Chapter 3: angulated, yet also delicate like a woman
"I'm going to die Itachi, I can feel it."
"Shut up will ya, now hold still… There, done."
I looked at myself in the mirror. Messy white shirt with loose black tie, black trousers, plain blue sneakers, and my fucking duck-ass hair jumping up every single time! So honestly my brother had chosen the outfit, since I have no idea how dates work and definitely don't know what to wear for them. I was actually surprised by the lack of 'tidiness', thinking that dates were rather sophisticated. However it appeared I was wrong; the outfit Itachi had put together was a simple and casual one, and I felt good at it, though it wouldn't work away the nerves of course. I had quit school one hour earlier only to prepare myself for this evening, saying I had to go to the doctor while I told another teacher we were leaving for the weekend. Apparently I was so nervous I had mixed up my lies, so I would definitely pay the price next Monday. If I hadn't died till then.
Again approving my outfit in the mirror – honestly, a man couldn't check things more than enough to please a woman – Itachi returned with some coupons for a free drink in our café (I wanted to slap him in the face for that), claiming that I would have a reason to see her a second time. When I responded with 'who says there will be a second time' he simply answered: "I never confirmed that," and smirked.
"Shouldn't I take some roses with me or something?"
"Never give a woman everything at once."
"What's that supposed to mean."
"I'm being reasonable. How will you surprise her next time? Besides, you have to make her curious and make her wait for more."
"Oh right, I forgot I had these coupons for the first date," I answered sarcastically and he laughed.
"Just pay for the food and she'll be pleased already. Now go and get her, it's the Uchiha name you have to defend tonight!"
"I'm so gonna die."
–
Her hair was flawlessly moving along with the colours of the wind, enchanting every passing stranger with the coffee extract her hair was soaked into every day. She couldn't help but smell like coffee, fortunately she liked it, and so it appeared others liked it too. Sasuke really had no idea this was one of her first dates ever. You'd think that someone like her would've had plenty of dates before, well, to pursue this little presumption, it was everything but true. She, just like him, had no experience with these kind of things, so really there was no need for Sasuke to shiver all over his body. But it was cold and he was stressed out, definitely when she was running late. His eyes wandered to his hourglass more than once, when a little bird arrived at the appointment. She looked absolutely stunning as usual... And with bare arms.
"A-Are you crazy, you're gonna freeze to death!"
Stumbling Sasuke worked his way out of his jacket to place it over his date's shoulders, only to find himself freezing to death. But instead of taking the jacket, she pushed it away and handed it over again. They stared at each other for few seconds, again with an enchanting smile that would pretend everything was okay. "It's okay," she smiled friendly and pushed the jacket in his hands for she could wait there for hours, he would not find the courage to take it back. With the little force she had Sasuke took it back, looking at it, then at her, then back at the jacket, wondering if it stank or maybe it was just too ugly for a girl to wear. "I like the cold," she continued, "it keeps me accurate."
"O-okay."
"C'mon let's go!" There was no time for Sasuke to recuperate. Obviously this girl was dying to get inside wherever the hell that place was. Out of humbleness he had let her decide what restaurant to pick and when the time was right, he'd pay as well. The only thing what bothered him was: what if she picks a really expensive restaurant he couldn't afford? Although, she didn't really look like the type.
Yet things couldn't get any worse.
"I hope you like Indian food!" She waited impatiently for an answer before getting in the restaurant.
"That's – great," he gasped. From all the things, Italian, French, even a fast-food restaurant, he really, really hates Indian. Let's just say he had some bad 'experiences' with it.
Inside the building was decorated with typical ornamentation from India. The colours, the music, the tables, everything reminded him of the most despicable country in the world. She was pulling him along, getting closer to the waiter like she was friends with him for years. Her grip on his wrist was so strong it ached. Right in front of the man she took halt, Sasuke colliding against her back so that she bumped against the tall man, making him turn around. A tight fear choked Sasuke's throat when he saw the tall man's eyes looking down on them, his date smiling happily as ever.
"Hello Prabhu," her endearing voice sung as the scary waiter started inspecting the small boy.
"Mera priya pyara! How you do?!" You would've expected a scary hairy man like him would crush you with one hit, but instead of beating the shit out of them, 'Prabhu' as she had called him, immediately went for a big hug, tilting the girl in his arm. His greasy laugh echoed through the restaurant. "You brought guest, ham?"
