An Evening on the Town (Tae)

[Cole Kessler]

Across from the Mall
4:45PM

Cole stood leaned against the side of a building with a cigarette clasped in his lips. The very lips that two nights ago were locked with the girl he was taking on a date in just over an hour. Classes this last two days had been very withstandable, even with the lack of sleep Wednesday night after they'd left the Club.

He'd recieved a message from his parentss this morning tlling him to meet them outside the mall at five, yet for some reason he'd been here for an hour and a half already. He didn't want to stay cooped up in his dorm, especially considering how nice of a day it was today. No clouds, Sun sitting just above the horizon as the day drug into the evening. His phone gave off a slight jingle as a text come through, his father was coming into town now. Cole flicked his half-smoken cigarette away and walked across the main street to the mall's parking lot. He check his phone, five minutes 'til five. His dad was placing it right on the money. They were supposed to go shopping for Cole a car and he looked forward to it greatly.

A car slowly pulled up to him, his father in the driver's seat. "Cole what do you think of your new ride?"

Cole was shocked and disappointed, "The old family car? Really. dad? Not trying to be ungrateful, but I was expecting us to do a little more looking around."

"So your mother hasn't told you? I thought she couldn't keep it secret, but looks like I was wrong." his Dad said as he embraced his son in a hug, "You don't think dear 'ole Dad would do that to you, do you? Your mom's on her way with your car." A violent roar was heard as another car pulled in, "And there she is now."

Cole's face lit up as his mom parked in front of him. A 2011 "Firebreather" Camaro, Kevin Morgan's screaming chicken yellow, gold, and orange paint job(signed for authenticity), limited edition. All leather seats, spoiler, six-speed transmission, 5.7 litre V8, WS6 Ram Air, 17-inch Rims. A Pontiac Firebird possibility realized as a Camaro Concept. Cole's dream car since he found the concept on Google Image Search.

He hugged his dad tightly and did the same to his mother. "Guys, this is unreal! I can't believe this!!! Dad you bought me my dream car! Ilove you guys!"

"We love you too, son. Shane wasn't able to come along. He had band practice. Something about him reminds me of you, must be his love for music. I bought him a drumset rather than a guitar."

"You regretting that, yet?" Cole asked with a hint of sarcasm

"Only when I wake up to his banging at all hours of the night." His father answered with a chuckle.

Cole opened the door to find a touch-screen stereo system with two twelvel-inch subs in thee back and an Amp large enough to support three more. "If you guys have a little bit of time, I know the drive is long, but I have someone I want you guys to meet before you leave." Cole said as he referenced Taeyeon.

"Sure, son. We have plenty of time. Your grandma is watching Shane tonight, anyway. There's something else I wanna show you. Pop the hood."

Cole did so and his dad raised the hood to reveal the beauty of a clean engine. Cole got to looking and began to notice things, "Top of the Line EMS, Direct port of NOS. Dad? You've got all of this for me?"

"Shit, Cole, I'm proud of you, the whole family and I want to show you that we're all so proud of you. What better way than to get you the car you've always wanted?" His father explained.

"Yeah, but all of this must've cost you two month's pay. What about all the bills and schooling for Shane?"

"Like I said son, the whole family wants you to know how proud they are. I love you, Cole. Everyone back home loves you, as well. And three last things about the car. Check the trunk, my boy."

Cole walked around the door again, released the trunk and opened it. This he'd never seen before. The two subs took up less enough room that his father installed practically a full tool box in his trunk, centered aroudn a spare tire and a donut just in case. "Dad, I can't thank you enough."

"Thought we'd give you literally almost everything you need if something goes wrong. This is a gift to you from everyone at home, son. No thanks are necessary. Now, the car has about 1000 miles on it from the drive up here, other than that, she needs some breakin' in."

"Absolutely, dad."

"And last but not least, I had a custom vinyl made before we left home." His father said handing it to him, "A sticker of your name for above the driver's side door. Just like in NASCAR's old days."

"Thanks, Dad!" Cole said as he began to apply the sticker. Once it was on there, Cole checked his phone again, five-thirty-seven. Tae would be here soon enough. "Like I said I've got someone I want you to meet. She'll be here shortly."

"She?" His father asked with a puzzled look on her face, "You have a date tonight, Cole?"

