"What an attitude…" I growl, shooting daggers into his back as he walks away.
"It seems as though some people never change." Diana adds, sighing to herself before turning back to me. "I apologize for his behavior, Theodore. Although the Cavendish family motto is 'Affection', this characteristic escapes the thoughts of most nobility nowadays. He claims that you're just a cardboard cutout of the student body here, but he's no different. Nobles often act the same, very unnoble like."
I suppose that might be how Akko feels towards Diana.
I hope the events of the island and Diana's show of friendship towards Akko earlier goes a long way in terms of mending the fences between the two witches. It can be hard being in the middle of them.
Anchovy decides to change the subject.
"Hey, Theodore, Diana. You smell that in the air?"
Pausing my thoughts on Andrew, I stop, taking a sniff of the air.
Sure enough, the warm smell of fresh food fills the cool nighttime air. The time of appetizers is over, dinner has begun.
"Let's forget about him over a round of pasta!" Anchovy suggests, waving her hands around in excited proclamation.
"Not a bad idea." I confirm, Diana nodding at the both of us.
With that, the three of us make our way over to the dining tables.
Waiters of all different shapes and sizes circle the area like hawks, ensuring no patron's plate or cup goes empty. Tables, all uniform in size and cloth, are neatly placed against each other, filled with food, drink, and all kinds of silverware I cannot even begin to describe.
Mild music and modest lighting control the atmosphere. One would think this was a regular outdoor diner, rather than one created only in a day on campus grounds.
The school really spared no expense.
"Let's hope a waiter comes quickly because I haven't eaten since the plane." Anchovy exclaims as all three of us sit down.
Nodding at my friend's statement, I narrow my eyes, searching around for such an individual.
I spot Faralda and Ursula conversing, I see Amanda and her group laughing about something with Akko and her group.
Good to see Akko has calmed down after her encounter with Andrew.
I continue to look, but I do not spot a waiter.
Instead, I spot an overweight, out of shape, balding, lonely man, and he's sitting only a few chairs away from us.
How did I not notice him sooner?!
Sighing to myself, knowing conversation with him is now inevitable, I acknowledge him in the customary manner.
"Beef Mc Whatnow?"
I swear, so many characters are popping up, it's becoming too much to manage.
Instead of a suit and tie that most gentlemen are wearing, Beef Mc Whatnow has decided that a simple t-shirt, with a tuxedo design printed on, is sufficient for this party. Unknown stains, both new and old, of all different colors, are dotted across his attire. He also wears a faded black fedora, too tight on his coconut head, most likely acquired several decades ago.
"Ah, well if it isn't the guy with the ears and the girl with the mouth." He then spots Anchovy, pointing at her with a fat finger. "And a new girl with hair too. Hello, new girl with hair."
I do indeed have ears, and I'm quite positive that Diana has a mouth. What else have I been kissing? And on the subject of Anchovy. I'm fairly certain she has hair, it's her most iconic physical feature.
Not paying attention to the man, Anchovy declines to respond, still eyeing the menu, a slight dribble of drool falling from her chin as she eyes the pasta section, eyes wide as plates.
She really does like her Italian food.
"Wow, my guy!" Beef Mc Whatnow exclaims, pointing at my attire. "That outfit looks so good, good enough to eat. I swear, I would slurp some sugar free French Vanillia creamer off the right sleeve of your shirt. After the party, if you want, I can add you on Discord. My username is XXX_BeefyIsHere123SheRaGapeFan_XXX. And you have to say the numbers in my username as one hundred and twenty three, not one two three. I'm very sensitive about that."
He then turns towards Diana and Anchovy, eyeing their outfits.
Like before, Anchovy is still analyzing the menu, not paying any attention to the outside world.
In her current state, I think the moon could fall from the sky and she wouldn't even notice.
Beef Mc Whatnow then turns his attention to Diana, looking over her outfit.
"It is ok, I guess." He simply shrugs, answering a question that no one asked, not at all showing Diana the respect she deserves. "There's just one thing I would change about it though."
