Not that… I…no." I stutter out like the eloquent child that I am. Nicole starts laughing and the sound of it makes me relax. "Fine, if you don't want to watch the best movie that has ever existed then, bye." I start to walk away forgetting that I was still holding her hand in mine.

She easily pulls me back towards her and suddenly I'm closer to her than I have been all night. I can almost feel her breath on me. "Come here," she says softly. "I'm not ready for this night to end, so if watching the – what'd you say – 'best move that has ever existed' is what you want to do next, then so be it.

I can't believe I just asked this girl back to my place after our first sort-of-but-not-really date. It suddenly hits me that she probably thinks I live in town. "Sorry, I forgot that I actually live two towns over." I take a step back. Being this close to the redhead is making my brain turn to mush.

"How do you forget where you live," she asks raising an eyebrow.

"Not what I meant," I say as I playfully shove her shoulder. "I just meant that I live two towns over, so it's a bit of a drive."

She looks in my eyes and God I wish I knew what was going through her head right now. She catches her bottom lip between her teeth and my eyes linger there. "If you don't want me over, that's fine. This night has been lovely."

"Yeah," I reply, and suddenly Nicole's smile turns sad as she drops my hand. "Wait, no. I mean no. Or I mean whatever answer that means you're coming to my place." A pause. "That sounded better in my head."

She laughs again, "You're something else; you know that? Well, my bike is parked over here." She nods over her shoulder. "I'll just follow you back to your place." Of course, she rides a bike. Damn, could this girl get any hotter?

"Oh, I'm Waverly Earp by the way," I awkwardly introduce myself. "I figured full names since you are coming back to my place after all." I extend my hand out to her.

"You've got a point," she laughs and takes my hand again. "Haught. Nicole Haught."

Of course, you are.