First Date

[Elspeth Brookes]

Scuffing her toe against the irregular cobbles of the Brightstone street, Elspeth waited for Samuel to appear. She had owled him a date and time to meet, but her nervousness had caused her to arrive a full half hour early. The young girl had never been on a proper date before, and an uncharacteristic sense of insecurity had taken root in her mind. She had really liked Samuel last time she saw him, and his letters to her had been sweet, but her hands were trembling and she felt awkward in the skirt she had fished from the depths of her trunk. Checking the time, she was relieved to discover that there were only a few more minutes before he was due to arrive.

Elspeth hadn't thought about what to do after Samuel appeared, and now it seemed like a serious oversight. Last time they met, the conversation at first had been so awkward, and she wasn't sure if that would be repeated today. She hoped not, as it was bad enough once. Her foot was tapping an nervous staccato on the stones under her feet, and she was biting her lip, an old habit that her mother had frequently and uselessly tried to discourage. When she saw the familiar figure walking towards her, her foot stilled instantly and her teeth freed her lip. "Samuel!" She called to get his attention.

 

[Samuel Phillips]

A sigh left Samuel's perfect lips as he made his way to meet Elspeth for their first date, he wasn't nervous at all and he had no reason to be. The bright rays of the intense sunlight caused the Part-Veela to squint as he strolled slowly along the path to Brightstone, today he had chosen to wear a tattered grey t-shirt and black skinny jeans all topped off with yet another pair of converse sneakers, Samuel had been painting all morning and he had almost lost track of time, he would have been almost late to meet Elspeth if it weren't for his alarm clock. Samuel had left his house in his painting clothes, his appearance the profusion of grunge, like he cared, everybody's eyes were always on him anyway.

It was when Samuel heard his name being shouted at him, he turned to see a memorable sight, it was Elspeth. She looked good, her skirt suited her immaculately and the sixteen year old couldn't help but look her up and down like he had done the first time they had met, only this time, Elspeth was able to notice. He approached her and nodded in acknowledgement before saying "Nice to see you again." In a casual tone. Samuel took a glance around each shoulder and ran a hand through his dyed hair and asked "Are we going to do anything now or just stand here?" His typical adolescent impatience was showing itself and since the Durmstrang student thought this was ironic, he smirked, not at anything, or anyone in particular.

 

[Elspeth Brookes]

Elspeth eyed Samuel appreciatively as he approached. The half light of their last meeting had not done him justice, and she saw him looking at her in much the same way. Feeling slightly more confidant, she smiled easily at him. "I hadn't really planned anything for us to do." She confessed, grinning up at him. "Why don't we just wander around? There's a few cafes down here that look good. We could try one of those." Elspeth suggested, motioning down the street.

As she waited for his response, she watched the crowd around them. As always, Brightstone was crammed with students trying to make the most of the Brightstone weekend, laughing and talking, holding full bags and empty purses, but usually Elspeth avoided Brightstone at such times. However, lately she had been coming out of her shell more and more, and such displays of happiness didn't offend her as much. And her company definitely made up for the obnoxious chatter.

 

[Samuel Phillips]

The thought's that crossed Samuel's mind when Elspeth suggested they go to a cafe made him raise an eyebrow at the brunette. He was questioning her decision. Really? He thought. Samuel hated going to eat in something like a cafe, it wasn't because he was fearful of eating out. It was because of all the unwanted attention he obtained while he was out. Usually, this would have bothered Samuel to the point where he would have just left his date standing there. But Elspeth hardly knew anything about him and this was what a first date was for, getting to know each other a little better. "Alright, let's go." Said the part-veela as he took a step backwards and gestured Elspeth to lead the way. "After you, Elspeth." Samuel said politely, he wasn't going to be was rude to Elspeth as he was the first time they met, but it was tempting. She was already getting on his nerves, not enough to notice, however.

The sixteen year old thought it was amusing, how the crowds of students who had a day or two off of school rushed around and shopped for things they obviously didn't need. What an awkward place to have a first date, in an area where Samuel would have the eyes of girls other than Elspeth on him. This would make for some mild entertainment for Samuel, at least he had something to divert with if Elspeth bored him again, although he had a hunch she wouldn't be just as boring, or dim-witted as earlier. Now all Samuel had to do was follow his date, and think of something interesting to ask Elspeth that would distract her from the other girls looking at him. It was easy for Samuel to distract himself when Elspeth was with him, after all, she was good looking and Samuel wouldn't waste his time out on a date with somebody he didn't think was appealing enough to be seen with him.

