Failed Attempt At Romance

Phoebe Callwell

Phoebe Callwell

Well-Known Member
Messages
167
OOC First Name
Cole
Age
6/2028
Phoebe Calliwell in all her stubborn glory stood next to Rudolf wearing the uncomfortable gown her mother requested she wear. There was a huge regret in Phoebe's stomach when she mentioned the boy she was going to be hanging out with this summer was taking her to a nice restaurant in Italy. Phoebe hadn't been back to Italy since she'd been moved out of Rome for the religious views of witchcraft. Her parents had been afraid she'd be discovered and harmed - though witch hunts hadn't happened in such a long time the worry seemed unfounded to the blonde. Her mother insisted that red suited her best - and then smacked her behind her head when she agreed. Her mother didn't take her blind jokes as lightly as she did.

"Rudolf are you sure we're allowed to be at dinner unescorted? Your parents are going to think it's a date." She hissed the last word playfully. The Gryffindor was too proud to admit that she'd begun thinking it was as well. After all, the minute she started to like Rudolf was game over if she were honest. He deserved someone going somewhere - considering he was going to be a famous auror one day she was sure. The blonde waited, dissallowing Rudolf any sort of lead and using a point-me stick instead.
 
Everything was going to plan. That was to say, Phoebe really thought she was in Italy, and not Rudolf's back garden; Rudolf's mum had stocked in the cupboards enough different meals to craft a reasonably plausible menu of; and his dad had agreed to pretend to be the waiter, right at the last minute. What Phoebe had been told was a special Italian restaurant that catered for the blind was, in fact, a small outdoor seating set on the wooden gazebo in Rudolf's back garden. He'd even lit on the table a few candles - mostly for his own pleasure - and created a menu written in braille. The last step was for Rudolf's dad to drop them off at the 'restaurant' and leave them there to return and pick them up in a few hours.

"Bye, Dad," Rudolf said, giving him a big thumbs up and then bracing himself for the bang as he apparated away - back inside the house. As they started for the gazebo, Rudolf laughed. "I mean, my parents wouldn't mind... and yours aren't here, so... I guess we're good!" They reached the raised wooden seating area, and Rudolf told Phoebe there was a step. "The chair's just there. Like, to the right a bit," he said, not daring to offer any support besides verbal. He knew well enough that Phoebe didn't like help - it was what made her a Gryffindor. Once they'd settled into their chairs, however, he did pass her the menu. "Here you go," he said, his heart beginning to race with the anticipation of her getting to read a menu for perhaps the first time.
 
Phoebe could smell some flowers, and an earthy smell. The grass tickled her feet slightly, dampening the top of her pantyhose with evening dew. She was not on the same path as Rudolf was, but found herself there soon enough. She walked up the steps, her shoes hitting wood. The sound was hollow- she wondered if Rudolf had picked outdoor seating for the scents, after all she couldn't very well watch the clouds. The blonde took her seat and took the menu with a little effort of finding it. "I hope this place isn't too expensive." She remarked. "Is it uhm... normal?" She asked, wondering if they used magic to cook or not.

The blonde felt the front of the menu, then opened it up. It was completely braille, and a faint smile touched her pink-stained lips. She went through their drinks, then to their appetizers. She wondered how much Rudolf would want. Then the teen moved on to main dishes, stopping at a particular traditional dish adn making a face. "That's strange. They spelled Ossobuco wrong. I wonder if i should let the waited know." She spoke - it would probably be embarrassing for them. Phoebe went down the rest of the list, finding what she wanted and closing her menu quickly. She was easy to please when it came to food.
 
Rudolf had to bite his lip to keep himself from laughing. "Um, I mean, it's not too bad," he said, pretending to clear his throat to stifle a giggle. "You mean... Muggle?" he whispered. He hadn't thought about that, yet, and decided quickly, hoping his dad wouldn't say anything about wands or magic when he came to serve them. "Yeah, it is. It's the only one of these restaurants I could find." Of course, that was because they didn't exist, as far as Rudolf was aware. But tonight, just for a few hours, and with the help of his family, he'd made one exist, just for Phoebe.

He held his breath anxiously as Phoebe read the menu, his jaw dropping when she found a mistake. "Wow. That's awful," he said, thinking about how his dad had helped him research different types of meals and provided him with the spellings. Of course, he could have made a mistake in translation, but being Rudolf this didn't cross his mind. "You should definitely complain." Just at that moment Rudolf saw his dad step out into the garden, and immediately dropped his face into his hands. Phoebe wouldn't even be able to see that he'd dressed up like a real waiter, equipped with stereotypical Italian moustache, and still Rudolf was humiliated. This was going to be a loong evening.
 
