Ronnie and Rafael's adventures

Rafael stumbled up the side of the hill just to find himself alone under the starry sky. His face still felt kind of warm where Ronnie's lips had touched the skin. He was still confused about how that had happened but for some reason he couldn't quite bring himself to ask Ronnie to be his girlfriend. That was just not there yet, and he felt as if it was better to wait. Rafael sat down on the grassy slope and looked out over the camp, seeing all of the cabins and people walking around. It was almost time for supper and Rafael was willing to accept the fact that he may not be dating Ronnie but he was still glad that she had said yes to going to supper with him. Rafael laid back on his back and stared up at the blueish sky and smiled softly. Finally he lowered his hand and sighed. What am I doing? Ronnie is a friend and now we're going out to supper. Rafael heard himself talking to the sky and then hoped that no one was around to hear him.

Rafael looked up at Ronnie and sort of gaped for a second. Then he nodded and stood up to be ready to leave. It was kind of interesting that she had been able to look so good. Yet Rafael didn't really care, since he had told himself to just take it slow and maybe Ronnie would eventually say yes to the one question he actually had. So Rafael reached over and adjusted his shirt and jacket so that the light brown worn leather jacket covered his white cotton shirt. Then Rafael put his wallet into his pocket and slid the chain into the pocket as well. He might like to wear things like chains but Rafael wanted to make an impression on Ronnie that said he was well behaved. Well Ronnie, I'm ready to go. Rafael was surprised at how empty the hill was and how lucky he had been that no one had heard his statement earlier before Ronnie arrived.

Rafael looked around while patting his pants pockets. This was a complete show but it made it more interesting in his mind. Hm, I seem to have forgotten the keys to my Porche. Let me try to figure this out. Rafael dug into his jacket pocket and pulled out a silver key ring with only two keys on it. One of them was to the front door at his old house and the other was to the ignition of his Ford Taurus that was a mile to the west of the tree that they were at right then. With a smile, Rafael held his hand out to Ronnie and spoke again. Maybe my Taurus will do just fine. Just give me a destination and we can be there in a matter of minutes. Rafael may have been acting calm and collected but he was actually really nervous and felt like he was going to vomit. Of course the feeling wasn't a true sign of sickness. It was only nerves and anticipation.

((I am so sorry to have neglected this, time has escaped me and school is crazy. I apologize! D: ))

Ronnie watched him as he retrieved a ring of keys from his pocket, listening intently as he spoke. "Your Porsche?" she asked, her voice colored with an undeniable, poorly hidden thread of disbelief. He held out her hand to her, welcoming, and she moved towards him. She almost took it, but reconsidered hastily. After she'd kissed his cheek, she had realized that maybe it wasn't the right decision, that maybe she'd given him the wrong idea even after she had thought she'd made it clear that she didn't want to be in a relationship, at least, not yet. Tilting her hand subtly away from his, she tried to play off the motion like it was accidental, trying to politely disregard his offer. He mentioned another car, a Taurus, and Ronnie looked at him in surprise. "Two cars?" she asked, an eyebrow raised, though a small smile danced upon her lips. Rafael began to walk and she walked alongside him, letting him lead the way to his vehicle. "Honestly, I don't care where we go. I don't know a lot about the restaurants around here, so wherever we can eat something decent would be preferable," she continued with a shrug.

Rafael withdrew his hand and smiled as he learned that he was correct about just being friends. As he started to walk, Rafael thought about everywhere there was to eat. Finally he decided to take Ronnie out for a meal that he liked alot. The blue Ford Taurus was just around the corner when he finally spoke up. You know, I was confused by your kiss for a few minutes but then I realized that I was your friend and that was where it would stay. Rafael made it to the car and unlocked it. He started the car and then turned back to Ronnie.

Rafael felt himself start to feel like a jerk. He didn't have to mention how he had noticed that but he hadn't meant to hurt her feelings and make her uncomfortable. Rafael looked down at his hands and then shifted the car into drive. He didn't know how to respond to her and that just made it worse for him. Finally he stopped the car, even though they were still about a mile away from the restaurant, and he turned to Ronnie. Hey Ronnie, I understand how you feel about not wanting to go through with something you can't do. I'm not sure how it would have happened anyway. I just wanted to say that I am still willing to be your friend. Rafael started moving the car again so that they were finally at the restaurant. They were now parked in front of an Italian joint that was famous for the spaghetti.

Rafael glanced away from Ronnie before he could blush from what she had said. It was great that she said he wasn't like everyone else. Yet he had only been himself. Rafael wasn't someone special or anything. All he was was someone that everyone was afraid of and didn't want anything to do with. So when Ronnie was saying that she was glad he was her friend, Rafael remembered when he was outside of camp. Everyone had acted like they were his friend, then they started to bully him and try to beat him up. Yet he didn't believe that Ronnie was like that, and that was the reason he liked her. She was different, and that was what he liked about her.Yeah...so, I guess we are here. Wanna go eat now? Rafael couldn't bring himself to talk about how much he wished that she would trust him, or how much he wanted to prove he was different. That was something that he had never been good at. And he probably never would be good with communicating with girls.

Rafael nodded and then walked over to the door. The whole time he was with Ronnie, all he wanted to do was prove he was better than the other guys that had hurt her, yet that wasn't appropriate. Still, Rafael had to do something to make her see that he really wanted Ronnie to care about him. So Rafael took the door and opened it for her, even though there was supposed to be someone who opened it for them. Well... Rafael then stopped and looked down. He really shouldn't have done anything but Rafael had to try what was holding him back. Rafael took Ronnie's hand and said what he truly felt about her. Ronnie...I do love you. He had to look down before he could meet her eyes again.

