Experiment in Romance(Kiri)

[Kiri Honeywater]

Everything felt heavy now, and she felt sick, not at all hungry for what she just ordered. The waitress gave her a sad smile as if to apologize for saying anything before she left. He wasn't talking, and he seemed a bit out of sorts now. With her free hand she rubbed her leg nervously not knowing what to say to make things better.

"I'm sorry. I should've told you I've been on dates here." Over and over she rubbed her leg until she could feel the heat from the friction. "I didn't know what I was looking for. No one made me happy."

She felt like she had to explain things to him. It was so quiet now and it was her fault.

"It wasn't until Kennedy asked about you, and I realized...just how much you meant to me." That sounded like she hadn't liked him for as long as she had. "I just kept telling myself that you would never like me. That you were too smart for me, too good for me. That...I might be too old...that I was not your type."

Hardcore rambling always fixes things.

"So I dated anyone who asked me, but not a single one made my heart flutter. No one made me want to fait when they touched my hand." Kiri rubbed her thumb over his hand tightening her hold on him. "You probably have figured all of this out, and I'm just paranoid and ruining your plans for our day."

She felt so entirely idiotic. By now her leg was starting to hurt from rubbing it so much.

What am I doing? I'm only going to make things worse. He didn't say anything. Maybe he is just thinking about what we're going to do today. Why do I have to be so stupid?

"I've never stayed with someone for longer than one date. One date. That's it. You mean so much to me, Locke." The words wouldn't stop, the just kept tumbling out trying to fix what little that woman had said. "I have at least a dozen sketchbooks full of drawings of you because you're all I can think about."

Oops, that was a little much. Now he's going to think I'm a crazy stalker.

"I-I..." Sighing she sniffled not glancing up when the woman came and set down their drinks. She left in a hurry realizing the obvious tension between the two. Finally the girl who never stops talking had run out of things to say.

[Locke F. Herald]

And she talked, oh did she talk. Locke couldn't take his eyes off her as she talked. Wait, she said what?!

Too good for him? Not smart enough for him? Too old for him? Not his type?

"K-Kiri..." He started, but she kept talking. She felt special with him, different then she ever did. She wanted that feeling more, so she dated other boys. But something about him felt different to her.

Figure it all out? Hah! Locke Herald was just as clueless as always.

Never more then one date? But that...was this their first real date? Was this going to be all there was to it? No, of course not. She was saying she wanted to continue it, so why wouldn't he? She was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

Drawings? She had drawings of him? So he wasn't the only one? Wasn't...being weird when he spent those days with her dancing through his thoughts when he was trying to study?

"You...think I am too good for you?" Locke said, once she had finished and the drinks had been placed down. "You think your not smart enough for me? Kiri...how I even deserve you...confuses me daily. You do the same to me, make me think you are too good for me. Too beautiful and energetic to like a boring bookworm like me. And too old? What does age matter? It's just a number, it doesn't mean anything. I like you if you are willing to like me."

He continued, closing his eyes for a moment to regather his mental strength. "Kiri, no girl ever made me feel like you did. I used to think they were all silly and useless, not capable of showing me anything I didn't know. But I learned...you know more then I do, you understand people, you can see who people are, and you can see something in me that I can't. You were the first girl who looked beyond the outside, and saw me for me...you were..."

Locke resisted the urge to say that she reminded him of his mother sometimes.

"And the drawings..." Locke said. "I'm glad...I thought I was crazy. That all those days I couldn't put you from my mind meant I was insane and possessive. But that you think it too...it makes me a bit more comfortable in....my stories. Which..."

Red once again, as he pulled out a small book from his inner coat pocket. His coats were a collection of pockets, but this book was special, his journal. He opened it and pulled out several independent folded pages.

"I...uh....I wrote this...um...I had to find some way to concentrate on my work....so I had to put it down into words...it's...um....not very good...but...uh...you can read it...if you want to that is..."

He held out the papers, not looking directly at Kiri, being far too embarrassed. Why was he so embarrassed about this little story? It was just a fairy tale, nothing unusual about it, right?

Not how he imagined it.

[Kiri Honeywater]

Now that it was his turn to talk all her worries disappeared. He didn't sound mad at her, or at least to her anyways. The fact that he thought she was too good for him had her jaw dropping and her hand stopping its constant rubbing. All the boys, all those nothing boy had never said something like that. Maybe she hadn't given them the chance to, but he had. Age didn't matter, her energy didn't matter, he wanted and liked her. For who she was.

