A light hearted short story that I wrote. A mere 4 pages. Enjoy!

The Dinner Date

She walked quickly out the door and across the street to get to her car. Her curly red hair bounced on her shoulders as she walked. Her green eyes roamed the parking lot as she tried to remember where she parked. She spotted her red convertible and jogged the short distance to where it sat, digging through her bag for her keys while balancing her books and other papers in her other arm. Her English book fell to the ground and she felt water splash onto her bare leg. It had fallen into a puddle, for it had rained for the better part of the day. She cursed silently to herself as she bent over to pick up the wet book without dropping her other papers. She put it on top of her other books, dry side down, while she struggled with the lock on the door. It clicked open and she quickly grabbed the handle and pulled open the door. She threw her things into the passenger seat, climbed into the driver's seat and closed the door. She thrust the key into the ignition and turned it, the engine roared to life. She quickly scanned the radio stations trying to find a song she liked, her brightly painted nails tapped quietly on the keys. Suddenly, her favorite song came on and she blared it, the bass vibrated the seat, calming her tense nerves for the time being. She put the top down and put on her seat belt. She put the car into gear and backed out of her parking space, shifting into drive, she floored the accelerator and zoomed through the parking lot and onto the busy street. She didn't get very far before she was stopped at a red light. With a frustrated groan she checked her watch and panicked. She fished through her bag for her cell phone as she waited out the light. When she finally found it she used speed dial to call her roommate.
"Hello, you've reached the residence of Sarah and Vicky. We can't come to the phone right now, so leave a message on the refrigerator and we'll call you back. And be sure to leave your number with it. Thanks a bunch," the answering machine played the old message into her ear, they really needed to change it. BEEP
"Hello? Sarah...are you there?? It's Vicky. Pick up, pick up, pick up...Helloooooooo??" The was a click, signaling the phone was picked up.
"Hey Vicky," Sarah's bubbly voice came over the phone. "Where are you?"
"I'm stuck in traffic," Vicky replied. "The professor kept me late to discuss my paper. It took forever. Anyway, do you need anything from the store? I'm going to pick up a few things for 'the' dinner tonight."
"Oh yeah, Jonathan is coming over tonight. What time is he supposed to be here?"
"Eight o'clock. It's already five, and I have nothing done. Argh! You're still going out right? You promised we could have the house to ourselves for the night."
"I know, I know. I'm going to the club, then I'll stay at Veronica's I guess."
"Ok, great." Vicky replied, relieved. "So, do we need anything??"
"Can you pick up some milk and I think we need toothpaste...Yeah we do. Oh, and can you do me a huge favor? I'll love you forever for it..." Sarah asked, sugar dripping from her voice.
"What is it?" Vicky asked, suspicious.
"Can you pick me up a thing of deodorant and a box of tampons? It's an emergency and can't go out with out them. I'll pay you back when you get in."
"Yeah, no problem. Ok, I've got to go. I'll see you soon...hopefully." Vicky said, quickly hanging up the phone. Sarah had a habit of continuing to talk if you don't hang up ASAP.
Vicky sped her light car into the Price Chopper parking lot and pulled into a parking space right in front, cutting off a van that was about the pull into the space. Ignoring the honking horn and vulgar language emanating from the van, she grabbed her purse and keys and ran into the store.
"Now, what am I going to make." She said to herself as she walked through the doors and faced the aisles upon aisles of food neatly stacked on the shelves.
After about twenty minutes of browsing, she decided on baked chicken and rice. She was about to pay for her things when she remembered Sarah's request. She grabbed a gallon of milk, and a tube of toothpaste and she ran past and sped to the other side of the store. She grabbed a thing of deodorant that she hoped was the kind Sarah used and the first box of tampons she laid her eyes on and threw them in the cart. Dodging the other customers with their overflowing carts and screaming children, she sped to the closest register. She checked her watch and tapped her foot impatiently. It was already 5:30, she had spent way longer that she planned picking out the main course. The cashier seemed to be going in slow motion, scanning what looked to be a hundred items. Vicky looked around at the other lines, they were all outrageously long. She stood in line, awaiting her turn, trying to think of what she was going to wear, figuring she could save herself some time by figuring it all out now. She decided on her black miniskirt and tight, red, scoop-neck tee. She would wear her black slippers on her feet, after all, they were in the house. Finally, the person in front of her was up and only had three items. Vicky quickly put her own things on the conveyor belt behind hers. The cashier scanned the customer's items and told her the price. Apparently, it was the wrong price because the customer was not happy.
"20. 95?! What do you mean?!" she exclaimed, "I thought this was on sale, and I had a coupon for this. It shouldn't have come to that much!!"
"Well, the sale ended yesterday, plus tax..." the cashier tried to explain.
"Ended yesterday?! I just got the flyer today!! And even if it wasn't on sale..."
"Ma'am, I understand that, but sometimes the flyers don't get to all the houses in time..."
"That's it, I want to talk to the manager!"
