I guess it's a date [Luke]

[Karalie Heise]

The run back from the lake with Lucas had been semi awkward.  She had gotten dressed quickly, pulling her pants over her sopping wet body as quickly as possible so Luke wouldn't see anything more than her midriff, which he'd been privy to already.  When he'd gotten out of the water she patiently waited with her back to him so he could get dressed in privacy, though she already knew that he didn't care what she saw.  He, unlike her, had zero modesty.

Finally dressed they made their way back to campus, side by side, their ipods tucked away and enjoying the sounds of nature and their own sneakers hitting the pavement.  Once back to the dorms, they bid each other farewell and Karalie tried her best not to act so weirded out by what happened back at the lake.  They were going to meet up again in an hour and a half or so to head out for their date, which meant Karalie needed to seriously rush to get ready!

She made it to her dorm, slinking past Penny and Lucy as she went straight to her room, and got herself together for the shower.  Her hair was still damp from the lake, but she did a thorough washing and scrubbed herself fiercely from head to toe.  It was a relatively successful shower, with only one memory! They were such a huge part of her everyday that she often didn't notice the little ones anymore unless they were really significant.

After her shower she carefully picked out her outfit, walking around her room in nothing more than a towel, and finally chose a cute lacy white skirt that came halfway to her knees, and a vibrant floral tank top that snugly fit tucked into her skirt. She carefully did her makeup, picking colors that matched her top, and blew out her hair before curling it into thick, wavy curls that cascaded down her back.  In the end she chose a subdued, hot pink sandle with a little heal and checked the time.  Ten minutes to spare!  Karalie packed up her purse, slid on a little pink cardigan and finally made her way out of her room, once again slinking quickly past her roommate and her friend, before scooting out the door and down the stairs.  

She didn't need to wait for Lucas, because he was already there, and looking suave to say the least.  "Hey." She practically purred, her purse tucked under her arm as her hands clasped in front of her.  She bit her lip and smirked a little.  "Ya'll ready tuh go?"

[Lucas Blacke]

The run back to school was only slightly odd. On the one hand they both had the perfect memory left over, that much he knew. But on the other hand, how could he salvage what he had let happen? He knew he liked Karalie, the like bordering on loving, and it showed physically, that there was no denying of. But the girl acted kind of distant to it, Luke could see she was trying not to act out.

When they got to the school they got into their respective dorms with the intention of meeting up again a bit later as they both went for a shower. He jumped underneath the water and suddenly smiled. Karalie had been adamant about not showering together, but in a sense they were doing exactly that. Just not physically.

With a towel wrapped around his waist he jumped out of the shower and headed to his own room. He plopped down on the bed and sighed as he looked at the clock. Still plenty of time, he realized. He finally got to his feet and opened his closet after blankly staring into space for a minute.

Luke had never really found the need for any clothing less than laugh inducing, and it began to bite him in the ass. Luckily his parents had sent him some money for his birthday, and he had spent that on something they would buy for him, assuming they were caring parents. Not only did they just sent money for his eighteenth birthday, but they'd sent less than what was needed for what Luke picked out.

He pulled out the piece of clothing he had bought, and while not specifically for this event he had to still take of the pricetags. He put it on and figured with glee that as it was relatively new, it bore precious little memories. So, instead of them having a song, they would have clothing! made sense, right?

Luke went over to Karalie's dorm as he finished up, and waited for her to arrive. She opened the door and stole the gaze of the boy as she looked prettier with more clothes as opposed to less clothes. He wondered why.

Then she asked if he was ready. ''Hey.'' He replied.
''For you, always.''

[Karalie Heise]

Luke was ever polite, something she was starting to suspect hadn't always been the case.  Whether it was the case or not, she liked it.  No, she loved it.  She liked feeling doted on.  She liked the way he looked at her so hungrily, even if his playful words often bordered on vulgar.  She was enjoying this adoration far more than she expected to and within the last 12 hours she'd come to terms with the fact that his was doable, that she could maybe make this work, at least temporarily.  She didn't like to kid herself into thinking this was a permanent thing.  Lucas would inevitably get fed up, or quite possibly, the other way around.  She didn't know what either was capable of, but she'd vowed to not let that stand in the way as they explored.  Besides, she was almost eighteen, and having control of her ability didn't seem like it was in her near future, so she might as well act as normally as she could considering everything. 