Nathaniel didn't think Rudolf had completely thought things through when he'd asked him to wait on them that evening. As if he would allow such a wonderful opportunity pass him by! Smoothing his uniform, he approached the gazebo, notepad and quill in hand. "Ah! good evening signore, signorina, my name is a-Vitorino and I will be your server for dis evening. We 'ave tree, four servers all available for you to call at any time if you need dis. Can I interest you in a cocktail, to start? A wine? Or, er, per'aps de signorina a little too a-young." Nathaniel pretended not to be able to see Rudolf miming death threats and continued happily on. "Anyway - Chef Mario is a-pleasure to introduce dis evening for appetiser de seared scallops. 'E says dese pair well wid a nice Gavi wine, but I suppose a-lemonade would compliment de flavours just as naaicely. Personally, 'owever, I would recommend our spaghetti alla carbonara - is always safe, si?"
 
Phoebe hadn't heard a peep from Rudofl in a few minutes, but said nothing as soon she heard approaching footsteps. The waiter began speaking and Phoebe couldn't help but wondered if perhaps he had hearing problems. There was a good chance since it catered to the blind it hired workers with disabilities, so Phoebe said nothing about the spelling error and politely listened. "Buonasera! Posso avere un ordine del cacio e pepe, e una bevanda gassata. Grazie." Phoebe ordered the cacio e pepe and a soda pop for herself, thanking the waiter at the end. She had never spoken Italian in front of Rudolf and though she knew the waiter spoke English, she couldn't help but settle into her comfortable native tongue. The blonde looked across the table and just over Rudolf's shoulder, wondering what it was he would order.
 
This wasn't worth it. It definitely, absolutely, completely wasn't worth it. At least Phoebe would never find out it was actually his dad - or when she did, he would be able to look back upon what was currently the most mortifying thing that had ever happened to him and laugh about it. Then Phoebe spoke. Rudolf's heart actually stopped. This hadn't been part of the plan! He'd never even considered that Phoebe might start talking Italian to the waiter. He exchanged a nervous glance with his dad, thinking fast. "Um... I'll have the carbonara, please. And a lemonade," he said, motioning for his dad to wait. "That was really cool," he said to Phoebe. "What did you say?"
 
Phoebe smiled, Rudolf must have been hungry to order so quickly. She wondered if he'd been saving up his appetite all day for this - though she thought her friend was much like a dump truck and could eat for hours. "I just placed my order, I wanted the cacio e pepe and a fizzy drink. I'm not really arsed which one honestly. I just love carbonation." The blonde giggled a little. She'd tried a bunch of drinks. "It's so weird, when the waiter walked up here i heard him coming so clearly - but he slipped away so silently." She remarked. "Anyways, what do you think of Italy. I know you've not seen much - but it was home for me for a long time. Maybe if it's not so late i can take you to a museum - i used to go as a child... before I... Well that was a few years ago though right? What do you think? Walking the city if your parents let us?"
 
Nathaniel was glad for Rudolf's idea, because he hadn't had a clue what Phoebe had said. He had just turned to head back for the house when he heard a comment that made him freeze, one foot hovering in the air. Great. Now he had to creep. As carefully as he could, Nate tiptoed away from the gazebo, hoping the sound of Phoebe's voice would cover any noise he made as he slipped away to tell his wife what they wanted to eat. He should totally have been getting paid for this.
 
Rudolf smiled, a weight lifting from his shoulders - for now. He cringed at her comment about the 'waiter's silent disappearance, willing her to keep talking long enough for his dad to get beyond earshot and trying not to laugh at the comical way he was tiptoeing away. He got his wish - Phoebe did keep talking - and then immediately regretted it. "Uuuhh," he said, stalling for a moment to buy time. "Yeah, I mean, it's nice. Really... romantic." He looked around for inspiration. "I like the... flowers? Yeah. The air's so fragrant." He was clearly milking it, now, and hoped Phoebe wouldn't notice. Then he had no choice but to address her question. "Sure, I'd love that," he said, figuring he could feign sudden illness in an hour or two once they'd eaten. This restaurant's gonna get shut down, he thought, snickering quietly and then disguising it with a cough. "So, I um... I think you look really beautiful, by the way. Like, I hardly even noticed we were in Venice." He had to stop this. "What was it like growing up here?"
 