I frown at this.
I, personally, think that Diana looks just fine the way she is, beautiful, pretty, cute, and all other forms of compliments one could give, in English, Italian, and every other language. If Diana could change her current appearance for the better, I'd be very surprised, but even more in love.
I really don't like this man.
"And what would that be?" Diana asks him, not nearly as offended as I am.
Beefy points at Diana's hair with one of his fingers, and declares
"You'd look better in a different wig."
Diana's mouth opens slightly agape, her eyes a bit wide, badly attempting to suppress her shock and surprise at such a statement.
All right, that's enough.
This guy can make fun of my nose, constantly ask me for 'hugs of forgiveness' for stuff that he's never done to me, but nobody insults Diana when I'm around. That won't fly.
Trying to mask the venom in my voice, I simply hiss
"Your ugly, and I don't like you."
I turn myself away from him, not wanting my body to even be in his direction. Casting a gaze towards Diana, her image alone calms me down.
Thankfully, a waiter walks by, cutting this conversation off before it can go further.
"May I take your order?" He asks us three.
"Yes, you may!" My friend slaps the table in anticipation. "Tell me, my good man! What is the current situation on your pasta storage?"
"We're currently preparing the ingredients." The waiter tells her. "It may take half an hour before the first pasta dish is ready."
Anchovy doesn't seem put off by this new information.
"I have loads of time to catch up with Theodore, so prepare ourselves a feast!" My friend declares passionately, extending her arm out to bolden her declaration. "Set the water to boil and fire up the ovens!"
He nods at Anchovy, writing down her order before turning to Beef.
"And what would you like?"
"Can I have a family style mercury doused blowfish lasagna?" The overweight, out of shape, balding, lonely man asks.
Yes, please eat it all, and lick the plate too.
Although the content of this order raises my brows, the waiter doesn't bat an eye as he casually writes it down, turning back to Beef Mc Whatnow.
"And would you like a desert to go with your dinner?"
"I'll take...uh...two sugar donuts with um...an extra large cup of coffee and...uhhhh...with French vanilla sweetener, no sugar. My wife, she's been hounding me about my weight recently. I mean, what the hell? I'm out every day, on my feet all day, busting my balls off at my place of work, trying to put food on the table, trying to keep her purse full, trying to keep her happy, and when I get home, she's nagging my ear off about my weight. She practically nips at my legs like a chihuahua. Fitting, because she has teeth like corn chips and the nose of a bloodhound. Whenever I bring a donut into the house, it's like she can smell it a mile away. I just want to have a donut every once in a while. Granted, I may have put on a little weight over the holidays, but doubling my body weight in two weeks is fine. I mean, just how much can a guy take? Women, am I right? The kids these days like to make jokes at me, lots of Joe Mamma jokes. But my name isn't Joe Mamma. No, it's Joe Sugar Donuts, hold the sugar, and I'll have the mcchicken hold the the. Also two fries and a bowl of ice cream, my wife wants me to lose weight. My marriage is falling apart and my kids only talk to me to buy them more v bucks for fortnite. I live in a rv down by the river with the homeless, they call me "Gaping Joe" on account of how I make ends meet. Also, do you know a recipe for a sugar free sugar donuts, hold the sugar, hold the donuts with extra sugar? My wife's been hounding me about my weight, so I figured this might be a loophole."
Nodding at the order as if it were nothing, the waiter leaves.
Diana, Anchovy, and myself collectively blink in bewilderment at Beefy's order, his words even too unusual for my hungry Duce to ignore.
Although I myself have more experience than I would like in dealing with this man, he always finds some way to out weird himself.
And then, without waiting for his order, or even letting the waiter now, Beefy gets up and walks away, disappearing into the vast sea of people, leaving as quickly as he came.
What an enigma.
Once again, not at all dismayed or shaken by what transpired, Anchovy slings each arm around Diana and myself, grinning ear to ear.
