FicWad

As my flight hits the runway at O'Hare airport my butterflies triple. A couple of minutes later the seatbelt sign goes black. I grab my stuff quickly and I'm one of the first ones off the plane. I'm really anxious to see Patrick. He's gonna meet me at the baggage claim.

It's been six days since that phone call from him when he asked me to come to Chicago. The morning after I called my boss, and she let me have three whole weeks off. Great boss! I booked the flight right after I talked to Patrick again and asked if it was okay. Of course, he said, he'll have some interviews and stuff during this time, but only one short trip to LA over one of the coming weekends. I can enjoy myself in Chicago alone for that time, and besides I haven't booked a flight home yet.

We don't even know how we'll feel meeting each other again. Maybe it will be really awkward and it will suck, in which case I, of course, go home before the three weeks are up. I have booked a relatively modest hotel, but Patrick know about it and said it's kind of cozy and ok for that price.

Patrick have sprung for the plane ticket here like he said he would. I didn't really need him to, but he insisted so I let him. You don't go and embarrass a gentleman by refusing.

After I leave the plane I go straight to the baggage claim, and start looking around for that blond head of hair. I see some blond hair behind the shoulder of a tall guy. Right then Patrick steps out in front of the tall guy, with a makeshift cardboard sign with my name on it in one hand, and a cup holder with two take away coffees in his other.

I start to laugh out loud. He's too damn funny. Patrick hears me laughing and his eyes locks on mine, among the crowd of people that also just got off the plane. He smiles hugely and shrugs his shoulders a bit as we walk towards each other.

He's dressed in a white button-down shirt rolled up to his elbows as usual, black thin tie loosely around his neck, and dark blue tight jeans. He's looking extremely handsome, more so than I remember.

When we're a few feet from one another we say "Hi!" at almost the exact same second. And laugh again.

"Damn!" I remark, "cheesy rom-com moment…"

"Yeah," Patrick agrees, "those are the worst…"

It tingles in my whole body! So far, so good. I'm even more attracted to him now. Well, maybe that's no wonder, I do know what that boy is capable of now.

Patrick drops the cardboard sign on the floor, before giving me a one armed hug and a tiny kiss on my cheek, sort of friendly like.

"Welcome to Chicago!" he proudly announces. "It's so good to see you," he just keeps smiling.

"Thank you. It's good to see you too," I smile back and blush a little.

"Let's get your bag," he picks up the dropped sign, and we start walking over to the conveyer belt. "Since you told me before that you love coffee, I wanted to treat you to my favorite," at which he presents me with the coffee.

"That's thoughtful, thanks!" I grin, grabbing a cup.

He throws away the sign and the coffee cup holder in a trash can we pass, while asking what my bag looks like. I tell him, and we go and stand a bit apart for better odds at catching it.

I sip on the coffee and it's good, but not really my favorite I have to admit. But that's okay, I mean we can't have everything in common, right?

Just a minute later Patrick hollers from his place:

"Got it!" and as he's closer to the exit I walk over to him.

"Awesome!" I remark as I see him about to lift it.

"Damn woman!" he laughs, "brought your whole wardrobe, did you?" and he winks at me as he decides to use the wheels on it instead of carrying it.

"A girl can't have too many outfits to choose from. Too heavy for you Mr. Stump?" I smirk at him.

He grins at me:

"Okay, maybe this bag wouldn't be too heavy for Superman, but let me tell you, I ain't no Superman!"

"Oh, don't say that. You seem kinda super to me…"

Fuck! Cheesy moment again! I'm fucking incorrigible with this whole "talk first, think later".

Patrick just watches me with raised eyebrows and a small smirk in the corner of his mouth, looking like 'Really, did you just go there?!'.

I try to explain:

"So yeah, if you're gonna spend time with me you better get used to the fact that I kinda have a tendency to talk before I think, and I also have a way of declaring uncomfortable truths," I shrug at him and Patrick just keeps smirking at me. "And you better get used to it fast, buddy, 'cause this mouth of mine can't be contained," and I realize that the last part is also kind of stupid, and also sexually insinuating.

Ah, crap! Bah, never mind, it's who I am, if he doesn't like it he doesn't like me.