"Yer lookin' nice." She complimented as they went on their way and naturally he returned the sentiment, pushing a beaming smile on her face.  She was fishing for his compliments now.  Had it only been a week ago that she was rolling her eyes at them? Even then, she wasn't really rolling her eyes.  Sure, physically she was, but on the inside she liked it.  Lucas just wasn't allowed to know that then.  Karalie was ever the typical girl, odd considering how atypical she really was.

"Soo... Bessie's?" She asked, referring to the restaurant that they'd discussed on their jog back.  It was right outside of town and they would need to take the bus to get there. Not the most romantic means of transportation, but she didn't have a car and Lucas didn't either.  She would need to talk to her parents about rectifying this, and soon.  "Yah know, yer the first boy I've agreed tuh go on a date with." She informed him, doing her best not to sound too bashful about this truth.  "That means it's yer job tuh set the standard high for all other dates.  First dates are supposed tuh be the best, right? I mean, if yah want another one."  She bit her bottom lip, realizing how terribly nervous she was, babbling like an idiot.  She probably sounded stupid, fishing again for him to agree he'd want to see her more.  She heard the bus approaching, her dark eyes remaining on his, her head tilted reticently.  "Think yah might like another one, or do I have tuh impress yuh on this one first."  Her words were almost taunting him.  With the way he acted around her, there was no way he didn't want more, especially with what she'd felt that afternoon up against her leg. 

[Lucas Blacke]

Lucas and Karalie walked outside together and Luke would have touched of hugged Karalie in some way, but realized he still feared setting off a memory of some sort. He didn't need that. He felt no need to ruin this date by something as simple as touching.

The muscles in his leg took over as his mind wandered back to one of the words he had just said. Date. His eyes widened slightly as he just now fully realized what that meant, and that he was awkwardly unsure of what to do, how to do it and why. He had never gone on a date before. Nothing he had ever done in his life constituted as being a date. Karalie was his first ever date.

Luke snapped back into semi reality and found that they were walking outside as the cool breeze slapped against his face. He nodded in confusion. ''Bessie's sounds good.'' He replied with a smile as he looked at the girl beside him. Sooner or later he'd just give up on thinking about people around them and just grab Karalie. This time he'd spent with her, keeping his hands to himself were hell. Pure hell. And as they had demonstrated that same afternoon, touching her was possible, but Luke didn't want to risk it. And that was only partially because he didn't know if she'd get a memory. He knew he wouldn't be able to keep his hands from going.. places, he realized with a sigh.

He had heard about Bessie's once or twice, but never went there. He didn't know what it was or even where it was. He'd just settle on following Karalie for the moment. It seemed she was heading for the bus. Time to get a car, Luke figured. He knew he could drive, his ability allowed him to, he just needed a car and a license. The license was easy, he just wasn't too sure on where to get car-money. Maybe he'd get a job somewhere. Or hope that someone in his family had cared enough about him to actually leave him some money.

Luke's train of thought was brought to a halt as Karalie mentioned him being the first boy she'd agree on a date with and how he needed to set a high standard for future dates. Luke chuckled lightly. ''Don't worry,'' He said in an attempt to get the girl to calm down. ''you're my first date too.'' He replied with a smile.

''And try to save your energy. You might need it later.'' He added with a wink aimed at the girl next to him. And with what had happened that afternoon he wasn't all too sure he was joking or not.

The bus approached, screeching to a halt in front of the two students. The doors opened and Luke got in first, paying for both him and Karalie. He walked to some free seats and plopped down with a smile.

''I think you know how I feel.''
''And I'd like a second date.'' He said softly as he leaned in to the girl. ''But do you?''

