Thanks for the reviews for last chapter! Enjoy this one! Thanks for reading and please review!
Bill and I walk hand in hand together through the streets of the Egyptian city. It's clearly a smaller city, and the streets are narrow and dusty, the buildings older looking with characteristic architecture. The yellow glow from the street lamps that is dancing through the dark night lends a romantic air to the entire atmosphere. I'm entirely enchanted.
"It's kind of a hole in the wall," says William as we come upon a narrow blue door with a small light outside. "It's a local secret, so not many know about it, but the food is fabulous."
"Mr. Beasley!" a large man with a neat beard and a big white smile exclaims in greeting to Bill almost as soon as we walk in the door.
"Horus!"
The two do a manly pat on the back with each other, and we are led from the dimly lit entry into a much larger, golden room lit by oil lamps with white pillars stretching from floor to ceiling and white fabric dramatically draped above the diners heads. The few tables are small and cozy, little islands of golden light in the dim room, many of them set into little alcoves. Most of the women have their hair covered, and I am suddenly self conscious of my own bright golden hair and the fact my legs are bare, along with the majority of my shoulders and arms. From the moment we walk through the door with my western clothing and our light hair and fair skin, we are the center of attention. Bill doesn't seem to notice that my attire is entirely inappropriate for this restaurant and culture. I certainly do, along with every other person in the room. Although the room is plenty warm, I pull on my short robes over my lovely dress. My legs are still bare, but at least my shoulders and arms are covered. I'll cast a cooling spell as soon as I know if this place is magical or not.
"This is so not my world," I mutter nervously to William, but he's busy chatting with his old friend Horus and doesn't seem to hear me as we're seated.
I try not to notice when the older man at the table next to us shoots me a dirty look. His wife doesn't look too happy either, her eyebrows are drawn together and her lips are pursed. I'm sure she isn't making that face because of the food.
Horus smiles after seating us, and suddenly the waiter is there, dancing attendance on us, presenting us with some sort of rolls and napkins and adjusting the flowers at the table.
"So," I say, trying to keep my voice low as not to attract more attention. "What shall we have to drink?"
"Already taken care of," says William with a smile as with a loud pop, a bottle of champagne arrives at the table, clearly by magic. Well question answered about whether this was a magical establishment, but once again people are staring. In the back of my mind I'm remembering that it's against the majority of the people in this room's religion to drink alcohol. I'm starting to sweat, so I cast a discrete cooling charm as William pours the champagne. "I remember you telling me on the plane that your perfect date would start off with a bottle of champagne appearing at the table as if by magic," he says with a grin. I want to smile back, but my throat is suddenly dry. I notice it's French, and taking a sip, it's very sweet and delicious.
"So I did," I say, hoping the low lighting is hiding my flush. I can practically feel the eyes in the room boring into me, most likely wishing me a violent death.
"Cheers," says Bill, clinking my glass loudly, and drawing even more eyes. Surely the other people in the room aren't making as much noise, but I can barely think over the ringing of embarrassment in my ears. I'll be sprouting claws anysecond.
"Cheers," I whisper, taking another sip. It's delicious champagne, it really is. I wonder what all the dark eyes are thinking of us crazy Europeans. My mouth opens of its own accord. "The first time I ever had champagne was when I was six years old-" I start.
"At your Tante Amelia's," continues Bil. "You took off all your clothes and threw them over a cliff."
"Oh yes," I say, realizing my error. "I won't bore you with that anecdote again." I take another sip from my glass and desperately try to think of something to fill the silence. Something he doesn't already know. Is there anything he doesn't already know?! Suddenly all my frantic mind can focus on is intricacies of German verbs. I'm fairly sure William doesn't speak German.
"I've chosen a very special meal, all the best off their menu, which I think you'll like," says Bill.
"Fantastique!" I say, secretly thinking that choosing your food is half the fun of dining out. It's almost my favorite bit. Plus, trying to pronounce the foreign words on the menu might be fun. Except after living in Egypt, I'm sure William knows how already…. So maybe not as fun.
"So, what do you enjoy- in life?" I finally ask rather awkwardly in halting English. For some reason, my words are just begging to come out in German still.
Bill seems to ponder the question for a moment. "I enjoy my friends and family, to a certain extent…." He says the last part with a grin. "I like runes study. I go flying and play quidditch-"
"You love flying!" I exclaim. "That's right…. I really… um…"
"You hate flying, even the idea of it," he states, clearly amused. "I remember."
Damn, I was hoping he might have forgotten, but…. I mean, that was sort of the cause behind the effect of my spilling my guts to him on the plane. Merlin, I hate to admit that Perpetua was right, but it would have been so much easier if I could have said, "Oh, I love flying!"
Oh well. Moving on.
I smell a heavenly scent and realize I'm quite near starved. The waiter has arrived with our first course. And it looks as good as it smells. I'm not quite as disappointed that Bill ordered for me, but still. I'm about to ask him exactly what he did order for me, they appear to be some sort of stuffed tomatoes, when Horus rushes over to our table with a letter.
"Fleur, would you mind if I took this? It looks like it's going to be important," he says with a slight frown. He steps out, and I finish up the first course, which is entirely delectable. The champagne compliments the appetizer surprisingly well, and I glance around, happy to notice that the rest of the room is pointedly ignoring me. Good.