Patrick just laughs:

"I really missed you!" is all he says as we walk out of the airport and over to the parking lot. "Did you like the coffee by the way?" he wonders as we walk up to a dark blue Prius and he un-locks it.

"It was fine, but not my favorite, thanks though," I smile a bit apologetically as I walk around the car to the passenger side.

Patrick's bent into the car as he's just thrown my suitcase in the back. He stands up and looks at me from across the roof of the car:

"You know, I really think you're quite unique. The way you're always saying what's on your mind without being rude about it, you know. That's rare," he says seriously, "and I think it's one of your best qualities," he ends with a totally sincere smile.

Well thank God! I might not scare him off with that "quality" then…

"Thank you!" I smile back and get in the car.

Patrick gets in too, and when he buckles up he continues:

"I despise the phony brown-nosing people my business is shock-full of. It's one of the biggest drawbacks," he starts the car and backs out. "And it's everywhere, from label people to the so called 'fans'," he does the air-quote thing with his right hand as we pull out from the parking lot heading towards the free way. "So you never have to worry about me, I always prefer the harsh truth over ass-kissing," he ends with a determined look.

"Okay then!" I smile, "harsh truth it is! Unless the truth isn't harsh, I'll tell it either way."

"I appreciate that. It's only your true friends who tells you when you have food stuck to your teeth or your fly is open," he confesses.

"Or when you're behaving like a shit-head…" I add.

"Yes, that too. Only have a couple of those. And now, hopefully, I have one more…" he smiles and I see a small tinge of pink in his cheeks.

"Of course!" I exclaim. "What ever this," I gesture with my finger between us, "is, we've at least gained a friend. You're not getting rid of me that easy, Trick."

He smiles at me using his nickname for the first time.

"Good! I like you saying Trick by the way. Sometimes it sounds so… infantile you know, but not when you say it… Odd," Patrick seems a bit taken aback by that.

I'm really pleased by that. I like the name Trick, it suits him.

Patrick looks over at me and smiles a bit shyly. He drops his empty take away mug in the back over his shoulder and begins to dig in his jeans pocket. He comes up with a pack of gum.

"You want one?" he offers me. I take one, say thanks and he pops one in his mouth too.

We sit silent for most of the rest of the drive. But it's a really comfortable silence, nothing awkward at all about it, it's like we've known each other for a long time.

We arrive at my hotel by noon. Patrick takes my bag out of the backseat and we walk inside to check me in. My room is on the 21st floor and Patrick walks me there still having my bag, like the constant gentleman.

The room is actually kind of cozy and it's got everything one needs; TV, a small fridge, two armchairs, a desk and a queen size bed. And a big window with an amazingly spectacular view. I walk up to it straight away and just go: "Aaaaahh…"

Behind my back I hear that Patrick takes my luggage inside and lifts it onto the bed. He comes up to me from behind and gently lays his hands on my shoulders.

"Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?" he asks softly.

I turn around fast.

"Yes please!" my smile is ridiculous.

"Rad!" Patrick says and grins, "I'll pick you up at 7, is that okay?"

"Great!"

"Then I'll leave now, so you can get a chance to rest and wash off the plane dirt," he says with understanding.

"I'm dirty?" I smirk.

"W-what? NO! I mean, no, it's just that I usually like to take a shower after a flight, you know…" he looks mortified.

I giggle a little.

"I'm just messing with you… it's fine," and I actually venture a little ruffle of his hair. It's so soft.

"Dammit!" he chuckles, "note to self, stop taking you so literally, even if you are the most honest person I know."

I laugh.

"Don't forget, I'm also the funniest person you know, so that note to yourself is a brilliant idea, Trick."

All my self-consciousness seems to have disappeared in Patrick's company. I feel so safe with him, and I know he won't judge me. It's like we're best friends that have known each other forever.

"Well, maybe not the funniest. I mean, you've never met Pete, he's pretty funny, you know," he winks.

"Thanks!" I punch him lightly on his upper arm.

He just laughs, gives me a small hug and a long kiss on my forehead.

"See you at 7," he says and turns around to leave.

"See ya…" I say to his back.

Patrick turns back to me when he opens the door and waves a little. And then I'm alone.

--------------------------------------------

"Just a second!" I shout to the person, most likely Patrick, on the other side of my hotel room door.

