Chapter Two

Around five, he walks into the café, nodding to Phil, the owner, and takes his usual table. He smiles as Phil brings his usual, chai tea, and asks, "So, Parker, got a date tonight? " It was a running joke with them, every time he came in Phil would ask if he had a date, then send a cute waitress to his table. This was his attempt to set Parker up. This time the joke was on Phil, well maybe.

" Yes… Well sort of, she's going to meet me here. " Parker tells him, smiling nervously.

" Good for you Pete, good for you. " He then turns to the waitresses, most sitting at the bar, not having more than a handful of people in the café. " Hey girls, Peter Parker's got a date!" He pats his shoulder, smiling at the redness that rises in Parker's cheeks before going back to the bar, allowing Parker to watch the door in peace.

It was half past five before the café door opened and she walked in, amazingly enough wearing something other than a school girl uniform! Her long slender shapely legs are wrapped in flesh toned stockings, her feet adorned in a pair of knee high black suede two inch heeled boots. Her faded jean skirt with soft fringe at the hem goes to her knees, leaving about three inches between the skirt's hem and the top of her boots. Accenting this she has on a tan leather belt with a rose buckle, and a loose fitting baby blue denim button up shirt, the sleeves rolled up just above her elbows. Her long sunshine gold locks are woven into a beautiful French braid and the end of the braid is tucked up under the base of it, again hiding the full length of her hair. As always though, on the bridge of her nose rests her silver rimmed glasses because a small book resides in her right hand as she steps fully into the café. The bells above the door chiming softly. So lost in her book trying to finish the last two paragraphs of the tenth chapter she doesn't step from the door yet.

Phil looks up as the bells above his door ring, and grins. He walks up to the pretty girl clearing his throat and asking, " Excuse me, please tell me you're here for Parker. That would really make my day. "

Hearing words spoken to her those sapphire blue eyes tear themselves away from the pages of her book to look up at the older man, Phil, as she smiles shyly speaking quietly with her beautiful French accent dancing past her crimson lips. " Actually… yes… Can you tell me where I can find him? " She closes her book slipping the ribbon into place and clutching the book to her bosom.

He grins at her and steps aside gesturing to the back table. "Right this way, ma'am. " He says, escorting her to the table. " Parker, any particular reason this beautiful young girl is standing in my café asking for you? " He asks as they reach the table, his tone is gruff but his eyes sparkle with pride.

Peter looks at him, then looks quickly to the girl standing beside him nervously. " You came! I mean… um… hi." He stands quickly, rattling the table slightly. " Please sit down. Did you have any trouble finding the place? "

Phil laughs and asks Serenity, " Can I get you anything? We have a fine selection of international coffees and a wide variety of teas, including Peter's usual chai tea, with whipped cream and cinnamon. Also we have a large selection of Danishes, muffins, and other pastries. " He pulls out a note pad ready to take her order.

All this time she has stood there nervously shifting from one foot to the other, back and forth. Finally she takes the offered seat across from Peter. She looks between him and Phil nervously with a rush of crimson on her pale cheeks. " Umm… I'll have a chai.. With vanilla and cinnamon.. That all right sir? " She nearly whispers to Phil, long golden lashes flashing over her high boned cheeks. She almost looked like a doll.

She turns her gaze to Peter finally setting her book down on the table in front of her. " I said I would come didn't I? I would have been here sooner, but papa called from London, and Annette wouldn't simmer down. Marcus still can't believe you caught him like you did. " The hue of crimson turns to scarlet on her cheeks the more she speaks, but she digs herself in deeper. " Did you think I wouldn't show? " There was almost a hint of hurt in her French melodies.

Phil smiles and looks at Peter. " You should try really hard to keep her Peter, she's so nice! " He turns his gaze to Serenity. " It's coming right up, and I'll get you another one too Pete. " Glancing at Peter before smiling as he walks over to the bar to fix their drinks.

