lunch for two --- er, three? {jacob & jamie}

[CLEO EVERETT]

She’d got to go swimming for a little while today. She’d relaxed in a Jacuzzi. She’d spent time with Jacob. It was turning out to be a very good day. To make it even better, she was going out for lunch with her best friend. It felt like it’d been ages since they’d done so. That wasn't necessarily true, though. They’d hung out often enough; in fact, if she wasn’t hanging out with Jacob, she was figuring out things they could do the next day. School was sucking up her time, though. She couldn’t wait until she was finally done with Barrie.

Her hair was still a little wet; she didn’t mind though. Cleo felt that it added to her natural beauty. The whole just-out-of-the-pool thing worked very well for her. It was probably silly that she went back to her dorm to change clothes and put on a little eye make-up, but didn’t bother to dry her hair. Oh well. Maybe that was her way of proving to Jacob that she wasn’t a Valley Girl. Which she wasn’t. Especially now that she lived in New York.

As the cab pulled up next to the Wandering Goose, Cleo found herself, again, hoping Becky wouldn’t be working today. She had given Cleo enough trouble with Mitch and Cleo certainly didn’t need that sort of trouble with Jacob. Well, at least the place wasn’t all that busy. “Hello, welcome to the Wandering Goose.” Cleo smiled at the hostess and glanced around the restaurant, wondering if Jacob had beat her here. “Hi. I’m supposed to be meeting somebody. I’m not sure if he got here before me, or not…”

notes; excite.
words; 289
outfit; + her promise ring, as always

[JACOB HARLOW]

"Actually no, cause I needed to get my hair did, and my weave fixed." Came the voice from behind Cleo. Actually--he totally had arrived there earlier than her, but on the way to the cafe, he had thought of that line, and sneaking up behind her while saying it. And of course, in typical Jaybird fashion, it had to happen. So he waited in the parkinglot for that flash of redhair; and quite honestly...it went off without a hitch.

Unfortunately though, it was a complete lie. Jacob was disheveled as usual, brown hair curly, and unruly, flaring outwards in a mess of tangles around his ears, adding that sort of boyish charm of his. A slightly loose blue shirt covered his frame and a hoodie loose over his shoulders, and a pair of straight legged jeans (no skinnies. My god, he'd like to keep his bits from inverting into his body, thanks), and a pair of worn down nikes.

However, the smell of chlorine was off his skin, and as messy as his hair was--it lacked the usual crunch that the pool water gave his hair. "Two please, and a booth. The normal chairs hurt my bum." He commented to the hostess, flashing her happy blue eyes, and a wide-lipped smile, while he draped his lanky arm over his best friend's shoulder, his other hand rubbing his hip for emphasis on his statement.

"Also Cleo," Jake began, while the hostess lead them back to a booth, "If you do that girl thing where you're starving and you order a salad the size of my eyeball, I will order every lobster in the tanks. It's my treat, so don't be a girly girl about it." Jay straightened up, rolling his eyes, though his arm was still hooked around Cleo's shoulder.

He missed that. When they were kids, he had been particularly small, but he still tried to keep his arm around Cleo's shoulders, which made for some hilarious moments, however now being taller than most people---it was done with ease, and a lot more comfortable on his part.

[CLEO EVERETT]

“Never mind.” Cleo muttered to the hostess, a little amused and somehow embarrassed. Cleo turned to look at Jacob, half-expecting him to have gotten a weave in the small amount of time they’d had. No, though, his hair was as usual. Cleo rolled her eyes. “Always the comedian… and fashionably late.” Cleo smiled, facing the hostess again. “I guess I got here first.” Jacob requested a booth, which was alright though she would have preferred a table as booths were always uncomfortable when wearing a dress, and even gave the hostess a reason for this. Cleo felt small under Jacob’s arm. Small, yet protected. It was nice. Cleo laughed. “No way, doll. I’m hungry. Even if I did that ‘girl thing,’” she repeated, faking offense, “I can’t now because you just threatened to order lobster.” She stuck her tongue out and shook her head. “Yuck.”

