A New Beginning

Chapter 1: The Question
Word Count: 1,640

Sitting on one of the luxurious, plush, cushioned chairs in the deluxe

lounge seating of La Grenouille, Schuyler Van Alen shifted awkwardly in her

seat. She hadn't said anything all evening, even though they had just arrived, and she could feel Oliver's eyes burning holes into her forehead as she looked down at her menu. She was glad she took a course in French, but she didn't need to translate anything on the menu; she knew exactly what she wanted.

"What are you having, Sky?" Oliver managed to say. His voice stayed blasé and nonchalant, but when she looked up, she could see the uncomfortable look on his face as he looked at his own menu. Ever since she had made him her familiar, preformed the Sacred Kiss, even the simplest things between her and Oliver had been awkward to the extreme.

"I'm thinking of having the steak tartare." Schuyler said indifferently, trying to replicate Oliver's tone. She still managed to blush; it just reminded her of what she had done. Even with her head tilted down, she still could see Oliver freeze in place for a moment.

"What about you?" she asked him casually, even though his response upset her.

"I'm thinking the Les Ravioles de Homard à l'Estragon. I have heard it is delicious here, and I am in the mood for lobster and ravioli." Oliver said with a smile. Suddenly, the waitress came up to their table and greeted them.

"Hello, sir, madam," she acknowledged Oliver, then Schuyler. Oliver nodded. "How may I help you this evening?"

Schuyler looked up. "Could I please have the, um, steak tartare?" she asked quietly. She was still embarrassed for having to special order her meal. Earlier, she had protested, but Oliver just waved her away. He hadn't seen her for a while, and he would do anything to have some time alone with her.

"And for you?" the waitress turned to Oliver.

"Do you have any recommendations?" he asked her while handing her his menu.

"I prefer the Le Rognon de Veau Moutardier, Flambé Grande Fine, which has just the right supply of mustard flavor. The Le Foie de Veau Poëlé aux Dattes et Oignons is spectacular also, and comes with dates and onions." she said after a moment.

"How about the Les Ravioles de Homard à l'Estragon?" Oliver asked her in slick French.

"The tarragon in that choice is simply amazing, too. It is light, but makes the cuisine a delicious option for a main course." Schuyler looked down at her chipping dark purple polish. Her stomach was turning due to the fact that the waitress just suggested that her friend order veal kidney with

mustard, and pan seared calf's liver with dates and onions. Even if she was human, that still wouldn't have appealed to her at all.

Once the waitress was gone, Oliver turned back to his friend.

"So, tell me," he said, leaning on his hands; his elbows on the table. "What is it like existing in the Force's abode? Has Mimi tried to kill you again?" Oliver said it jokingly, but Schuyler didn't find it amusing at all.

"Actually, it has been…interesting, to say the least." Schuyler said, not offering anymore information. Oliver looked clearly disappointed. He sat back in his chair.

"What do you mean? I thought you would have some "dirty" details about the fabulous Mimi Force. What does she really look like?" This time, Schuyler laughed at Oliver's joke. She placed a stray hair behind her ear, which for once was not up in a bun or ponytail.

"I don't really see her that often, I guess. After school, she is usually on her way to Block 122 or Barney's. She also probably doesn't want to be in my company, anyway." And vice versa. Schuyler thought silently.

They were quiet for a moment, both not wanting to bring up another subject. Jack.

"So, what do you have to do in the house?" Oliver asked, striking up the conversation, not wanting it to be silent, the way it was before.

Schuyler thought for a moment, before she composed an answer.

"Well, they have a lot of space, for one thing. They have almost everything you can think of, to keep busy. They even have a library, you know, for me." She didn't add that she frequently found Jack in the library, also.