[Karalie Heise]

She cocked a brow at him when he mentioned she might need her energy later.  "Not likely." She threw back at him.  Karalie wasn't sure if she was supposed to tell Lucas that he wasn't getting in her pants or not.  Surely he didn't think she would get down and dirty with him after a first date.  Unless.. Maybe Marnie had been more eager to strip for him.  Or what about other girls? He was quick to undress and Karalie suddenly felt sure she had more to be concerned with that just her ability.  Sex wasn;t something she was comfortable having in the first place, but especially before marriage.  The whole thought of that kind of intimacy freaked her out.  Besides, you were supposed to be pure for marriage.  If she didn't have that one gift to give her future husband, what did she have?  Lucas had obviously been with a girl before, or at least heavily implied it.  And what if Lucas actually expected it from her?  She didn't need that weighing on her mind on top of everything else.  It was bad enough she'd felt him on her leg earlier.

She climbed on the bus and sat next to him, her feet crossing at the ankles and tucking under the bus bench to the side a little, her hands clasping on her lap, keeping her skirt from hiking up too much and showing more leg than she wanted.  His crystal blue eyes were on her and she turned her head to meet his gaze.  He assured her he wanted that second date and asked if she wanted the same.  Her shoulders rolled coyly and she smirked, her head tilting gently to the side. "We'll just have tuh see." She cooed back, nipping at the inside of her bottom lip as she looked out the window.

The buses breaks squealed as the driver let them go, the door swooshing shut and creaking loudly.  In a moment they were off and Karalie watched out the window for a second before looking back at Luke, grinning with obvious excitement for their date.  She leaned in a little, feeling protected by her sweater, and bumped her shoulder with his until he reached his arm up over the back of the seat.  It was a sweet move and she actually liked it.

"Soo... Where are yah from?" She asked, trying to make conversation and suddenly realizing she had no clue where he was originally from.  Of course he was in Vermont now, but had he always been?  "Not as easy tuh pinpoint yer location without an accent." She winked, making fun of the fact that she herself drawled.

[Lucas Blacke]

She threw a 'not likely' in his direction, a reply to him mentioning her saving her energy. It sounded a bit more serious than anything, it lacked the playful tone she always had around him and there was a slight pause involved. Luke instantly thought he said something wrong and averted his gaze momentarily. ''Sorry.'' He said as he slowly turned his eyes back on her. Was this the moment he fucked it up by joking too much?

Luke had his share of fuckups in the past, but they rarely made him think twice about anything. Yet this one, if it even was what he feared, made his mind overthink what he said and how it could have been interpreted.

He kept up a smile, but was beginning to grow infinitely more negative as he tried not to show it. And he knew he was good at not showing what he felt; his ability had always been able to throw a genuine-looking smile on his face.

He kept spiraling down in his mind as Karalie leaned in to him slightly and made his shoulder bump against his. He eventually took the hint, or assumed there was one and threw his arm over the back of the seat. While not entirely sure of what was going on yet he did have his entire body shift in angle in the direction to the girl. A real smile took over from the fake one on his face as he watched the reflection of the girl in the window.

He very nearly chanted 'Lay back' in his mind. And that was the moment he knew he did not fuck up.

She asked where he was from, and continued by saying that pinpointing a location without an accent was not easy. ''Ya wanna know where I'm from?'' He repeated. '' I'm from Texas.'' He knew mentioning this would bring up the issue of him not having an accent. ''And before ya jump to conclusions, I did have an accent. I just got rid of it.'' He smiled, knowing he still had a few leftovers, but they often came out as words, not as phonetics.

''And this was before my ability, y'know?'' He joked. It partly was and wasn't. ''I went to a small theater thingy before I was thrown at Hammel.''

''And you?'' He asked. ''Where didya come from and why did it keep you from me this entire time?''

