Okay, sorry for the delay! There might be a bit more of a delay after this
chapter, seeing as how out teachers will want to catch up from the two days
that Isabel took from the school year. Plus Mom is coming home
tomorrow(She's been out of town for about two and a half weeks, helping
Nana recover from surgery, leaving me with three two-year-olds, My dad and
my two younger brothers.) So yeah. Anyway, I'll keep my rant about my
personal life to a minimum and start thanking reviewers!
Senko: Mostly I'll update everyday, but try not to count on it, the school year is getting busier and busier by the day, being a freshman isn't easy!! And as for Maliks schemes.. oh how he will scheme! Yeeeessss...... Scheme...... *ahem* thanks for reviewing!!
Isabella-Ryou-4EVER: ^_^ Serenity appreciates the high-heels. Since they're new, Joey has to polish them extra well! ^_^ Thanks for the review!!
Aisu Hoshino: Oh yes. the date will indeed be interesting.. And I wish I had an older brother like Jou too, but I'm stuck with two younger ones who act like two-year-olds! *shrug* Yes, that is one of my favorite lines. My friends pull the 'Denial' line on me a lot for some reason. Thanks for the review!!
Now, ONWARD! To Outback Steakhouse!(No rules, Just right!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hey, I'm picking up Serenity." I said to Al plainly. He took the hint that I was slightly(try very) nervous and let me through without too much trouble. I headed to the stairs, not trusting myself to survive the elevator.
Four sets of stairs. Fifteen seconds each. A minute later I was standing outside apartment 4B. I hesitated, took a deep breath, and knocked.
"JOEY GET THE DOOR FOR ME!" I heard Serenity yell.
"'Kay!" The door opened.
"Hey Ryou. Why are you all dressed up? Come to think of it, Serenity's all dressed up fancy too. You going on a date or something?" I sweatdropped. ((No offence Jou! I love you as much as the next person, but you're so much fun to make fun of!!))
"Yes." I said simply. He looked at me.
"Oh yeah! I said you could take her out, didn't I?" Okay. Have fun, make sure she's home by midnight! And no clubs, alcohol, drugs, or gang activity, got it?" I nodded. Just then Serenity stepped out into the livingroom where I could see her. My jaw nearly dropped to the floor.
Serenity stood there, wearing a black dress that went to just above her knees, the skirt was full and the edge had silver embroidery on it, and the neckline had some small pieces of turquoise embedded in it. The necklace lay at the throat on the silver chain. She was right, the dress and necklace complemented each other perfectly. She had her hair half up, half down, the ends curled. The high-heels that she had her brother polish were simple, but of an understated beauty. It fit her perfectly. Her eyes sparkled.
"Ryou! You look very nice." She said. I opened my mouth to say how beautiful she looked but nothing came out.
*Say SOMETHING you idiot!*
"Something you idiot.." I muttered absently. I shook my head. "You look beautiful Serenity." I said louder. She smiled.
**Idiot. I hate you right now.**
*My pleasure.* I could almost feel Yami smirking.
"Later Joey!" She called, as she exited the apartment. She took my hand and led me to the Elevator. I gulped. I was queasy enough. We entered and she pushed the button to take up to the first floor. I felt the sensation of my stomach's bottom dropping out as we descended. I stepped off the elevator as soon as it stopped.
"Something wrong, Ryou?"
"No, I just don't like escalators that much, that's all." I said, waving it off. I was concentrating on trying to walk without wobbling like a drunk. I recovered as we reached the motorcycle. I climbed on and handed Serenity a helmet.. She climbed on after me as she put it on. I put on my own helmet and revved up the engine. She jumped slightly.
"First time on a motorcycle?" I asked.
"Second. Tristan gave me a ride once, but it was only around the block." I nodded.
"Hang on!" I called as I hit the gas and we roared out of the parking lot and down the street. If there is anything I have a weakness for, its speed. I suddenly realized that Serenity was clutching onto me rather tightly. I slowed down and she loosened her grip. I smiled slightly. Within minutes we arrived at Outback. Since it was fairly late(They were open until 11:30, but it was 9:00), the dinner rush was just tapering off. We got seated fairly quickly and began to glance over the menu.
They had seated us in a booth, and Serenity had slid into the bench right next to me, instead of across from me as I had expected her to.
"What looks good?" I asked casually. Before Serenity could answer, the waiter came up to us.
"Excuse me, but would you mind sharing a table with another couple, we are rather short on seating and would like to get as many people served as soon as possible, we close in a little over two hours."
"Of course we don't mind!" Serenity answered happily. The waiter looked at me, and I shrugged. If Serenity was okay with it, how could I object?
"Anyway, I think I'll get the 8 oz. steak. Oh! Could we get a blooming onion? I love those!" Serenity was saying. Just then the couple that was going to be seated with us arrived.
