GIRL GENIUS

Chapter 6: After the Date

After dinner and a simple dessert of strawberry mousse, Mark and Bryce got back into Mark's car.

"You don't mind if we drive down to the beach?" Mark asked. "I think we can still catch the sunset."

"That's fine," Bryce decided, looking at her wristwatch. "We still have an hour before I have to be in."

With a smile plastered on his face, Mark pointed the car in the direction of the beach.

They arrived and parked the convertible at the edge of the parking lot.

Bryce got out and walked to the edge of the pier, taking off her shoes and standing in the wet sand of the coast.

Mark watched her at first, smiling thoughtfully to himself, then he joined her, setting his shoes next to hers.

"Water's a little cold," he noted.

"Not terribly so," Bryce replied. "I like it."

Mark looked at the vast mostly empty beach.

"When we're older," he told her. "I'm going to build a little bungalow here on this beach just for the four of us."

"Four of us?"

"You and me and our two kids, Candy and Jack."

"Oh?" Bryce asked, raising an eyebrow. "Are we adopting?'

"I meant after we get married."

"Mark! We're still just on our first date," Bryce managed to say as she burst out laughing.

"Yes, that's true," Mark agreed. "But sometimes you just know. Can't you feel something?

"Yes," Bryce said. "I feel that it's going to start raining any minute now. And besides, I know how babies are made. Theora told me. It sounds gross."

"Aren't you interested in finding out how your new bits go 'ping'?" Mark teased her, whispering into her ear in an attempt at seduction.

"No," Bryce told her. "Why don't you take me home? Then you can go back to your place and find out how your own bits go 'ping'!"

"I'm sorry," Mark said, backing down. "That was rather forward of me. I won't mention it again."

"I mean it," Bryce said, firmly. "Take me home."

They put their shoes back on and returned to the car.

When they got back to Theora's place Mark opened Bryce's door for her.

"It was a nice date," he told her. "I'm sorry about my behaviour at the beach."

Bryce simply nodded. "I had a pleasant time," she admitted.

"Maybe we can see each other again sometime?"

"We'll see," Bryce told her. "I'm still getting used to…"

Mark leaned forward and kissed her before she realized what was happening.

"How does that data figure into the equation?" he asked.

Bryce smiled and blushed, saying nothing as she unlocked the door, stepped inside, then closed and locked it.

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