Chapter 7
Lukas
Elsie was stunning.
Even in her blue hoodie, with her hair a mess from hiding underneath it and a blush covering her cheeks almost every second, she was beautiful.
“Are you busy for the rest of the day?” Her words were a complete shock to me. It was so forward, and it had me locking eyes with her, trying to confirm her intent. Before I could even think about it, I responded.
“I’m free. Want to go get some dinner?”
Honestly, she looked worried or terrified.
Like she regretted saying anything, but that expression melted into a much softer one.
Elsie gave me a meek smile and a nod, so I stepped up to my car door and pulled it open for her, ushering her in.
She stepped between me and the car, sliding herself into the seat.
Our eyes stayed locked the entire time, neither of us looking away until I closed the door.
My mind raced. This was probably a stupid idea, but I couldn’t help myself.
I had so many things to worry about, like this case and the work I needed to do, finals, and that I shouldn’t be pursuing anyone until this love potion was far in my past. But I couldn’t get this girl out of my head since our first encounter at the recognition banquet.
She was electric, and I wanted more of her.
I wanted to see what other quirks she had and to see how she pressed me. I didn’t even know her last name.
I moved around the car and got into the driver’s seat, letting it roar to life as I put my seatbelt on. “Did you have anything specific in mind for our date?” I watched her cheeks redden even more than they already were at my teasing. This was exactly the reaction I was hoping for.
“Date? This isn’t a date,” she stated, straight-faced. But the catch in her voice gave her away.
I just chuckled, putting my arm on her headrest to “help” me turn to look behind the car as I drove in reverse. I pulled it away only to shift the car into drive, but watched her eyes follow my movements.
The drive was silent for a few moments, and just as I was about to break the silence, Elsie spoke.
“Did you spectate in the Aster case?” Her voice was softer than usual. Elsie had her hands bound in her lap, but was scratching at her skin with her thumb.
“No, I didn’t.” Her question brought up hundreds of questions in my mind, but I knew I shouldn’t ask.
Not only because I was taking part in the legal battle, but also because it just wasn’t done.
Talking about the potion and its effects seemed to be completely off-limits.
Taboo. Forrestbriar had an unwritten rule—we didn’t speak about the attacks.
“I’m actually an intern for Ed Hildonbrand. He’s—”
“The potions master. For prosecution,” she finished for me. I glanced over to her. Her posture was rigid, and her eyes were locked straight out the windshield.
“Yep. I can’t wait to see Aster rot for what she did.”
Silence fell between us, a palpable tension. I wasn’t sure how to fill the emptiness or fix the issue, but I wanted to. We hadn’t even made it to our date yet.
“Me too,” she whispered, and my gut wrenched. I wouldn’t ask her about it.
Thankfully, the drive to the restaurant I’d decided on was only a few more minutes, so we remained in silence. When I pulled into the large parking lot meant for multiple businesses, I turned the car off and jumped out to open Elsie’s door for her.
A meek smile covered her face again as she took my offered hand and stepped out of the car. I wondered where the bold girl I’d met only a few weeks ago was. I ran through everything I’d said and done since sneaking up on her hiding by my car and couldn’t figure out what I’d done wrong.
Her eyes moved to the business and restaurant names on the buildings, and she started shaking her head. “Lukas, I’m not dressed to go to any of these places.” She ran her hands down the oversized hoodie that hung halfway down her thighs.
“Don’t worry. We’re not going to any of those.” I took off my suit jacket, knowing I would be overdressed if I kept it. And I would need more mobility. I pitched it onto the passenger seat and closed the door. “Come on.” I offered my hand again, and she took it gingerly.
Without hesitation, I interlocked our fingers and pulled her through the parking lot to the sidewalk that would eventually get us where we were going.
It was just after four in the afternoon, so the dinner crowds were likely not significant yet. I, however, was starving and couldn’t wait to eat.
More than that, my nerves were electric in anticipation. I hadn’t exactly planned on asking Elsie out soon, despite how my thoughts seemed to snag on her constantly. But her question about my day seemed to open the perfect door of opportunity, and I took it.
“Where are we going?” Elsie asked, staying close to my side. I wasn’t sure if it was because she was nervous or because the breeze picked up, but I wasn’t complaining.
“Have you ever been to High Score Social?” I asked, hoping it was something she would actually enjoy.
She jumped up and down twice and tugged on my hand. “No! Are you serious? I’ve wanted to go since it opened!”