I throw a quick glance at the watch beside the bed, it's 6:59. I giggle a little, right on time. He's just too much of a gentleman to be late.

I've spent the hours since arriving and now having a quick bite to eat at the diner across the street, sleeping a couple of hours; being surprisingly tired, taking a long bath, and basically getting myself ready for mine and Patrick's first official date.

Date… and there comes the butterflies. I walk up to the mirror beside the door. I watch my reflection, grab my purse, find my lip-gloss and run it over my lips. I put it back in the purse and smack my lips together, as I stroke my hands over my hair. Good as it'll get, I think, and I grab the door knob to open the door.

Patrick's got the hugest smile on his lips. I see something colorful in the corner of my eye, but Patrick is so gorgeous that I can't look away from him. He's got a black suit including vest and a little red napkin in the chest pocket of the jacket. He's topped it off with a red button-down shirt and a black tie.

"You are gorgeous!" he compliments me, and pulls forward the colorful thing.

It's balloons! Like ten of them, all in different vibrant colors. Oh, he's so awesome!

"I'm really not much for the cliché flowers," he smiles sort of apologetically. "It's so… expected…" he trails off when he sees my huge smile.

"I love them! They are perfect, thank you. And you're very handsome Patrick," and I back away from the doorway and gesture with my hand into the room. "Come in!"

"Thank you!" he says, and as he passes me he plants a tiny kiss on my cheek really close to the corner of my mouth.

Patrick walks up to the bed and ties the balloons to the headboard. It looks great and it really brightens the room.

He turns to me.

"Are you ready to go?" he asks.

"Yes. Are you going to tell me where we're going?"

"Nope! Sorry!" he says sarcastically.

"Oh, snap! You're relentless with your surprises," I say a bit mock sulking and pouting.

"You'll like it," he says convincingly while he walks up to me and puts his thumb on my pouting lip. "Now pull that cute lip in and let's go."

I kiss his thumb.

"Okay," I smile.

He smiles back, gives me his arm and we walk out the door.

Twenty minutes later we pull up in Patrick's car to one of the tallest skyscrapers in Chicago, the John Hancock Center. Patrick walks out, gives his car keys to the valet and walks around to open my door. He reaches his hand out to help me out.

"It's a 100 stories, we're going to the 95th floor. It's got one of the city's best restaurants."

My eyes run along the side of the tall building all the way to the top.

"Woah!" I say stupidly.

Patrick just laughs as we walk, still hand in hand, up to the entrance.

"I actually have a bit of… ehm… respect of heights, you know. But for your benefit I'll make an exception," Patrick's smile is faltering a bit.

When we walk out of the elevator, through the restaurants doors and up to the host, Patrick whispers to me.

"I had to take advantage of my 'fame'," air-quotes again, "to get a table on short notice. It's booked months in advance, but I really wanted to take you here. I hate to do that, I prefer to be treated like everybody else."

"I know you do. It's a very lovable quality. Sorry you had to do that," I whisper back.

Patrick shrugs and smiles at the corner of his mouth.

The host plasters a fake smile on his equally fake lips.

"Welcome to the Signature Room at the 95th! How may I be of service to you fine people this glorious evening?" he says all high and mighty, with an obvious fake British accent.

I lift my hand to my mouth and clear my throat a little to disguise my giggle at his pompous way. Patrick just smiles a bit, but otherwise keeps his cool.

"Thank you. We have a reservation. Stump, please, table for two."

The host runs a very manicured finger down the screen of an iPad. He looks up with kind of a snap of his head.

"Yes, of course. This way please, sir and miss," he gestures with his hand as he trots - yes, he trots - into the restaurant to show us to our table.

Our table is a bit sheltered from the others and right by the floor to ceiling windows. The host pulls out a chair for me and says that our waitress will be with us 'momentarily'. I give him a quick glance and say thank you!, and he trots off. I gawk at the amazing view.

"Oh… the view is absolutely stunning!" I say while I keep looking out the window.

"Yes, it is…"

I turn my head towards Patrick and I see that he's actually not looking out the window at all, but rather sits with his chin propped up in one of his hands and watching me intently.

"Oh my God!" I laugh, "you are so cheesy!"

He laughs a bit embarrassed.

"Can't help it. I think you are stunning! Want me to lie?" he lifts his eyebrows a bit.

