Foreign Affair ›› n.h. mature

Four

Olivia Allen

Harry pulled up right to the front of a very nice looking restaurant with a name I didn't recognize but it wasn't a foreign word so I'm sure I will find something I like. He got out of the car and came over to my door and opened it for me.

"You can park here?" I asked

"Paul is going to park it for us. Thanks again, Paul."

"Oh, that's sweet." We made our way inside. It was dimly lit and had beautiful dark hardwood floors. It was clear we had a reservation but he didn't have to give his name, obviously they know him. I can't imagine all these people I've never met in my life knowing things about me. Or thinking they know things about me that aren't even true.

The cute blonde hostess showed us to our table and gave Harry a smile. It wasn't really in an "I don't care that you're on a date, I'm going to flirt with you" way, it was more like she was a fan but was trying to be professional and keep her job.

The waitress came over, introduced herself, and handed us menus. Harry ordered a bottle of wine. It's one of those places that is so expensive that they don't even put the prices on the menu. Great. Not that a millionaire will care at all, but I don't want to order something ridiculously expensive.

"I didn't ask you if you like wine. Or if you can even drink?"

"I can drink here," I said, laughing. Of course I can. Did he seriously think for a second that I'm not 18 yet? That's the drinking age here even though in America it's 21.

"I just thought maybe if you aren't old enough to drink in America you might not drink at all. I didn't mean it like that though." He gave a nervous laugh.

"Oh." I laughed too as the waitress poured our glasses and then set the wine down. "Sorry. Yeah, I do drink, even in America. I'm only 20. But the drinking age truly isn't all that well enforced on American college campuses. At OU there's this bar known as the freshman bar because they purposely do a bad job of checking IDs and let anyone in."

"Huh. That's quite funny."

"Yeah, it really is." I thought that would have been a nice way to turn the conversation to college but he didn't seem too interested so I took a gulp of wine. I could ask a million questions about him. But would any of them sound anything but obsessive? I decided continuing on talking was the safer approach. "That's kind of the thing to do most weekends. I go with my sorority, some weekends it's after a date party or some other function." He seems bored. "That's why being here will be such a fun change of pace. But there are classes to go to here just like there so that hasn't changed." Maybe that will make him ask me about my major.

"That's understandable," is all he said. Wow I must be boring him. I guess I better try asking some questions, even if I'm worried I'll sound too eager.

The waitress came back over and I ordered a steak, medium rare. I definitely could eat the bigger one, but I asked for the six ounce filet because I was trying to be polite. I also ordered roasted potatoes and green beans on the side. At the very least tonight will include some delicious food. Harry ordered a fancy sounding chicken dish.

I tried to continue the conversation where we left off. "So do you ever feel like you missed out by not getting a college experience? I mean obviously your life is better than college." Duh. "I just mean, what would you have enjoyed studying?"

"Honestly, I wasn't very studious. I might have gone to uni but I don't know what I would have studied."

"Yeah I guess in Europe it isn't as necessary. At least that's how it seems to Americans. To us college is the most typical plan for after high school, but here not so much I guess. Do you think that's true?"