"B-beautiful?" Not just cute, not adorable, but beautiful. She wanted to leap over the table and hug him. The sunshine had returned to her features, its rays in her smile, its warmth in her eyes. To think he thought she knew more than he did was laughable. He was a living encyclopedia of knowledge, the fountain of knowledge.

As he handed over the story she noticed the blush and the hesitant speech. Her eyes scanned over it quickly but knew she'd have to read it later to really get the feel of it. He'd written a story? For her?

"Locke...this story, I haven't read it but the fact that you wrote it at all." She giggled then leaned forward and lifted his hand in hers to kiss it. "Thank you. If you want..."

It was her turn to redden. "I can show you some of my drawings once we get back to the academy."

If he can share personal creative things then so could she though she wouldn't show him all of the pictures. This was all far to serious for the upbeat Wingrose girl so after taking a long drink she nodded.

"We're both crazy thinking about each other, and now we're together so we don't have to be crazy anymore. You mean gazillions to me and I you. Let's have fun now, kay?" Kiri scooted closer to the table and in result closer to him. Now that all that serious relationship stuff was out of the way they could have a fun time.

[Locke F. Herald]

When he felt the pressure and warmth of her lips on his hand his face went dark red, such a public display of affection. But he'd be ok, as long as she was. He could deal with it for her, he could deal with anything for her.

"I...agree." Locke said, mimicking her by taking a drink from his glass as well. His eyes shot open as the sweet liquid touched his tongue, and after a moment he set the glass down.

"Wow, that is some really good stuff. They had said it was a berry juice right? I'll have to try it again sometime." He said, thinking it a suitable conversation topic. He then reached over and picked out a chip, munching on it quietly. "This sure is a quaint little cafe, it's a wonder more people don't hear about it. I mean I never would have if I didn't ask Kennedy about it after you mentioned it."

He blinked as he realized what he'd said. "I...uh...wanted to take you somewhere special." he said glancing away, scratching his cheek thoughtfully. "Since everyone seems to know you here, I guess I did good." He said with a smile.

He also scooted his chair closer to the table, to lessen the distance between them. She was breathtaking, even when she didn't mean to be, such a silly thing.

[Kiri Honeywater]

She didn't catch his reaction to her small kiss on his hand, but she did catch the one to his drink. It pleased her to know that he liked the drink, and that he seemed to enjoy the small cafe as well. Another thing they could share, another thing that could bring them closer together.

"I think it's acai berry, some sort of fruit from far south. It's supposed to be good for you." Kiri took another drink her eyes widening a bit at his confession. So he had been talking to someone about her. It didn't bother her for she had talked to many people about him, maybe she didn't use his name directly but she had spoken of a certain prince in her life.

"Well, you picked a wonderful place. I love it here, and on Tuesdays you get to taste all their tea for free!" Hadn't she also told that same fact to Kennedy when she came here with him? It wasn't like he'd been there with them so it didn't matter.

Her heart fluttered as he too scooted closer, and she bowed her head over her drink to hide the slight tinge in her cheeks. They'd sat close together before when studying, but back then they weren't an "us" or really an anything. Just a tutor helping a girl with her studies, and now look at them. Before she had to hide all her feelings behind a smile, now her emotions shone brighter than all her fake smiles combined.

"So how is Kennedy doing? Since you talked to him and all." Kiri smiled at him trying to let him know through her sweet tone, and soft eyes that she wasn't upset by it. She didn't mind who he talked to as long as it wasn't to some other girl. Couldn't risk losing him to someone else smarter than her.

[Locke F. Herald]

"He's doing all right, still putting his courage ahead of his brain, but that's Kennedy for you." He said with a grin, remembering Kennedy's last act of heroism and how that had turned out. "It would seem." He said with a sheepish grin. "That most of the school knows...um..about ...uh..us." He felt awkward saying that, but he moved on. "So Kennedy already knew about it, he...uh was very helpful. After all, you'd mentioned this place, I just didn't know where it was."

Odd topic, time to move forward.

"But yeah, I've met some interesting people lately. There is this one guy around the academy, goes by the name of Casey, he's a shape shifter too, which is just cool. And then there is Kennedy's sister Morgan. She's...a little too 'physical' for my liking, but she's not a bad person. Let's see, who else is there? Oh yeah...Eve." He looked over his shoulder, a little shaken.

"She's scary, though again not a bad person. She's...well she's a war dragon." Locke said in a low voice. "She decided that I'd teach her how to be calm and relaxed, because apparently I am good at it" He grinned a bit at that. "I haven't seen her recently, but she scares me a little bit. She's intimidating, but not mean. Mean people I can deal with."

His face fell for a second. Or could he?