"Oh, really?" Oliver asked, while sipping his water. He couldn't help staring at Schuyler. She noticed it, and blushed again. She became self conscious, and adjusted her sheer Catherine Malandrino cardigan and D&G black jeans that were in her closet back at the Force's. She first tried to exit the house in her usual floor-length skirt and holey sweater, but Trinity Force stopped her, and made her go change. Actually, Trinity was the kindest to her out of all the Forces, including Jack. It was Trinity that helped pick out the clothes that she put in the guest room closet to help welcome Schuyler into the family. Even though she appreciated it, the act of kindness made Schuyler feel like she wasn't in her own skin, and rather in Mimi's.

Suddenly, two servers approached them with their orders. With her heightened sense of smell, Schuyler could smell the food right when it exited the kitchen. She inhaled the scent of her raw steak as it was set in front of her. Without another word between Oliver and Schuyler, they both dug into their meals. Schuyler felt the meat melt on her tongue, and she realized that she felt famished. She continued to eat rapidly until her plate was empty. She looked up at her friend.

"How is the ravioli?" she asked him. Oliver gave her the thumbs up sign, and continued eating.

When they were both finished, Oliver called for the check, and took care of it. Schuyler got up slowly, and started to turn to get her coat which was placed on the back of her chair. Oliver appeared behind her and helped her get her long, knee-length coat on, which was also an article of clothing provided by the Forces.

"Um, thank you, Oliver." Schuyler said. When she turned around, Oliver was grinning.

"Shall we?" he said, holding his arm out for her to take. She nodded, and weaved her arm through his. They had been doing that even when they were kids, but now it felt…different. More passionate, at least from his side. Schuyler tensed up when she realized this.

As they made their way to his town car, he opened the door for her and let her first. She sat in the back, as usual, but instead of sitting in the middle, she sat close to the window, and stared out.

Not taking the hint, Oliver sat down in the middle seat, right next to Schuyler. She let a wall of her hair separate her from him, and they sat silently until the driver stopped at the Force residence.

Schuyler quickly climbed over Oliver, and exited the car. He quickly jumped up.

"I'll walk you to the door!" he said, not wanting her to leave so hurriedly. She sighed, waiting for him to get out of the car, but what she wanted to do more than anything was run as fast as she could to get away from a mess that she might have created.

Oliver shut the door of the car, motioning to his driver to wait for him. He smiled down at Schuyler, and held his hand out. She took it unwillingly as they trudged to the door. Oliver was making a point to walk painfully slowly, as where Schuyler was almost pulling him to the entranceway. She was itching to get inside.

When they got to the door, Schuyler forced a smile.

"I had fun, Ollie. Thanks for taking me out. Maybe we could hang out soon, okay?" She took her hand from his and put it impatiently on the doorknob. She waited for him to say something; looking at him anxiously with her bright eyes.

"No problem." Oliver hesitated for a moment, and looked at the girl standing in front of him. Her dark hair was blowing in the wind, and her cheeks were red from the cool breeze. A gust of wind came their way, and pulled a strand of hair from behind her ear.

Without a thought, Oliver reached down to put it back in place, his hand skimming her warm cheek. Quickly, he leaned down, and kissed her soft lips gently.

When he stood up, he looked down, nervously.

"Well, um, see you later, Sky." he said, before scampering off to his car.
Schuyler stood there in shock, one hand still frozen on the doorknob, and the other where Oliver's lips had been. Her blue eyes stared in front of her, where Oliver had stood, before he left.

New Yorkers were hurrying along the streets, briskly walking with the collars of their coats pulled up and their hands in their pockets, desperately trying to get out of the wind that was now strong and loud.

Schuyler didn't even notice it, until the doorknob moved under her hand. She was startled, and jumped backwards, out of the way. The door swung open with a loud bang, and a figure exited the building. It took Schuyler a minute to recognize who it was.

"Jack! Jack! Wait!" she called. Did he see her?

Schuyler stood there, while Jack walked past her hurriedly, with his hands in his pockets. He walked down to the street, and motioned for a cab. It pulled up, and quickly, too quickly for a human, Jack flashed a fleeting glance towards Schuyler. Then, he got into the car fluidly, and it sped away.

The answer to her question was answered in the heartbreaking, cold, emerald pools of Jack's eyes.