Take Me Home Aimee III: One

Take Me Home Aimee III:  One

"Quit fiddling."
“I’m not fiddling,” Aimee said defensively, trying to pull her hands away from Heath’s fingers.  She could tell that he meant business because he the grip firm but gentle.  She looked up at Heath from the passenger seat as he loomed over her, wishing that she could see over the dashboard, but even she had to admit that she was too fidgety to sit on his shoulder.
Heath pinned down her restless hands from adjusting her dress for the seemingly fiftieth time tonight. He was comfortable getting dressed up, but Aimee was clearly not a dress person in general.
“And even if I was fidgeting, I don’t see the big deal.”  She finally was able to pry her hands out from under Heath’s and started fumbling with her hair instead.  She had decided to wear it down tonight, letting if fall into loose curls and her bangs hung nicely around her eyes since she had trimmed them herself (with Heath’s help of course) with a cuticle trimmer.  Despite her nerves, she couldn’t help smiling.
"You look beautiful; don't worry about Corey's arm candy, alright?" He managed to clasp both her little hands between a finger and thumb and give them a squeeze as he scanned through the windshield for Corey's bright green Ferrari. They were going out to a new restaurant in town. Heath had been there only once for a short meeting, but the ambience was very cool.
“Thanks though, Heath.  You look really nice also,” she said.  Her hands decided to find something else to fumble with as she gently played around with her outfit.  A tiny emerald green pencil skirt with lace tights and black ballet flats.  A lose bright white tunic polished off the look.  She felt surprisingly chic for a human since she had decided at the last minute to wear her fake eyeglasses and lined her eyes heavily with black liner.  She fumbled with one of her shoes.  “There’s no point in wearing heels, so I don’t even know why I’m thinking about it,” she said off-handedly.
"You’d look hot in heels," Heath replied, as blandly as if they were talking about the weather. He kept his eyes calmly on the neighboring road. A few minutes later, he took the keys out of the car.
"They're here." He turned to gather Aimee carefully in his hand.  "Hey, maybe if we're lucky, this chick will actually know that Europe is a continent, not a state."  He grinned, remembering their shock at an overheard conversation between Britney and Corey last week.
“Let’s hope so,” she said up to Heath.  “I don’t think I could stand to see another human that was treated the same way Britney’s was either.”  She shook her head.
Aimee swallowed when Heath announced that they had arrived and eagerly allowed herself to be scooped up into Heath’s palm so she could see what type of bimbo Corey was bringing with him.  As Heath went to the door, she couldn’t help her surprise when she saw the woman walking up with Corey, linking an arm through his.
She looked nothing like she expected.  A tiny beauty, barely reaching Corey’s shoulder with wedge sandals and her skin was like coffee with a hint of cream.  Her hair was also a head of wild auburn and dark brown curls, almost like an afro.  Aimee tilted her head to the side, immediately hoping she would be nice.  Her outfit was also surprisingly simple; a white maxi shirt with a tight red turtleneck top with lots of necklaces.
The group met at the door, exchanging warm greetings and polite compliments. Corey looked sharp in his three-piece suit, his usual angular black glasses in place.
"Good to see you, Aimee," Corey greeted her with a curt, but warm half smile. He raised his head.  "She gets more beautiful every time you being her out, Heath."
Aimee gave a shy wave towards Corey after his compliment.  “Oh…well, thank you,” she said with a grin.  “I try.”  
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” she said in a happy voice, jutting out a hand at Heath first.  “I’m Skylar Tyler,” she said with a sheepish grin.  “And please don’t laugh at the name.  Most of my friends call me Sky…but I don’t mind Skylar, either.”  She reached over to gently take Aimee’s hand between a finger and a thumb, almost having to stand on her tip-toes to reach her.  “And a pleasure to meet you too, Aimee,” she said warmly before releasing and turning her attention back to Corey.  Aimee liked her accent.  It was thick…she must have been British.
After introducing his new girlfriend, the four of them headed inside and were almost instantly whisked away to their table. A fair number of stares followed them as they passed. Or more specifically, Aimee. Ambient music played in the background.  Aimee fell silent as they all started to make their way into the restaurant, still shocked over this new girl with Corey.  She was like nothing she had expected and the petite beauty managed to walk with a bounce in her step before they reached the table.
Heath could practically feel Aimee relaxing in his hand as he followed the hostess. He glanced down at her, but she didn’t even seem to need his reassurance.
The restaurant didn’t generally cater to humans. Thanks to a quick call to the manager beforehand, Heath was able to ensure they made an exception to that rule. Thick glass fish tanks were embedded in the ceiling, creating a watery reflection on the tables and floors.
