Not used to dressing up apart from cosplaying, Emma wore blue jean bell bottoms with sneakers and a t-shirt, partially untucked. Without even realizing it, she had put on light make-up and did her hair in a french braid. She brought her shoulder bag with her. When she arrived, he was already there waiting patiently for her outside the restaurant. Not sure, if she should call him Sebastian or Mr. Reed or teacher, her nerves took over and she began regretting even coming. Seeing though that he was already waiting for her, she took a deep breath and walked towards him, simply greeting him with a hello.
If not for her green eyes that he always seemed to get lost in, he would have never guessed that the beauty walking towards him was Emma. She didn't have to cosplay to show off her charm, she was smart and beautiful inside and out. As he has been teaching he has paid close attention to her in school, even asking other teachers about her. He found out that she is an outstanding student, yet quiet, and keeps to herself, apart from the two girls Nancy and Brittnay. The closer she got to him at the table the more he was able to notice. She wasn't only dressed casually, with her hair tied back, but even had some light makeup on, adding to her natural beauty. 'Why does she dress soo plainly and shy away from people when she is soo charismatic when she Cosplays?', he thought before hearing her soft, nervous, "Hello".
"Hello Emma, you look beautiful," rolled right off his tongue as he reached out and gently held her arm, not like yesterday in the classroom, leading her to her seat. Jake smiled sweetly as he was content to see her show up as well as allow him to guide her. They were now able to talk freely since they were not meeting as 'Teacher and Student' inside the school and she wouldn't have to worry about anyone overhearing the conversation, finding out she Cosplays.
Arriving at a table on the second-floor balcony of a small, homey restaurant, Jake gave her a menu, "Feel free to order anything you like, my treat." Looking at the menu a bit embarrassed, nervously asking, "Excuse me, but how should I address you?" He would have found it funny, the ways she spoke to him, but he was able to detect that she was still uncomfortable. "Oh, yes I didn't introduce myself, my name is Jake Reed, but you can just call me Jake. Feel free to relax and enjoy. I won't be grading you on your behavior." He said playfully trying to break the ice, but it didn't work. Still looking straight at him, "Ok, thank you," was the last that was said before awkward silence filled the atmosphere.
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After ordering she took a deep breath pushing her nervousness to the side, curiosity getting the best of her, "Now tell me, you said you knew me for my eyes. My eyes, in what way?" Pulled out of his thoughts by her serious stare, curious as to what she had to say, only to hear her ask about how he knew it was her by her eyes? Not why was he curious about her or why he asked her out, but how he found out it was her by her eyes? 'Really? Is it really that bad if someone finds out about her Cosplaying?' Keeping his thoughts to himself, for now, he decided since she was soo serious in wanting to know that he would answer all her questions first, then it would be his turn.
"Yes, your forest green eyes." "Forest Green? But Ciel's eyes are....oooh. Oh wait, but still, how did you find out the color of my eyes? Not only that but you were willing to play along as my butler that night, what if I had you do something embarrassing in front of all those people? We are strangers, no were, no, wait before today you didn't know who I was." "I highly doubt you would do something like that since you ran away as soon as you noticed I was at the event." "I, run away, I was just going to take a walk in the garden." Laughing, "You surely know how to excuse yourself. My friend, the one dressed up as Gaston, was the one who heard about Ciel leaving the moment "his butler" arrives. You should have heard everyone, some even said that you purposely went to the garden when I arrived so that we could have some alone time." Choking on her drink when he said that. "Are you ok?" He dropped all playfulness and rushed to her side.
"People sure do have a vivid imagination", she said a bit embarrassed for being one of them. "You must admit though, we both had great costumes, it was as if we were made to be together... our characters Ceil and Sebastian that is." He was enjoying teasing her and seeing her blushing face, it made her look even more beautiful, her green eyes shining and her red cheeks. "Yes, well it was dark in the garden, so I can't say." "Oh, but I could have sworn to have heard you say I was...." "ATTENTIVE!!!" Shocked as well as those nearby, "Um, attentive, you played your part well being attentive to your master." "Well, I wouldn't mind being yours..... your butler, I mean if you wanted to go together to the event today." "To..together, ah no, I, my friends wouldn't know what to do without me", she said a bit fast, you could easily tell she was flustered. Jake was happy to see her usually straight face all flustered.
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While they were eating, Jake began to ask some of his questions. "Do you have a favorite character to cosplay?" "No." "Do all of your cosplay characters look as good as Ciel did?" Smiling brightly from the compliment, "Yes, I also do my best in acting as the character does and if it is one I am not familiar with, then I make sure to do the research on them and practice with my friends before I go to an event." "Research them? Why spend so much time preparing for a cosplaying event? Your parents don't mind you spending all that time and money on it?" "My parents are overseas most of the time, but since I am responsible and keep my grades up, they do not mind. As for the money, they provide me an allowance in which I keep up with my budget so there are no worries." "How long have you been living alone?" "My parents take good care of me, albeit from afar and I am not lonely." Sensing the tenseness, something which he didn't want, he decided to keep from asking personal questions, at least for now.
"Have you ever dressed up as a female character?" She fell silent for a moment and he could notice the sadness in her eyes for a fleeting moment. "Yes, once, but female characters are either too much work or barely have any clothes. Wait, why did you ask if I have ever dressed as a woman, I mean female character as if I only crossdress?" "I happened to hear that you crossdress when you cosplay. But, what I don't get is why you spend soo much time with the characters you impersonate, when at school you dress.... well, not only the way you dress, but it is as if you are a completely different person." As if nudging the door open to a forbidden room, Emma stopped in the midst of eating and got up, "Thank you Mr. Reed for lunch, if you will excuse me I have other things to do today." Jake was stunned at the turn of events. Listening to her politely excuse herself as she said goodbye and left, scoffing, 'what in the world just happened.