"Just like old times, eh?" She addresses me. "Eating good food with a good friend, although we are dressed much fancier than usual."
I answer her question with a smile of my own.
"Don't think I've forgotten about you, Diana!" My friend exclaims, turning her attention to my girlfriend. "We've shared a pizza together in Italy, so that officially makes you a citizen of myself! Duce from the Land of Spirit and Pasta!"
Finding her smile infectious, Diana joins in, the three of us bearing grins as Anchovy chuckles to herself.
After a moment of this, Anchovy's grip on us lessens, herself relaxing in her chair.
"So, how has the Tankery Club been?" Diana asks her, engaging in small talk. "Although Christmas Break is still in effect, I assume as President there are several preliminary duties that occupy your time."
"Unique sense of timing, my friend." Anchovy replies, a sharp smirk on her face. "I recently had to enact a new protocol that will take effect once the break is over. Our student body has to cut from three snacks a day to two in order to save money. I signed the paperwork just a few days ago."
"Why do you need to save money?" I ask. "Is your school struggling financially?"
"Although our school has found itself short of money, I can testify that that issue is not of the same caliber of Luna Nova's."
Suddenly, Anchovy springs from her seat, standing tall and proud on the table like a dictator addressing her people, hands at her sides in total confidence as she yells to the heavens.
"No, my friends, it's to buy a secret weapon for our club!"
"A secret weapon?" Diana asks, her brow raised at such a statement.
"It's Anzio High's deadly secret weapon!" She exclaims with a fist pump.
Still standing atop the table, Anchovy leans down, whispering in my ear
"It's a P-40..."
"Ooh." I can't help but reply.
Although my knowledge of Italian tanks during World War Two is of no comparison to Anchovy's, the P-40 is such a tank I recall her mentioning. According to my friend, it was a solid and well made tank, but made too late in the war to have any real impact, but certainly an improvement over the L3.
Regardless of my lack of tank knowledge, I can't help but grin at seeing my friend's enthusiasm. She really does radiate an energy of confidence
Returning to her position on the table, Anchovy continues her speech.
"If our forces are indeed equipped with this secret weapon, along with my comrades' existing spirit and momentum, and a bit of brain power, we will attain our goal of victory."
That last word catches me off guard.
"Victory?" I raise a brow. "Do you have a match coming up?"
My question sends another smirk across her face, sharp enough to puncture The Hindenburg.
In one grand motion, Anchovy leaps from the table, landing next to me.
"Good news for you, Theodore!" She slaps me on the back. "You'll have the pleasure of seeing your illustrious Duce again very soon, for we have a match set against St. Gloriana Girls' College in a mere few short weeks!"
"That's the British team, right?"
"Correct!" She beams, head held high in confidence. "Myself and the rest of Anzio High's team, along with our impressive stock of tanks and material, shall return to England and compete!"
"That's great Anchovy!" I grin, excited by the prospect of seeing her again soon. "Best of luck to you and your team. If time would allow, I would love to watch your match."
"Oh, I expect you to come no matter what." She playfully teases me. "I'll save a ticket for you and Diana, and for anyone else you may want to invite along."
"Well, that's very generous of you." Diana responds, also smiling towards my friend.
Although I'm sure the idea of watching two teams of World War Two era tanks fighting for supremacy would appeal to many, I'm quite certain it doesn't have much appeal to Diana. Perhaps the idea of spending time with us overshadows the rowdy and shouty nature that accompanies crowds of people eagerly witnessing a competition.
Or maybe, more interestingly, this might be another side to Diana not often seen, one that actually likes to have a good bit of fun in a more untraditional manner.
The conversation of Anchovy's generous offer is interrupted as the sounds of the band become too loud to ignore.
"Let's live like there's a chance that we'll make it through…." The vocalist gently sings. "Only me and you…cause I am yours forever. Take me in your arms. Sweetheart, just dance."
Noticing the change in melody, I feel a warm, yet gentle, sensation on my hand.
