Chapter 9 – First Date
A/N – This chapter was sort of inspired by the multitude of teen movies I've seen in my lifetime. Remember "Valley Girl" with Nicolas Cage? No? Hmm. Anyway, that movie had this great date montage. It's a classic. Remember that song "Melt with You?" No? Anyway, that whole date…scene…montage…idea was what I was going for. Not sure if it works, but oh well…it was fun to write!
A/N 2 – This chapter is my personal favorite, so c'mon, be nice—review!
* * *
It had taken Severus over fifteen minutes to compose himself. Even now, he was still shaking. His legs felt like rubber as he stumbled along the crowded sidewalk, narrowly missing a young couple holding hands, and a man taking a swig from a flagon-shaped brown paper bag. His knees nearly buckled under him as he reached the Fresh Start Café.
Breathing deeply, he wiped beads of perspiration from his forehead, and entered the busy eatery. Standing next to the doorway, Severus noticed the large crowd of people loitering near the entrance, waiting to be seated. He scanned the cafe, which appeared to be at capacity with all of the dozen or so tables and booths occupied by Muggles in what looked like beatnik attire.
He spotted Lily right away. She was sitting in a corner booth, perusing a menu, her reddish hair pulled off her face in a loose ponytail. She looked fresh and natural with miniscule make-up and wearing faded jeans, a white t-shirt, and a purple cardigan. She glanced at her watch, frowned, then looked up toward the entrance. Her worried expression disappeared upon seeing him.
Severus froze. Then she smiled at him, hesitantly raised her hand, and waved. He did likewise, and then as if pulled by an invisible string; he crossed the room to where she sat.
"I'm sorry I'm late," he said hurriedly. "My father. He—" But what could he really tell her about his father…and what Mordemos Snape was capable of? He paused. "I was detained," he said finally.
"Don't worry about it," Lily replied, and gestured for him to sit down. He complied, sliding into the "c" shaped booth, careful to leave at least two feet between them, thus keeping her at a safe distance.
"I'm glad you came," she said, and he noticed that she really looked like she was—glad.
He nodded, and attempted a smile. There was an awkward silence. Lily picked up her menu. "Have you eaten yet?" she asked.
He shook his head.
"Here," she said, prying a second menu from its wire stand, she handed it to him, and they again fell into silence. They spent the next five minutes carefully studying the menu. When the waitress, a young, college-aged girl with an American accent, came, she gave Severus an appraising look, then turned to Lily.
"What'll it be?" she asked.
The couple ordered their meals: A spinach salad for Lily; roast beef for Severus. Then, once again, they fell into silence.
As seemed to be the norm in their new relationship, Lily was the first to speak. "Well, this is awkward," she said, obviously trying to break the ice.
"Yes," Severus muttered. He desperately tried to think of something else to say—anything—but he was struck dumb.
Their gazes scanned the room, looking at everything, and everyone, but each other. Finally Lily turned to him. She grabbed his hand in an impulsive gesture, and gave it a squeeze. "Your letter…" she began. "What you said about me, and how you think about me, and the way you feel about me…is it true?"
"Er…" Severus looked into her expectant face. "More or less," he replied.
She smiled. "Me too." She gave his hand another squeeze, and continued holding it under the table. "I can't tell you how surprised I was to receive it," she continued. "I mean after that day at the train station, and what you said, and how you looked at me, I thought that you couldn't possibly …" Her voice trailed off, then she looked at him and grinned. "But you do."
He nodded.
"And now here you are," she said. Her gaze swept up and down, seemingly taking in his full appearance—or at least the part that was visible above the table. Her eyes lingered on his black polyester blazer, and silky shirt, and she frowned. "You don't dress in Muggle clothes much, do you?" she asked.
Severus shook his head. "No. Is it…?" He glanced down at his front. "Is it not appropriate?"
"Well," she said, giving him a condescending smile. "It's a bit much. Perhaps later tonight…we could go somewhere where you'd blend in better. Of course, I'd have to change first..."
"Oh?"
"Mm hm." She nodded, still smiling. "And we'd have sneak in, of course."
"Really?"
"Yes, but it would be fun, don't you think?"
"Er, sure. But…"
"I've been wanting to go dancing for ages…"
* * *
"Well, how do I look?"
Severus stared at the girl standing in front of him. She wore a black slip of a dress with spaghetti straps and a sarong-style skirt that fell just above the knee. Her auburn hair was pulled back in a knot, secured by a pair of chopsticks. She pulled at the tag hanging just under her arm, and craned her neck down as she tried to read it.