"Romantic?" Phoebe cocked a blonde eyebrow at him and then rolled her milk-brown orbs. He was always trying to find romance in everything with her. It was endearing though she'd never admit that. "Venice? We might be near a gondola - though I don't hear any water. I've heard the rides are soothing. Those I never went on." Phoebe smiled, toying with her dress. Though she couldn't see Rudolf, at his compliment she looked downward. Her face heated up, her light olive complexion looking peachy for a moment, the candlelight that she could feel but not see adding to it.

"It was lovely. I grew up in the Vatican City actually, in Rome. We lived in an apartment building. It was like a bright yellow color. I always loved it though." She smiled at the thought. She looked back fondly, trying to remember what it looked like - thinking of how she wanted to see it again. Phoebe was nearly going to continue with a little bit of seriousness about losing her site, when she heard footsteps again. Was he bringing drinks?
 
When Phoebe repeated the word Venice, Rudolf had a miniature panic attack trying to remember if Venice was actually in Italy. Again, this was way more trouble than it was worth. Well, that wasn't true; if Phoebe was happy, any sacrifice was worthwhile. "I... think there might be some a few minutes away," he said, taking comfort in his impending 'illness.' He could say whatever he liked, now - though he needed to be careful not to raise Phoebe's hopes too high. What if she'd always wanted to ride on a gondola?

"I like yellow, too," he said, smiling. Then suddenly he frowned. "Wait... were... were you always blind?" Somehow it seemed twice as heartbreaking to think that Phoebe might once have been able to see, but now couldn't. Suddenly the back door opened, and his dad began to approach with steaming plates of food levitated in the air with his wand. Oh sweet Merlin no. It had only been a few minutes, and Phoebe thought this was a Muggle restaurant! Rudolf began miming desperately, trying to get his dad to leave, but his attention was too focused on keeping the plates straight in mid air. The Gryffindor dropped his head back into his hands. It was over.
 
Blissfully unaware that he was interrupting a solemn conversation, or that this 'restaurant' was supposed to be run by Muggles, Nathaniel set the plates and drinks down on the table and stood up proudly. '"Ere you are signore, signorina. Bon appetit!" With a flourish of a small cloth he headed back to the house, hoping his son's date was going smoothly. The Gryffindor hadn't looked particularly happy, but that was surely just because his father was so very embarrassing.
 
The blonde heard Rudolf's question and began to answer. "Uhm, no not always. I didn't lose my sight until I was seven or so. So it's been a while I guess..." The silence that fell over them was broken when the waiter returned. Phoebe jumped at the sound of a plate. Pasta took longer than this to boil when Made fresh. The blonde looked in the general direction of Rudolf and raised an eyebrow. "What's going on here?" She inquired, finally suspicious enough. A Waiter that made sound only when coming to the table, the food coming out so quickly. "Rudolf you said this was a... normal restaurant. This seems weird." She remarked.
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If Rudolf thought his entire family wasn't watching his date from the kitchen window, he was very much mistaken. "Move over," said Ray, trying to get a better view. It was a shame they couldn't hear what was going on, and that they had to rely on their dad to tell them how it was going, but it was still better than watching Quidditch. "He's coming back," said Ray, peeling herself away from the window and lunging to open to back door, in her enthusiasm accidentally stepping on their dog's tail. The border collie jumped up, and, seeing the back door open, took the opportunity to dart through Ray and Nathaniel's legs and go sprinting out to see Rudolf. "S**t," Ray hissed, and for a moment the family exchanged horrified looks. Then they ran back to the window.
 
Rudolf wanted to ask Phoebe how she'd lost her sight, but how could he? Even had it not been a difficult topic to approach, his dad's interruption completely ruined the tone - not to mention the whole evening. "I... I don't know," he said, knowing there was no way to dig himself out of the hole. "Maybe Chef Mario is really, really talented?" Despite the fact there was nothing left to salvage of their dinner, Rudolf felt his heart drop even further when he saw their dog, Rogue, bounding enthusiastically toward the gazebo. This. Was. A disaster. It wouldn't have been quite so bad if Rogue had started licking his elbow, but instead he went directly for Phoebe, greeting her with wet, affectionate kisses. "Um," Rudolf said. "Wow, who let a dog in here? That's pretty unsanitary."
 