Cleo slid into the booth as the hostess set down their menus. “I wouldn’t order salad, anyway. They have the best grilled cheese ever here.” What didn’t the Wandering Goose have? It was like her mother’s cooking, back when they lived in Cali. It was that warm, cozy, at home feeling sort of food. She opened the menu to find the drinks section (which was always hardest to find on menus no matter where she went). “Even if it did almost kill you, I liked when you smelled like chlorine,” she said off-handedly, looking through the rest of the menu now that she knew what she wanted to drink. It might have been a subtle way of saying ‘you should swim more’ or something like that, but that was totally her intention. Though it wouldn’t kill Jacob if he would just let her teach him how to swim.

notes; i find irony in this post 'cause stone orders lobster in easy a. lawl 8D
words; 293
outfit; + her promise ring, as always

[JACOB HARLOW]

Now had Cleo actually mentioned the fact the booth was uncomfortable, Jacob would've more than likely delt with the pain in the bum. But it was soo late when the Hostess sat them at a table and Jacob noticed Cleo was in a skirt. Well wasn't he a dumbass? Before Cleo could sit, he shrugged off his hoodie, and tossed it onto her set carefully, "Sit on that, that way you can just slide out of the booth without your legs sticking or something. It's clean, I promise" Jacob explained, doing his best to help. Jacob always looked a bit messy, wrinkled shirts, torn jeans, messy hair--but he was impeccibly neat. Not your usual college messy-boy.

"Yeah, well you're weird." He muttered, opening up the menu, and glancing down at it. "When it comes to a Jaccuzi, I don't mind smelling like that stuff. But keeping it on your skin and in your hair isn't good for you," He flipped to the menu, skipping past the seafood. "It dries you out, and makes your skin all tender."

Jacob tapped his chin idly, staring down at the menu. "Grilled cheese? Cleo, I can make you grilled cheese if you want. You're in one of the best resturaunts here in New York, and I'm paying for whatever, get outside of your comfort zone." He stared at her with his bright blue eyes, that awkward, lop-sided half grin coming across his face. "Order something really crazy, that you wouldn't normally order. Something fancy, that makes you feel like you aren't in New York."

He leaned back in his seat, and closed the menu, having decided what he wanted. Then quickly jumped up to his feet, "I forgot something, shit. Be right back." Jacob launched himself out of his seat, and went running out of the resturaunt with his car keys. He did that strange tall-person run, where it looked slow motion, but his strides were about twice that of a normal person. Freakin' tall people. He was gone for no more than five minutes, when he came back, walking, carrying a delicate white box back to the table and sat it next to him. "I got dessert here, so don't order any."

"We gotta think up some things to do, maybe go to a casino or something, dressed up like we're from the 1920's, and smoke bubblegum cigars." Jacob thought on this, his brows furrowing as he stared up towards the ceiling.

[/center]

[CLEO EVERETT]

Cleo was mildly surprised at Jacob’s gesture, but quite pleased. It seemed out of the ordinary, but she she didn’t mind. “Thanks, hun,” she told him, already feeling more comfortable and less self-conscious. She’d been worrying about wearing a dress. Cleo continued to flip through the menu, unsure of what she wanted. Cleo liked ordering her usual whenever she went out because she didn’t like change. She peered at Jacob from behind her menu and grinned. “I am not weird.” She rubbed her cheek absentmindedly, “and that would totally explain why I have the softest skin, like, ever.”

Cleo set her menu down and stared right back at Jacob, returning his grin with her own. She loved that smile. “Fine, fine.” She glanced back down to the menu, pouting slightly. “I’m not good at choosing stuff,” she muttered. “And I like my comfort zone!” Cleo turned a page in the menu. She wouldn’t mind getting something that made her feel like she wasn’t in New York. Before she could say what she’d been thinking, Jacob leapt up suddenly, claiming he’d forgotten something. She watched him rush out, a curious expression on her face. After a moment, she shrugged and turned back to the menu. Ordering that would make her feel like she wasn’t in New York…

Jacob returned shortly after, carrying a white box. She raised her eyebrows and laughed a little. “My curiosity just hit the roof.” Cleo focused more on her menu, trying to decide if she really want to go through with it. She’d had it before, way back when she was little, and it hadn’t been terribly terrible. She glanced up at Jacob as he mused out loud. “I think I would be incredibly frustrated at a casino. I’d lose and I’d just keep playing until I won.” She shook her head. “I’d never make it back to Cali,” she added as a quiet after thought.