Looking over, I see Diana holding my hand, staring at me through her beautiful eyes, a kind smile on her face.
"You know, Theodore…" She begins, the words bouncing on her lips as she speaks. "We never danced in Italy."
Once again, all it takes is a few words, just a few words from Diana, and I can feel that familiar warmth creeping up my neck, climbing up to my face, spreading like wildfire.
"Uh…I…uh…" I barely manage to choke out, as my lips quiver and tremble.
It has been quite awhile since I danced. I remember only one time, under Anchovy's dictatorial order, did we dance together when we were much younger. But that was merely goofing around at her birthday party, not something as intimate and personal as what Diana is suggesting. The very thought of this breaks me out into hives.
"You mean you and me?" I question, my face growing more red, my anxiety building with every word I utter. "Holding hands…bodies close to each other…arms wrapped around each other…in front of everyone?!"
"My, oh, my." Diana giggles into her hand at my obvious awkwardness. "Is someone developing stage fright? Who would have thought that the one who fought a Roman god would be flustered at the thought of dancing with his girlfriend?"
Taken aback by this accuracy, I stutter and stammer as I try to regain myself.
"W-well, uh that's not it, Diana. Y-you…you see-"
A sudden cry snaps us both from our conversation.
"I told you, I can't dance!" We both hear. "I have two left feet!"
Looking over, we both see Faralda attempting to physically budge Ursula from her chair, the latter's face as red as her hair during her days as Shiny Chariot.
Same, Professor Ursula. Same.
Not persuaded by her friend's plead, Faralda keeps tugging on Ursula's sleeve.
"Come on, it's a party!" She further attempts to sway. "Why are you just sitting there?! You can't party if you're sitting down!"
"After all…" Faralda releases her grip on Ursula, squatting in front of her. "You gotta get up to get down!"
Faralda then proceeds to 'get down' in front of the other teacher, her frantic and energetic dancing, not matching that of the slow romantic music, adding another shade of red to Ursula's face as other patrons look on in disbelief.
"If I dance with you, will you please stop embarrassing us?"
"Victory!" Faralda cries out, throwing her arms up in the air with pride.
"At least your partner isn't that pushy." Diana jokingly comments.
Yeah, if Diana was like that I'd probably be just as distraught as Ursula. If not, then more so.
I shouldn't beat around the bush and just be honest with Diana, like Ursula is to Faralda.
After all, honesty is the best policy.
"I just don't know how to dance." I turn back towards my girlfriend. "Diana, you're a noble, not far off from royalty. I'm sure that a girl like you has been taught to dance since she could first walk. My family may have money, but as you know we're not exactly the most noble of houses. Dancing, instruments, everything that is attached to prosperous families doesn't apply to mine. I can't dance, I was never taught how to. I'm afraid I'll embarrass you in front of others."
"Oh stop it with the drama!" Anchovy includes herself into the conversation, a smirk spread across her face. "You just survived several days on a hostile island full of monsters! Go and dance with your girlfriend, Theodore! I'll wait for the food in the meantime."
She does have a point…
Not at all dissuaded by my speech, Diana speaks to me in a soft and comforting manner.
"You'll never embarrass me, Theodore." She encourages, a smile on her face as she holds a hand out to me. "Come, let's dance. I will guide you."
With my hesitant nod of approval, she gently taking my hands into her's, Diana's smile does not falter, motioning with her head towards her feet.
Watching her movement, I attempt to mimic her footwork, leaving much to be desired.
Although Diana moves with the grace and swiftness of a light summer wind, I find it hard to keep myself standing, all my concentration and nerves coming into play as a struggle to achieve the bare minimum of what is considered dancing.
If Diana feels the sweat on my hands, she does not mention it, her warm smile never leaving her face as she continues to gently guide me in the motions.
"One two, one two…" She slowly whispers to me, categorizing our steps in numbers.
Focusing on her strides, I do my best to match her own footwork. The height difference between us adds a rather awkwardness to our moves, Diana leading us in our dance.