"Well, yes," she laughed, pulling her date from behind her back and showing it like a new pet. "Sasuke, Prabhu. Prabhu, Sasuke."
He bowed forward trying to get on the same height as the small boy, eying him like a night owl. Sasuke fiercely pulled out his hand while pinching his eyes closed. "N-nice to meet you." Stealthy, after a few deadening seconds, he carefully opened one eye, seeing his giant moustache coming closer and about to consume him. Quickly he closed his eyes again, when he suddenly almost fell to the floor when he 'petted' him on the shoulder, obviously not aware of his own strength. "You small, eat more, get strong like me!" he laughed and smacked him again. The last thing Sasuke was thinking about was eating a lot of Indian food to get a chest as big and hairy as this bear. Although he had hit the floor, she worryingly helped him get up.
"You come here a lot?" he asked. The waiter had passed them on to a table near the window. Just like in Japan, you were supposed to sit on the floor on your knees, yet it was the only thing both lands had it common.
"Well, yeah. I come here once a week. Most of the times they invite me so I don't have to pay. It's nice, though I feel kind'a bad about it. But you've seen Prabhu, he's a nice guy."
"Yeah, he's – friendly." And then there was that awkward silence again. One of those awkward moments that didn't seem that awkward because she was always smiling and looked like she was amusing herself. Or maybe she did it on purpose, because she thought the exact same thing.
"So, what do you do for living?" she asked, her head resting in her hands seeming way too interested. "Well, I. I study economics. I don't have a job right now."
"No way, you're on college? How is it like? Is it big? Fun? Have you made friends?"
"I-it's okay, I guess..." Why was she so excited about college? "I mean, I – I guess it's, big, when you've never been to it before."
"I think it's cool," and she slid forward getting dangerously close though it seemed like she was under some sort of spell. Then all of a sudden, she'd wake up from it, smiling around excitingly and wiggling from left till right. She giggled adorably that's for sure, but she was a little weird too. "You think I should go to college too?" Her behaviour wasn't the only weird thing though.
"Err, well, that depends on what you want to study."
"Why did you want to study economics?"
He swallowed uneasily. Somehow, she noticed that and changed the subject. "I'd like to do something with art," she began and ruffled in her bag. In her hands she held the black sketchbook she always carried around with her. There were also loose pages muffled between it, and she swung it open showing all the sketches she had been drawing in the bus. Sasuke's onyx eyes had no idea where to start seeing all her drawings spread open on the table. On every page the same thing was drawn from another perspective, in another environment, doing another action. On every single page it was him doing the actions: sleeping, sitting in the bus, even playing guitar while he couldn't even do that. The shadows were outstanding, the contrast was refined, the proportions were so accurate, like she had been studying him for her entire life. Flattering, for sure. Somehow, also a bit scary.
"You draw amazing," he admitted, taking one of the drawings in his hand and staring at himself smoking a cigarette in his bed, half-naked. First of all, he didn't smoke, second, he definitely didn't have a body like that.
"You like it?" It almost sounded like she wasn't sure of herself. "Because I've got more if you'd like to see it. Right now I'm working on a new one. It's just a sketch but I don't know, I like it." With a smile she handed over her last work. When he looked at it though, his hands were trembling. He was naked. In bed again. Reading. Waking up from this nightmare, he shook his head and paid attention to his date again who was still sitting in front of him with a wide smile, her eyes shining. "Why do you, only draw me?"
"I like you," she smiled and he turned red. "You have a nice face to draw. Angulated, yet also delicate like a woman's, just like your body."
He was having a breakdown. Did she just call him feminine?
"Oh, no, I didn't mean it like that! I'm so sorry!" Her hand cessed her mouth from talking before she'd say something unconsidered again.
"I-it's okay. I know you didn't, mean that." She tilted her head while watching how he hid his face behind his own hand, examining it from a different perspective. There was something odd about this girl, like she didn't have the concentration to focus on one thing for more than one minute. Chaotic and energetic was exactly how to describe it. Full of life, always smiling, yet deterred with grief when she thinks she's done something wrong. They were both social losers, not really sure how to handle conversations.
"Dinner ready!"
And so, both lost in a slightly meaningful conversation, they both hadn't seen the gigantic plate of food coming. The waiter dropped it on the table like an insurance agent would drop his paperwork on his desk, unbothered, happy to leave it where it belongs. Cautiously, like the red beans were some sort of blob monster, Sasuke leaned forward and stared at it with narrowed eyes, wondering if he should poke it just to make sure it wouldn't resurrect when it suddenly hit him: where were his fork and knife? His date didn't have those either. So appeared he wouldn't need those.