[Karalie Heise]

Karalie's brows rose.  "Texas?" She repeated, surprised he was a Good Ol' boy, a term her father affectionately coined all boys from the south.  That would certainly win him points in daddy's eyes were she ever to introduce Lucas to him.  Would she? Would their relationship go someplace?  The thought made her almost dizzy as she thought of it. Daddy would pull out his hunting rifles and show them to Lucas, and not as a friendly gesture.  Plus, she would imagine he wouldn't be thrilled that Lucas was a meta.  Of course they could keep that tid bit to themselves.  She silently told herself to shut up, not wanting to think too much about her future.  

Lucas pulled her back into the present by going on about his lack of an accent.  She hadn't even considered it, having known some places in the south just didn't carry the heavy drawl Mississippi did.  Some of the deep parts of Texas surely had an accent, as did most very country places, but there were parts of every southern state that was just less harsh in their pronunciation of words.  Her parents were born and raised in Mississippi, as were their parents and several generations before them.  Her family had lots of land and plantations down in the Mississippi area still.  Her grandparents owned a huge home that used to rest on cotton fields, and her great-grandaddy would tell her stories when she was young about their rich heritage on the land.

She liked that Lucas was able to get rid of his accent, though she had to admit she liked the thought of him having one.  As a girl, part of her dream had been to end up on the arm of some rich, sexy southern man, drawling like her, hard working but moving slow like her daddy.  A trophy wife, essentially, just like her momma.  Not that her parents didn't love each other, but daddy had appeal in the form of a heft bank account and momma had appeal in the form of severe good looks.  Part of Karalie was glad she'd been able to leave that world behind to see not everything was about beauty and wealth and she'd grown a lot since then. Her ability had forced her to, but being out of that backwards town she'd grown in had likely done a number on her, too.  

"I like theater thingy's." She teased him before he asked where she was from and how it had kept her away from him.  Karalie elbowed him gently in the ribs and grinned.  "I've been here as long as you." She cooed.  "Not my fault ya'll nevuh noticed." Her nose wrinkled at him and she nuzzled into him a little more, liking the closeness.  She loved that she was able to have someone touch her without grabbing their memories.  It was nothing new or different she was doing, just simply keeping her hands to herself and finding a willing partner to put their arms around her.  Lucas didn't care if she got a memory from him.  Not yet, anyway.  "But as far as where I'm from, it's Mississippi." She looked up into his eyes.  "If ya'll evuh come down for uh visit, you'll fit right on in.  Just mimic me." She teased, biting the inside of her bottom lip again at the thought of bringing him home.  "But yuh should always be yerself." She added with a nod, her brows gently furrowing.  She would never encourage him to be anyone but himself.  She looked out the window as the stores passed by.  "My family's from Jackson but our house is in Mendenhall.  It ain't far.. real close.  Daddy works there there in Jackson." She looked at him, not emphasizing it was her daddy, because Karalie still referred to her parents as Momma and Daddy as if it were their actual names.  Her eyes met his again.  "Who's waitin' for yah?" She asked with sincere curiosity.  "I mean, ya'll said yah didn't like yer parents, so.. an aunt? Uncle? Any brothuh's or sistuh's?" 

[Lucas Blacke]

''Texas.'' Luke repeated with a nod. It seemed to mean something that he was from there, though Luke kind of wondered why. He could guess though, and he was pretty sure he wouldn't be far off with that guess.

She then prodded her elbow in the ribs and grinned, saying she was there just as long as he was. Didn't Luke feel like a major dick, not having noticed Karalie sooner if she actually had been around Hammel all along. Luke suddenly thought back about her saying they had classes together, god, why hadn't he noticed her sooner? And as if she read his mind she blamed him, playfully, about not noticing her sooner. Lucas could do nothing more at this moment than put a smile on his face and shrug lightly.

Then she mentioned being from Mississippi (''I knew it!'') and said he'd fit right in if he just mimicked her. Luke repeated that sentence in his mind and began to see it as a slight indication that, maybe, just maybe, Karalie was thinking of Luke in a more domestic area. He offered her a soft smile as he looked at her. ''You just say the word and I'll be there.'' He said with an internal sigh.

''And mimicking a girl would be kinda odd, don't ya think?''