"Yes, dad. I met this girl a couple nights ago at the club, which reminds me: I've a gig here in town. Regular performances two nights a week, Buck twenty-five a show. And they don't conflict with my schooling, like, AT ALL." Cole said happily.

"Well if you ain't just settled in nicely. All that in two weeks? Nice work, son." His father proclaimed.

"Well if there's one thing you taught me that I'll always remember, it's not to sit around with my thumb in my ass while the world passes by."

"That's my boy."

"And, by the way, all of that happened in one night." Cole said a sly grin on his face. He readjusted his hat and placed his sunglasses on his face. They stood awaiting Tae's arrival, which shouldn't be too much longer.

[Taeyeon Kai]

The Date Outfit

She couldn’t believe she was doing this. All because of a bet she had made. She looked at herself in the mirror one last time. Her dark mahogany hair was pulled up, pinned with golden sparkly pins and studded with some pink crystals and pearls as curls tumbled around her face and caressed her neck. Her makeup was dark around her eyes, just enough to give her a smoky look to match the pouty wetness of her lip gloss and the touch of gold on her cheekbones. She wore pink diamond studs in her ears and a simple matching pendant on her throat. Her pink and black lace dress was a late birthday present from her mother, one of her more daring creations.

Tae slipped the shawl on her shoulders as her aunt came into the room. Rei teared up. “Oh honey, you look so beautiful,” she told her niece, coming up behind her. Tae smiled and hugged her aunt, this woman who had become her mother when her own couldn’t take care of her only child. “This boy must be lucky, hm?”

Tae grinned and nodded. “Yes, Aunt Rei, he’s something special,” she replied, stepping into her shoes. She grabbed her bag on the way outside, unlocking her car and settling inside with care. She revved the engine and took off for the mall, where she told Cole she would meet him. She took her time, making sure she drove without stress so she wouldn’t ruin her makeup and appearance.

Soon enough she parked where she always did at the mall and stepped out, looking at her watch. Ten minutes until six. Her eyes looked around, dark irises glittering as she tried to find her date of the evening. She found him, dressed nicely for the occasion, standing with an older woman and man who looked like him. Her heels clicked as she moved across the parking lot after locking her car, her hand stashing her keys in her small purse.

“Cole!” she called out gently when she got into earshot, smiling widely. It was good to see him again after that night at the club; even the thought made her blush, the memories of what they had done tumbling through her head. She turned and faced the parents, still smiling and offering her hand. “I’m Taeyeon Kai, Mr. and Mrs. Kessler. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Your son is a wonderful person.”

[Cole Kessler]

Cole was awestruck by the site of her. Her hair pulled back she looked almost like a completely different person. He embraced her as she walked up, readying to introduce her, but she beat him to the punch.

His father stepped forward and shook her hand, "I'm glad you think so, Miss Kai. Did my best to raise him right. I'm Alan, and this is Cheyenne, Cole's step-mom. My boy tells me you and he have a date tonight. All I ask is that you take care of him. He's my baby boy."

Cole walked up, and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "We need to get going. Got a dinner reservation at AppleBee's."

"As should we, Alan," Cheyenne spoke up, "It's a long drive back to Oklahoma. Here, Cole, you might need these." She said tossing him the keys.

His dad reached into the family car, "You might want this, too, son. Your car and dorm could use some of your master soundtracks."

"Thanks, dad. Love you guys and be careful, please. Call me when you get home, I don't care what time it is here or there."

"I will, son. You two enjoy yourselves and be careful. Try not to show off your driving skills too much. If you use the NOS make sure you're not in sixth gear, you'll blow the motor."

"Hey, you drive just as fast as I do, pop. Considering you taught me to drive, I learned everything from you, dad. But yeah, I got it. No NOS is sixth. I'll talk to y'all later. Love you, guys."

"Love you, too, son." His parents said in unison as they shut the car doors.

Cole sat down in the driver's seat and fired up the Fire Bird. A roar and soft growl sent a chill up his spine. This was his vehicle, and he would treat the ladies right. Both of them.

