I had hoped he would be a little bit late so I would still have time to get myself together and figure out how I was going to behave and what I was going to say, but Lupin was five minutes early. I was a bit shocked by his early appearance and I think he could see that, because he laughed softly. I quickly regained my usual swagger and got up, giving him a confident grin. I wasn't sure how to greet him, but he went for a short wave and that was fine with me. I pulled back his chair and he thanked me and dropped down. I could see his cheeks redden and as I set down I felt the tension rise. This was why I didn't do dates, only drunk kisses and hook-ups. Dates made things awkward. No, wait, they didn't make them awkward, they were awkward. There was this thing with dates where there was so much pressure to talk, that both of you would fall silent. Though this time, that didn't happen, by Remus' doing.
'I don't really like the awkward forced small talk,' he said as made himself comfortable on his chair. He wore a beige shirt with long sleeves and a pair of dark brown jeans. I, myself, wore dark blue shorts and a black t-shirt, with long sleeves as well. I wondered if he wasn't melting in that outfit, it was mid-summer and it wasn't cool at all. I certainly was melting. I decided not to mention it. He probably had a good reason for it, just like me. I was pretty sure my dark mark showing, wouldn't earn me bonus points.
'Okay,' I said, 'me neither. So, what do you want to drink and eat and what is your favorite movie to watch when you're sick?' I asked and leaned towards him. He blinked, probably surprised that I had directly taken him up on his words and broke the awkward tension by a very strange question. He then laughed and it was the most wonderful sound ever. I smiled and handed him one of the menu cards. We both picked a large iced-caffe and a large waffle draped in milk chocolate and strawberries. Even though I had just eaten, I was hungry again. Typical.
'My favorite movie,' he said, his lips covered in chocolate, 'is The Great Gatsby. Don't laugh at me okay, I know it's cheesy, but I love crying when I'm sick.' I frowned and laughed softly.
'Why would you want to feel even more shitty when you're sick? Also… what kind of movie is that?' I asked. I drank a sip from my iced-caffe and studied the other boy. I had never really had te time for studying him from so up close in bright daylight. His eyes were even more beautiful in this light. They were a mix of many colors, making it a real window to the soul. His skin was pale, even paler than normal it seemed and those evil scars on his face were now more visible than ever. I think he noticed I was looking at him intently, because he looked down and focussed on his strawberry-chocolate waffle.
'I don't know. It's not a bad kind of sad I suppose. I just love how they love each other.' He fell silent for a moment and this time, he was the one studying me. I wondered what he was seeing. Would he notice the way my black hair fell down my cheekbones? How it escaped from the messy ponytail I had made? Would he notice the different shades of grey in my eyes or the curve of my lips? Would he think I was stunningly handsome or would there be something that he did not like? 'Of course,' he stated, as if something had struck him that was totally obvious. 'You don't know any muggle movies.' I shrugged and played with my waffle. In the minutes I'd waited, I'd listened to other conversations of muggles getting together. One of the guys had asked this to his date. I had never seen any movie, but it seemed like a good question.
'I have never seen one,' I admitted, 'but it seemed like something nice to ask.' He smiled weakly and remained silent for a while. I shifted uncomfortably. I was afraid it would turn into the awkward-smalltalk date again, but he just laughed softly and looked up at me.
'We should go to the cinema once,' he then said. My smile brightened and I nodded. I opened my mouth to speak and that's when I felt it. My wrist burned. I flinched, but was lucky enough that Remus wasn't watching. I bit my lip and ignored the pain, but I knew what I had to do. I looked on the clock behind the bar and sighed. I got up abruptly.
'I'm sorry,' I whispered. He looked startled. It had only been half an hour. I hadn't really know how long this date was going to be, but this was certainly not what neither he and I had expected. 'I have to go.' I swallowed. He opened his mouth, probably to ask me why, but I cut in. 'I can't explain. It's… complicated. I'm so sorry.' Damm it. I wish I could stay, but I would risk getting myself killed and to be honest, that wasn't worth it. I leaned over the table and pressed a kiss on his cheek. He seemed surprised and flushed, but I saw the hurt in his eyes. 'I'll see you at the cinema… Friday night,' I quickly said. 'The one closest by my house.' He didn't agree, but I didn't expect him to. I would have to see if he would show up. If he didn't, it was my own fault. I made myself turn around and walk away. When I turned around a corner into a small alley, I spun around on the spot and vanished. My surroundings changed and where I came, it seemed like the sun didn't even shine. The hedges around the house seemed to block the sun and I felt my stomach plunge as I stepped through the gigantic black door. I quickly changed clothes with a wave of my wand so I was wearing my black robes. I walked into the great dinner hall. They were there already. I swallowed and bowed, my mood dropping completely. I didn't look at Him, but I felt his eyes burn on me as I sat down next to Severus, ready to hear what he had to say.