Atop the glossy black table, there was set up a small round wooden table with a silverware set all rolled up in what looked like a cut scrap of the regular purple napkins.
Skylar didn’t mention anything about the tiny human’s table but did her best to shoot some people some glares as they walked past.  Didn’t people have better things to do than stare at a human?  I mean…who cared?
“I hope the sangrias are good here,” she said, smiling as Aimee took her seat.  “What do you like to drink, Aimee?”
“Oh…well I don’t know,” she said, giving a glance up at Heath.  “I’ve had wine…and even a little beer, but I don’t think I’ve ever had sangria.”
"It's a fruity red wine. You'd probably like it, it's sweet."
“I think…I think that’s what I’ll try then,” Aimee said, looking over at Skylar.  She was pleased to see her smiling.
“I think you’re really going to like it,” Skylar said with her rich British accent.  “Really you can try some of mine before if you want, since I know that’s what I’m going to have.”  She lowered her chin and looked at Aimee.  “You really are beautiful, has anyone ever told you that?” She smirked up at Heath.  “You better be telling her every day.”  She smiled, like it was the most natural conversation in the world.
Aimee was shocked at how easy going this girl was.  Was this a trick?  Skylar was a complete surprise to what she was expecting and though Heath was nice enough to open up the menu in front of her, she smiled shyly.  “I think…I think that I’m going to take her advice and try sangria.”
“Thatta girl,” Skylar said, winking at the two of them.  “Careful though, it can trick you.  Sweet and delicious at first but it makes you drunk.  Haha, there’s no lying about that.”
Corey opened up the wine selection, scanning its contents. Heath did much the same, but noticed they had failed to give Aimee a menu in her size. They probably did not have one on-hand. He didn’t make a big deal about it, but quietly scooted his chair a little closer to Aimee and unfolded his menu next to her.
Heath decided on a Chardonnay and sat back in his seat. Corey was still scrutinizing the selections like it was a life or death decision. Heath knew he might take forever to make up his mind, so he cheerfully interrupted.
"So, Sky," he began with a charismatic smile. "Corey hasn't told me how you two met."
Corey raised his head, reaching beside him to place his hand over Sky's on the table. "I bumped into her at the Philosophy Convention, believe it or not." He grinned. "She talked circles around me, made me change my mind on a couple things," he explained warmly.
Skylar turned her attention away from Aimee to listen to Heath.  “Corey here’s right.  We met at the Philosophy Convention.  I’m a full-professor at the university and they’re always sending me on those things for good appearances.  Apparently I’m very charming,” she said with a witty grin.  “Any way, this one here comes in thinking that he knows it all and I had to put em’ in his place.  I have a doctorate and two master’s degrees for a reason, you know, don’t let the baby-face fool you.”  She smiled.  “And I guess apparently I knocked this one’s socks off because he was practically begging me to go out with him.  I don’t usually go for you stiff business types…” she looked down and gave Corey’s hand a delicate squeeze, “…but there was something about this one.”
Her smile grew even brighter.  “And what about you two?” she asked in a lower voice.  “I can tell there’s something going on.  How long have you two been…” she trailed off, letting the words hang in the air as she noticed Aimee growing pink.  She smirked and looked up at Heath.  Sangria would get this girl talking in no time.
"A little over a week," Heath cut in. A fond glance found its way to Aimee. "Feels like longer, though."
Corey leaned over to whisper in Sky's ear. "I thought we decided not to mention..."
She whispered something back indignantly.  She felt Corey whispering in her ear and winced back sharply before turning back to whisper.  “What’s the problem?  It’s obvious that something’s going on.  Why should they have to keep it a secret?” She didn’t understand what the big deal was, but it was obvious that Corey wasn’t that comfortable with it…or she really couldn’t tell.
"She's my girlfriend," Heath said bluntly over their private conversation. He wasn't about to have their relationship talked around about like some forbidden subject. He saw Aimee stiffen a little in her seat. He slid his hand over and draped a couple fingers over her lap, partially under the miniature table.
Corey sucked in a breath, straightening in his seat.
"Uh, Great. Awesome. Uhm…" he glanced to Sky to see if she felt the same. He cleared his throat and smiled down at her after a slightly dangerous look from Heath.
“That’s fantastic,” Skylar said with a smile, not a hint of sarcasm in her voice.  She loved the way Heath was looking at this girl.  “Lucky girl,” she said in a low voice, hoping to catch Aimee’s attention.  “And a very lucky guy.”  When she saw the human lower her head, she couldn’t help but worry if she accidently brought up something inappropriate.