"Did you, order that?"
"I always order the same thing. They don't ask me anymore," she smiled. When her hand dug in to seize for the food herself, it made a revolting, smudging sound unbearable for the trained eye to watch. He had seen a lot of things: eating with chop sticks, fork, a big spoon. Never ever would he have imagined to go on his first date in an Indian restaurant where you're supposed to eat with your fucking bare hands, not even getting the opportunity to wash them.
"So," and her blue eyes wandered down the restaurant in order to find some material to talk about, "tell me about yourself." Exciting as she was, her big eyes turned wide, all focused on the Uchiha who was losing sweat in his own served plate of food. Tell about yourself, okay, that didn't seem so hard. Just relax. What should I tell? School? Itachi? Where I come from?! Damn, I'm straying off. Focus Sasuke.
"Maybeee, you could tell me about your brother?" She still acted nice, trying to help the hopeless student who was lost in his thoughts again. It seemed to help him though, he forced a wry smile on his face that somehow pleased her. "You get along well? He seems nice."
"He is," Sasuke smiled genuinely thinking about his brother. "We're close."
"That's cute." Her chuckle somehow reminded him of his brother. "So what's he like."
"He's.. He's a great brother. He's ambitious, smart. His passion for cooking is amazing. I hope I'll become like him one day."
She sighed a smile that almost appeared jealous hearing how passionate he talked about his elder brother. Sasuke had no idea but, whenever he started talking about him, he blossoms like a flower that had been closed for a long time. For her, who didn't have a sister or brother, not a mother, not a father, aunt, no one, having a brother would be the greatest present in the world. Therefore she hoped she'd found her own family one day. However, that would take years.
"Do you have a brother or sister?"
"I live alone." Her dreary eyes watched closely how Sasuke chewed his food, somehow a little scary. She wasn't really looking at him, rather looking through him. Thinking about a little bit of everything.
"Is that why you work in the pancake house every day?"
"Yeah," she squealed and pretended like having been listening all along. "It's difficult sometimes but, I get a lot of support. It helps."
"Then why didn't you go to school?" There was something about her, lacking, something she didn't tell.
"Well, silly, that's quite impossible since I never finished high school."
"But then why didn't you finish it when –"
"Because!" Her hands snapped for her lips when she realized she'd been yelling. Humbly, she sat back and apologized. Her eyes were teary, like she wanted to cry and punish herself. It was a different side he hadn't encountered yet, somehow he liked her. Life wasn't always about love, roses and butterflies. She just needed to snap out of that dream for a moment and realize that for herself. But then why would she act so insignificant? Nothing about her made sense at all.
"I want a dessert," she spouted like a child and folded her arms, looking away. The young Uchiha had no idea how to handle the awkwardness and her behaviour. Automatically he called for the waiter to get dessert. They probably already knew what she wanted anyways. Sweat was pouring down his forehead. Was she angry now? Should he say something? Maybe she was like a puppy, a distraction would suffice.
"Erm, you like, pets?"
"Pets?" and in a brief second she had turned her gaze to him. "I love pets! Cats, dogs, pigs, turtles, penguins!"
So he was correct. A plain distraction was indeed enough to omit the dark cloud hanging above her head before the thunder would collapse. She was a real challenge, but once you get to know how she works, she was alright. Now that he thought about it. Her name? How long had they been sitting over there not even knowing each other's name? He felt really stupid all of a sudden.
"Anyways," With a feeble gesture of his hand he brushed away the hair in front of his face so that it would separate at the middle again, how it should be. "my name's Sasuke."
"Hye," she chuckled, smiling at him. He waited for an answer. She didn't respond. Should he give her a push?
"Err, you're supposed to tell me yours now..."
"My what?"
Was she doing this on purpose? Kill me already!
"You know, your name."
"Oh." As her lips modelled a tiny circle to emphasise the surprised 'oh', her eye lashes dazzled by, dancing around like ballet. Those bright blue eyes had fallen on him like a cold winter breeze, asking for permission. Busgirl had certain rules going on on her watch. No names on the first date. Why, you ask? There's no point in telling when there's only a fifty percent chance there won't be a second date. No, actually, she considered name labels. You think you know someone because you know his name. Well, you don't. She just wanted to save Sasuke from preconceiving opinions. So Sasuke decided to leave it as it was and enjoy his desert. At least this dish came with a spoon. He was already picturing his date visiting this tent every night, eating ice-cream with her hands.