He nodded at her mention that he should always be himself. Who else was he going to be, right? And that her family was from Jackson and currently lived in Mendenhall and that her father worked in Jackson. And then she asked about who was waiting for him. His smile faded.

''I did say that. And I don't.'' And that was because his parents never really acknowledged him. Others would likely see that as having a huge amount of freedom, but missing out on parental affection was nothing to be jealous of. ''And I don't know all that many people in my family, and my parents are just about big enough assholes to keep a brother or sister from me. Wouldn't want them getting a wrong influence, right?'' He said, his last words drenched heavily in sarcasm as his fist clenched up. ''I don't know. I'm better off not knowing them.'' He added sternly.

''Though on a lighter note,'' He said, forcing a smile on his face. ''I did have an uncle who I liked. And with that I mean that I saw him as a father, he even bought me a piano the moment I said I liked the sound of one.''

He looked at his fingers. ''Kinda know how to play one now.'' But to be fair, he knew how to play every instrument in existence.

''Other than that, I kinda hope you'll be waiting for me.''

[Karalie Heise]

The mood suddenly shifted and Karalie felt almost guilty for bringing up his family again.  He really didn't like them.. She had to wonder if that was because of his family or because of typical teenage angst.  Or it could have to do with what he was, what he could do.. Her own parents had a very difficult time accepting that she was different, but people where she was from were just sort of like that.  If you were different, you were not good enough. There was a norm to be followed and if you strayed, you were an outcast, and a blemish on a family's name.  Karalie's parents had told everyone that she had been doing so well that she'd won a scholarship to a private northern boarding school, one that produced Harvard and Yale graduates left and right, and thought it was the best thing for Karalie.  She went along with it for appearances, but deep down it hurt that her family hid what she was.  She understood, she couldn't blame them, but it still hurt.

Luke's mood lightened when he spoke of his uncle and a genuine smile creased her lips as she gazed up at him.  She liked that he could play the piano and that he liked someone in his family at least.  Then he mentioned hoping she would be waiting for him.  Her smile faltered a bit and she got a queasy jolt in her belly.  They were on a first date and he wanted her to wait for him? Wait where? Marry him??

Her mind was swimming with ideas and she felt smothered.  Adored and smothered; how had he fallen so hard for her so quickly? Had she misinterpreted what he'd meant.  Karalie licked her lips and watched him silently for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts.  Her very mixed up, confused, teenage thoughts.  They hadn't talked about it, but Karalie had the suspicion that Luke was now her boyfriend.  Was he the one she wanted to date?

Yes.  She definitely liked the idea of dating, and Luke at that.  That nagging doubt was still clasping to her brain, that things wouldn't work, that it would be heartache and drama and all the things she hated, but how could she ever know what it would really be like unless she gave it a shot? She could test it all out on Luke, and if it worked, it worked, and if it didn't..  

She didn't like thinking about the didn't.  She liked thinking about Luke courting her, waiting for her, waiting for him.. bringing him home and introducing him to her family, making him feel like a worthy part of a family unit.  Her momma would love him, especially with those blue eyes of his, and after he got to know Luke, Karalie was sure her daddy would see him as the son he no longer had.  Of course, Karalie had a lot of work to do with him before that every happened.  And by work, she meant shopping for clothes.  Lots of clothes.. lots of things.. she could make Luke the boy worthy of her in her parents eyes. She could make this work!

Karalie clasped her fist shut around the edge of her sweater, keeping her fingers tight to her palm as she reached her arm up, resting her fist against Luke's cheek and turning his face more towards her, careful not to touch his skin.  Her lips pressed gently to his in a soft, affectionate kiss.  "Let's do this one day at uh time." She pleaded against his mouth when their kiss ended.  Her nose nuzzled his lightly as she looked up at him.  "Alright?"  The bus came to a halt and the driver called their destination.  Karalie's eyes brightened, sitting up.  "That's us. C'mon, I think ya'll owe me dinnuh." She teased, grinning at him as they got to their feet.

