"Can I really get anything I want?" Natalie asks as she glances over the menu a third time. She looks at me worriedly biting her bottom lip; doubting herself.
"Yes, for the last time, you can get anything," I reply tiredly. She closes the menu in that instant and sets it down on the table and smirks with devilish eyes.
"Okay, Mr. DeMille," Natalie rests her hands atop the menu, and leans her face forward to kiss me. I lean forward and give her a quick peck. "That's it?" she whines, "I get better kisses from my mothers' cocker spaniel."
"Hey you're lucky I even go that far, I'm not one for PDA," I flip through my menu, still trying to decide what I really want. Natalie pouts her lip and attempts to draw me in with her large, doughy eyes.
Damn it all.
I lean forward again and press my lips further onto hers. She kisses me, softly, then startles me by wedging her tongue in my mouth. I pull back with a warning stare and red face. Natalie simply giggles and covers her eyes with her small hands.
"You're too much, you know that?" she says in between her soft giggling.
"I told you, no PDA," I reprimand her, "I don't-" I glance around at an elderly couple that caught us, "I don't like it."
"Prude," Natalie responds as she twirls her locks of hair, "What are you afraid of anyway?"
"It's not fear, I just don't do well with holding back," I try to whisper, "It's something I'd rather do in private." Natalie puts her elbows on the table and leans her face against her palms, looking at me intensely, then sighs.
"I've never had a boyfriend," her face suddenly looks glum, and she stares off into nothing.
"A pretty girl like you? You're messing with me again," I say and put the menu down. She shakes her head softly.
"It's true," Natalie looks up, "It's not up to me."
"You two ready to order?" the waiter asks and clicks his pen.
"Uh, yeah, Natalie?" I gesture to her.
"Can I have one of everything on the menu?" Natalie asks and makes the waiter chuckle. She keeps a serious face as he laughs, and suddenly stops to look at me.
"Is she serious?" the waiter asks now more concerned.
"I can never tell," I answer with a smile. Natalie smiles back at me, making me wish I could drag her back to my studio...
"I'll have the pasta primavera," Natalie finally says, making the waiter sigh in relief.
"I'll have the olive and mushroom pesto," I say and hand him the menus. Natalie keeps her wicked smile, making me chuckle. "Really?"
"You said 'anything'," Natalie mocks, leaving me to roll my eyes in amusement.
"So," I hesitate to ask her, "you're a really good kisser." Natalie's smile starts to fade, "Which is why I had assumed you've had boyfriends, you seem," I swallow before saying the word, "...experienced."
"Do I?" Natalie says with a deeper voice than usual, making me believe I have upset her.
"I don't mean that in a bad way, please don't misunderstand," she seems a little calmer now, "I just mean, you sparked something in me I haven't felt in a long time. I just thought, being such a pretty, young woman, that you've had boyfriends." Natalie looks sad again, looking off into a void that I can't figure out. Did I trigger a bad memory? I feel terrible, I know something has happened to her, but I don't think she trusts me well enough to tell me. I get up from my seat, making Natalie more alert and watching me as I walk over to her. I gently grab her face and place a soft kiss on her lips. I hear whispering behind me and kissing her deeper. Her kiss is cold at first, then she relaxes and kisses me back. I pull away and stare into the sad doughy eyes that have stolen my heart and soul.
"You don't have to tell me what happened," I tenderly say to her. Her eyes widen, almost welling up with tears but she holds back. "I know something happened. I won't lie, I want to know, but you don't have to tell me. Just don't look like that, it makes me want to hold you, and not let you go." Natalie closes her eyes and grabs my hands cupping her face.
"I thought no one noticed," she finally says, "They usually never do; too busy with their own agendas to pay attention to the people they've hurt." She turns to grab a napkin and dabs her eyes lightly. "I want to tell someone."
I grab my chair and sit next to her. She stays quiet, until the waiter and server bring our food.
"Wow, this looks so good!" Natalie grabs her fork and spoon and starts working on her dish. I do the same, and don't say much. I feel my phone vibrating in my back pocket and pull it out to see Mrs. Blanche calling me.
"Hello, Mrs. Blanche," I answer, Natalie looks over to me and I gesture her to lean in and listen.
"It's been four hours, Mr. Ramos, have you taken enough photos?" Mrs. Blanche says impatiently, annoying me as usual.
"Uh," I glance over at Natalie who is shaking her head rapidly, "I said I would call you as soon as I am finished, Mrs. Blanche." Natalie starts to giggle and covers her mouth.
"Oh," Mrs. Blanche replies timidly, "I see. Well, do be quick about it, she is attending a party tonight, I need her home by 7pm."
"Yes, I do intend to be quick about it, Mrs. Blanche," I say sarcastically enough to make Natalie giggle into a fit of laughter. Mrs. Blanche hangs up. I wrap my arm around Natalie, who pulls my arm over her shoulder and smiles.
"Let's go," Natalie says and plants a kiss on my cheek. As we make our way back to my apartment, Natalie holds my hand and merely follows me; staring off into space.
"What's on your mind?" I ask as I brush my hair back with my free hand. She stops in her steps and let's go of my hand. I turn around and stare at her, waiting for a response.
"I-," she starts to say but begins to mutter the words, "....I was 15."
"Natalie?" I ask concerned, I reach out my hand and offer to walk her up the stairs. "It's okay, you don't have to tell me now, we will have other chance-"
"No, that's just it! We won't!" Natalie nearly shouts. I look around to make sure no one is nearby.
"Alright," I say, " Then tell me." Natalie looks down, shaking in her shoes. She holds her hands to her chest, eyes wide.
"I was 15 when I was raped.