A Fine Romance? (Torie!)

Although he had had his uncertainties, the port was a pretty good place to meet up with Cam. Especially during this time of year, when the weather was cool and the crisp spray of water kept most people from leaving the main streets of the town. Tell shifted lazily on his skateboard and looked around while attempting to not appear too eager or too guilty. At first, he had suggested they meet in the privacy of his home, but then thought better of it. Although Cam could change into a fly or a bird, Tell thought that meeting her where almost all the other teachers lived was far too risky. He still wasn't sure that this was legal.

But he had dressed nice. A buttoned shirt, new pair of jeans, and a close shave cleaned him up nicely. With the added measure of combing his hair, Tell actually looked slightly older than he was. As he waited, he tested his balance against the rickety docks, flipping his skateboard on its side and performing a few simple tricks. He eyed the railing to a set of old stairs, wondering if he had the time. Had Cam even gotten his note? He had left it in her book back when they pumped passed each other during breakfast, but perhaps she hadn't noticed it yet.

What kind of adult writes notes? She had found Tell’s little note almost too late; after rummaging around her bag to find one of her pens, her fingers had brushed a folded piece of paper. Cam pulled it out, looked it over, and rolled her eyes. He wanted to met her at the village, near the docks. He was such a nervous little thing, wasn’t he? She’d only had about an hour to get ready, so she rushed, tossing her hair into a loose ponytail and grabbing one of her many dresses. It was a casual dress, a light blue color, the collar cut into a V to show off her long neck. It reached her knees, to keep from being too dressy. She had even skipped on the heels, choosing instead to wear wedges made specifically to be comfortable. At least it would make it legs look good.

The weather was nice enough, but it still warranted a jacket. It was colder the closer she got to the water, and she was thankful she had brought the jacket. Camille knew she was a few minutes late, but it was his own fault. Who used notes anymore anyway? She rolled her eyes at the thought. This was such a high school relationship. God, help her.

She finally saw him playing around with his skateboard. He looked too well dressed to be riding a skateboard. His note hadn’t said anything about dinner or a date. Or had it? Had she missed it? It was too late now if she had. Cam knew the docks weren’t exactly up-to-par, yet he kept playing around on them. “You’re gonna hurt yourself!” she called out, crossing her arms over her chest. She tried to look condescending, but couldn’t keep the teasing smile off her face.

“Never!” Tell said loudly. “This is my greatest friend...who would make fun of a little cripple who could do tricks like this?” He slid along the rickety pier, the well worn wheels clacking, and launched himself into the air, using a low wall to propel his lower half upward. Using the strength of his arms and torso, Tell twisted, letting the skateboard drop and pausing as though suddenly made of stone, at a sharp angle. Then he dropped back down and rolled easily toward her. “It looks better with music, but it's a type of break dancing really...”

He trailed off, rambling about yourself was never any way to impress a girl. “Was the note okay? I was just testing out different ways of communication. I was worried you might have missed it. You look great by the way.” Fantastic. Now he was rambling in general, which was never a good thing for someone incapable of lying. “So, what do you want to do? See a movie? Eat? Just talk?” The implied was there, hiding behind each question, then jumping in the short silences the the low slosh of water against the moss covered docks.

Cam watched his little tricks, a slightly amused grin playing on her features. He would do anything to show off his body, to show how much he wouldn’t allow his condition to handicap him. She respected him for that. She didn’t like how reckless he was, though. He could really get hurt doing all those flips and tricks and whatnot, especially on the rickety old dock he was on. She was glad when he reached her, rolling towards her and away from the dock. Her hand reached out and touched his arm, almost reassuring herself that he was safe.

The mention of the note made her roll her eyes. She had to stop herself from snapping at him. Camille let out a gentle sigh. “The note was fine, but I almost missed it. Next time you should give me some kind of hint, like a cough or kick flip or something, I don’t know. Just something, so I know to look for something from you.”

His rambling brought a laugh out of her. “Tell, calm down. You don’t have to impress me or anything.” Her hand was still on his arm. She removed it, and ran it through her hair. She didn’t like how nervous he was. It was enough to make her shy, and she didn’t want to be shy around him. Cam was not a shy person, but Tell brought out her most uncharacteristic qualities. It was off putting, and she didn’t like it.

She shrugged at his suggestions. Some sounded much better than others. “D’ya want to just go back to your place and watch a movie or something? I don’t have a lot of money to do all kinds of things and… well, just being able to relax would be nice, right? Sneaking around gets really tiring.”

With a shrug in his shoulders, Tell hoped off his skateboard. “What you don't like privacy? Okay, we'll go straight down to the main street during the lunch rush and have at it.” He winked. He knew that wasn't what she had meant. He had hoped the docks had a romantic feel to them, but apparently that wasn't what she was interested in.

