PETER AND I walked to Vigilius Town and into Haleina’s arm-in-arm and grinning. “What would you like?” The waiter who seated us at the two-seater table asked. I took another glance at the menu. “I would like the pasta,” The waiter nodded. “And what about you, sir?” He asked Peter. He rolled his eyes. “Hello, Aiden.” “Peter?” He smirked. “You got it.” “Finally got that girl you told me about to like you?” Peter nodded. “I’d like what Hana is having,” he paused to think. “Make it one large order of pasta.” Aiden nodded, grinning. “The lover’s meal,” he teased. “Coming right up!” He left to give our orders to the chef. “Well,” I said. “We don’t have anything to talk about, do we?” I shook my head, still thinking. “Ooh!” “What?” “How do you like it at WWP?” “I find it unclean and dusty with too few servants and too many people to serve for.” “I agree,” I admitted. It was silent for a long while. The food came, breaking the silence as we scrambled to hand Aiden our menus and adjust the plate to be in the center of the table, with the other two plates in front of our chairs. “Enjoy,” Aiden said, throwing a handful of confetti in Peter’s face. He laughed and walked off to welcome the next couple that came in. “Hey!” Peter called, almost standing up. I stood up before him, pressing my hand into his. “It was only in good fun,” Peter grinned and pulled me closer. “Was it?” He planted a lingering kiss on my lips. My cheeks burned at the open affection but drew back a little way to sigh happily. I stood on tip-toe and kissed him back. I heard whoops and cheers coming from the others in the restaurant, but I ignored them, kissing him while the “lightning sensation” washed over me. He pressed me closer to him, warming me up in an instant. I urgently pulled him closer to me, trembling slightly from lack of air. I pushed away from him a few seconds later. “What did you do that for?” I grinned, motioning to the plate. “It will get cold,” “Well I won’t,” I shook my head. “I’m hungry,” I said. It was a terrible reason, but it worked. I just needed air! “We don’t want that, now do we?” “No,” I agreed, sitting down. I picked up the serving fork and put my plate closer to the one with the food, and scooped a reasonable portion onto it. Peter did the same. Silence stretched as we tucked into our meal. I couldn’t focus entirely on it, so I contented myself by looking around the restaurant. There was a network of chandeliers hanging from the black ceiling. The glass double-door was followed by a short spread of thick red carpet on the dark wooden floor. The circular tables covered in crisp white tablecloths weren’t in any particular order, and were strewn about the room with various amounts of chairs. I was thankful that Peter had his employee discount, or else I’d be working for years trying to pay my Peter back. I was so absorbed in the inside of Haleina’s Place that I didn’t hear what Peter said. “Hana?” He said, waving a hand in front of my face to see if I responded. “Oh, sorry,” I said, blushing slightly. “What was that?” “First of all, don’t apologize to me for that again. I know my good looks make it hard to pay attention,” he joked. I rolled my eyes, but let out a small giggle. “What did you really say?” “Do you want to take a turn around the kitchens after this?” A smile spread across my cheeks. Onlookers must have thought I was crazy. “Oh, yes please. I’d love to meet your colleagues,” “Good,” he said. I loaded my fork with another bite of spaghetti and brought it into my lips. I swallowed, and for some reason my throat seared with pain, but ceased once the food was safely in my stomach. I wondered what could have been wrong. I resolved to use one of my mother’s home remedies for strep throat, and maybe gargle a bit of saline when I was back in my room. “Who’s your best friend?” Peter asked, coming up with a new subject. “Other than you?” He laughed. “Yes, other than me.” “Then Bert,” “Why him.” He answered bitterly. It wasn’t really an inquiry, more like a statement. “Because he was the first person to take any interest in being friends with me.” “Pfft,” Peter snorted. “I still don’t think he only wants friendship.” “Peter Arcas Gaoler,” I said, using his full name. “We’ve already been over this. I. Do. Not. Like. Him.” I winked. He shook his head. “I don’t have any objections to that statement.” He confessed.
Read ^ first! --------------------------------------------------------------------- “What about you?” “Other than yourself?” I nodded. “I’m not sure,” “Surely you must have a best friend!” “Thanks for the thought,” “You’re welcome!” I replied cheerfully. “I still don’t know,” I laughed. “That’s alright, I know I’m better than your best friend.” “Right you are,” We finished up our meal right as Aiden was coming to be paid. “Before I give you your check,” Aiden started. “I have to ask you if you would like anything for dessert.” Peter glanced at me, silently replying, “I’m fine with whatever you are,” “Yes please,” I answered politely. Aiden handed me one of the menus he held underneath his arm. I passed it to Peter as if to say “You choose,” so he took it, and did. Taking one glance at the dessert section of the thick blue menu, he confidently answered, “Peach puffs and tapioca pudding, please.” Aiden nodded. “Coming right up, sir!” He joked. Peter shook his head, smiling. Having finished our meal, Peter led me through the swinging double-doors into the kitchen. There, I met the cook and a few of Peter’s accomplices. “What’re you standin’ around ‘ere for?” The cook yelled when he caught the waiters loitering around me. “Sorry, Seymour.” Peter said, pushing me out of the kitchen. “You’d better be sorry!” He bellowed as we walked out of his sight ------------------------------------------------------------------- Okie, you guys. This's got to be breaking some records here. (At least, personal records). This is the most I've ever been stuck on one chapter if you can believe it. I've come across several different discoveries in this chapter, such as the year they are in is about 1881, and they don't have cars yet, but they do have gramophones and electricity (even though gramophones were invented after cars...). Sooooo yeah. Kudos to Annelise for writing awesome books! (Please tell me who Abi is!) Tune in next chapter for some awesome secrets to be revealed... -OREOOOOO By the way, before I go, I switched the original Aiden's name to Braden, I think it's more Scottish. :D That's how this Aiden got his name. Hehe Lots of reveals next chapter >:) AND chapter 19 >:)