[Lucas Blacke]

Karalie was smiling when Luke mentioned his uncle. He liked her smile, he liked to make her smile, it reminded him of the fact not everyone was bad and that he could make people feel good in his presence. He assumed that the only time he made his parents feel god was when they had an excuse to throw him out. After all the years of neglect they had put him through the only person keeping him in his parental house was his uncle.

He closed his eyes momentarily and decided not to say that his uncle had passed, and he couldn't even be there when he did. No thanks, no goodbyes, no nothing. His parents knew he connected well with his uncle yet did nothing about it, or anything about anything. The last time he spoke to anyone in his family was the time his parents told him to not fuck up like usual.

He shuddered.

But when he said he wanted, hoped, that Karalie would wait for him because he had no family to speak of waiting for him her smile faded. Did she misunderstand him? Did she..?

Luke widened his eyes at the realization of what he had said. She'd interpreted his request for her to wait for him as most girls would; as a promise that they would have a future, get settled. And this on their first date.. Lucas quietly laughed at his own ability to keep people at bay and how it even kept the people he did want close away from him. He had always had a knack for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

He felt a soft touch against his skin, Karalie. Depite the fact her handf was wrapped in the sweater she carried (Luke finally realized why she carried a sweater since she was too hot to ever be cold.) it felt like more. Sadly Luke realized more would have to take a backseat for now as Karalie pressed her lips against his, telling him that they'd take it one day at a time. She asked for confirmation as she still hovered a single inch in front of the boy, who had his eyes shut for that one single moment. He licked his lips slightly, opened his eyes and sighed. ''Alright.'' He confirmed.

The bus came to a stop as the driver applied the brakes and called out the destination. It was their stop, Luke realized as Karalie sat up and mentioned that ''That's us.'' and motioned for him to follow which he did like the most loyal puppy ever.

They got off the bus and Luke grabbed Karalie by the shoulder as the bus drove off and turned her to face him. He smiled,

''This is us.''

[Karalie Heise]

Lucas followed her off the bus, and she turned to peek at him over her shoulder, a coy smile on her face. Maybe this really could work.. the words kept playing in her mind, more with every passing minute. This could work. This would work.. She turned to face forward again and Luke's arm clasped her shoulder, turning her to face him. Instinctually she tensed, normally hating to be grabbed or touched, but forced her body to ease. It would take time getting used to letting anyone touch her, and it wasn't as if she didn't like he feeling. Quite the opposite.. For years she'd craved physical contact, but between the fear of receiving memories and the fear embedded in her from some of the memories she'd received, she'd been conditioned to shy away from others hands. She'd been an abuse victim for years and had never actually been abused. She had also seen some of the worlds kindness, when she had been so sheltered.

This is us. His words were sweet, and she felt her cheeks flushing in response to his words. This is us. she repeated it in her mind, allowing herself to get used to that. This was them, there was an us and she was a part of it. Lucas liked her. Lucas wanted her. Lucas wasn't afraid of her.. She had the urge to kiss him again, but the modesty to keep her lips to herself. In another life she would have reached for his hand, but instead she tightened her fists and kept them to herself. What she would give to be normal for a day..

She smiled sweetly at him, her eyes practically twinkling as she turned and headed into the restaurant, which Lucas held the door open to. She watched Lucas as he spoke with the hostess and followed alongside him as they were sat with their menus. She barely went out to eat these days. When she'd beena kid her family went out often, and when they visited she was treated to a meal every day, sometimes twice, but other than that Karalie didn't really venture much into eateries outside of campus. She took her seat at the table, wiggling her chair closer to Luke's and grinning when he did the same, her eyes meeting his and giggling bashfully. They were such a juvenile couple, it was almost comical. "Have yah evuh been here?" She asked as he opened his menu. Karalie leaned closer, peeking into his menu instead of the one that was on the table in front of her. She hated opening menus, hated the stupid, idiotic memories she got from them. They were always related to waitresses taking them, or handing them back, or putting them away.. they were useless memories she didn't want clogging her already full mind. "I've been once. It's pretty good.." she offered, feeling like she should make better conversation somehow. "So.. uhh..." She started after a moment of looking through the menu, "If yah dated Marnie, how come ya'll nevuh went on uh date?" It was a valid question, one she was curious about.