“We could go to my place...” as long as she was fine with a mess. His laundry was still on the couch. Tell didn't say anything to Cam's comment on him needing to impress her. He wasn't trying to show off or anything, just proving that he can handle himself just fine. He'd been skating for years after all, but if she didn't like that either, he wouldn't do it. He wanted her to be comfortable around him. “So, what sort of movies do you like? I've got limited stuff but maybe something you like. We can stop at the corner store for snacks if you want. I don't really have any chips or candy at my place.”

He reached forward and twisted her red hair in his hand. Cam was very pretty in this light. Tell leaned forward and kissed her, first on the cheek and then on the lips. He could do this all day. He could do more than this, as long as it was with her. Did Cam know how incredible she really was?

Cam rolled her eyes at him. He enjoyed teasing her. “You know what I mean,” she chuckled. “Plus, you know I’m not good with this whole ‘dating’ thing. You’ll have to give me a few passes for messing things up when I do.” She knew better than to think she’d ever be able to be more to him than just fun. She couldn’t gauge other people’s feelings, and rarely did she feel anything more than the most simplistic emotions. She knew she was supposed to have an undeterminable number of emotions, but she always felt as if there was a dam blocking her emotions. She feared what would happen if that damn ever broke.

She shrugged at his question. “I like action and horror movies, I guess. Foresta dorm rooms aren’t really big enough for a good size TV, so I haven’t really watched a movie in a year or so. It’s funny how much you don’t miss something when you aren’t used to having it every day.” She smiled at him, trying to will some emotions to pop up. It was nice outside, and she enjoyed his company, but she didn’t think she could ever be as excited for something the way Vivian was excited about everything.

“Snacks would probably be a good idea. That way if any awkward silences pop up, we can use the food as an excuse not to talk.” She cringed. It was a bad attempt at a joke, and she regretted it immediately. She was going to apologize, but he had wound his hand in her hair and kissed her. This was the only time she was ever able to feel more than the dulled senses she was allowed; she felt shy and self conscious and as if he could actually care about her. She tried to fight the blush on her face, but could feel the heat radiating. She laughed gently. “For wanting to not get caught, you have no problems with a little PDA, huh?”

Tell smiled as he pulled away from her. "What's a little PDA on a nice day like this? Besides, there's not really anyone around." There was something to be said about the excitement in the danger of being caught though. It was part of who Tell was, living slightly on the tempting edge, the desire to jump. Can did make him feel overly cautious though. She had been the first person who could really have him pause before action, whether she knew it or not.

"Do you want to get the awkward silences out of the way now? Let's do that," he added, hoping she wouldn't feel so embarrassed at her joke. Tell had thought it cute that she would blush, when normally she was so hard to read. "I'll go first." He rolled away from Cam and stared at his feet. After a moment, he looked up at her, gave an unsure smile, then turned his attention to the water. He coughed.

After his little performance, he brightened again. "Ok, your turn. I feel much better already...but I'll still want snacks." Tell waited for Cam to imitate him, urging her with funny expressions.

She felt laughter tug at her lips at his faux-awkwardness. He reminded her so much of the new girl Vivian had taken under her wing, like a mother dog taking care of a stray kitten. Her own cheeks flushed in embarrassment for him, and she was glad when his little act was over.

He prompted her to follow his lead, and at first, Cam wasn’t sure what to do. Clearing her throat, she clasped her hands behind her back and sucked on the inside of one of her cheeks. Her eyes flitted from him, to the water, back to him, to finally the ground. She rocked back on her heels, feigning a slight trip backwards. She laughed, unable to keep up the awkward charade any longer, and took a step towards him.

“Well, now that that’s over, maybe we should be on our way. And I agree, snacks should be number one on our list of priorities.”

She felt much more comfortable than she had before, and wasn’t worried about how to act around him. He brought out her better side, made her feel like any normal person should when out with a date. The butterflies in her stomach were no longer unwelcome, and instead made her smile grow. Feeling like this, this immense feeling of content, must be what real happiness felt like. It was strange and new and wonderful. Camille knew this was a feeling she did not want to let go of any time soon.

Tell had been secretly admiring the cut of her blue dress, and noticing much more than the slender lines of her neck, while they were awkward together. He cleared his throat after she broke from the game, and loosened an invisible tie, as if he were Rodney Dangerfield. "Well then...what are your thoughts on chocolate? There's a confectioners down the pier just a little way, and I swear to you, it's like Willy Wonka's factory but for adults."

Placing a gentle hand on the small of her back, Tell steered Cam toward the general direction. "There's other things too, like community sized rice crispy treats, but it's really about the chocolate. It really cries out to my inner fat kid." He smiled. Dating was something he hadn't bothered with for some time. Lately, Tell had been more interested in casual encounters. It was a nice change of pace, being with a girl he actually wanted to listen to.

"So, what do you think about that Agent G stuff? He's pretty spooky, in the stereotypical show up at random, sort of way." The idea almost had Tell pulling his hand away from it's slow journey down Cam's backside. Almost.