Experiment in Romance(Kiri)

[Locke F. Herald]

After his important mission Locke would have loved to simply take the day off, but he knew he couldn't. He had to get ready for Kiri, so that this would work like it was supposed to.

His research had said he should get dressed up, but Locke didn't. He hated getting dressed up, not to mention that it was just compounded by his ears, and harder to hide his tail. So he waited, not in the Cafe, but close enough that he would spot Kiri when she appeared. With all the animals jumping around, Locke knew this had to be the right place, no doubt about it at all.

So he watched, and waited, for the blond fairy to solve the puzzle he'd given her and receive her prize.

[Kiri Honeywater]

When she had found the note everyone in the dormitory could hear her squeals of glee. She'd run straight out of the door to start the little "treasure hunt" he'd planned out for her. Got to the door of the common room when a girl called to her.

"Um, shouldn't you change out of your school clothes? And perhaps not bring your totebag?" Kiri gasped then ran back to her room followed by girlish giggles. After changing into a white dress with yellow flats, and lime green tights she grabbed a white sweater in case it was cold. Putting her hair up in a high pony tail with a white ribbon she ran out again. The letter and map held tightly in her hands.

After what felt like forever she came running around the corned to her favorite cafe? Wow, maybe she needed to look at maps more often. Smiling, with hair blowing behind her she jumped into the air laughing with delight at spotting Locke. She ran to his side chest heaving basically glowing with her happiness.

"That was so much fun! I almost came here with my back pack still on." Kiri giggled tucking a stray curl behind her pointed fae ears. She'd never think Locke of all people would pull something like this. "Who told you where this cafe was?"

It was like her muscles couldn't stop smiling her eyes darting to the animals, then back to his amazingly cute face. She was so happy she was about to explode.

"So, what's next? Oh, planner of the funness?" Stepping forward she held out her hand for his doing her best not to hop about like an idiot. It was hard but she managed it.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke looked down at Kiri from his perch and smiled. He hopped off the slightly elevated wall and landed next to her, taking her hand.

"I learned from a man whom I helped free from a prison of stone and steel, it was a wondrous adventure!" He felt very silly saying something like that, but the odd nature of it would probably make her smile.

"And your prize, for being such a clever girl, is a treat on me. You get a lunch at your favorite cafe on a lovely Saturday afternoon." He said with a smile, pulling her towards the cafe's main area.

"Do you accept this invitation?" Locke asked, thinking all the while how beautiful she looked. The dress, her hair in a ponytail, and that smile so permanent is was as if it was branded onto her face. He couldn't help but smile as widely as she did.

It was worth all the trouble to set up.

[Kiri Honeywater]

His hand now in hers she difinitely couldn't stop smiling. She just liked everything about him. His hair, his eyes, his cute smile, and his soft hands. How she had gotten so lucky was out of her reach of understanding.

"You sound like some kind of knight." Giggling she wondered what man he'd saved from such a drastic fate. As far as she knew only one person knew that she went here often other than Locke and that was Kennedy. She'd have to ask him about a "prison of stone and steel" the next time she saw him.

"Of course I accept! I've been studying most of the day and now I'm starving, especially after all that running." Kiri squeezed his hand ever smiling at him as her heart pounded. Their first real date! In her favorite place. Wait, in her usual date place. All the boys she'd ever dated she'd taken there. They might be there today. Blushing she hoped that they weren't.

Maybe they should go somewhere else? No, he'd done so much to make this day special for her she'd go in even if it meant she ran into an ex-date. Besides with him there nothing else would matter.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke beamed when she said she'd accept. He found it funny she thought him some sort of knight, because he definitely did not meet the 'Knight in Shining Armor' picture.

"Well then come on!" He said, unable to remove the silly smile from his face either. Seeing her so happy did wonders for him, even if he had a few bad days since the last time he saw her.

"It's a lovely day, and while I wouldn't mind spending it standing here with you, there is much more to be done. But running? I would have thought you would have flown here. It must be really cool to be able to fly, looking down on everything with such a view." He was rather jealous of people with that ability, it seemed really pretty cool. Not to mention really useful too.

As he spoke he led her over to a table, remembering his reading, as he remembered everything, he walked to one end of the table and pulled her chair out for her. It was, apparently, the polite thing to do with a lady.

Damned if he knew.

[Kiri Honeywater]

Her smile grew at the sight of his smile and she followed him willingly to the table. Something he said though had her mind's wheels turning. Other than the lunch what else did he have planned for them?

"Much to do? What are we doing after lunch?" She paused as he pulled the chair out for her. None of the other boys had ever done that, and it made her blow her head slightly to hide her pink cheeks. He really was a knight.