There she was. The fun, quirky girl I’d seen her as before.
“Well, if you think you’re going to win a battle against me in skee ball, don’t get your hopes up,” I teased, squeezing her hand tighter as we walked through an alley to get to the next street over, where High Score was.
I could have parked on the street closer to the restaurant, but the lot felt like a safer bet.
“Skee ball? What is this, the eighties? I’m going to crush you in Mario Kart.” Elsie came alive with her words as we neared the front entrance to High Score, and I grinned.
“Please, darling. You’re looking at a Mario Kart legend. Prepare to get destroyed.”
“We’ll see,” was all she said in response, a mischievous look on her face.
I opened the door for her and led her in. A hostess led us through the themed restaurant to our table. Neon lights and game signs littered the walls, making the otherwise dark dining area bright with color. Menus were placed in front of us, and I immediately opened one.
“Do you want a drink?” I asked, looking at her over the top of my menu.
“Not the alcoholic kind.” That shy look was on her face again, and I would have done anything to get rid of it. So when the waiter arrived less than ten seconds later and Elsie ordered a Diet Coke, I happily ordered the same. She gave me an inquisitive glance, but I only grinned at her.
I looked over all the game-themed appetizers and main courses, and Elsie did the same. When the waiter returned with drinks, I didn’t hesitate to order.
“May we have the joystick fries to start?” I was speaking to the waiter, but watched Elsie, seeing the slightest smile pull at her lips when I ordered the appetizer. “Elsie? Do you want another appetizer?”
She shook her head, smiling politely at the waiter, who nodded and walked away.
“Are the fries something you’ll like?” I asked, wishing I’d done so before ordering.
“Absolutely. I love any form of potato.” The shyness seemed to melt away from her eyes as she picked up her Diet Coke.
I spun through questions in my head, knowing that I shouldn’t ask about the trial at all, even though I desperately wanted to know why she was hiding by my car. But tonight, I needed to keep that carefree look on her face.
“What’s your mastery?” I asked, deciding to start at the basics. I knew so little about Elsie, and I wanted to know everything.
Her eyes lit up, and she leaned onto the table.
“Magical Literature. I’ve known I wanted to work in literature my entire life.
My mother had the largest home library, and I would read as much as I could.
” She trailed off, giving me a sheepish smile as she took another drink.
I noted her use of the past tense, unsure why she had done so. I wasn’t going to ask today.
“No, keep going. Tell me more.” Her smile came back.
“I want to work in the Arcanum Vault,” she begins, taking another sip of her drink. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to get an internship next summer in the biological section, or maybe even the grimoire section.”
I was fascinated by this degree I’d never even considered, and more so by her enthusiasm.
The Arcanum Vault was the most extensive collection of magical texts and histories.
It was like a library, but had more museum aspects that made it unique.
It held some of the most restricted and illegal texts and magic, as it had some of the best security in the magical world.
“Next summer? Did you try to get one this summer?” I asked, wondering what year she was. Surely, even if she were a first-year student, she could still apply for internships.
“I…um, I missed the cutoff for applications. There was a lot going on.” Those blue eyes dropped to stare at her lap, and I wanted to slap myself for putting my foot in my mouth.
The waiter chose that blessed moment to return with the loaded fries and to take our dinner order. After he took our orders, I pushed the basket of loaded fries closer to Elsie. She didn’t hesitate to grab a few and start eating, which earned a huge grin from me.
For the rest of our dining time, I chose my questions carefully, but continued to ask her about her passion for magical literature.
Her mother used to read her magical mythology stories written hundreds of years ago, and as she got older she became more interested in the earliest periods of literature.
Not just fictional texts, but also ones that detailed the early ages of magic and the foundational principles that grew the magical community.
She was interested in the history of black magic and how it rose and fell over the ages.
Her curiosities seemed to encompass everything in magical history, fictional and nonfictional.
Elsie had an insatiable appetite for information.
We ate our food and continued to talk about literature, which she made seem alive and breathing. It transformed something I never imagined being intriguing into something more interesting with every word she spoke.
“Okay, Lukas. Time to get your butt kicked in every arcade game they have.” Elsie pushed her plate away from her as I returned my card to my wallet after paying.
Thankfully, Elsie didn’t argue with me when I told the waiter it was on one check.
Instead, she just gave me a raised brow, and I winked.
I got a beautiful blush to rise on her cheeks again.
I stood and slid around the table to pull her chair out for her. “We’ll see about that.”