No, he'd find a way. He always did.

"Have you met any new interesting friends here?" he asked of her, returning his gaze to her.

[Kiri Honeywater]

Kiri made a mental note to find Kennedy and thank him for his help in this lovely day. She also needed to hug him to pieces again for this even being a possibility.

"Well, from walking in the halls hand in hand that day to, um, my jabbering mouth...people were bound to find out." Feeling a bit guilty for blabbering so much she shrugged too late now. "I guess I was a little excited."

It wasn't often that he willingly talked about random people he'd met. He usually just talked about a book or something else acedemic. So she start in rapt attention eager to hear anything he had to say even if he happened to be talking about folding laundry.

"I've never met a dragon before! You're so lucky! Will you introduce us? I'd, hm, I'll do something special for you if you do." She smiled not having a clue what that special thing might be but she could always think of it later. "I haven't really met any- Wait! I met my fairy godfather!"

Kiri almost jumped out of her chair in excitement. Her hand shooting into the air at wait as if she was hailing a cab in a busy city.

"He talks kinda funny, but he's really nice, and Tuft likes stalking him." Wait, did he know Tuft? "Tuft is the baby bobcat I adopted."

There that was all cleared up, now what was her godfather's name again?

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke smiled at her remarks. "It's all right, I don't have a problem with it."

"Something Special?!" Locke asked, his face going completely read as he felt very warm again, a very familiar taste recalled from his memory. "I don't know if you two would get alo- Fairy what?"

Now he was confused. Was she living in a fairy tale? "A...fairy godfather? Talks kind of funny, what are you talking about?" He asked confused. Then she mentioned a baby bobcat. "And you adopted a wild cat? I suppose it's safer for you since you can talk to them, but be careful ok?"

Kiri would be the kind of person to adopt a baby dragon and think it the cutest thing in the world. If he didn't watch her she was going to get hurt.

[Kiri Honeywater]

Why was he blushing? She hadn't done anything! Had she said something? Frowning a bit as she thought of what might possibly make him blush he interrupted her thougts with questions.

"Yes, fairy godfather. He has fairy wings like me, can make wind blow, or make ghosts mess with my hair, haven't figured it out yet." Kiri munched happily on some chips just as their food arrived. The waitress set thier plates down the left with a smile, happy to see the couple was alright.

"Mr. Kar? I think that's his name. Mr. Kar." Dipping a fried cheese puff into the dressing she smiled at his worrying. She'd only start worrying once the little one got larger. For not the little claws and fangs didn't hurt all that much. He was just playing after all.

"Aww, Tuft wouldn't eve seriously hurt me. Once he's old enough he'll go out on his own anyways." The young fae girl took a small bite and almost spit it out. "Hot!"

Waving her hand in front of her mouth she made an O with her lips blowing over the food on her tongue. She quickly chewed and swallowed the sizzling hot cheese.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke thought as she gave the information to him. A Fairy, talks funny, Male, wind control from the sound of it. Last name started with a 'Car.' He couldn't seem to recall someone like that, so he shrugged it off.

"So you just met this godfather of yours? Hmm, that's pretty odd. Be careful, the idea of people coming out of the woodwork concerns me." Locke didn't make the addition that he was only worried because it was her.

The waitress set down his salad and sandwich and he thanked her. It wasn't a completely vegetarian sandwich, as he assumed it might be, but there was very little meat in it. He chuckled quietly, looked like he'd be eating like a rabbit today.

As Kiri took one of the cheese balls, Locke plucked a fresh tomato from his salad, and brought it up as she did with hers. However, unlike her, his tomato was not too hot.

He looked concerned at her immediate reaction, but when she explained it her just smiled and let out a small laugh.

"Careful now, don't hurt yourself." He added with a grin. "Here, have a drink." he added, pushing her juice towards her.

[Kiri Honeywater]

She wasn't used to someone worrying so much about her. Part of her felt so very loved the other part wondered if she appeared that helpless. Then after further thinking on that she came to the conclusion that yes, she was that helpless.

"I'll be okay, if I get into trouble. I'll be sure to get help." Kiri smiled trying to reassure him in some way. Not really worried about it at all she pushed the negative thoughts out of her mind. Mr. Kar seemed far to nice to hurt her.

After the hot cheese incident she giggled a bit happy to see him smiling so often. Even if she looked like an idiot it was nice to hear him laugh. Kiri picked up the offered drink though she could just drink her own and took a sip.

"Thank you, boy was that hot!" Waving her hand in front of her mouth again she decided to try the soup instead hoping it wouldn't be as hot. This time she blew on the food before taking a small bit into her mouth. It was still hot but not as bad as the cheese puff.

