Someone Else's Lady

"I didn't realize you were a hostage survivor." I turned around to face the voice I heard behind me. Michelle looked totally hot in a whole new way today. Normally, she wore jeans and T-shirts with either a denim or a leather jacket. But this time, she wore a gray-black pantsuit with faint pinstripes. The top section of her hair was pulled back, and a few loose strands spiraled down the sides of her face and onto her chest. She definitely didn't have the kind of hair one would expect a lesbian to have. Because her face wasn't overly feminine in any way or colorful with makeup, I wondered if she would look butch with short hair. "Wow. San Francisco's finest sure looks fine today." Michelle giggled almost flirtatiously as she walked up to me. "And yeah, that was me in the bank. Angela's the one who rescued me from that rather horrifying and suspenseful ordeal." Michelle took on a look of empathy. "Why do you swear at her in German then?" "Not so much because she wouldn't have coffee with me afterward, but because she overreacted when I went looking for a rubber band in her desk to put my hair back with. But that's okay. I'd rather have coffee with you sometime." That last sentence took a lot of courage for me, but then again, what did I really have to lose? "Actually," Michelle began, flirtatious tone once again creeping into her voice, "I was wondering if you cared to join me for lunch today." "I'd love to," I said a little quicker than I could stop myself from saying. She smiled, and we agreed on a time and place to meet. "Okay then. See you after court," she said. "Oh, is that where you're heading?" "I sure am, sweetheart." "Well, good luck," I said as she stepped into the elevator and I backed up… and right into the wall. God, I really hoped she didn't see that! The rest of the morning seemed to pass in slow motion. I was both happy and surprised to be asked out to lunch by such a hottie. Normally, I had a great knack for attracting everything I didn't want. I didn't know Michelle very well yet, but I liked what I'd gotten to know so far, and I definitely liked what I saw. Because the place we agreed to meet wasn't far from the station, I walked the few blocks to the small eatery. I looked around when I entered and found her seated in a booth facing me. She waved to me, and I headed her way. "Hello there," she said. "Hi. How was court?" She shrugged. "Court is court. The usual testifying of what you witnessed, victims' reports, and what action was taken." A chubby blond waitress with a profound southern accent approached the table. "Can I get you anything?" "Uhh," I said, looking at Michelle. "I'm just having a burger and fries," she told me. "That'll work for me too," I said. "Anything to drink?" "Diet Coke." The waitress swiveled her head toward Michelle. "I think I'll have a Sprite." The waitress left, and Michelle leaned toward me, her expression turning serious. "Listen, babe." "Yeah?" "I don't want you to think I'm asking you out, now that I know who you are and what you've been through, only for that reason." "Oh, I don't," I assured her. "The thought never crossed my mind." She reached across the table and squeezed my hands gently. I felt a tingle run through me. "Since you've been honest with me and you've laid all your cards on the table, I feel I owe you the same courtesy." "Sure. Anything you want to tell me." "Well, I'm a pretty straightforward person. I try to always tell it like it is rather than dance around the subject, or I just don't say anything at all." I nodded. "Okay." "I'm in my 30s now. Barely," Michelle smiled as if she were amused, "but I'm there nonetheless, and I don't like to play around. Personally, it wasn't even my thing when I was in my 20s." "No, I get you on that one," Michelle said understandingly. "I'm not a player either." "I don't smoke, I don't drink, I don't cheat, and I sure do try not to bullshit anyone either." Michelle chuckled. "So there you go. I'm so simple that I might seem boring in some ways." "Not at all." She reached for my hands again, and this time she didn't let go right away. "Sometimes boring can be the most exciting thing there is."