Their waiter arrived and she glanced to her menu, and then Jacob, before to the waiter. She smiled a sneaky sort of smile. “I’ll get the lobster.” Cleo looked back to Jacob, waiting for him to order, her smile turning into a darling innocent grin.

notes; I KIND OF LOVE SNEAKY IRONIC HYPOCRITICAL CLEO.
words; 365
outfit; + her promise ring, as always

[JACOB HARLOW]

Jacob cleared his throat, and nudges the white box further into the corner of his seat, out of Cleo's curious reach. "Comfort zone? Cleo, darling. You're miles from any ocean, you're surrounded by buildings, and it snowed not too long ago. You are so far out of your comfort zone, so just add food to the list." He shrugged his broad shoulders, and smiled at her; but with one of those rare Jacob smiles. Not a Jaybird or Jake one, but one of those smiles that made you realize Jacob was quite intelligent behind the goofy, silly exterior. "I know you miss home, but right now you're in New York, and you kinda have to deal. I miss California too, but I'm here now. So we have to make the best of being where we are. I mean...seeing the world is fun, seeing different things. Not same old, comforting, safe-zone Cali." He shrugged, and scratched his cheek looking down athe menu.

Liver and onions...that was different. But then he heard Cleo's order and his mind blanked. No, like completely blanked. He stared at her, mouth half-open, fingers still curcled to scratch his cheek, completely frozen. Did she just fucking order lobster?! "Uh.....uh....Mm....I...er..." He was still staring at Cleo, then looked up to the waiter with that stunned, deer-caught-in-the-headlights looked. He swallowed hard, "Liver and onions with a baked potato, loaded. Also...uh.." Jacob looked back at Cleo, then the waiter. "Grilled cheese with tomato soup, and the thickest one of these you've got." He said, holding up the fancy, fabric napkin. He was gonna be prepared if Cleo's daring and bold choice when completely sour.

When the waiter nodded, and walked away looking a bit bewildered at the sudden change in one of the patrons. Jacob continued to stare at Cleo as though he had never seen her before. "What. The. Fuck."

[/center]

[CLEO EVERETT]

For a second, she regretted her sneaky-mess-with-Jacob decision. If she didn’t go through with actually eating the lobster, and if Jacob was paying, then that was a waste of money and then she would feel bad. It was just a second of regret, though, because his reaction was better than she’d thought it would be. Cleo wanted to laugh; she wanted to roll on the floor laughing. Priceless. Absolutely priceless. Instead, she kept up the innocent façade, smiling sweetly as she twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “Ew,” she said without hesitation upon hearing Jacob’s order. And why was he getting a grilled cheese (with tomato soup, ohmygod, yum)? Cleo returned the menus to the waiter, smiling at him before he left. Once he was gone, Cleo focused on Jacob and smiled all the more, with a ‘what’s wrong?’ sort of look. He said pretty much what she’d been expecting and it made her laugh, but not the double-over-laughing, just a quiet girlish giggle. “Surprise~!”

Then, as if it were the least surprising thing in the world, Cleo went about addressing his comfort zone speech. “Anyway, I realize that I’m out of my comfort zone. At least I’ve adjusted—” She paused, peering out the window. “Well… sort of adjusted.” Cleo took a sip of her water before leaning forward, resting her forearms on the table. “I miss home like crazy.” She paused, giving him a curious stare. “Would you ever move back?” It was sort of a slip of the tongue and she leaned back, looking down. No. He probably wouldn’t. What a stupid question. Cleo picked at her nail polish, hating that she was fidgeting, and glanced up at Jacob. “Oh, by the way , why’d you order the grilled cheese?” It was an absent-minded sort of question, one that didn’t need an answer though she certainly wouldn’t mind one. Cleo folded her hands together and told herself to stop being so twitchy.

notes; MUCH BETTER if i may say so myself
words; 327
outfit; + her promise ring, as always

[JAMIE SHOEMAKER]

Jamie was hungry. There was no way of getting around it. He wasn’t going to let himself, like starve but still, where the hell was he going to eat? All of these places were in foreign languages and like, really expensive. Jamie kicked a piece of rock across the street and looked up to a sign that made him laugh. Perfect. This place was called the “Wandering Goose Café”! It was English and probably sold a good chicken sandwich. Just what he needed.