"Then, could you tell me something else about yourself?"
"Like what?"
Geez, I don't know, age, height, weight?! This really was taunting. The way how she ate that desert was really sweetness itself. With her tongue circulating around the spoon, sucking it hard and then go for another full spoon. If it wasn't spilling chocolate sauce it was eating ice-cream. His pulse started rising as he sweated even more. That loose tie couldn't get any tighter now. Before he even knew it he was incautiously escaping grasping breaths while watching her eat. Naturally, he found her sudden hold and putting down the spoon breaching, wondering why she didn't continue.
"I'm fifteen."
His own spoon had by now hit the floor, rattling on the floor. In America, this was considered paedophilia. It was illegal, prohibited and a taboo. From all the girl he could pick, he choose one 4 years younger than him. "Please tell me you're turning sixteen this year."
" 'course silly!" Her laughter didn't make him feel any better. Suddenly he felt disgusted about having watched her eating ice-cream. The most he wanted to jump in front of a train. Not that there was any time for that. He would suddenly remember why he didn't eat Indian food anymore. "Excuse me," and off he was to the bathroom where he would spend the rest of his night.
–
"I had a nice time." Her chuckle was an endeavour to make him feel better. So he had spent a quarter on the toilet, she was okay with that, he was embarrassed to the fullest. Their date hadn't been exactly rupturing, and it definitely didn't incite to more. Yet somehow she was still able to smile and pretend like she had had a lovely time. A guile goodbye kiss wasn't of any harm either, she was already standing at the tip of her toes trying to reach for his cheek. But he breached it by suddenly presenting two red coupons in front of her eyes that fortunately drew her attention. She really was like a puppy, carried away by the slightest distraction.
"What's this," she smiled askance.
"Coupons," and he managed to gain space between them. "For our café in Trenton."
Surprised, she took the two coupons in her arms like a newborn and caressed them. It's not that he didn't want a kiss from her. It's just, as ridiculous as it may seem, he had never kissed a girl, not even on the cheek. Truth said, he was nervous and not ready for it. Not after having spent the last quarter of his first date on the toilet with diarrhoea.
"Thanks," she smiled genuine, looking back at his eyes. When they were both standing, Sasuke was a lot taller than her which made everything about her even more adorable. The way her eyes shone in the moonlight, her little laugh coming right at him. Although many things had turned out different than expected, he didn't want to leave yet. First dates should be treated special, though he had no idea if he should kiss her or not. Well, not on the lips that is. Itachi emphasised more than once kissing on the first date was just wrong.
"Well," Positioning her purse on her shoulder again, it was time to say goodbye. "I should get going."
Confused, his eyes searched for her. "You're not taking the bus?"
"I've gotta go to the hospital. I want to visit a friend before I get home."
"Oh." He hated to admit how disappointed he felt. "Then, I'll see you around?"
"Yeah," she smiled. She pretended she wanted to whisper something in his ear so that the youngest Uchiha bended over. When he didn't expect it, she stole a butterfly kiss from his cheek and giggled away, leaving Sasuke astonished behind, watching how she took off. He'd never ever wash this cheek again.
"But you had a nice time?!" Itachi yelled from behind the bathroom door, leaning against it while drinking his last cup of coffee for the evening.
"Yeah! Just, this." As soon as I had gotten home, I had run my way to the bathroom where my next date took place with a toilet. At first Itachi thought I was crying because I had messed up once again which is normally the case. That was until I explained we had visited an Indian restaurant. Then he just started laughing.
"Why didn't you tell her you get sick from it, baka!"
"But she visits it every week! And, well, I don't fucking know!"
"Aah Sasuke, you're so hopeless," Itachi joked before he walked away again. He was happy I had had a nice time, and happy to know I had been my usual clumsy self. "Oh by the way, did you give her the coupons?!"
"Yeah! But I doubt she's going to use them one day!"
"If you keep eating Indian food, probably." I didn't catch that one. Despite the fact I was going to spend my entire night on the toilet, I couldn't stop thinking about her. She's different, but I liked that about her. All I can do now is hope she'd walk by and remember 'hey, this is the café that weird guy gave me coupons for'.
It took me a while, but here's the third chapter. Please do not forget to review, it's what makes writing fun. ShadowOfSD