"Is your food okay?" She wanted him to enjoy the day even if he was the one who set it up. His happiness was very important to her just like any other girl friend she wanted her boy friend to be happy.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke smiled at Kiri as he watched her reactions. Something about her, just hearing the voice, looking at that face, was just making him lost. Lost in a good way, a very good way, but still lost.

So he stared at her, a stupid smile on his face, zoning out. And then he snapped himself back to reality when she asked him a question, he then realized he did indeed have food in front of him.

"Well, let's find out." he said, picking up his sandwich and taking a bite. It was good, and still not as hot as Kiri's food seemed to be.

"Mmmm. This is really good, this place does make a good lunch." Locke said, taking another drink of the berry juice. He noticed that Kiri was still waiting on her cheese puffs to cool, and the soup could hardly be filling. So he stabbed a tomato from his salad bowl and held out the fork.

"A little something of substance while you wait for your meal to cool down?" He asked with a grin. Apparently feeding your date from your fork was another romantic thing, go figure. He just thought it was silly, but he'd play that game.

[Kiri Honeywater]

He liked it! She almost danced with the knowledge. She'd been worried that he wouldn't like so many vegetables in his meal, but he seemed to like it. This was the most perfect date ever, except the whole embarassing moment from earlier. But! Other than that it was perfect.

"Aw! Thank you." Kiri leaned forward smiling eye focused on him as she took the tomato into her mouth. Its juice exploded in her mouth the acidity tingling her taste buds. She closed her eyes loving the flavor.

"Yum!" One of her favorite veggies...fruits...things...foods. "You're so sweet."

Who knew that this bookworm was such a romantic! She was to say the least impressed with him. Taking a drink her whole body felt like warm oil had been poured inside. It was like she was living a dream, inside a beautiful marvelous dream. Her knight behind the books.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke positively beamed when she said he was sweat. It worked! That and she seemed to be having fun, but it worked! His research and reading and planning, it had all worked exactly as it wanted to! He was not aware of the arrogant look he got on his face for a moment, old habits die hard and all that.

"Heh." He chuckled to himself, not realizing that he was starting to slip from the proper way to act. The problem with smart people, once they thought they had everything figured out, they started to get arrogant.

Locke, in all his wisdom, was no exception. And in truth, he had started to forget why exactly he had done this in the first place.

It wasn't just to prove a theory, not just to prove he could, but no that fact had flown from his mind right now when he saw how she reacted to him.

Who would have guessed, all the secrets to women that people had a hard time finding were in books all along. Just like every other answer in the universe. You just had to look hard enough.

He took another bit of his sandwich with a grin. He then lifted his drink and looked over to Kiri while raising it to his lips. The second he caught her gaze he froze.

That loving gaze...those bashful eyes...that bright smile...what was he doing?

He felt sick...for that brief moment he was treating Kiri like a conquest...like a solution...like...

a trophy?

That thought made his blood run cold. How could he? How...could he do..this?

He set his glass down harder then he intended.

"God I am such a little liar." He muttered. "I'm not sweet at all...I'm just a little bookworm."

He was thoroughly disgusted with himself now. If this was how he was going to treat her, how did he deserve her any more then the stupid brutes?

And he hated himself for having to make her sad, as he knew this action was going to.

[Kiri Honeywater]

The smile that came across his face was an odd one. One he usually got when he'd solved some problem or knew something some other smart kid didn't. Well, whatever he knew she was glad it could make him smile.

Kiri tried her puffs again and they were still hot but not too hot. She chewed happily beaming at him her heart still overflowing with how incrediably happy she was.

As he froze she tilted her head like a curious bird. "Locke? What you staring at?"

The smile didn't faulter she was just curious, but then he basically slammed his cup down on the table. Kiri jumped pulling her hands to her chest her eyes going wide.

"What? You're not a liar, and there's nothing wrong with being a bookworm!" She didn't know what was going on, what was wrong but she wanted to fix it. "Whatever you're thinking please stop. It's okay, whatever it is."

The young fae pushed a smile and reached her hand across the table for his. He looked so upset, today was supposed to be a happy day. It was a beautiful, lovely, perfect day, and him being upset did not fit. She had to make him happy again. Even if it was that odd smile that made her slightly uncomfortable. It was still a smile and that was better than this.

"Don't insult yourself, please. I don't like it when you do that." She scooted closer trying to pore forth her sun shiny personality over to him hoping he'd absorb some of it to make him happy again. It hurt her so to see him upset.