"I am the manager," the person behind the register said. Taking a look at his nametag, it said Manager, in bold letters beneath his name.
"Well then what can you do for me?? I am not paying this price for this item! I can get it cheaper at Wal-Mart!!"
As they fought, Vicky grumbled. She hated these kinds of customers. They argued with the cashiers over a few cents, holding up all the other customers who actually had lives and places to be.
"Fine lady," Vicky said, she had had enough. "If you can get it cheaper at Wal-Mart, then freakin' go to Wal-Mart!! I've been standing in line for 15 minutes now and I have places to go! I don't have time to put up with your arguing. So either pay the cashier or take your business elsewhere!" The lady gave Vicky a dirty look.
"Well, I refuse to pay this price, so I'll take my business elsewhere. Maybe you should learn to mind your own business!"
"When your wasting my time, it is my business!!" If looks could kill, they would both be dead with the looks they were shooting back and forth. The lady turned with what sounded like a growl and marched out of the store. Vicky sighed and pushed her things forward. The 'Manager' rang up her things as she dug in her purse for her wallet. She took out her card and handed it to the cashier. As he fiddled with the card and the register, Vicky bagged her own thing and dropped them into the cart. He handed her back her card and receipt and she was on her way.
By the time she got home it was already 6:00 and Sarah and Veronica were both sitting on the couch waiting when she walked through the door.
"There you are," Sarah said, jumping up and grabbing one of the bags. "I thought you were never going to make it and I'd have to tell Jonathan to reschedule!" Sarah fished through the bags for her things. "What do I owe you?"
"No, you don't have to tell Jonathan anything yet, but I just might have to reschedule if I don't get started. Don't even worry about the money for now, I'll figure it out later." said Vicky, gathering the various utensils she was going to need to prepare dinner.
"Thank you," Sarah yelled over her shoulder as she ran into the bathroom to finish getting ready for her night out. Two minutes later, she emerged, all ready to go.
"Have a good night," Sarah said, giving Vicky a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Behave..." She gave Vicky a sly smile as she walked out the door, Veronica trailing behind, giving Vicky a quick wave. Vicky smiled.
"Now to get to work." She washed and prepared the chicken, preheated the oven and put water in a pot on the stove for rice. She put the chicken in the oven and looked at the clock. 6:20.
"Perfect," she though aloud. "I'll leave it in for an hour and 15 minutes. Everything will be ready when Jonathan gets here." She quickly threw together a salad with the few veggies she found in her fridge and jumped in the shower. The hot water felt so good as it calmed her tense nerves. She thought about dinner and went over what she would say in her head as the water slowly went cold. When it got so cold she couldn't stand it she got out, quickly dried off and wrapped a towel around her naked body. She walked out to the kitchen and looked at the clock. 6:50. She checked the chicken, everything was going well. She turned on the stove pilot to boil the water for the rice while she finished getting ready. Turns out, the black miniskirt and red shirt didn't look as good as she remembered. She went through her closet, trying on every outfit she owned. Nothing looked good. Why didn't she have any clothes?! She looked around her now messy room, clothes strewn all over the place. She finally decided on, what else, but the black miniskirt and red shirt. She quickly ran into the kitchen and poured the rice into the boiling pot. It was 7:20, so she checked the chicken.
"A little while more," she thought to herself. She went back into her room and went through her make up. When she finished putting on her make up and was happy with the results, she started on her unruly hair. The curls were all in what looked to be a rat's nest atop her head. She brushed it out and pulled it back in a clip, letting the ends sit on the top of her head, one long curl fell from behind both ears, giving it a more elegant look. Now for the jewelry. As she tried on her fourth pair of earrings she smelt something odd. She wasn't sure at first what it was. It smelt kind of like something was burning. Suddenly it clicked, she had forgotten about the food!
"Oh my god! What time is it?" she exclaimed and looked over at the clock. 7:45! She ran into the kitchen and threw open the oven. Smoke came billowing out. She turned it off and grabbed her oven mitts, pulling the chicken out. Yeah, it was done. Well done. She threw the chicken, pan and all, into the garbage and tried to salvage the rice. Yeah, that was worthless too.
"Now what?" she asked aloud, racking her brain for a quick fix. Suddenly, a great idea popped into her head.

Jonathan walked up the apartment building stairs two at a time. He nodded at young delivery boy as her came down the stairs. His heart was pounding so hard he thought it would burst right through his chest. He's never been to a girl's apartment for dinner before, so he didn't know what to expect. Vicky wouldn't tell him what she was going to make, but he knew whatever it was, it would be great. He knocked softly on the door. Vicky answered and smiled widely.
"Sorry if I'm late," Jonathan started.
"Oh, not at all. In fact, you're right on time." She said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. She led him into the dim apartment and as she turned to close the door he looked over the table. Two candles were lit, milk was poured into beautiful crystal glasses and two places were set with matching plates and silverware. In the center of the table were cartons of steaming Chinese food.

The End