Jamie opened the door and smiled at the friendly sound of bells jingling. A lady in a waitress uniform with the name “Tessa” smiled at him. ”Hi Welcome to the Wandering Goose. How many?”
“One,” Jamie answered as cheerfully. The lady looked thoroughly confused for a moment and then grabbed a menu. Jamie always thought it was funny that people automatically think having tats makes you an evil villian with a curly mustache preying on innocents. Jamie laughed inwardly at his joke and looked around. The place was packed with people all having their own food. A dad and his little daughter, A sports team enjjoying a victory and a couple—was that Cleo?

Jamie’s heart skipped a beat and he grimaced. He knew that flaming red hair from anywhere. Who was she with? Why did he care? Jamie forced himself to turn back around and look at the menu. It’s good that Cleo’s moving on. She definitely needed someone nicer than him. Jamie couldn’t help but let his head turn again just to take a look at the guy. The guy looked familiar! What if he was a druggie? Oh jeez, Cleo doesn’t need a druggie! Jamie was about to remind himself it was none of his business when he made eye contact with Cleo. “Oh shee-it.” He slowly turned back around and looked at the menu. Maybe she didn’t recognize him. Maybe she’d just go back to her date. Maybe… Jamie didn’t let himself think of anything that would make him happy. “I’ll have a Dr. Pepper!” he said to the waitress.

[JACOB HARLOW]

Jacob just shook his head, and drew in a careful breath, trying to keep himself from totally flipping out at Cleo. What if she swam with that lobster?! What if it was a friend of a fish that she swam with? He closed his mouth, and cleared his throat, and just continued to stare at her like she had sprouted a second head.

“You can go back and visit, if you miss it or something. And I ordered the grilled cheese incase you weren’t able to stomach cracking open a lobster’s shell and yanking out it’s meat.” He responded, raising his thick brows, before leaning back in the seat. Jacob felt a strange tug at the back of his neck. Like they were being watched or something. He furrowed his brows, and glanced around slightly, before seeing some…ragamuffin watching him and Cleo.

Some scene-kid, tattooed all up and down.
Jacob issued a slight huff, and glared at the guy quite visibly for a moment, letting him know he saw. Before he turned back to Cleo, his expression softening as he leaned forward over the table a bit, also making a point that he was the one here with Cleo. A but defensive, but somewhat a guy thing.

“I don’t know if I’d move back. I really like New York, you know? It’s got history, and it feels old. California, there’s too much sun and water. And everyone seems a little...” He shrugged, and wrinkled his nose, “I dunno. Some parts of Cali are stuck up, some are just weird, others are okay. I just don’t have too many good memories there.” He responded with a slight sigh.

“You seem to really miss home though. Why don’t you visit it, at least?” He asked, before turning to the box, and opening it slightly, and he took a brownie hidden inside and split it in half, then set it on a napkin from the table, and slid it to Cleo, “Appetizer.”

[CLEO EVERETT]

Cleo laughed. “’Or something?’ I miss it more than anything,” she told him, because you couldn’t say ‘or something’ when describing how much Cleo missed LA. She couldn’t help but to sigh, giving him a look. If visiting were that easy, she would’ve done so already. It wasn’t like she could just up and leave during school. It would be a waste of money to stay for just a summer. That’s why she was set to move once she was done with college. Cleo sat up suddenly, glaring at him. “You totally worded it like that on purpose!” For now, lobster sounded like the most unappealing thing ever and she felt terrible for ordering it. There… a lobster was dying because of her. The very thought nearly made her burst into tears but she kept herself in check, looking around for something to distract her (she would’ve kept her gaze on Jacob but he was the one who’d said such a thing…). To her surprise, she was making eye contact with Jamie. It was certainly distracting. Cleo turned back to look at Jacob quite quickly, not sure what to think.

