Possible meaning of the flowers used is at the end :)

Let me know how you feel about flowers on first dates.

Note: Date is set in early June.

Previously

"You're a much nicer person though; I am just not good with coping." Isabella says, shrugging off the mention of her past. "I'm just so lucky to have you as my friend."

"Me too," Samantha says, then grabs her hand and prepares to drag her to Isabella's car, "Now let's go and get ready for your hot date tonight!"

Chapter 5

Loki arrives at the apartment complex on Winston street. Nervously, he adjusts the collar of his dark blue button down shirt and smoothes down imaginary wrinkles. He grabs the bunch of flowers he brought for his date; a bronze chrysanthemum, two daisies, a forget-me-not, and two gardenias.

He buzzes into the building and walks up the five flights of stairs to the door. Knocking softly three times, he waits, trying to still the nervousness building up.


Isabella is putting the finishing touches on her hair when she hears the knocks. Patting it to make sure everything is okay, she is quick to hurry as much as she can with her boot out of her room. Answering the door, Shadow close by just in case, she smiles when she sees Loki there.

Wow, he looks great in those jeans, she thinks to herself as she looks him up and down in a cursory glance, And he brought pretty flowers, not roses. That's so nice and so different from what Cooper would have done.

Upon further inspection, the flowers are flowers that send an honest and non-aggressive message. She looks at Loki with a raised eyebrow, a look of slight amusement on her face. "Flowers?"


When Isabella comes into view after opening the door, Loki's nerves skyrocket when he sees Isa in a bright orange sheer top with a white camisole underneath, her curly brown hair fixed into a messy bun with two curls trailing down the side of her face, highlighting her elegant facial structure...

I am so done in, and we haven't even started yet.

When she quirks an eyebrow, (but not after he noticed her look him up and down), and asks about the flowers, he replies, giving them to her, "I got you some because I noticed you like to have a couple in every other table in your bakery. These seem to be around a little more. but not as often as the anemone."

She looks down at the flowers and touches them softly, looking up at him from under her eyelashes for a moment before saying softly, "Just let me put these away, come in if you want."

Loki nods and walks into the immaculate apartment, noting the few pictures of family or friends, as well as the piles/messes that a busy businessman/woman might have.

"It's so neat in here." He comments, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Yes, I moved in about a year and a half ago."

"For such a big town, you seem to know a lot of people." He comments idly, remembering how many people seem to know so much about her when they heard he was going out with Isabella. Some told him when they came to pick up their cars, at the grocery store, even on the street as he walked to the Winchester's home.

As he looks around the apartment, he notices the exotic cat resting on the couch and staring at him with unblinking, glowing green eyes.

Unsure of what to do, he just stares back, trying to seem as unaggressive as possible without being a total wimp. Coming back from putting her flowers into a vase, she notices the stare-down and chuckles slightly, walking over to him and taking hold of his arm so she can drag him away from her panther.

"She's not going to attack you unless you attack me. " She says with a soft chuckle, dragging him softly to the door, saying goodbye to Shadow. Once she closes the door, Loki offers her his arm again. She accepts it, leaning on him as they walk down the flights of stairs.

He walks over to the side of the truck, the step a bit higher than Isa can manage without help. Noticing her hesitation, Loki asks if he can help her up. She nods, expecting him to give her a hand...

... Instead, he picks her up bridal-style and sets her gently on the seat, mindful of her booted leg.

She squeaks softly, her face turning a deep red at the way his strong arms effortlessly lift her into the truck. He may not look like much, but he sure has some muscle on him.

Climbing into the driver's seat, he buckles himself up and starts the truck. Turning off the hard rock playing on the radio, he asks her, "Which movie would you like to see?"

"You mean you haven't picked it out yet?" She teases, her tone slightly cold although she didn't mean to have it sound that way. She looks down at her lap, interlocking her fingers tightly.

Loki, taken aback by her tone, glances over at her and upon seeing her withdrawn and remorseful posture, realizes she didn't mean to sound so cold. He then says quite seriously in return, "I wanted to make sure you wouldn't pick a scary movie as I am the biggest scare-dy cat around."

"Are you really?" She asks, looking up from her interlocked hands, glad he was able to understand her intentions weren't to insult him. "I would have never figured. I always thought that you would be the kind to laugh or yawn at those movies."

He shakes his head, "I curl up into a ball and pray for the end, jumping at every noise too."

She giggles at the image, her laughter prompting Loki to smile and say, "But you'll protect me, right?'

She shakes her head as she laughs harder, "Every man for himself!"

"What? But, why? After everything we've been through? I feel betrayed."

She bursts out laughing at his incredulous and downtrodden tone, Loki joining in after a moment of enjoying her laughter.

After calming down, she says softly, "I'd like to see Bad Teacher."

Loki thinks about it and nods. "I heard about that movie when Charlie forced Dean to look up movies with her on one of our Friday movie nights. It was quite amusing."

"So you were supposed to be with them tonight?" Isabella asks, slightly concerned that she is keeping him from his friends.

"Yes, but don't worry about it. Ever since they offered to give me a place to stay, we get with a few of their friends every Friday and they all tease me constantly every time. I would rather be with a beautiful woman like you instead. They didn't mind, probably because you give them free pie sometimes."

She looks down with a soft smile and nods, responding, "I'd be with Shadow watching terrible television. She is very picky as to what horrible show we watch though, so we usually watch the Kardashians or any of the Real Housewives."

He nods, parking in a spot close to the entrance of the movie theater, lifting her out again and carefully setting her on the ground. She thanks him softly, her cheeks now pink, and walks to the box office with him. He pays for two tickets and they go into the theater.

Isabella asks, "Do you want me to pay for popcorn and soda? You paid for the tickets, so I can pay for the snacks if you want.."

"I've got it." He says, waving her offer away, "I'm taking you out, so I should pay for the food. Besides, you always send home some of your "experiments", which are delicious except for the rhubarb, that was gross."

Isabella nods in agreement, wrinkling her nose as they talk while waiting in line.

"So I can take care of it, don't worry." He says, smiling as he looks down at her, being at least 6" shorter than him. She nods and looks away, a small smile gracing her face.

They order the food and head to the movie theater that is showing Bad Teacher. They take their seats and watch the film, laughing and eventually sitting a little closer than strictly necessary, but neither minding as much.

After the movie, Loki drove her back to her apartment and walked up to the door with her. After an awkward moment, he kissed her cheek goodnight and waited until she went inside to leave.

All in all, both thought the evening turned out to be a successful date.

Right?

Flower meanings:

Bronze Chrysanthemum: Excitement

Daisies: Innocence (two for the innocence of each other and their new relationship)

Forget-Me-Not: In the name; remember me forever

Gardenia: Joy

There... Loki is so sweet! Must be Sam's influence or Dean's suggestion... hmm. Is Dean a closet romantic like Isabella? What's the story there? How do the Winchester clan, especially Bobby, know Isabella if she just moved to town a year and a half ago?

Don't forget to let me know what you think of flowers on a first date and give me some ideas about what you'd like to see as a second date. I do hope you enjoyed this chapter :)

I'll try and get another posted today, or two small ones tomorrow as I will be traveling on Thursday.