Okay, that actually throws me a bit…

"Oh, well in that case, thank you very much!"

"Besides, I much rather look at you anyway. This is a veeeery tall building…" Patrick looks a little uneasy.

The date is amazing, including the part where I have to distract him from looking out the window from time to time, which just makes him that more adorable with his scare of heights. Patrick is funny, gives plenty of compliments - without being overly cheesy again - and he's so intellectually well-rounded that we can talk about anything.

Among other things he tells me about his dog, Penny, and shows me some pictures on his phone. She's adorable.

We eat and laugh for a long time, the time is almost 11 when we walk back out to the car. Patrick asks if I want to take the scenic route. Of course I do, and we drive around for a bit, him telling me about the gorgeous city. Patrick is a really excellent driver, which doesn't surprise me one bit.

We drive down Lake Shore Drive and find a place to park and get out. We find a bench to sit on, facing the water. I shiver some in the cool breeze from the lake. Patrick takes off his jacket and lays it over my shoulders and wraps an arm around me too. I snuggle in for a bit and Patrick kisses me on top of my head. Lord, he's absolutely the perfect gentleman.

The lake is beautiful with the glimmering lights from the buildings and streets around. It all feels very romantic. Twenty minutes later I have to stifle a yawn. Dammit!

"Oh, I'm sorry," Patrick apologizes, "you must be exhausted with the flight and all the new impressions. Let me take you back to your hotel."

He stands up and reaches out his hand to me.

"Oh, I don't wanna…" another yawn, "dammit, oh okay, I guess I'm tired in spite of myself…" and I take his hand and stand up.

Walking back to the car he says:

"Hey, we don't have to compress everything into one date, right? We've got time on our side this time. I'm actually planing on going on plenty more dates with you, you know…"

It's the first time one of us mentions our sordid past in person. But the "plenty of more dates" part I feel excited about.

We drive back to my hotel in relative silence. Patrick, of course, walks me to my door and we stop right outside it.

"Thank you for a wonderful evening, Patrick," I give him a tiny smile, wrap my arms around his neck, and kiss him on the cheek.

Patrick smiles back at me.

"Thank you! I had an amazing time," and he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me in closer.

Then Patrick gives me a very small chaste kiss on the lips.

"I've been wanting to do that ever since I saw you at the airport…"

"Well, I'm glad you finally did…" I lean forward and give him a tiny kiss back, "as have I…" I confess.

"Okay, now you've just given me an appetite for more…" he grins kind of devilishly.

One of Patrick's hands moves up to my neck and he intwines it in my hair, he looks deep into my eyes and goes in for a kiss that is anything but chaste. Patrick's lips are soft and warm, they feel fantastic.

He backs me up against the door and the kissing deepens. I grab his hair softly, play with it at the nape of his neck. Patrick lets out a tiny moan and kisses me even more hungrily.

He runs one of his hands along my side and I shiver with pleasure. Now it's my turn to moan a bit. Patrick puts one of his legs between mine, so that we come even closer with our bodies and I feel his semi through our clothes.

My heart is racing and I'm all flushed. I just want to grab a hold of that tie of his and drag him inside the room, for even more. But I don't… I'm going to let him make that second move. I don't want to ruin anything by rushing.

We just keep kissing and sort of make out right there in the hallway of my hotel. After about ten minutes I guess, Patrick slows down. He stops and looks at me with tenderness, and quite a lot of horniness too.

"Damn! I've missed that so much… I've missed you!"

"I adore your kisses! And you know I've missed you like crazy," I pant a little from being deprived of breathing through my mouth for so long.

"I should leave…" he sounds like he doesn't quite mean it.

"Yeah… if we're gonna do this by the book then yes, yes you should…" I declare.

"Yeah…" Patrick drags out the word, "I have a couple of interviews booked for tomorrow and I need to swing by my management, and one never knows how long that'll take. Meet up for dinner tomorrow too?" he looks expectant.

"Definitely! Same time?"

"Sure, I'll pick you up! Good night…" he gives me one last quick kiss and turns to walk away.

"Good night…" I say after him.

When I walk through the door my knees almost buckle under my weight. I'm feeling dizzy, oxygen deprived maybe, I laugh to myself a bit.