Log: Sam and Tabby, Saturday evening (backdated to February 22nd)

[x-cannonball.livejournal.com]

Sam and Tabby finally go out on a formal date.


Sam had wanted to take Tabs out to a nice place for supper, but he didn't want it to be too nice. Since it'd be their first dinner date, as it were, he didn't want to set the bar too high. It was entirely plausible that he was over thinking the situation as well, but he'd never admit that. He'd finally settled on a nice Mexican place that had pretty positive reviews online, but wasn't a five star experience or a fancy restaurant. It sounded like they had good food for a decent price, though, and that was as good a place as any to start Sam reckoned.

Dressed in his second best khakis (again, don't overdo it) and a nice (but not too nice) shirt, he cleared his throat and knocked on Tabby's door.

Her middle froze when she heard the knock. Was the dress too much? Of course not, she wore dresses weekly, sometimes daily. She just didn't drag this one out as often. She knew blond roots were peeking out from the red of her hair, but redoing it right before a... this was a date, right?

Dinner, dinner with Sam.

The door.

Tabitha jumped to open the door. She couldn't help the happy grin when she saw Sam. "Hi."

"Hi, I-" He stopped when he saw her dress, blinking before continuing. "I... wow. Hi. Did... did I say that already?" Sam rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling a little. "I mean, how are you? You're ready to go, I reckon, but if not take your time, totally. Hi."

She toed into her shoes, right next to the door. Then grabbed her wallet from the table. "All ready." Was that too eager? No, she was just efficient, she was an X-Man, damn it. "Good day for you?" she asked.

"Ok, awesome, me too." Which she probably already guessed, seeing as he had just come calling for her and all. Sam grinned and put his arm out for her to take on the way to the truck. "Yeah, it was pretty good, not bad. How 'bout you, everything go alright?"

"The kids are smart-asses, but I think I like them," she admitted as she took his arm. Her stomach fluttered a bit, but standing next to him felt... right.

"That's good then, the liking part, I mean. And yeah, they totally are some times, heh, but they like you, I know it. How could they not?" Sam said, blushing a little. "And you're good at it, I know that too, Tabs." He lead them to the truck, escorting her to the passenger side and opening the door for her.

It took her a minute to realize that he'd opened the door for her. She blushed as she took her seat, pulled her skirt out of the way of the door. She waited until Sam climbed into the driver seat before she spoke again. "Well, I just aim to be a better librarian than Logan is as an art teacher."

"Heh, trust me, you've got that covered in spades, and then some." Not that he didn't like Logan but, well. Sam was pretty biased too, of course. He started the truck and they headed on their way to the restaurant. "So, how do you feel about Mexican food?"

She suppressed a grin. "I like food," she said. Especially food she didn't cook herself. Hadn't she just had this discussion with Lorna? "I'm not picky when it comes to food."

"Me either, not really anyway." Growing up back home he had to eat what he was given, no questions asked, so he'd learned from a young age to appreciate whatever food he had. "This place is supposed to be pretty decent too, so I'm sure it'll be fine." But not too fine, don't set that bar too high, Guthrie, Sam admonished himself.

She would not wiggle like an excited school girl, she would not. It would be quite undignified and -- She couldn't help herself. She wiggled in her seat and just grinned at Sam. "I'm sure it will be great."

"Totally, it's going to be a great time." Wait, was great too good a goal? Sam wasn't sure and right at that moment he really didn't care, he realized. He was going out on an actual date with a woman he really cared about and that was all that mattered. "I'm glad we're doing this, Tabs." Both the specific date and the whole dating thing in general.

Happiness bubbled up in her chest and her grin turned into a smile. "Y'know what? Me too."

"Well, shucks, that's awesome." Sam blurted out before he could filter what he was saying. Shucks, Guthrie? Really? He quelled his inner voice and reached his right hand out, leaving the left one firmly on the wheel, seeking Tabby's hand to give it a little squeeze.

Her world zeroed in on that contact, and for a moment, she stopped breathing. Instead of ruining the moment with a smart-ass remark, she just squeezed back, and enjoyed the moment.

They arrived at the restaurant and were promptly seated in a nice, quiet booth off near the back of the place. Sam let Tabby order first, then thanked the server after he'd finished and handed her both of their menus. Since he was driving he'd ordered a Coke for himself and he sipped at it while thinking of what to say.

"So... burritos are good, huh?" He'd ordered some himself and it was a pretty obvious statement now that he thought about it and why had he said it? Before Sam could spout any other words of wisdom he took another long sip of his soda.

She wasn't sure what prompted her honesty. "I'm... really not good with food," she confessed. "Most of my diet consists of supplements so I can get enough calories to balance out my power." She felt her face flame in shame. She was a grown-ass woman, she should have eating down by now.

"Hey, it's ok, Tabs." He reached out and squeezed her hand again, concern on his face at her blushing. When it came to powers Sam was pretty fortunate compared to some of his fellow mutants, he knew, and even those who might not appear to have any issues may have more to deal with than you realized. That seemed to be the case with Tabitha. "Is there anything I can do to help? I mean, like, can I recommend something or... I dunno." He wasn't sure how he could help but he wanted to, so the least he could do was offer.

She looked down at her hands, half-smiled. "Mostly, I think it's my complete inability to cook. Dr. Voight demands more calories, but after so many ramen packages and peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches, it seems like too much effort." She snorted softly. "It might help if I could figure out the microwave."

"Oh, I can teach you how to microwave. Microwave 101 was going to be my second course, didn't you know?" said Sam with a chuckle. His mother had actually taught him how to make a few things, and he was more than willing to help Tabitha out if she wanted. "Seriously though, I can do a little cookin', if you ever want some help. Or microwavin'."

Was it possible to actually melt? Because Tabs was pretty sure she was about to melt right out of her chair. Her smile may have wobbled a bit, but it felt like it took up her whole doggone face. "That would be really, really nice," she said.

"Then consider it done." Sam said with a grin. He didn't know all that much but he'd show her whatever he knew if it meant that much to her. "Maybe one of these nights we can do it, or over the weekend, whenever you wanna come over and I can teach you a few things. Not a lot, mind, but I'll do my best."

Yup, she read too much into that. And turned bright red, because a large tiny part of her wished that was actually his intent.

Before he could add anything else the food arrived. "Mmm, looks good. Wanna try some of mine?" Sam lifted his plate slightly so she could see what he was offering. "I'm really glad we're doing this, by the way, Tabs." Both the dinner together and dating in general, he meant, and he grinned goofily at her.

She laughed, quite happy. "You've said that already," she reminded him. "It's still true."

"Oh yeah, heh, I did." Sam said with a chuckle. "I guess that I did. And it is, definitely." Not sure what else to say, he reached for his glass of water and hoisted it into the air. "Cheers, Tabby."