"This one's kind of expensive," she said, squinting at the price. "Maybe I should get the oth—"
"No," Severus cut in abruptly, finally finding his voice. "It's perfect. You look…" Stunning. Beautiful. Gorgeous. "Fine."
"Just fine?" She sounded disappointed. But she had to know better.
He shrugged. "The girl at the counter said they'd be closing in five minutes. That was ten minutes ago…"
"Right." She yanked off the price tag, and hobbled back into the dressing room, apparently having a bit of trouble balancing on her strappy, new spiked-heeled sandals.
She emerged two minutes later carrying the clothes she'd originally worn for their date under her arm. She took several tentative steps, and nearly fell, latching both of her hands around Severus' elbow to steady herself. He placed a large, firm hand on her back to support her, and he noticed her slight start at the touch of his fingers on her bare skin.
They gazed at each other for an instant, before quickly looking away.
Hand still firmly on her back, Severus guided her to the counter where the shop girl was impatiently rapping her acrylic nails against the cash register.
"Sorry for the delay," Severus mumbled. Lily grabbed onto the counter to steady herself, pulled out her brown, suede shoulder bag, and started rummaging around in it. After a good thirty seconds, she pulled out a worn leather wallet, which she snapped open to produce a shining plastic card.
Smiling, she showed it to Severus before handing it over to the girl. "Look, my first credit card," she announced with pride. Severus glanced at it and noted her name embossed in the plastic. "Dad said it was just for emergencies." She shot him a wicked grin. "I'd say its use is warranted in this case, wouldn't you?"
Severus opened his mouth to disagree, thought better of it and held his tongue. After all, emergencies were relative.
She paid for her dress and shoes, and like two kids who'd just won an invitation to the chocolate factory, they headed off for their next destination.
* * *
"You smell good."
"Hmm?" Where was he now? Ah, yes. He was floating. Well, it certainly seemed like he was anyway. Standing here with Lily in his arms. The music playing in the background. Yes, as if on a cloud.
But unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. And his cloud quickly evaporated. The deafening music with the pounding beat returned.
"Ooh, I like this one," Lily squealed, throwing both arms up in the air and swaying her hips from side to side.
Severus grimaced. Not again. He began jerking his body this way and that in an imitation of her movements. Somehow, he didn't think he was quite achieving the level of grace she was. Ah well. Things could've been worse. After all, he was here with her. And she was happy.
Happy to be with him?
He studied her upturned face; her closed eyes, and the hint of a smile on her lips.
Yes. She was happy. And, yes, she was with him. One could only conclude that…
He smiled and continued jerking.
* * *
They were alone now, walking. It was unbelievably late. He'd never been out this late before. It was… He glanced at his watch. It was tomorrow.
And she was still smiling. And looking at him. Always looking. Like he was something to look at. Of course he wasn't, but he wasn't about to tell her that.
Let her look. She's crazy, but…let her be crazy. Merlin only knew that he was crazy too. Beyond crazy in fact. Beyond caring about anything, or anyone, besides her.
All in one night.
And that night was almost over. Well, technically it already was, but… Oh dear, she was stopping.
"This is my house," she murmured, gesturing to the proper-looking brownstone obscured in shadow. She was turning to him now, and looking expectant. What was she expecting?
Suddenly, he had a pretty good idea. Her pretty face tilted up toward his, and her lids fluttered closed.
His heart was pounding; his palms sweaty. He shut his eyes tight, then leaned over.
He kissed her.
* * *
He watched from her front lawn as the trail of lights flicked on and off inside her house. When the light in the top left corner went on, he waited for half a minute until she came to the window and held her hand up to the glass. She stood there for a moment, then turned and the window darkened.
Sighing, Severus stuck his hands in his Muggle coat, then headed for home. There was a Portkey he could use not far from here. He quickened his step, mind on his date with Lily and not at all on his whereabouts or the streets ahead of him. He must've missed a turn, or gone the wrong way, because minutes later, he found himself on a darkened street completely devoid of light.
He blinked hard, trying to see in front of him. So strange. He turned, then stopped.
"Hello?" he said, sensing he was not alone. "Is there someone there?"
He turned again facing his original direction and that's when he saw them. Two eyes, like slits, glowing in the darkness. They narrowed even further as they seemed to study him.
"H…Hello?" he called again.
Then he heard wicked-sounding laughter, and the man…or creature…or whatever it was spoke in a low, gravelly voice.
"Hello, Severus."
He backpedaled so fast he nearly fell. With a rush of adrenaline brought on by fear, he scrambled around and ran, blindly, as fast as he could. He was completely out of breath when he reached the Portkey. Relief overtook him as he entered the ordinary-looking phone booth, picked up the receiver and instantly disappeared.