"Um, fly? That might have been better than running." Kiri felt rather silly for not thinking of it herself. Someone would obviously think a Fairy would fly a long distance. Common sense just alluded her sometimes. "I'll remember that the next time I need to get somewhere in a hurry."

She wasn't the best at reading maps and running at the same time. Course she found out she wasn't too good at running and reading either, often stopping to check the map and having to retrace her steps.

"Thank you," Realizing she was just standing there she moved over and sat her soft gaze focused on him.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke couldn't help but laugh a little when Kiri said she hadn't thought of flying. "I'm sorry Kiri, did the game leave you too excited? I don't think well when I am put on the spot either, we forget silly things." He said with a grin. "I've been so excited over some things before I've run out of my house without shoes on, and then felt rather silly when I had to go back to grab them." He said sheepishly. "I'm just glad the map was all right and you found your way here. It would have been a bad day indeed without you here." He said, taking his seat across from her. He quite enjoyed the view over the small cafe table.

Locke wouldn't know it, but they attracted a bit of attention here. Kiri was a regular, but Locke....not really. People in this town knew him, he came by now and again to look at book shops and the like. Not like he was in town often, but once you saw a cat-eared boy you weren't likely to forget him ever. But now he was paying too much attention to Kiri to notice anyone else.

"So, did you have a nice day Kiri? Tell me about it, I haven't spoken to you in a bit, my failure as a b-boyfriend." He wanted to smack himself for falling into an old habit, but he restrained his annoyance.

[Kiri Honeywater]

Kiri couldn't contain her giggles at his trying to make her feel less like a complete idiot. She forgot shoes all the time, but it didn't help that she was a flower child and didn't much like shoes.

"It took me a a while but once I felt like I knew where I was going it was easy." Which had only been a block away from the cafe but he didn't need to know that part. A familiar squirrel-monkey was tugging at her dress and she subconsciously opened her arms for it to crawl into. She started petting it without thinking as she answered Locke's question.

"Today I tried to study." Kiri stuck out her tongue showing her dislike for the act. "But I ended up doodling all over my notes instead. Guess I fail at learning things without you around."

She winked with a mischieveous little smile to add to it. "You're not a failure at being a boy friend. You're just busy with school."

Kiri reached her and across the table for his trying to reassure him that he was a wonderful boy friend. A waitress came over to their table and have them the menu then walked away with a smile. She picked up the menu with her non-out stretched hand, she felt like eating unhealthy today. It was a great day and she wanted to spoil herself.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke smiled as she scooped up a small monkey. And then grinned when she mentioned needing him around to study. "Oh that's not good." He said with a smile. "You distract me so much I'm not so sure how helpful the other study sessions will be." He added with a grin. "Busy with school...yeah."

Bullies...
Research...
Elaborate Espionage Attempts...

Those were school related right?

"It has been a little more hectic then I would have liked, that is for sure. But times like this make it worth it." He said, laying his hand atop hers and picking up his menu.

"So, I've never been here before, what's good?" He asked, looking up at her. In actuality he hadn't even looked at the menu yet.

[Kiri Honeywater]

The monkey curled up in her lap playing with her hair its beady eyes staring at Locke. Kiri didn't notice as she glanced over the menu. The waitress came back to leave the homemade chips and dip then left them again.

"I distract you? How?" Her eyes lifted from the lamenated page of the menu to catch his grin. Was he...flirting? She covered her mouth trying to stifle a giggle, he was just too cute. Setting down the menu she scratched the monkey's back her other hand curling around his.

"Well, I'm sorry it was so busy. Maybe this next week will be less so and you can come visit me." Kiri grinned thinking that idea sounded wonderful. They could sit on the couch and hold hands and talk, and maybe a kiss or two. Maybe. If not too many people were about.

"Good? Well, a lot of people like the meat puffs. Their various soups are good. They have really tasty sandwiches, and I love their salads." Her eyes roamed over the menu again not having the slightest idea of what he liked to eat. "Are you a vegetarian?"

That would narrow down the choices really qickly.

[Locke F. Herald]

"Less busy, yeah I hope so. I'd like to put everything from this week as far out of my mind as possible." He squeezed her hand. "With some notable exceptions."

"Hm? Well, I do eat meat on occasion, but I like to keep my diet healthy. I'm not the most physically active person, so I have to eat right or it'll hurt me down the line." He explained. "So I think..." He took his eyes off of Kiri to glance at the menu. "I'll have a small salad with...a sandwich sounds good. Wonder what kind, maybe I should just let them surprise me?" He said with a childish grin. "After all, my dad always told me I needed to try some new things. He'd panic if he knew I was listening to him now." He laughed thinking about that. He loved and respected his father, but he was nothing like him at all.

