Operation Impressing Stella: Attempt 1

[waterlily43]

"There's nothing to be sorry about." He said pulling his hand back slowly. "I'm perfectly fine with it." He grinned at her, she was blushing again. She blushed way too easily and it made his heart melt without fail. She also seemed to be examining her soup with the caution of approaching fried bite bugs.

"Oh it tastes better than it looks, don't worry." He picked up his spoon and slurped it a tad loudly, to the disapproving looks of nearby patrons. He ignored them. "See, it's so delicious I can forget about table ettiqute."

[Stella]

After seeing him try some she decided it was safe so she dunked her spoon in and gave it a taste.

"Wow... that is really good" she said a little shocked looking down at the bowl. She laughed. "Of course it would be in a place like this"

"Oh hey" she said remembering suddenly, "are you going on Jun's little shopping trip?"

[raydensharpola]

"Yeah well a lot of restaurants deteriorate after receiving awards, but this obviously isn't one of them." He sipped his soup, quietly this time. "I checked around for feedback before deciding on here, can't have any mistakes."

He paused in eating his soup at her question.

"I dunno. Isn't it a girl's shopping trip?" He raised his glance at her face. "Unless you want me to help carry your bags. Is this THE BOYFRIEND'S first assingment?" He asked gleefully. "I'll accept it without any complaints."

[Stella]

"Well it would be a pretty big statement wouldn't it? You're mine, I'm yours" she said playfully winking at him as she sipped at her soup.

"I'm not sure if any of the other boys are going. How about you show up and if it turns out just to be the girls you have my permission to leave" She teased her foot up his leg just a little before dropping it back on the floor.

[raydensharpola]

"I don't need your permission. I won't leave. Wouldn't it be weird if I turned up and just left cos I'm the only guy?" He jerked a little when her foot sidled against his. "But you have to promise me not to do those stunts in front of the girls. It's not appropriate for public display." He grinned cockily.

[Stella]

"I'll do whatever I want in front of the other girls, screw public display" She smirked at him and stuck her tongue out again.

"Besides it wouldn't be weird if you left, I think all the girls would understand" Stella said with a shrug.

[raydensharpola]

"Oh yeah I won't be surprised if that's the last time you get asked to go out." He smirked. "Not everybody wants to watch a free show. And I won't go back on my word. If I say I'll go I'll go." He said firmly with no space for disagreement in his tone.

[Stella]

She sighed and rolled eyes hearing that tone that meant he wasn't going to even listen to her argument. Sometimes boys could be so very infuriating. If it had been a different situation she might have pushed the subject but not here, not now. She looked down at her soup that was quickly disappearing.

"I'll see you there then" she said finishing off her soup and not looking at him.

[raydensharpola]

"What's wrong love?" He asked, angling his face down at peering up at her. "You're mad a wittle Raydie? Aww I just don't want my princesse's hands to ache from carrying shopping bags." He grinned goofily at her.

[Stella]

Glancing back up at him she couldn't resist responding to his goofy grin with one of her own. For a second she was tempted to throw his napkin at him but then reminded herself where she was.

"No I'm not mad at you" she stated firmly with a cute little nod. She slipped her foot away from his and gazed around the restaurant in awe again that she was there.

"I'll make sure to buy plenty of stuff so I can hurt your hands instead of mine" she said with a smirk as she looked back at him.

[raydensharpola]

"Atta girl." Rayden grinned, feeling a slight loss when her foot retracted away from his. "And I'll be seeing you in those clothes you'd be buying, it's not as if I'd be at a loss or anything."

By then the waiter had cleared their empty soup plates and within the next few minutes, their lobster in cream sauce was served piping hot. Rayden cut up his lobster in bite sized pieces then shifted it over to her, exchanging her plate with his.

"I know you want to keep that dress cream-less." He nodded grimly and said before she could protest, although he was laughing internally at her cute expression. "And lobsters are notoriously hard to manipulate. Don't blame me for being too attentive."

[Stella]

She was staring down at her lobster wondering just how to go about eating it when he swept her plate away and replaced it with his. She gave him a playful astounded look and shook her head. He was treating her like a little girl and it was actually cute.

"I've never had lobster before, not exactly a menu item at the..." camp, her sentence remained unfinished as she realized what she was about to say. Her eyes widened slightly and she made a quick recovery, "at the Garden"

"Do you think I'll like it?" she asked poking a piece of it with her fork.

[raydensharpola]

"If you don't find shrimp offensive then lobster is a much tastier version of shrimp." He blinked his eyes at the air. "Yeah...I think that's the taste. I'm not a food critic so I can't describe how delicate it tastes or whatever." He snorted. "Personally I think those people have the cushiest jobs in the world." He winked at her. "'sides I'd never order something I didn't like for you. That's what inconsiderate jerks do, not Raydie."

[Stella]

She tentatively took a bit of one of the small pieces he had cut for her. The rich flavor filled her mouth as she slowly chewed and sallowed.

"Oh my..." she said taking a deep breath her eyes fluttering shut for a moment. Another bite made its way into her mouth and she ate it quickly.

"Since when did food get this good?" she asked him opening her eyes at last.

[raydensharpola]

"When you're eating it with someone you like." He touched her foot with his ankle this time, grinning smugly upon contact. "And of course, this restaurant is famed for its food so that's hardly surprising."