Peter looks at her with alarm. " No, its not that, it's just that I've had it happen to me a few times. So I try not to get my hopes up. I was really hoping you would show though. " He pauses a moment looking down at the table hoping she won't be mad or hurt by his comment before he shifts subjects in an attempt to prevent it. " I'm glad Marcus is all right, he needs to be more careful when he walks. He could seriously hurt himself one of these times. "

She extends her hand to him once he has finished speaking, since he didn't give her much of an opening to say anything at first. " I understand. Been there. " She leaves out her sordid past as well as the simple fact she was really looking forward to this. He is after all the first friend she has made in the entire school. She lets the subject shift melding her words into the change easily. " He's a klutz. He can't help it though. I think if he weren't family Annette wouldn't have him working there, she'd never be able to afford the insurance, or the dishes. " She smiles amusedly but shyly just the same.

He reaches out and takes her hand, a soft smile playing on his handsome face. " Yeah, I can understand that. I used to be a klutz to, although not quite as bad. "

Phil brings a tray to the table, holding both drinks and a plate of assorted pastries. He sets the drinks in front of them and places the plate between them in the middle of the table. "Enjoy, and the pastries are on the house. " Smiling he leaves before either of them can speak.

Peter smiles up at her. " I'm really glad you came Serenity."

She looks up at Phil as he sets the drinks and pastries down smiling politely and nervously up at him. " Thank you sir. " Then reaches with her free hand to pick up a sliver of a chocolate muffin and bite into it. Her gaze fixed for the moment on Parker again as she chews daintily. Almost in a manner that would annoy most men, seeing her as a "bird" eater. However its more to her about etiquette than anything else.

She lowers her gaze a moment feeling the warmth of the scarlet hues which dance still upon her ivory cheeks. " I'm happy you asked me to come. You're sweet.. " She shrugs her shoulders softly setting her muffin sliver down on a napkin in front of her and picking up her mug sipping a moment at her vanilla chai, which if either Peter or Phil had taken noticed, she smelled of vanilla and lavender.

He smiles at her, taking a lemon drizzled cake from the plate, biting it in half and chewing slowly, mouth fully closed just as his Aunt May had taught him was proper. He sets down the other half on the saucer from his tea cup and takes the tea sipping it slowly, still gazing into her eyes, a faint red hue rising to his cheeks. "I'm not sweet… " he whispers softly. " Am I? " He looks at the table, a shy look in his eyes, one that could not be faked. No matter how good of an actor you are.

The soft velvety pad of her thumb brushes over the back of his hand softly in an attempt to bring his gaze back up to hers of sapphiric hues as she whispers in that sweet French melody of hers. " You are. " Then she takes a deep breath grasping at a moment of bravery one might say, or at least telling her shyness to shut it for a moment and glances up at Phil. " Aren't I right sir? "

Before Phil can answer, all of the waitresses at the bar answer for him. "Yes he's very sweet, one of the few left in the world. " Every single one of them spoke in unison. Their announcement causes Peter to blush a bright red, gulping his tea trying to hide his burning cheeks from view.

Phil laughs a deep heart belly laugh that echos in the small café. "He sure is Ms. Serenity, he sure is. "

A soft girlish giggle dances past her pouting silken petals of crimson as it is simply herself, Parker, Phil, and the waitresses left in the café anyway. Which is for the record the only reason she had the guts to put the question out there like that. She tilts her head slightly looking at Peter's reaction though, a twinge of a frown dancing over those plump petals worriedly. " I'm sorry… " Her hand slowly sliding from his.

He catches her hand curling his fingers around her hand slightly tighter than before to prevent its further escape. Then pulls it back towards him slightly. " It's okay, I'm not upset. Besides, embarrassing me is their favorite pass time. " He raises his voice slightly so Phil can hear his next comment loud and clear. " Phil thinks himself my adopted father, and the girls as his daughters. He's just an old softy. " He smiles at them all in turn, then looks back at her.

Lowering his voice almost to a whisper he says, " and I don't think it is possible for me to be upset with you. " That same hue of crimson still tainting his cheeks.

Her silken fingers have curled themselves around his hand in turn as she speaks softly in nothing more than a whisper herself. " See, you're proving me right Mr. Parker. " A smile like something he had yet to see upon those soft lips dances over them, a bright one. She reaches with her free hand picking up her muffin and finishes it before doing the same with her chai, after all she did not want it to get cold. It never seemed to sit well with her if she allowed it to do that.

He smiles softly at her then follows her example finishing his tea and cake. He motions for refills knowing they would be needed. His voice is soft as he once more speaks. " I guess maybe you're right. So, tell me about yourself…"