Rafael allowed Ronnie to withdraw her hand and his heart sank a bit. He forced himself to not show that though. Then someone from the restaurant walked up to them. "Table for two?" was what he said and yet what Rafael heard was, "You'll never get your chance with her." Of course Rafael knew that he probably never would and that was what made Rafael feel a lump form in his throat. Yes, we would like a table. Could it be somewhere toward the back and not as close to the others, please? Rafael smiled and then turned back to Ronnie as the maitre'd walked away to find them a table. He had to say something to not lose her forever. I...should've never said that Ronnie. You just told me how you felt and that you couldn't be in a relationship. I heard you and then said that I love you. Yet I never should've. I just... Rafael hoped that Ronnie knew what he was saying, since he was really nervous.

Rafael felt a smile flicker across his lips as he saw that Ronnie was still calm about things, yet she seemed to be fighting a battle inside herself. Then she hugged him and he was completely shocked by that motion. Rafael was about to respond to the hug and words meant to reassure him when the employee of the restaurant came back and cleared his throat. Now that was a bit rude of him, yet Rafael could be rude back. Do you always make your paying customers wait when they are hungry? The baffled maitre'd was all that Rafael had to see before he chuckled. Now they were in business. Rafael smiled at Ronnie and then followed the maitre'd to their table. The table had a candle lit in the center with cream colored table cloth and red place mats. There was a vase of red roses on either side of the candle. Rafael helped pull out Ronnie's chair and then sat down. No one else had a table like their's and all of the others were further away than he liked. "Sir, can I get you and the young lady a drink?" Rafael took a look at the menu and then replied. I would like a bottle of sparkling wine with a wine glass and some limes to go with it. Also, can you get us something else? We really need privacy. The maitre'd nodded and then looked at Ronnie with a quizzical look on his face.

Rafael watched with amusement as the employee walked away. He hadn't been so rude to people like that in ages, yet that man had interrupted a rather personal moment. Anyway, now they were at the restaurant and almost time to order. Then Ronnie said something and Rafael looked up and smiled. Charm like that would be a great opponent against people with charm-speak. Rafael felt a twinge of pain as he realized that they were just in an awkward position a little bit before that. He leaned forward and just thought. With his mind made up, Rafael looked back up at Ronnie and stared into her eyes. What is it that you were starting to say, back at the door?

Rafael smiled slightly and then sighed a bit. He was content to be here with Ronnie, even if she wasn't feeling the same way he was. Suddenly a small child ran up to their table. "Excuse me, sir, but I can't find my momma. Can you help me?" Rafael was confused as to why the kid was asking him to help, yet Rafael suddenly felt as if he knew how he felt. Yeah, sure. But can you give me a second? Rafael turned back to Ronnie after he was sure that the kid was going to wait. He took a breath and a couple seconds before asking his question. So, you said that you liked me a lot. Well, if I asked you out a second time, would you say yes? Rafael looked away and then spoke again. You don't have to answer right now.

((I've no idea where you're going with this little kid. LOL Should be interesting!))

Ronnie's brow furrowed as she watched the little boy ran up to their table. He must've been about five, from the way he looked and spoke, but Ronnie couldn't be sure. Rafael made the boy wait to ask her a question, which struck Ronnie as a bit odd, but then again, a lot of the things Rafael did were odd. She blushed as he asked her out again, or rather, asked her about asking her out, but she answered pretty quickly. "I'd definitely consider it," she said decidedly, turning to the little boy. "Where did you last see your mother?" she asked him, concern threaded into her voice.

((I'll try to make it interesting))

Rafael smiled at her answer and spoke to the little kid. He seemed scared, so he made the words comforting. Hey, bud, why don't I go help you find her? I might be able to see her quickly. Maybe I'll even let you ride on my shoulders so you can see as well. Rafael watched as the little boy nodded his head in excitement. "You are a nice guy." So Rafael stood up and hoisted the little boy up onto his shoulders. The kid weighed quite a bit for being only five or six years old. Rafael walked around and made it only four steps away from the table where him and Ronnie were at when the small fingers of the kid wrapped around his throat. Suddenly Rafael wished that he hadn't left his weapons in the car, and more importantly, that he hadn't let the kid get him off guard. Rafael stumbled and fell to his knees. What the hell do you think you're doing, kid? Rafael was worried that he may end up dying, yet he was still able to cast the charm to protect himself and slow the kid's strangle grip. The only problem was that he would be slowed down from lack of oxygen to his muscles. Rafael tried to look at Ronnie before he passed out. As the world went from color to gray, and then to black, Rafael thought only about how Ronnie had said she would think about going out with him.

The boy laughed in his innocent voice and then spoke in a tone that was way creepier with vocabulary that no five year old had. "You really should be more intelligent, daughter of Aglaea. No child of Tartarus has ever given a reason for their actions and I won't either. Yet, I do believe that your friend is starting to come to. Maybe you should join him." With that the kid suddenly changed forms and disappeared while he was still a shadowy figure. After the kid disappeared, Rafael moaned and reached up to touch his throat. A sharp pain was resonating from his red skin. Yet he was still unable to look up, as if the light had suddenly become as bright as a solar flare. Rafael rolled over to his side and tried to block all of the light from his vision. Not even the thought of Ronnie could help him. Then the thought of her being injured made Rafael's eyes snap open and he shoved himself up to his knees to look around. The kid was gone and Ronnie was near him with her dagger out. Rafael exhaled in relief after realizing that she hadn't been injured. How did it happen? Where'd he go? Rafael's voice was raw from the pain in his throat.