[Lucas Blacke]

Lucas grinned as he noticed Karalie looking at his menu. It probably had something to do with her not wanting to get memories from them, which Luke fully understood. But how would she handle forks in that case? The difference would most likely be in the factt she only used a menu once, sso there was more of a thought process involved than you needed with a fork.

In a way it was odd, she had an ability that triggered on using brainpower, while his did just about the opposite. Even if that were not the case, realizing he didn't quite know the full scope of her ability, he enjoyed the thought of them balancing each other out. How Luke knew memories worked, and wasn't afraid of Karalie knowing his, and how she actually liked his ability. Though Luke, while not afraid of Karalie knowing the contents of his mind, he was afraid of touching her. She seemed to avoid it so Luke did the same just to be safe. They were just now starting to break the barrier on that one.

She looked over the menu and tried to spark a conversation, asking about Marnie. And although Luke agreed it was a good question he wasn't sure he had an answer to, it irked him a bit that she wanted to know about him and Marnie. Didn't she know he was going for her? He'd practically said they were dating. Heck, they were on a date right now!

He put on a smile and looked at Karalie as he turned away from his menu. ''Good question. Why didn't we date?'' He asked rhetorically, trying to come up with a valid answer. ''I guess.. we just never really felt the need to. We did meet up places, sure, but we never went on a date like the one we are having right now.'' He said with a wink.

''So you're setting the standard for all my dates too.'' Which, with some luck would all involve Karalie.

He turned back to his menu and practically forced the girl to do the same, scooting a bit closer and resting his head against hers lightly. ''So what're ya having tonight? I'm thinking I'm going to try the salisbury steak, I hear it's good.''

''You okay with that?'' He turned his head slightly to look his date in the eyes.

[Karalie Heise]

He seemed to be stalling with an answer and Karalie had to wonder why.  She knew she shouldn't be so interested in his past relationships, but it was difficult not to be.  She'd never really dated someone before, like really dated, and it seemed that Luke had a lot of experience, only.. he didn't.  She was trying to figure him out and was almost feeling guilty of it, but she was a curious girl and liked gossip and drama, so long as it didn't involve her, and she liked knowing what had happened.  She wondered if things would be weird around Marnie now, if she could ever ask her.. no.  No she didn't want to know from Marnie.  She didn't want to know what Luke was like from her point of view.  She liked believing whatever she did about Lucas, which was so far mostly positive stuff.

How had Marnie never felt the need to date? It seemed odd.  Marnie definitely seemed girlie to Karalie, and all girls liked going on dates! Right? Lucas was hinting that he didn't want to talk about it anymore and she silently accepting his resistance.  It wasn't her business after all, and it wasn't polite to discuss past relationships while on a date.  Was it a relationship? Did he have a real relationship with Marnie? Karalie scolded herself mentally and focused more on the menu than Lucas.

After a moment Lucas decided on the salisbury steak, and then asked if that was okay with her.  What did he mean by that? Why would she care? "Doesn't bothuh me what ya'll order." She told him giving him a confused and slightly amused look before looking back at the menu.  "Mmm.. as for me I think l'll have thee... caesar salad with grilled chicken." She nodded and smiled at him briefly before slipping her hands on the table and folding her hands, her sweater sleeves still pulled over her fists mostly.

Before she could attempt at making more conversation, their server came by and took their drink orders.  Karalie ordered a sweet tea with extra lemon, and then explained she was ready to order, so they went ahead and ordered their meals.  Once the waitress had gone, Karalie sat up straighter and tucked her folded hands politely into her lap before looking bashfully at Lucas.  What on earth were they supposed to talk about? "Soo... how're classes?" She asked, at sort of a loss.  She felt like an idiot.