Odd indeed. But still he found good advice from those years he had knowns his father.

[Kiri Honeywater]

She squeezed back with a angelic smile thinking how wonderful the week had been for her. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened except them coming together as girl friend and boy friend.

"Do you want to talk about it? I'm here you know." Kiri's smile softed to show that she was serious. If he was in any sort of distress she wanted to help in anyway that she could. Even if it was just giving him a ear to talk to.

"I like eating healthy too, but today I want to spoil myself. I don't remember the last time I pigged out." She giggled crossing her legs making the small monkey shift his arms slipping around her neck. "I'll have the fried cheese puffs, with ranch dipping sauce, and tortilla cheese soup."

Cheese was always good and fattening, and all she'd have to do is specify to get the vegetarian version of the soup. She didn't mind chicken but it was a rare day that she ate meat.

"Trying new things is good for you. It widens your view on life. Or at least I think it does." There wasn't really anything on the menu she hadn't tried besides the meat based meals, and that was a very slim number of items.

[Locke F. Herald]

"No, it's all right. There are some things I'm too stubborn to accept help on, it's just one of those things." He said, returning the squeeze of her hand. It was funny how that had become a form of communication for them.

Besides, he didn't want to worry her. The less people who knew, the better.

"You know me anyway, always have my nose buried in some book. I really should get out more. Reading other peoples experiences are all well and good, but making your own is what life is all about, right?"

He hummed to some unknown tune, tapping his free hand on the table. "Trying something new, yeah it's pretty nice, I'll agree. Maybe we should go around town after lunch? Maybe some window shopping, or see what is happening in the park, you can always find interesting people there. What do you think?"

[Kiri Honeywater]

She would have to investigate later to find out what had happened this week to Locke. Kiri knew that people needed their privacy but if it was something that was making him upset in any way she wanted it to stop.

Smiling at his returned hand squeeze she turned her eyes to him watching him looking over the menu. To think that they were dating still amazed her sometimes. Often she worried that she would mess things up. That the age difference would come up and make things difficult. That she might rush things or hurt him in some way. She'd do anything to keep him from pain, anything.

"Books are nice, but getting out is more fun to me. Books often confuse me, but you know that." She lowered her head and scratched the monkey's tummy before it jumped down and ran back to its master.

"Window shopping is nice, and the park sounds good too. Maybe we could do both? We have nearly all day to spend together." Kiri lifted her eyes to the waitress as she came up to their table.

"Are you two ready to order?" The older woman smiled at the couple and winked at Kiri, the regular couple. "I see you have another new boy today, Kiri."

Kiri's smile faltered and she blushed. "Fried cheese puff things, ranch dressing stuff, and veggie tortilla cheese soup."

Muttering she held out her menu not looking at Locke. "Acai berry juice please." Why did the lady have to say that?

[Locke F. Herald]

Kiri seemed preoccupied before she responded, but Locke put it out of his mind. It was nothing to worry about anyway. And she was in agreement of what they should do, that's excellent!

And then the waitress walked over, an older women. That meant she was less likely to embarrass him, good. Then she made a remark to Kiri, another boy?

For some reason that bothered Locke. He kept telling himself that it was wrong to feel jealous.

It's perfectly normal for a girl to go on dates, nothing odd about it at all.

"Another new boy today."

He was just over thinking it. That was the past, now was all that mattered.

"New boy."

Was that all he was? A new flame for her to be amused with? She did like new experiences, so maybe she wanted to sample as many people as possible before she made a choice?

NO! He shook his head side to side quickly, that was wrong and he knew it. She really liked him, it was deeper then simple childhood infatuation, of course it was. The waitress looked at him for a moment.

"If you need some more time to order..."

Locke snapped back to reality. "Oh! No sorry. I'll...um...I'll have a salad with some Italian dressing, and a sandwich. Surprise me." He said handing the menu to her.

"Anything to drink?"

Locke thought, he hadn't considered it. He normally got water but he felt that was bland and not at all exciting. "I'll try what she is." He said, gesturing across the table. If she was having it, it was worth trying right? He then handed his menu to the lady.

He did notice that Kiri was unusually flustered after the order. Was it because...she was right?

No, that wasn't what it was, not at all.

Though the silence that overtook the table when the waitress stepped away was quite painful. Not the happy awkward silence, this was a sort of oppressive silence.

The thought kept returning to his head.

She brought other boys here...they came here with her...I'm not special...

But what about the first kiss?

And then he was red again.

She could have lied about th-

NO!

He refused to believe that she would lie to him, he would trust her. No matter what.

But now what? He seemed lost for what to talk about now, his carefully constructed plan lost and forgotten.