darker_london | Pierre / Del - Not-a-date

It had been a very full day for Pierre. He was settling into Regents well, and the English lessons he had taken when he first moved to the country had done wonders for his self-confidence. School had been followed immediately by a few hours at the mechanics, getting him all lovely and greasy.

One quick shower later, he was preparing to depart for his dinner with Del. Dressing for the occasion was difficult... on the one hand, he wanted to look good for Del. On the other, he didn't really want to scare Aunt Clare again...

Eventually, he settled on a classy black shirt, tight black jeans and a silver cross... sans make-up. He looked the part for Del, and was at least giving her aunt the chance of fooling herself that he could be a well-behaved young lad of good standing and repute...

He hoped Del wasn't too freaked out about the whole thing with the invite to Avery's party. Had he been too forward? He hadn't meant to pressure her. But if she really didn't want it to be a date, she only had to say 'no'... which she hadn't, yet...

A passingly familiar bus ride, and he was at Del's doorstep once more, heart beating just a little quicker in anticipation of the reactions of both females within to his presence...

"Would you just let this go??" Delilah glared at her aunt across the kitchen table. She was stabbing her fingernails rapidly against the wood and trying not to snap. Clare on the other hand was perfectly calm.

"Delilah." her voice was dangerously low. Clare never yelled but she got that warning tone. "This is my house-"

"Well, maybe I'll just leave then."

"-and I say who is and isn't allowed here. I do not like those friends you had here and I don't want to see them in my house again."

Del sneered. "You've got no right to-"

"I've got every right, Delilah."

Del didn't get to make an reply because the doorbell rang. Del, knowing it was Pierre, grabbed her leather coat off the bench and walked out of the kitchen. "Whatever, Clare!" she tossed over her shoulder and pulled the door open. She gave Pierre a quick forced smile and then grabbed his arm. "Come on," she lead him down the driveway and away from the house.. "Let's get the hell out of this shithole."

Pierre did a double-take in surprise between Del and the open doorway before quickly following her. He matched his stride to hers, and his face showed plainly his concern.

"Did I come at a bad time, Del?"

By the time they were a little way down the street Del had calmed down somewhat. She shook her head and even gave him a playful smile. "Nah, just having a little argument about who are good friends with Clare." She shrugged, her pace slowing. "Nothing to worry about."

Pierre reached out and touched Delilah's hand lightly, leaving it to her to clasp his hand if she wished. He didn't want to push things until he had a better idea of where he stood.

"Well, I still hope it was not I who caused problems for you. I want to make you smile, not argue." He gave her a smile and flicked his hair out of his face, trying to appear at once open and charming.

She felt his hand touch hers and she pulled it away but kept her smile in place. Better to just ignore it and hope it goes away. "Seriously, don't sweat it. Clare and I just have differant ideals." She pointed ahead. "See, Chinese." A smug smirk. "Told you it was close."

Pierre didn't press the issue as Del pulled her hand away. There was time enough tonight to make her comfortable with him. As long as he didn't get ahead of himself and push too hard, things would be fine. He was sure of it.

"And now you will witness an incredible phenomenon!" the boy grinned. "The appetite of Pierre Beaudreaux!"

A wicked smile graced her lips as she pushed the door off the shop open. "And then later we can burn it all off." She scent of Chinese was strong and she went up to the counter to order, choosing her usual of fried rice and honey pork. She looked at Pierre. "what about you?"

Pierre grinned at Del's little innuendo. Things couldn't have been that strained between them, then. He waited while Del made her order, then turned to the young Chinese girl to place his own.

"I will have the Mongolian lamb with special fried rice. And some curry puffs and spring rolls too. And a Coke!" he added, his contagious smile eliciting one in return from the Chinese girl.

"Oooh, prawn crackers!" Pierre grinned as they sat down at their table. He grabbed a handful and began munching contentedly.

She leaned over the table- cleavage on display just a little on prupose- stole one of his prawn crackers and popped it into her mouth. "A coke isn't very traditionaly Chinese."

"Neither am I!" Pierre smiled. "What would a French boy like me know about Chinese?" His eyes flicked down to Del's exposed cleavage, almost throwing him off the track, but his dinner-date (but not a date!) manners were practised enough that he was able to look her in the eye once more.

Still grinning, he counted off the points on his fingers. "It is good to eat... they like big walls... did I mention good to eat?"

"You did," she said with a small smile and stole another prawn cracker. "As long as you don't eat the actual people then that's okay." A devious smile. "Although, depends what one means by 'eat.'" She smirked at him from under lowered lashes.