[Lucas Blacke]

Karalie had lots of questions about Marnie, Luke realized as the gears in his mind just now started turning on, not which answer to give, but why the questions were posed in the first place. The moment he asked if it was okay for him to pick the salisbury steak with the intent of making a 'are you sure you're not gonna be jealous with me eating other meat?' he began wondering if it how it'd be received. Would it be seen as just that, a joke? Or a serious and lewd comment towards her, or his orientation? And from there the wheels in his head started turning and only made it worse.

To have some sort of explanation for his thought induced silence he smiled at Karalie as she mentioned what she'd have. Luke nodded and grabbed a single napkin from the table. ''You wanted to see my ability, right?'' The most fun he had was that he could multitask without anyone ever finding out. This gave him time to think as his hands began folding the napkin.

What if Karalie had just been acting this entire time? What if she didn't like Luke, but made it seem like she did so she could get close to Marnie? He realized that they had never really talked about their orientation, and while Luke knew his feelings for Karalie were true, he did not know the opposite was true. She did mention liking theater, and she did ask an awful lot about Marnie.

What if her liking him was just that, a what-if?

Luke folded the napkin for the last time and put it down in front of Karalie in the form of a swan. He didn't pick the thing he'd fold it into, but there was some kind of relevance to their current situation he hoped the girl would get; swans mated for life and were capable of dying by having their heart broken.

''There ya have it. My ability.'' He said with a smile as he leaned in and began fondling the head of the swan with his index finger.

''Classes? We're on a date and you want to talk school?'' Luke replied with a chuckle. ''Surely you haven't forgotten all the questions you made me answer. It's time for you to do the same.''

''And we'll begin with a mighty simple question. What are your parents like? And are you an only child or..?''
He grinned as he looked down at the folded swan and then instantly looked at Karalie again. ''I realize these are two seperate questions, but ya can't really blame me for wanting to know ya.''

''..my girlfriend.'' He added with a played coughing fit.

[Karalie Heise]

Karalie giggled a little at his swan, refraining from petting it as he had done.  It was cute, but she knew there was far more to his ability than that.  She gathered he'd done it completely by muscle memory, probably having no idea how he'd known to fold what where.  Hell, she wouldn't know.  It would have taken her ages to pick that one up.

Luke scolded her for asking about school, but really she was just trying to keep conversation going.  They weren't comfortable enough yet that silence didn't seem awkward.  The silence between them was deafening still and she couldn't stand it, so she asked anything she could to keep him going.  Luckily, he had some questions of his own, and she was happy with the idea of having a turn to chatter away. 

Luke asked about her parents and siblings, a twinge of pain in her heart at his question.  She tried not to show it, and was quickly distracted as he called her his girlfriend, receiving a cocked brow in return.  Girlfriend? So was he making it official? She had no real qualms with it.  Sure, it was a bit fast, but they had made out for a while and he'd already accidentally touched her with his dingaling.. That couldn't happen again, though.  He needed pants on at all times from this moment on.  No ifs, ands, or buts about it!


"Girlfriend.." She repeated, her tone toying, trying the word out on her lips.  It sounded alright she supposed. She grinned a little bashfully and then looked down at her hands in her lap, folded gently together.  "My brothuh Jake died when he was a baby." She explained.  "I don't really remembuh him, I was four, but I do remember how sad everyone was.  For a loooong time, momma didn't get up in the mornin'.  Wasn't til' lunch she'd get up, but once she did she was all ovuh me like white on rice." She laughed a little sadly at the weird memory.  Her mom had doted on her so much as a little girl.  Sometimes she missed it.  "Momma an' daddy are real nice." She offered, looking at him again as if she were trying to sell her parents to the boy.  "Daddy works a lot still, an' momma' stays home.  She does uh lot of volunteer work, though.  Always busy. Umm.. I don't know.. I thought they were sorta typical.." She felt odd saying that they were typical, because clearly Lucas didn't have the same home life as she'd had.  "They're maybe uh bit overprotective of me.." She added, a shy smile creasing her lips as she bit the bottom one.  "Maybe.. you'll meet 'em sometime.."