"Good evening." I head a voice say. "Pleasant meeting you here." It was Tea. I looked up. She was escorted by Malik, looking half-pleased and half- grumpy. I figured the latter was due to the suit he was wearing, but the former I could not be sure of.
"So, Ryou, this is your date?" Malik asked with an amused voice, watching me blush. I nodded, deciding not to comment on his date. His eye caught the necklace.
"Oh Serenity! Where did you get the necklace?" Tea asked, sitting and reaching over the table to touch it lightly.
"Ryou gave it to me. This afternoon. I decided I had to bring him to dinner to repay him. For the necklace and for saving my life last night."
"He saved your life!" Tea gasped, looking at me.
"Actually, it was my yami..." I said. Tea looked shocked. So did Malik. I forgot that he hadn't heard me tell Serenity that last night.
"Wow.." Tea said. I nodded. Then, mainly for an excuse to get the focus off me, I picked up the menu.
"Order whatever Serenity, I'm paying for half." I said casually, glancing over at her.
"Well, as I had said, A steak, a blooming onion, oh! and some of their sautéed mushrooms! For drink I'll just have diet." She finished. ((If you've never been to Outback, you have to go and get some of those! Of course, it may be the hobbit in me talking, but their mushrooms are awesome!))
"Serenity, you're skinny enough without ordering Diet soda." Tea joked. Serenity laughed. I loved her laugh....
*Hey, Hikari! I want to come out. Steak!*
**I'll save you some.**
*But it won't be hot! Or nearly as juicy!*
**I don't care. I'm out with Serenity, can you not bug me for once?**
*No.*
"Don't worry, he's just talking witht he Spirt of the Ring." I hear Malik say.
**YAMI!! DON'T DISTRACT ME!**
"I'm sorry, what did I miss?" I asked sheepishly. Tea and Serenity glanced at each other, decided not to comment, and then rolled their eyes.
"The waiter came and took our appetizer order. We got one Blooming Onion. Oh, and we told the waiter to combine our bills. We'll each pay a fourth of it." Tea explained. She and Serenity began discussing something that Mai had said during their spa outing, and I noticed Malik glancing from one to the other, trying to appear casual, but failing miserably.
This was going to be interesting!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, so the date has begun! If I let this go on any longer, though, it'd be longer than last chapter almost! And that was a good 300 words more than my usual. So, I'm going to upload this and then go find something to eat, go to bed, then wake up tomorrow morning and write the next chapter! Then at school I'll work on the sequel for Promises 'cos Ashley will be begging me to, and then I'll come home, do homework, read your wonderful reviews to cheer myself up, then rinse and repeat! Erm.. Yeah. So please R+R!!!
Senko: Mostly I'll update everyday, but try not to count on it, the school year is getting busier and busier by the day, being a freshman isn't easy!! And as for Maliks schemes.. oh how he will scheme! Yeeeessss...... Scheme...... *ahem* thanks for reviewing!!
Isabella-Ryou-4EVER: ^_^ Serenity appreciates the high-heels. Since they're new, Joey has to polish them extra well! ^_^ Thanks for the review!!
Aisu Hoshino: Oh yes. the date will indeed be interesting.. And I wish I had an older brother like Jou too, but I'm stuck with two younger ones who act like two-year-olds! *shrug* Yes, that is one of my favorite lines. My friends pull the 'Denial' line on me a lot for some reason. Thanks for the review!!
Now, ONWARD! To Outback Steakhouse!(No rules, Just right!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hey, I'm picking up Serenity." I said to Al plainly. He took the hint that I was slightly(try very) nervous and let me through without too much trouble. I headed to the stairs, not trusting myself to survive the elevator.
Four sets of stairs. Fifteen seconds each. A minute later I was standing outside apartment 4B. I hesitated, took a deep breath, and knocked.
"JOEY GET THE DOOR FOR ME!" I heard Serenity yell.
"'Kay!" The door opened.
"Hey Ryou. Why are you all dressed up? Come to think of it, Serenity's all dressed up fancy too. You going on a date or something?" I sweatdropped. ((No offence Jou! I love you as much as the next person, but you're so much fun to make fun of!!))
"Yes." I said simply. He looked at me.
"Oh yeah! I said you could take her out, didn't I?" Okay. Have fun, make sure she's home by midnight! And no clubs, alcohol, drugs, or gang activity, got it?" I nodded. Just then Serenity stepped out into the livingroom where I could see her. My jaw nearly dropped to the floor.
Serenity stood there, wearing a black dress that went to just above her knees, the skirt was full and the edge had silver embroidery on it, and the neckline had some small pieces of turquoise embedded in it. The necklace lay at the throat on the silver chain. She was right, the dress and necklace complemented each other perfectly. She had her hair half up, half down, the ends curled. The high-heels that she had her brother polish were simple, but of an understated beauty. It fit her perfectly. Her eyes sparkled.
