A Little Dinner

Nova smiled at the little diner, 'The Sweet Fable Diner', she had always thought the place looked cute but had never actually been. She didn't really have anyone to go with though. While she had occasionally hung out with the other cheerleaders, they had always wanted to go shopping so they would normally just eat at the mall. Her eyes left the cute building and looked up at Jay to find him already grinning down at her. "Why do you look like a kid in a candy shop?" Nova asked him when he glanced away.

His grin seemed to grown even bigger at her question before he looked back down at her and said, "Because, I just had the prettiest and most amazing girl say yes to a date."

Nova couldn't help the eye roll as she commented, "I am sure this girl doesn't know just how full of it you are, so I wouldn't put too much stock into it."

Jay leaned down into her ear and whispered, "I think she may just be pleasantly surprised at how amazing I truly am."

"Hmmm, I think someone needs to learn some humility," Nova told him with slightly furrowed yet raised eyebrows.

Jay took a large step forward, pulled open the diner's door, and stepped off to the side to allow her to walk through while announcing, "Please, humility is one of my best qualities." Nova just laughed and shook her head while she entered through the door. The inside of the dinner was just as cute as the outside with its checkered floors and white walls. Even the teal and white chairs and booths added to the look.

Nova smiled and commented, "It is even cuter on the inside!"

He gave her a weird look before asking, "Wait, you haven't been here before? Haven't you lived here your whole life?"

"I have wanted to come ever since I first saw it, but whenever I hang with the girls they always just want to go shopping. I didn't really wanna come alone, so I was just never able to," Nova explained with a shrug as they made their way to a booth by the front window.

Nova looked at the menu and silently debated about what to get for a few minutes before a waitress walked up, "Hello, my name is Anna and I will be your waitress for this afternoon. Do you two know what you would like?"

Jay lifted his head and spoke up first, "Can I have a sharp cheddar omelet with peppers, ham, sausage, spinach, and onions?" After she nodded, he waited for a few seconds while she wrote stuff down before adding, "could I also have a caramel fudge shake and a side of bacon."

She nodded again and finished jotting down his order before asking, "Is that all for you sir?" When he nodded she turned to Nova and asked, "and what can I get for you, mam?"

Nova giggled and commented with a grin, "Wow, Mam makes me feel so old. But, I would like some Nutella banana pancakes with bacon on the side and a red cherry shake."

Anna wrote Nova's order down before asking, "Is that all for you two?" They both nodded and she walked away.

Nova placed her menu back in the little menu holder before glancing over at Jay. They kept eye contact for a while before Nova glanced out the window to hide her discomfort. 'Dawn, Help! What do I say? I have never been on a date before and we have only ever talked about what werewolf society is.'

Sadly, Dawn's reply wasn't much help as all she said was, 'How am I supposed to know? I am a wolf.' Nova stifled a sigh and a rolling of her eyes at Dawn as she continued to look out at the cars passing on the road.

Luckily, Nova didn't have to figure out how to start a normal conversation as Jay drew her eyes to him with a slightly awkward clearing of his throat before saying, "Sooo, what is your favorite color?"

A smile played over Nova's lips as she giggled and said, "So 20 questions it is. Hmm, I would have to say green. Like deep midsummer-forest green. You?"

"I like green as well, although more of the sea-green color," Jay answered as pink faintly tinged his cheeks but, he quickly continued before Nova could comment, "What is your favorite animal?" Nova simply raised an eyebrow before he chuckled and prodded, "Before or after you shifted?"

"My love for wolves actually started way before I shifted. Although I must admit that before they used to be tied with foxes. When I was little, I ran into a fox and we played for a little bit. That was when my love for animals really grew. What about you?"

Jay thought a little bit before saying, "I actually love eagles. They just glide far above looking down at all of us. They are smart and loyal. Other than the wolf, of course, Eagles have always seemed to draw my attention."

"What is your favorite school subject?" Nova asked the next question. Jay smirked and was about to say something before Nova quickly added, "Sports don't count."

A pout covered Jay's face before he thought a bit longer and declared, "Psychology. I think the whole subject is fascinating. What is yours?"

"Biology," Nova answered without blinking, "I am even taking an extra online biology course."

Jay's eyes widened before he gasped, "You're a nerd! The famous Nova Gray, the partying cheerleader is a nerd!"

A chuckle slipped from Nova as she said, "I guess all is not as it seems."

A thought seemed to cross Jay's mind as his eyes narrowed and he looked closely at her. His mouth opened to ask her what it was he wanted to know, but he was interrupted as Anna came and dropped off their food. After confirming that they were good and had gotten what they ordered, Anna left them and headed for another table.

Jay seemed to decide to ask whatever was on his mind later and they continued on with their little 20 questions game while they finished eating. The food was really good, but what truly brought the smile to Nova's face and the warmth that seemed to spread through her heart. Was the intensity in which Jay seemed to listen to her answers. He seemed to actually want to learn as much about her as she wanted to learn about him. And for the first time in a long time, she wanted to let him.