[Taeyeon Kai]

Tae smiled as Cole came and hugged her, her arms coming around his lean body to embrace him back. His parents came up next, her hand being shook by Cole’s father. Immediately she liked him; he was like Cole, charming and friendly and so open. She could see where Cole took after in his family. His stepmother was a beautiful woman. “I promise I’ll take care of your son, Mr. Kessler,” she promised, smiling gently.

She turned her head when Cole hugged her from behind, turning back around to watch the interaction between Cole and his parents. As the keys jingled in the air, Tae’s eyes followed the movement and landed on the car. Her dark eyes widened and her knees got wobbly as the world faded until it was just her and the car.

She remembered when Mamoru would come to babysit her, how he would drive up in one of those cars you would see on the Fast and Furious movies, especially the ones you saw in the Tokyo Drift one. It had been silver and black and blood red and blue, a pattern of fighting dragons on a night sky and silver lining. The engine had been as shiny as a star, purring like a content cat and roaring like a lion whenever Mamo-chan had fired it up. She had always associated fast cars with bad boys and racers, and the thought of riding in that car excited her.

As Cole’s parents left, she followed Cole to his car and slid in the passenger seat, her fingers running over the smooth texture of the interior. “This car is amazing…” she breathed, her voice a mixture of husky awe and sultry arousal. Cole fired up the car and her eyes slid closed, her thighs clenching closed as one hand grabbed the car handle and the other landed lightly on his thigh. Her back settled deeper into the seat, enjoying how the vibrations settled in her body and made her temperature rise.

“Really, really amazing car, Cole,” she finished, looking at him with dark and sparkling eyes and a wicked grin. “I’m quite jealous.”

[Cole Kessler]

Cole smiled as her hand landed on his thigh. His car apparently had the same effect on her as it did on him. He pressed the gas pedal revving the engine over and over. He pressed it down one last time and held it until the rev bounced up and down from the power of the roar. Cole shivered uncontrollably for a moment as the RPMs dropped back down around 1000.

He looked over at Tae, partially to see what effect the revs had on her and partially to speak, "You ready for this?" He said as he smirked and pressed in the gas and clutch, spinning the rear tires. "Because this....., this is where the fun begins." He said and started to laugh almost maniacly. He released the clutch and shifted to first.

The tires spun a bit longer before catching grip and the car took off. He hit second before he even reached the exit of the parkling lot and drifted out onto the highway, headed toward AppleBee's.

[Taeyeon Kai]

Tae had thought Cole was a nice boy. With his next actions, however, she was wrong. He revved the car, making the car literally purr under her, and she panted softly as the vibrations ran through her body. Her hand clenched on his thigh, her nails almost digging into his skin like a cat’s might, and her legs shifted against each other in restless abandon.

When he spoke, she looked at him with her eyes hooded, obvious desire in the way her eyes darkened. “I think so,” she said just as he made the rear tires spin, the sound of squealing tires filling the air. He laughed and she watched him with surprise before her body was jolted as the car moved forward.

She laughed and held onto the car door as her hand left his thigh, holding on as her body and heart thrilled at the speed and freedom.

[Cole Kessler]

After a good solid ten minutes of driving plum across town, Cole pulled into the parking lot at Applebee's. He found as close a parking spot to the ddoor as he could, the placed was almost completely packed. As he parked and killed the car, he jumped out ran around the front end and opened the door for Tae.

As the two walked in to the restuarant, they were stopped at the booth. "Your reservation, sir?"

He was caught off guard. The Applebee's at home were just walk-ins. He had set up the rezzie, but still wasn't entirely prepared for them. "Uh, Cole Kessler, table for two." The frontwoman checked the list and motioned them to follow her.

As they followed the waitress, she led them into the back of the restuarant. Cole had forgotten about the spot he'd reserved. The entered a room emptied out with the exception of two chairs and a circular table. Two wine glasses sat in front of each chair along with a set of napkin wrapped cutlery. He stepped over to the side and pulled Tae's chair out for her to sit down.

[Taeyeon Kai]

Tae enjoyed the ride to Applebee’s. Even though it was short, she really liked the trip. The thrill of the speed, the purr of the car, Cole’s comforting presence…it all added up for a magical evening. She smiled when he opened her door and gifted him a smile when she exited the car, walking at his side to the door.