She nodded. “I know.” He liked it a whole lot more than California. While she disagreed with just about everything he was saying, she wouldn’t say that. He was entitled to his own opinion, especially the bit about water. He was right about some of the people. She wasn’t stuck up though, right? Cleo copied him, leaning forward as well. “You don’t?” She asked, aware of the offended tone she held. “So, I suppose hanging out with me wasn’t any fun?” It was probably very girl-like of her to ask something like that, and to be insulted by what he said. He probably wasn’t talking about her anyway (she hoped). Cleo shrugged. “Just going for a summer would hurt more than help.” She’d get back to New York, regretting her decision more than remembering what a good time she’d had. “Oh!” she exclaimed happily as he passed a half of the brownie to her. While his comment was not unforgotten, she was happy to have sweets. Dessert before a meal wasn’t allowed when she was younger.

notes; !!!!!!
words; 366
outfit; + her promise ring, as always

[JAMIE SHOEMAKER]

Jamie thanked the waitress for his drink and sipped it idly while trying to think of what he wanted. Meanwhile the smart part of his brain was telling him to get the heck out of there. He ran off last time for a reason. Didn’t he? Jamie looked over his shoulder again and saw the guy Cleo was with get closer to her. Jamie’s thoughts stopped in their track and a lump formed in his throat. He turned around again trying to make an escape plan. She totally was on a date and Jamie knew he wouldn’t be able to watch if Cleo were to—She always figured that she was the only one in the world. She would just pull him aside and—Jamie wondered why he was getting so worked up. It shouldn’t bother him. He wasn’t right for Cleo. He never was and most likely never will be. And that was it.

“Grilled chicken with steamed vegetables. Please,” he said before the waitress could ask for his order. Jamie handed her the menu and thought about something he could do while he waited for his meal. Cleo would probably ignore him. After all, he did just get up and leave after she forgave him. Jamie found some beaten up crayons in a little square thing on the table and began to doodle aimlessly on the white paper tablecloth. Some kind of dinosaur thing with its foot on fire. He was a terrible artist but the best thing about tablecloth art is that only the busboy gets to see it before it’s thrown away. Plus it really cheered him up. Jamie made what girls called his “cute thinking face” as he tried to get the flames just right.

[JACOB HARLOW]

"Of course I worded it like that on purpose. It's better than you finding out the horror of it yourself," Jacob sighed, and started to slide out of the booth, "I have an idea for you. How about I go back there, stop them from killing your little lobster, buy out the rest of the lobsters here--and we take them down to the beach." Jacob said, teetering on the edge of his seat.

He stood to his feet, leaning on the table, listening to her when she spoke, and ate the brownie. He rolled his eyes, and leaned in to kiss her forehead like he often did when Cleo was hurt, or being silly in that strange girl way.

"Cleo, don't be stupid. You're the only reason California was tolerable." He straightened up, and gave the table a sharp slap. "Time to save some lobsters. I'll even go to the beach and help you, so you don't hurt your wee little fingers on their pinchers." He waved his fingers in her face, before turning quickly and rushing towards the kitchens, giving Jamie a glance, his brown eyes narrowed and sharp.

Was that little weirdo coloring? Jacob just shit his head, and pulled a waitress politely aside, and dipped his head down, talking to her, forgetting about Jamie momentarily while he discussed the lobsters, his lanky hands gesturing towards Cleo, and he and the waitress laughing and chuckling while they continued to discuss.