With a new found experience, and getting a rhythm of our moves, I find it slightly easier to keep up with her.
I have to admit, this isn't so bad, despite my earlier mistakes.
Even now, dancing within a sea of people, my concentrate is focused not on any of them, but on Diana herself.
Diana has always been a strikingly attractive girl, but seeing her under the light of the moon, contrasting with the dark of night, allows me to bear witness to her in a much different fashion. I'm not sure how she does it, but her beauty only magnifies itself every time I bear witness to her.
I really am lucky to have met her, to have met all my new friends at Luna Nova. Sitting back home in Rome as a child, reading our family history, absorbing everything my grandfather told me like a sponge, I never would have imagined my life would take such a turn. Even first enrolling in Luna Nova, I only wished to gain knowledge in magic, power to restore my family's past glory. But now a certain blonde witch has cast a spell on me in a way I never would have expected.
And I was able to share this spell with my own home as well. My siblings, even my childhood best friend Anchovy, seemed to approve of her. Heck, the duce herself is here right now, stuffing her face with the newly arrived pasta as she enjoys her time. I'm really glad the two of them hit it off so well.
Anchovy is a kind and supportive friend, but she isn't one to hide her true feelings. If she didn't like Diana, or approved of our relationship, she would have called it out on the spot, as confident as anything else she's ever said.
And then there's Hannah and Barbara…
The sudden thought of the two, casting judgmental and hostile glares towards my direction, causes me to lose focus.
I stop mirroring Diana's motions, sighing to myself in defeat.
I'll never be able to have the same approval from the two as Diana has from Anchovy.
"What's wrong, Theodore" She asks me, concerned. "Are you not enjoying the dance?"
The thought of her being disappointed in herself snaps me out of this brief depression.
"No!" I abruptly cry out, before quickly regaining my composure.
Admittedly, I enjoyed every part of the dancing much more so than I thought I would.
"It's not that…"
I think to myself momentary, pondering my next course of action.
Should I tell Diana my thoughts?
If I do, I run the risk of ruining the good spirit in the air, to stop our dance and pleasant times just to talk about my own issues. It would be selfish if I did. However, if I gave her a simple "No, I'm fine, just tired.", that might satisfy her, but not me. I would still be bearing these same fears and anxieties. They'll only eat me up from the inside if I don't address them. I don't want to lie to her.
"Diana, before I came to Luna Nova, I only had one real friend. You know her, you've met her, and the two of you got along quite well, more so than I thought you two would. Admittedly, Anchovy can be over protective at times. Despite her wanting me to branch out and have more friends, she's always been like an older sibling to me, more so than my actual siblings. If she didn't like you, she would not have been shy about it. We're very close. The only people that I see you close with here are your two dorm mates. Hannah and Barbara don't seem very fond of me. Maybe I could've done or said something different, been more patient with them, but I didn't, and now they hate me. They're your best friends, and I'm your boyfriend. I can only imagine what kind of tension that might create in the future. I don't want to put you in such a situation."
I stop momentary as possible scenarios flash through my head.
It's a classic stereotype. A girl gets into a relationship with a guy, her best friends don't approve, this causes tension, and eventually it blows up into a crisis. The girl has to break it off with the guy, or perhaps she breaks this off with her best friends, or perhaps even a combination of the two.
Either way, it's a no win scenario for Diana.
Imagining Diana in such a state, boyfriendless, perhaps even friendless, alone with nothing but her own regretful thoughts, sinks me deeper into this sudden slip of melancholy.
"If it were to be in your benefit, I would not be opposed to being their friend, but it's like I'm nothing to them…"
The witch places a hand on my shoulder, her other gently placed on the back of my head.
Before I have time to consider her movements, she gently motions us closer, and with a slight tilt of both our necks, our foreheads embrace.
I feel Diana's breath as she exhales from her nose, a gust of warm wind, as welcoming as a fireplace in a winter's log cabin.