She followed Cole and the front-desk woman to the back of the restaurant, aware of the lingering looks she was getting from the other patrons. Sure, she was exotic and her dress was eye-catching, but still, it was unnerving. She slung her shawl on the back of the chair when Cole pulled it out for her and sat down gently, careful not to wrinkle her dress. As soon as that had happened, a waiter had entered and asked for their drink orders.

“I’ll have a water, please,” she said politely, smiling at the man before facing her date of the evening. “I like the spot you picked. No noise, no weird stares, and we can talk without yelling. I approve.”

[Cole Kessler]

"And for you, sir?" The waiter asked before he'd even gotten seated.

"I'll have a sweet iced tea, bro, thanks." Cole said as the waiter wrote it down and exited the room. Her dress, as beautiful as it was, complimented her skin tone and eyes perfectly. Cole's instant urge as he studied it was to pin her against the wall like he'd done at the Club, but theey were here for dinner, not a quick jig.

As she spoke, Cole merely nodded at first, but finally spoke, "This was just the luck of the draw, babe. It's not like I wanted us to have a nice, quiet, candle lit dinner on purpose." He said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Of course he did. He wanted to show Tae that he considered her important to himself.

As the waiter returned with their drinks, Cole stood to help him out. Apparently he had five other tables along with theirs, "Here, man, let me help you with that. We're not in a hurry so there's no need to rush yourself, okay? Take it easy and try not to kill yourself." Cole patted him on the shoulder and sat back down. He looked at Tae, "I hate when restuarants do that to new employees. How can they expect them to handle themselves as well as their veteran wait staff when they've just completed their training? It's just uncalled for, ya know?"

[Taeyeon Kai]

Tae watched Cole’s interactions with herself as well as the waiter that served them. Her father had once said she had hawk’s eyes; such a deep hazel that they looked dark, turning black when she was emotional. They watched everything, placing it in a memory bank that recited every memory she had had since she could remember. Her first memory had been walking around Tokyo Disney to visit her grandfather with her parents, enjoying the colorful balloons and the joyful Disney characters.

She looked up when the waiter returned with their drinks, and she gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you for bringing our drinks,” she told him, her tone soft.

The waiter looked up and smiled back. “You’re welcome,” he replied. “I’ll be back to take your orders.” With that, he left them alone.

She turned back and listened to Cole, nodding as she sipped her water. “It’s not fair,” she answered, setting down her water. She leaned on the table, lacing her fingers together as she rested her elbows on the table. Her curls were like black ink against her skin, her eyes glittering as she looked at him. “Not meaning to change the subject, but what happened to your mother? Did your father divorce her a long time ago?”

[Cole Kessler]

Cole watched as the waiter walked off. Hearing Tae's reply to his question, he nodded "Absolutely not." He watched as the waiter calmly took the other tables their drinks and orders. Cole smiled after seeing how well the waiter took his advice to heart.

He looked back at Tae as she asked about his real mom. "No, she was, uh, taken from us the three days into my life. I just know what my father told me, and that it's all true from the newspaper column he saved until I was old enough. The story of it goes: We were leaving the hospital, at an intersection down the hill from it, a semi driver running late lost his brakes and couldn't slow down." Cole explained. He had many times watched thee scene unfold in his dreams as if he remembered every detail as an infant, "The semi ran the stoplight and slammed into the passenger door, killing her instantly. My dad almost died in the wreck, too, but God knew I would need at least one of my real parents in life." Cole chuckled lightly at the thought of what he'd just said before he continued, "The weirdest part of the whole thing is that my mother was holding me when we were hit. Somehow, someway, I survived at her sacrifice."

Cole took a drink of his tea, "Dad met Cheyenne a few days before I turned seven. I'd never known my real mom, so I welcomed her into my life. They married in December of that year. I was dad's Best man at the wedding, at seven years old." Cole chuckled harder at that comment, mainly because most men have their childhood friend as a Best Man, but his dad had chosen him over them.

"Let's just say, I was the shortest person in the wedding party." He laughed. Trying to take the sadness of tragedy out of the room before anyone got emotional.

[Taeyeon Kai]

Her eyes widened when Cole told his story about his mother, and soon her eyes were wet with tears. His mother had died to protect him. She had been a true mother, unlike the woman who had birthed Taeyeon. Her mother had just given her away because she had been too busy to take care of her only child. She sniffled quietly, hiding her face behind a napkin while she controlled herself not to cry. Her heart broke for him, shattered for the pain he must have felt when he was old enough to understand.