Phoebe was flabberghasted, but nothing could have been quite as frightening as when something began to lick her. Phoebe panicked. "What the hell!?" She shouted, moving adn tugging on the tablecloth, which knocked over the small candle that Rudolf had lit. The candle toppled over, landing on the extra lace of her dress. As Phoebe stood the dress caught a small amount of fire, and the screaming teen panicked smacking at the spot on her dress which was now alight as she moved to put it out. Some dinner, some restaurant, dogs and fire - Phoebe was going to be traumatized!
 
Phoebe was on fire. PHOEBE WAS ON FIRE. Rudolf jumped up, panic seizing him. Wasn't there some kind of spell for putting out fires?! And if so, wouldn't it have been useful to teach it a bit sooner? The back door had already opened, but Rudolf wasn't going to wait for his dad to get here when Phoebe might already be burning to death, or something. He grabbed her sofa and chucked the contents at her, missing the fire and accidentally soaking her stomach. Whoops. He tried his own soda, next, taking a bit more care this time to throw it in the right place. Once the flame had been extinguished he put the cups down, slightly lost for words. "I... I... I'msosorryIthoughtitwouldbeagoodidea," he cried suddenly. "I just wanted to surprise you but we're not actually in Venice we're in my garden and that's my dog and my dad's the waiter and I'M REALLY SORRY!"
 
Phoebe screeched both times that she was soaked with a cold sticky liquid. Ice cubes smacked against her hands and legs as she moved to try and escape. However within moments of being doused the second time she realized the first was out. The blonde listened, eyes opened in disbelief, looking mostly the wrong way until he spoke again. She followed his sound approaching Rudolf until the toes of her sloshing shoes touched the toes of his. "So you lied to me, took me to a restaurant that was really your back yard? Made all of this up, made the menu with the error - had your father put on a cheesy accent and to what? Impress me?" She asked, wondering if she got it all right. "I..." Phoebe grabbed the collar of his shirt with both hands. She brought her face inches from him. "I got lit on fire so you could impress me?" She asked, close enough to his face to feel his breathing. "You're an idiot." She whispered, before pulling the Gryffindor's lips against her own in a clumsy fashion - embracing him in her first kiss.
 
Rudolf turned as scarlet as his house crest, watching Phoebe approach and trying to think of something he could say that would keep her from slapping him. Man, he was going to have a bruised cheek for the rest of the week. His heart began to gallop as she grabbed him by the shirt, his face already braced in preparation. "Well technically I didn't mean to light you on fi-" he began, but before he could finish his sentence Phoebe's lips were on his. He froze, briefly unable to think, breathe, or do anything else remotely human except stare at Phoebe's extremely close eyelids and wonder if he'd died and gone to heaven. Then, finally, he had the good sense to close his, and tenderly he kissed her back. This was it. This was what he'd waited five years to feel. And he'd loved her so much and for so long that the kiss filled an emptiness he hadn't realised until that moment was there.
 
Phoebe had just made the worst mistake of her life. The blonde had pushed away a friend and his feelings for five years now to protect herself for the truth. She was not good enough for Rudolf - she was blind, and being able to see meant a surgery she couldn't afford. He was going to be an auror, or famous wizard and she would be nothing. She was lucky they'd admitted her to the school - or let her stay as long as they had. Phoebe didn't deserve someone like Rudolf. However the kiss was too good to just pull away immediately. Instead she savoured what was her first and probably last kiss. When it finally broke and the blonde had caught her breath she spoke. "Now can i please go home to shower, I'm stickier than the lollipops you leave everywhere." It was of course a joke about him liking sweets, something to lighten the mood. She'd just ruined their friendship after all, it was the least she could do.
 
When Phoebe pulled away, it was almost as if she were depriving Rudolf of air, or something else his heart required to keep beating. It ended too soon. An hour would have been too soon. But she'd finally kissed him, and he'd kissed her, and suddenly the vast and uncertain future didn't seem so hopeless. Rudolf smiled, still completely unaware that his entire family had watched his first kiss from the kitchen window. "Yeah. I'll, um, get my dad to apparate us," he said, still reeling in shock. Would he ever get over what had just happened? Not for as long as he could help. "Sorry about the soda, by the way. I hope I didn't ruin your dress..."

After Phoebe had been escorted home, Rudolf headed back inside the house, where he was at once assailed by his siblings. He blushed, batting them away and escaping to his room. Phoebe had kissed him. It had happened in dreams, but those ones had never made him feel so alive - as if he were floating on a cloud way above the farm. OK, so dinner hadn't worked out the way he'd anticipated... but somehow, for all its disasters, it had been much, much better.
END​
 
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