Townhome #3818, The Feldman Residence

[Hawk]

"That's good to hear..." Hawk paused again when Cocoa tugged at her collar, wanting to run around after being cooped inside a room, watching Indian action films all day. He ignored her. She could run once they got near home. Right now, Hawk didn't want to be distracted from his first phone conversation with Farrah.

"Well that's different in my case then... I can see why your family would not need a pet. But what about now? Your daughter doesn't want one?"

[Farrah]

She shrugged. "Having a pet really never crossed my mind before. But it doesn't sound like a bad idea ... maybe it will keep me company those lonely nights to approach," she said sadly, hating the fact that her daughter was very much independent for her age. She didn't need Farrah all that much these days. And with no other child to nurture and care for, Farrah felt useless. "I'm not even sure Felicia is fond of animals. She's got her own interests."

[Hawk]

Don't worry... I'll be here to keep you company, if you'd let me, was on his tongue but miraculously, Hawk held it in. "Lonely nights to approach? Why, because your daughter is leaving the nest sooner than you think?" he said instead, steering Cocoa toward the house.

[Farrah]

Farrah was quite surprised how he caught on about Felicia. She didn't remember mentioning it to him but maybe he was observant. She liked that quality in a person and found herself liking another thing about him. "Perhaps." She wanted to steer the conversation away from this topic. "So, what kind of dog do you have?"

[Hawk]

"A chocolate labrador. Her name is Cocoa," he laughed. "Don't ask about the name." Cocoa barked when she heard her name and Hawk shushed her again. They were in the neighborhood now and he knew that some of his neighbors were already complaining about Cocoa's jumpy attributes during odd hours.

[Farrah]

Farrah smiled, listening to the dog bark again "She's a spunky little one, isn't she? And I like the name. I hope to meet her someday. Will you introduce me to the furry lady in your life?" Farrah pulled her legs against her chest and laid her head on her knees. She wasn't tired at all now. She actually wished she was walking with him. The night was a perfect cool.

[Hawk]

"Well it depends on Cocoa really... She's really jealous," Hawk bent to ruffle his dog's head and she whined in response. He opened the door to the house and was greeted by a stern look from Mr. Paysten already clad in his blue plaid pajamas and ready for bed.

Ignoring the old man, he clicked his fingers for Cocoa to lead the way upstairs. "But I'm sure I can convince her that you're a nice lady and that I like you. She'll warm up to you once I make that known."

[Farrah]

Farrah giggled. "Oh, okay. Well, that makes me feel a lot better. You know, the fact that you like me. I'm not exactly Ms. Personality but I'm glad I have someones interest." She wasn't used to all this attention. Sure, many men had approached her for a phone number, a dance or offered to buy her a drink but she was never interested enough. But with Hawk, it was just a different story, period.

[Hawk]

"Yeah, you're a beautiful woman but I'm sure people tell you that all the time..." He pushed open the door to his bedroom and let Cocoa enter first. She ambled over to his bed and perched down. "But that's not why I like you." He pushed off his shoes and padded across the room to close the blinds.

[Farrah]

Her cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling so much but she couldn't help it. When you're alone (meaning that she hadn't had any relationship with a man in a long time) and someone comes along that makes you feel some type of contentment, it's hard not to show it.

"So please, enlighten me, why do you like me?"

[Hawk]

"Because you're not afraid to speak your mind... Or be yourself." Hawk leaned against the wall and stared out the window, grinning from ear to ear as he remembered the first time he'd seen her walking across the hallway in school, clad in a pair of snug jeans and a fitted sweater. Totally not a teacher's attire. "You're comfortable in your own skin."

[Farrah]

"I can say I've been blessed with confidence. I haven't always been this way; it took me a while to learn to be comfortable. It all happened in high school, some point in my sophomore year, around my baby's birthday. My old classmates used to tease me; made me feel like an outcast. A 14 year old with a 1 year old baby. I used to cry until I wanted to stop feeling sorry for myself. I wanted to prove I wouldn't be a statistic, a drop out. So I kept my head up high, did me and that made people jealous," said Farrah, giving him a brief version of her high school experience, which was the same reason she didn't like teaching high school kids but it was work.

[Hawk]

"See? That's what's up... That you can shove it in their faces, show them you're stronger than they think." Hawk shrugged. "I knew there was a reason you were so intriguing to me." He smiled. "So when can we meet again?"

[Farrah]

Meet again? The words rang in her ear. Was it a good idea to plan to see him? Not that she didn't want to. She did. A part of her was longing for the companionship of someone other than her daughter. Farrah pressed her lips together, giving this a long thought before deciding. Was she ready to break the rule with fraternizing with a student.

"How about you come over my place for dinner tomorrow night? Can you make it?"

[Hawk]

Hawk blinked in surprise. Sure he wanted to meet with her, to have dinner again or he wouldn't have requested her company in the first place. But she'd answered so quickly, he didn't know how to respond. Then a smile crossed his face again. "Of course I can make it, if you're serious."