She flicked her eyes to him. “I’m so sorry, Cole,” she told him, coughing a little to break up the sobs in her throat. “I shouldn’t have asked. I was expecting something much more different.” She took a drink of water to calm herself down, willing the tears away. She looked at him again.

“At least your mom left you knowing that you were protected and loved. I was not as lucky as you.” She looked down, delving into memories she didn’t want to relive. “My parents, when I was younger, got new jobs after my grandparents passed away in Japan. Papa became the owner of Tokyo Disney and Mama became a fashion designer. They didn’t have any time to take care of me, so they sent me to live with my aunt and uncle."

[Cole Kessler]

He knew exactly what was running through her mind as she hid her face behind the napkin. Cole smiled lightly, "Don't apologize. To me, you deserve to know about it. Like all aspects of life it happened for a reason." Cole though about her apology, "There's no need in tearing up, Tae, I came to terms with it. It brings a little bit of pain when I tell the story, but a bit of empowerment, too. For some reason, the story of how I survived makes me feel unstoppable, nearly invincible, even. I should've died that day, but something alongside my mother, kept me alive."

He listened as she spoke and told him the story of what her parents had done. What kind of mother and father would do such a thing? How could they have been too busy to love or care for their own offspring? "I'm sorry, love, I'm very sorry that you were put through such a thing. Things like that make me sick." Cole thought more on the story, "I beg you not to take this the wrong way, but I'm kind of glad they did. Why? Well, One: you deserve better than them. And, Two: If they hadn't we never would've met. And this moment would never have happened." He told her, hoping that she would not take any of it in a negative way.

He took another drink of his tea before speaking again, "Like I said, everything happens for a reason. All of our lives are planned out even before we are born." As he finished the waiter walked back in with a big smile on his face. Cole chuckled, "Well, someone looks like their in a better mood. What changed, boss man?"

Thw waiter laughed, "I just got a phone number for this girl I like. Add that to the tip I just got from those business people, and I'm in a much better mood. Now," he said pulling out a notepad, "may I take your orders, sir?"

"Absultely, and I'm happy for you, kid. My request is ask her first, I'm still deciding."

[Taeyeon Kai]

Tae took time to look at the menu before she smiled at the waiter. “I’ll have the three cheese chicken pasta and a Caesar salad to go on the side, please,” she asked politely, handing the menu back to the waiter. Cole’s words still rang in her ears, ringing a truth that she couldn’t deny.

If her parents hadn’t given her up, she would have never seen Robbie again, or would have gotten to meet Cole. She never would have danced with him, kissed him, gave her virginity to Robbie or have wicked dreams about doing the same things to Cole’s body. She would have never gotten her job at the mall or traveled to the many places she had traveled to in her life. She would never have learned her martial arts. In a way, her sad fate had brung out some of the best things in her life right now.

As Cole joked with the waiter, she let her eyes drift over her date. He was sweet, kind, and funny, with the right amount of firmness and responsibility. He was taller than her, lean with all his muscle, and he looked like a rockstar. He had a good voice, had fun doing what he loved, and enjoyed life to the fullest.

She would have to start following his example. The thought made her grin.

[Cole Kessler]

Cole listened to Taeyeon's order had almost persuaded himsefl into ordering the same, but another item caught his eye, "I'll have the Rack-o-Ribs, smothered in barbeque sauce and with a side of seasoned fries and some honey mustard. No rush, take your time, tell them cooks to git-er-done." He shone his country accent for a moment.

However, as appetizing as the meal was, it couldn't take his mind off the beautiful creature across the table from him. He dress snuggled her underarms, clang to her hips and curves and stopped just short of her knees. It was honestly the most beautiful thing Cole had ever seen. He took time to admire the beauty before he looked at her eyes, Surrounded by perfect shading and thickness in her makeup, he could see the thoughts running through her mind. He could tell she had taken his words to heart.

Cole looked her over a bit longer before he spoke, "We keep admiring each other like this, everyone's going to think we're blind and staring at nothingness. But I don't care, something about you makes me forget about all the wrongs in life. When I'm with you everything just feels right somehow....., not sure how, but I like it."