“Well, I think it’s great,” Skylar went on, never missing a beat as she turned back to Heath as he stated something so clearly.  “We should celebrate…sangrias on me, girl,” she said with a smile down towards Aimee.  “Come to think about it…” she started to dig in her purse.  “Gah!  I usually have an eye dropper with me; I’ll be right back…”
"A real fireball, that one. She does know the restaurant will take care of that, right?" Heath looked across at his friend. Corey shook his head with a fond laugh.
"I swear, it's like she hasn't been to anything more prestigious than Applebee's since 1989."
Heath raised his eyebrows. At first, he narrowed his eyes, doubting the woman's sincerity. She was so enthusiastic, it seemed almost unrealistic. But as she hurried off retrieve one from her makeup bag in Corey's car, Heath found himself smiling.
“Oh you don’t have to do that—” Aimee said, starting to hold up her hand but the young woman was so fast, a blur of curly hair quickly left the restaurant and she stiffened slightly in her seat and looked up at Corey.  “It’s…it’s not…I mean…we’re just taking things slow,” she said, hoping to explain herself to Corey.  He looked a little unsure about it and she tried not to make it a big deal.  Like clockwork, Heath’s touch found her and instantly soothed her.  As they waited for Skylar to return, she rested her hands over Heath’s fingers, rubbing his knuckles nervously.  She couldn’t tell how Corey felt about the whole thing.
Moments later, the waitress came and collected their drink orders.  As she came to the table, she could tell that she looked right over Aimee as she glanced around; probably thinking she was nothing more than a pretty accessory.
“She…she seems really nice,” Aimee said in a shy voice, still trying to get over how nice Skylar was.  She could sense something in the eyes that she was genuine, but she had seen that look from before.  Like Heath, she was also very impressed that she had bolted out from the place to go grab something for her.  Someone who was trying to be false wouldn’t do something so crazy.  She liked her.
“So what can I get you…” the waitress started to say as her eyes drifted around the table.  “Table of four, I thought they said?” she asked, her eyes searching the table.  “You two handsome gentlemen seem to be short two ladies,” she said with a light-hearted smile.
"Just one actually." Heath took his hand out from Aimee's lap and placed it on the back of her chair like he was claiming what was his. The waitress' chipper demeanor faltered when she relaxed he wasn't joking.
"The human? But that – I didn't think..."
"An honest mistake I'm sure," Heath finished overtop of the sputtering waitress and gave her a friendly smile. "We'll take a pitcher of Sangria and a glass of Chardonnay."
“Add one Zinfandel to that, please." Corey added.
She dared to smile as Heath’s hand moved to the back of her chair and instinctively she leaned against it, daring to smile up at the waitress.
She didn’t look cruel…simply confused.
“R-right,” she said, quickly jotting down their orders.  “Well my name’s Amanda and I’ll be your server if you gentlemen…and l-ladies need anything else.”  She shuffled away before the intimidating man with the human could say anything else that made her self-conscious.  What was a beautiful young business man doing with a human anyway?  She frowned but kept it to herself, still hoping to salvage a big tip.
"Go any harder on her, she might not come back." Corey gave Heath a pointed look over his glasses. Heath turned slightly sheepish, not always realizing when he was coming off as intimidating.
"I was perfectly civil." He exchanged a look with Aimee as he drew his hand away, brushing her shoulders deliberately.
“Super civil,” Aimee teased, following Corey’s lead as he looked for the giantess.  What was taking her so long?  With a smile, she lightly nudged Heath’s fingers as they brushed against her shoulders.  She couldn’t believe how forward he was being.  She hadn’t expected this.  He was so open about their relationship.  Was that for show…or was he actually proud to be seen with her?  Either way, she definitely enjoyed it.
Corey kept glancing up to look for Skylar. Worrywart as ever. Heath was certain that Sky's warmth and down-to-earth attitude would do the millionaire some good. Scanning the eclectic menu, he spotted something and hummed in amusement.
"They have steak." He tapped an entree reading "filet minion" and nudged Aimee.
“Oh…” Aimee said, her eyes lighting up.  “Do you think I could have that this time?” she asked in a quiet voice, growing a bit shy as Corey looked at her pointedly.  Did he think that they were going to share the same plate or something?  She looked down at the menu.  “But I don’t think that that they steak here portioned out for me,” she said, trying to keep her voice calm.  “I can always just have a little bit of what you’re having…”
“No way,” a friendly voice blurted out and Aimee looked up to see Skylar coming back her seat, looking slightly out of breath.  “Sorry, I went to the car and I then I passed something in a window that I simply couldn’t resist.  All in the spirit of fun after all…” she trailed off and pat her purse.
Aimee felt her stomach lurch.  All in the spirit of fun?  She swallowed, remembering the human in Britney’s purse.  She wouldn’t…would she?”