[/center]

[CLEO EVERETT]

Oh… so he’d done it for her. She pouted at him, folding her arms over her chest. “Still.” It came out a lot whinier than she intended but at least he had ordered a grilled cheese sandwich. She could eat that without worrying about killing any lobster. At this horrid thought, she once again found herself near tears. Oh, this had certainly not been worth it. She made a mental note to never surprise Jacob again. She would leave that to him. He could be the one who was surprising and she would be the one who was delightfully surprised. Yes, that sounded better. She watched as he started to get out of the booth. Cleo couldn’t help but to laugh, figuring he was kidding. There was no way he’d do something like that. No way in a mi—

He was doing that thing where it didn’t seem like a big deal but it actually was, or it was to her, anyway. She sat up a little straighter, perhaps haughty, at the comment but then jumped suddenly when he slapped the table. He was surprising (slash scaring) her without even trying. “Are you really goi—?” But he was already gone, having waved his fingers in her face. “Jacob!” she hissed, as if being quiet was suddenly crucial. Not only was he saving lobsters for her, he was going to go to the beach with her except she didn’t really know where to get to any beaches. That was rather silly of her, especially since she always wanted so badly to be at one.

Nibbling on her lower lip, Cleo glanced around once more. Well… maybe it wouldn’t hurt her to go say hello to Jamie just really quick while Jacob was talking to the waitress. He probably wouldn’t be happy but it was just quick hello and then a quick goodbye and before she could talk herself out of it, Cleo had slipped out of the booth and approached Jamie’s table. It probably wouldn’t be good to actually sit down, so she just stopped and stood next to the table, hands clasped behind her back. “Hello Jamie!” she chirped, smiling because she caught him making his cute thinking face. “Why is that dinosaurs’ foot on fire?”


notes; ohboy
words; 377
outfit; + her promise ring, as always

[JAMIE SHOEMAKER]

Jamie heard a slap on the table behind him. His head snapped in Cleo’s direction and he tensed up. What was that guy doing? He’d better not hurt Cleo. Jamie clenched a fist with his right hand and glanced up at the guy when he walked by. They both glared at each other but Jamie broke first. He knew that guy. He wasn’t sure where from but he knew it most likely wasn’t a good place. What had Cleo gotten herself tangled up in? Jamie shook the thoughts from his head and began to focus more intently on his drawing. It was really none of his business. Would he really fight the guy if he hurt Cleo? The answer made him worry he was becoming that guy again. That guy had won a lot of fights that started for stupid things. But Cleo wasn’t a stupid thing. Cleo was—

“Hello Jamie!”

right in front of him. He quickly moved his fist off the table and looked up. “Oh, um, hi Cleo! Funny seeing you again,” he said. A smile appeared on his face when he saw hers. He couldn’t really help it. Cleo’s smile always made him smile.

“Why is that dinosaurs’ foot on fire?”

Jamie laughed. He was worried she’d ask him so many different other things. Like why he just ran off or why he was here or why he was avoiding her but no. She asked the one question he actually could answer with a smile. “He has a bad case of athlete’s foot?” he said shrugging his shoulders. He quickly glanced over at Cleo’s date and looked at Cleo. She didn’t look scared or anything. Maybe the guy had just forgotten his wallet or something. It always sucks when that happens. “How have you been doing lately li- Cleo?” he asked catching himself. He didn’t want to do that again.

[JACOB HARLOW]

Weird guy. Glared at him, go figure. Was someone jelly? They should be. Cleo was here with him. It was a date. Well...sort of. A date with two best friends…so maybe it really wasn’t a date. He continued talking with the waitress, and she nodded, before disappearing into the kitchens and Jacob stood up and glanced back.

And Cleo was...not at the table anymore. Jacob’s brows furrowed, and he straightened up a little more before catching a flash of orange and he spotted her. Talking with that jerk from the table. He waited a moment, but they seemed wrapped up in their discussion. Jake straightened up from the counter and walked over, his fingers tucked into his pocket. “Hey Fishgirl, everything’s all sorted out.” He smiled, and glanced down at Jamie.

“You don’t mind if I steal her back, right?” He asked, with a slight tone that suggested he didn’t exactly care if Jamie minded or not. This kid looked pretty familiar, strangely enough. But he couldn’t exactly put his finger on where he’d seen him. “They said our order should be out pretty soon.” He raised his brows at her, sticking his tongue out playfully at her, looping his arm around her shoulder like he usually did. However, there was a difference from when Jacob did it just to have Cleo close; when there was another guy he was threatened by. It was more of a protective mode. He couldn’t remember why, but he was pretty sure this guy pissed him off at one point or another.

[/center]