Bill finally returns, a deep frown on his face. Apparently the owl didn't bring good news. "Is everything okay?" I ask.
"Did you like the appetizer? I know you said you liked stuffed peppers and stuffed mushrooms, so I thought you would like this?" he says, entirely ignoring my question.
"It was great," I say, still curious about his disappearance.
"Good, because I think you'll like the main course," he says. "It's fish, which I remember you liking." I put on a bright smile, but he seems a million miles away.
By the time we've finished, I'm miserable and ready to go. He's said barely five words since he got back from his letter. This dinner has been a complete disaster. This date has become a complete disaster. I've made every effort possible to chat and joke and be funny. Bill has taken two more letters, and written at least one. I saw him ask for parchment. The rest of the time he's been broody and distracted, and practically silent. To be honest, I might as well not be here. So much for being an irresistible part veela! I feel like crying with disappointment- not that William would notice. We were getting on so well! What went wrong?! I've tried asking him twice if everything is alright or if there is an emergency or anything, but he's brushed me off or ignored me.
By the time the waiter reappears at our table to collect our plates, I'm near tears and Bill has been practically staring off into space.
"Would you both care for dessert?" asks our waiter.
"No thank you," I say. I've had enough for tonight. I want to go home now.
"Very well, any coffee?"
"She does want dessert," interjects Bill, the most he's said since his first letter.
What?! Why would he say that?!
"No, I don't!"
"Really, Fleur," replies Bill. "You don't have to pretend with me. You told me on the plane. You always say you don't want dessert, but you really do."
"Well, this time I really DON'T!" I snap back, getting angry. The claws are coming out. I'm ready to put away this sham of a night and go. I feel completely patronized. Why should he think to know what I want? Just because I told him a few things on a plane doesn't mean he knows me! Or my mind. Is he suddenly an occulems? Because I can guarantee he needs to practice more if he thinks he is!
I tell him so, pushing my chair back angrily. "Bill, you may know a whole lot of random facts about me, but that doesn't mean you know me!"
"What?" he says, utter bafflement on his face.
This time I remember to yell at him in English. "If you knew me, you would have realized when I go out to dinner with someone, I like them to listen to what I'm saying. I like them to treat me with a bit of respect and talk to me, not just answering their super secret mail and ignoring my questions about it. I want to go out with a person! Not a zombie!"
"Fleur," he says, some of the light coming back to his eyes. "Are you OK?"
"No! You've ignored me all evening! Since you got that bloody owl!"
"That's not fair!"
"What's not fair, is that you've been acting obliviated since the food arrived!"
"Look, something happened, and I'm… I admit, I've been a bit distracted…"
"A bit distracted!" I screech. I am furious, all out angry veela mode. In the back of my mind, somewhere, I realize that the proper Egyptians here are probably horrified by this display, but this was inexcusable behavior. I feel tears threatening, so I decide it's about time to storm out. I so wanted this to be the perfect evening.
"Fleur!" exclaims Bill, tossing money on the table and following me as I storm out of the restaurant into the dark Egyptian night. "You're not seriously going!"
"I am!"
"You have no portkey! You don't know where you are!"
"There has to be a bank somewhere close!" I snap.
"Give it another chance, give me another chance! Please stay! I'll talk!"
"Too late!"
"Fleur," he looks so devastated. For the first time, I think he may actually be affected by my veela looks. "At least let me take you home." I must have been mistaken. I'm sure that's resignation in his eyes.
I nod, after all, I have no idea where I am, where the nearest bank is. What bank it even is… He holds out the portkey to activate it.
In a flash of blue light, we're back in an Alley close to my home. I recognize it by the smell. There's a Chinese restaurant that tosses its trash back here and the dumpster radiates a distinctive smell. I despise Chinese food for this very reason. Fittingly, it's raining. I start stalking in the direction of my flat. Bill must feel the need to follow me, but I don't feel like talking to him, so I ignore him as he rambles to me.
"I'm sorry! I know I was terrible company this evening, but I had some… I had some terrible news. And I'm sorry I can't tell you anything, but there are things in my life, I'm not at liberty to discuss, with you or anyone! And it's very complicated! I'm sure you understand."
I want to say no… no I don't understand. Because I've told you every single little thing about me!
"Look," he says, grabbing me by the shoulders and spinning me around just before I reach the door that leads up to my flat. "Give me another chance, one more try? You don't have to decide now, but promise me you'll think about it? This… tonight didn't go how I planned."
He looks so adorable, his long red hair messed and matted to his forehead, his eyes full of regret, so shiny and blue. I can only imagine what I look like with what I'm sure is a veela beak, claws, and frizzy blond hair glued to my head, which will of course make me look like a drowned duckling… or toad. I manage a nod.
"Owl me… and we'll try again… tomorrow… or… whenever… just… don't let this be the end, Fleur," says Bill. I manage to nod again before spinning on my borrowed heel and slip inside the door. That has to have been the worst date ever. Merlin, I hate when Perpetua is right!
So I bet you weren't expecting that... Thanks for reading and I hope you liked it... Please review! I am hoping for 150 reviews by the next update so send me inspiration :) thanks Ellie