She allows this to hang in the air for several seconds before whispering to me
"Hey, you're everything to me, okay?"
Being this close to her heavenly voice and warm smile, I can't help but respond with one in kind.
"What Hannah and Barbara think of you means little to me." The witch continues. "Of course, it would be preferable for them to enjoy your company, but I cannot control their views of you, and neither can you. Those two individuals can be rather judgmental; it's a flaw they share, just as we all have flaws. I find this quite similar to your own friend, Anchovy. Those two can be rather protective and clingy to me at times. Don't allow this to cloud your own judgment of them. I believe with proper time, they will see so for who you really are, just as I do now. I encourage you to give them time, be patient with them. They'll come around eventually."
Even if my mind wants to completely reject what she just told me, Diana has a point. She knows the two of them far better than myself. She spends every day with them, they are her dorm mates from day one. If anyone in this school knew the personalities of the two witches, it would be Diana.
I trust her, and I trust what she says.
"You're always good for a smile…" I whisper to her, allowing our foreheads to remain linked.
Diana and I remain like this for some time, the sounds of us together drowning out any outside stimulation. Even though we are in a vast sea of people, all dancing to one common song, it's just Diana and I now, together.
I've said this once, and I've said this a thousand times, but I really am blessed to have her with me.
My hectic and crazy life in Luna Nova has been a difficult one to travel. Whether it be something as simple as studying or homework, or even as terrible as a battle with a Roman god or a Titan all before Christmas Break, Diana has always been there for me. There for my good times, there for my bad times, I can always rely on her.
I wish I could show her my appreciation for all she's done for me.
Although I cannot provide her the same comfort at this moment, due to her not dealing with any significant issues that I'm aware of, in terms of material gifts I do have one in my pocket right now, specially acquired for no one else in mind other than her.
Breaking our forehead embrace, I look towards her with a thin smile, a bad attempt at hiding what I have planned.
"I have something for you, Diana." I state, a smirk on my face.
I've been waiting for this for awhile.
Catching onto my expression, Diana raises one of her brows, curious as to what I mean.
"Oh?"
"Despite how miserable and painful the expedition to the island was, I still consider all those hardships worth it." I tell her, reaching into my pocket, the ring now warm from my body heat. "We didn't find anything of value to save the school, but I did find a treasure, one which I want to give to you."
Pulling out the gift, her curious eyes turn into orbs, overwhelmed by what's in front of her, brow raised and mouth slightly agape.
She didn't expect this.
Without a further word, I slide the ring on her dainty finger, taking a step back as I allow her to admire it.
Her blue eyes shine, sparkling more so than the ring itself.
Leisurely moving her hand around, the girl in front of me analyses her gift, just as she would during study time, taking in every detail, allowing nothing to fall from her watchful eyes.
"Theodore, it's so beautiful…"
I can't help but smile at her expression, whispering to her
"Si, tu sei..."
Seeming to understand the meaning behind these words, Diana's shining eyes become relaxed, her stunned expression being replaced with a tranquil smile.
She gives another sweet, gentle smile, before taking my shoulders in her hands.
"Now that you've given me this, I feel the need to give you a gift in return." She tells me. "Although, admittedly I have nothing on my person to give you, I can still provide you with something."
Not understanding her choice of words, I still smile at her, and speak the truth.
"Whatever it is, I'll love it."
"Then please accept my gift to you, Theodore."
Before I have time to even guess, Diana leans in, allowing our lips to embrace.
My heart beats once, and then nothing. I see nothing, I feel nothing, nothing expect warmth, the coldness of the nighttime air becoming irrelevant in our passion. It's as if all my problems, all my worries and anxieties are now gone with the night time wind. Right now, there is no Luna Nova, no party, no Anchovy, no issues with Hannah and Barbara, nobody, only Diana's warmth. I no longer feel the stress and anxiety of the past, present or future.
Diana's kiss is as effective as any love spell, and puts my encounter with the cupid bee to shame.
I suppose the old saying is true.
When you love a witch, magic happens.