 

[Elspeth Brookes]

Elspeth smiled at Samuel as she started walking down the crowded street. "So where do you want to go?" She pointed out a few of the closer cafes, and listened for any sound of assent from the boy at her shoulder. "...and that's Madam Puddifoots." She finished, a hint of pink rising in her cheeks as she looked from the building and it's various decorations back to her date.

That sort of blatant cheesiness didn't appeal to her, personally, but that was what people did on dates, wasn't it? Elspeth was now feeling extraordinarily embarrassed about her lack of experience in the romance department. It was just that she had never really had the opportunity. Every time she thought she was ready for an emotional commitment, something came along and ruined it for her! Her pride prevented her from showing any of the emotions she was experiencing, as embarrassment and grief weren't exactly conversations starters.

 

[Samuel Phillips]

Walking down the street with Elspeth was nothing special in Samuel's deep brown eyes, usually, this would have bored the Part-Veela to an extent. But today was different, he actually had something to do instead of focus on how boring the situation might be, instead he was trying to keep his date oblivious to the girls who had their eyes on him. He wasn't even paying attention to what on earth Elspeth was saying, he was just too darn distracted more than anything else, and this was an unfortunate plague to suffer through on a first date, especially for somebody like Samuel.

Much like a normal adolescent, Samuel continued not to pay any attention to Elspeth because he still felt distracted by the buzz in the crowd around him, there was all too much going on and one of the last priorities on his list was to listen to what Elspeth was saying or even notice what she was doing. However, he focused his attention back on her when he noticed she had stopped talking, the irony of that passed right over Samuel's head. He had no idea what Elspeth had been talking about but he responded by saying "Sounds alright." Followed by a casual shrug, the safest option for the social condition at hand.

 

[Elspeth Brookes]

Surprised by Samuel's ready agreement, Elspeth glanced from Madam Puddifoot's confetti infested cafe to the older boy, but chose not to say anything. She could feel her cheeks flushing with awkward adolescent embarrassment as she stepped inside the cosy, dimly lit room. Nervously, she checked behind her to see if Samuel was following her, and reassured of his presence, she continued forward, past the obnoxiously affectionate couples towards the only table that was free. She slid into the seat closest to the door and folded her hands in her lap, gripping them tightly where her date was unable to see.

"Umm..." Elspeth groaned inwardly at her far from articulate answer. As she searched for a conversation starter, knowing better than to rely on Samuel to begin, her eyes fell on a girl from her year, who looked like she was thoroughly enjoying herself with a boy Elspeth didn't recognise. She tore her eyes away from the sickening scene, silently praying she wasn't spotted. The Hogwarts rumour mill had enough about her already, and none of it good. She fastened her eyes onto Samuel's face and resolved to keep them there, as looking anywhere else in the cafe made her feel uncomfortably voyeuristic.

 

[Samuel Phillips]

Madam Puddifoot's was an unusual place for the sixteen year old to be seen, this place was girly and just plain exasperating to the teenager. He regretted not listening to Elspeth before, he needed to learn how to control his mind from wondering. Getting through this already exhausting date would no doubt be a conquest for Samuel. He sat down across the table from Elspeth, the lovey-dovey atmosphere caused Samuel to frown. "This place is great." Muttered the teen, his sarcastic tone piercing the air around him. He needed to find something good about this place, which he didn't see as possible. It was a cheesy, ugly cafe filled with loved up couples, Samuel could sense the eyes of a girl or two on the back of his head.

The next expectation for the sixteen year old was to make light conversation, something that would let the two get to know each other better but wouldn't reveal too much. There was a fine line to walk with a situation like this, "So, what's it like at that school of yours?" Samuel said, his words filling the silence that had previously occurred between the both of them. First dates weren't something Samuel was foreign to, he had been on many first dates before, but it was the second dates that were the most uncomfortable for the adolescent, causing him to mess up his words and what not.