"Ryou! You look very nice." She said. I opened my mouth to say how beautiful she looked but nothing came out.
*Say SOMETHING you idiot!*
"Something you idiot.." I muttered absently. I shook my head. "You look beautiful Serenity." I said louder. She smiled.
**Idiot. I hate you right now.**
*My pleasure.* I could almost feel Yami smirking.
"Later Joey!" She called, as she exited the apartment. She took my hand and led me to the Elevator. I gulped. I was queasy enough. We entered and she pushed the button to take up to the first floor. I felt the sensation of my stomach's bottom dropping out as we descended. I stepped off the elevator as soon as it stopped.
"Something wrong, Ryou?"
"No, I just don't like escalators that much, that's all." I said, waving it off. I was concentrating on trying to walk without wobbling like a drunk. I recovered as we reached the motorcycle. I climbed on and handed Serenity a helmet.. She climbed on after me as she put it on. I put on my own helmet and revved up the engine. She jumped slightly.
"First time on a motorcycle?" I asked.
"Second. Tristan gave me a ride once, but it was only around the block." I nodded.
"Hang on!" I called as I hit the gas and we roared out of the parking lot and down the street. If there is anything I have a weakness for, its speed. I suddenly realized that Serenity was clutching onto me rather tightly. I slowed down and she loosened her grip. I smiled slightly. Within minutes we arrived at Outback. Since it was fairly late(They were open until 11:30, but it was 9:00), the dinner rush was just tapering off. We got seated fairly quickly and began to glance over the menu.
They had seated us in a booth, and Serenity had slid into the bench right next to me, instead of across from me as I had expected her to.
"What looks good?" I asked casually. Before Serenity could answer, the waiter came up to us.
"Excuse me, but would you mind sharing a table with another couple, we are rather short on seating and would like to get as many people served as soon as possible, we close in a little over two hours."
"Of course we don't mind!" Serenity answered happily. The waiter looked at me, and I shrugged. If Serenity was okay with it, how could I object?
"Anyway, I think I'll get the 8 oz. steak. Oh! Could we get a blooming onion? I love those!" Serenity was saying. Just then the couple that was going to be seated with us arrived.
"Good evening." I head a voice say. "Pleasant meeting you here." It was Tea. I looked up. She was escorted by Malik, looking half-pleased and half- grumpy. I figured the latter was due to the suit he was wearing, but the former I could not be sure of.
"So, Ryou, this is your date?" Malik asked with an amused voice, watching me blush. I nodded, deciding not to comment on his date. His eye caught the necklace.
"Oh Serenity! Where did you get the necklace?" Tea asked, sitting and reaching over the table to touch it lightly.
"Ryou gave it to me. This afternoon. I decided I had to bring him to dinner to repay him. For the necklace and for saving my life last night."
"He saved your life!" Tea gasped, looking at me.
"Actually, it was my yami..." I said. Tea looked shocked. So did Malik. I forgot that he hadn't heard me tell Serenity that last night.
"Wow.." Tea said. I nodded. Then, mainly for an excuse to get the focus off me, I picked up the menu.
"Order whatever Serenity, I'm paying for half." I said casually, glancing over at her.
"Well, as I had said, A steak, a blooming onion, oh! and some of their sautéed mushrooms! For drink I'll just have diet." She finished. ((If you've never been to Outback, you have to go and get some of those! Of course, it may be the hobbit in me talking, but their mushrooms are awesome!))
"Serenity, you're skinny enough without ordering Diet soda." Tea joked. Serenity laughed. I loved her laugh....
*Hey, Hikari! I want to come out. Steak!*
**I'll save you some.**
*But it won't be hot! Or nearly as juicy!*
**I don't care. I'm out with Serenity, can you not bug me for once?**
*No.*
"Don't worry, he's just talking witht he Spirt of the Ring." I hear Malik say.
**YAMI!! DON'T DISTRACT ME!**
"I'm sorry, what did I miss?" I asked sheepishly. Tea and Serenity glanced at each other, decided not to comment, and then rolled their eyes.
"The waiter came and took our appetizer order. We got one Blooming Onion. Oh, and we told the waiter to combine our bills. We'll each pay a fourth of it." Tea explained. She and Serenity began discussing something that Mai had said during their spa outing, and I noticed Malik glancing from one to the other, trying to appear casual, but failing miserably.
This was going to be interesting!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, so the date has begun! If I let this go on any longer, though, it'd be longer than last chapter almost! And that was a good 300 words more than my usual. So, I'm going to upload this and then go find something to eat, go to bed, then wake up tomorrow morning and write the next chapter! Then at school I'll work on the sequel for Promises 'cos Ashley will be begging me to, and then I'll come home, do homework, read your wonderful reviews to cheer myself up, then rinse and repeat! Erm.. Yeah. So please R+R!!!