Braving Lunch in the Dining Hall
It had been a while since Elaina had taken lunch in the cafeteria of Xavier's and she must admit that the smells have improved since she had been a student. The young teacher had just gone through the line and was looking for a place to sit among the various tables full of families that were busy eating and visiting during Family Weekend. Sadly, her sister and family hadn't been able to visit this weekend. Her niece had a million activities that weekend and her sister had not been able to get off work. Therefore, this weekend seemed like it might be a bit lonely. However, she realized this morning that she had made plans to have lunch with Ryan and his daughter, Lily-Rose. This promised to be quite eventful since she was only meeting his daughter for the first time. True, she was only friends with Ryan, but she couldn't help but feel that there might be a promise of something more later on.
A shake of the brunette's head of long wavy locks brought her back to the present situation of finding a place to sit. She couldn't see Ryan and his bouncy daughter anywhere so it was safe to assume that they hadn't arrived yet. Now...Where was an empty table? Oh! Over there! By the window! Perfect! The lovely mutant quickly made her way over to the empty table and sat down.
Elaina took this time to sip her water, a bit nervously. She was good with kids, but not all kids liked new people. They could be shy or troublesome if they wanted to be. She just hoped that the little girl liked her enough to make this a nice eating experience. It was pot roast day in the cafeteria though, so she doubted that the munchkin would find anything wrong with that. And if so, there were other selections as well. The twenty-something year old had gotten butter beans, mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes to go with her pot roast. She couldn't wait to see what kind of dessert the staff had prepared, but didn't dare go look. She liked it to be a surprise at the end. Also, if she wasn't really hungry for dessert, then she wouldn't be tempted to stuff herself if she didn't know what kind of dessert selections they were serving!
Elaina found herself watching the door to the cafeteria a bit anxiously. She didn't want to start eating without Ryan and his daughter. How embarrassing would it be if she were to be wolfing something down when Ryan was introducing his daughter to her? No, she wasn't going to take that chance. And besides, it was only polite to wait!
They were running late but this was nothing unusual. Ryan assumed he wasn't the only single father with a seven-year-old girl who was late leaving every time he made plans, he could only hope that Elaina would understand.
It seemed like the earlier Ryan woke up and more prepared he was the later he was to arrive at anything, be it class, a lunch date or even just a playdate for Lily, not that those happened often. The previously punctual man always hated being late, even if it was only by a few minutes but it seemed beyond his control, as if the universe had decreed that Ryan Warner would always be late and there was nothing to be done about it.
This morning had involved giving his daughter a bath, reading to her, breakfast, picking out a dress and more. The tasks seemed simple and hardly time-consuming but with a daughter so young time could pass swiftly and he would lose track of it or his sunshine would drag her feet and hesitate and there it was, lateness.
At that moment Ryan was on the last few turns before the dining hall, a route he had memorized although he still sometimes found himself getting lost among other hallways and passages the school had to offer. He had wanted to look good for the occasion and he had wanted Lily to look nice as well. The English teacher hadn't noticed the significance of this until the seven-year-old pointed out that he looked nice. He did look nice and it wasn't that he didn't usually neccessarily, it was just that with a young daughter Ryan worried more about how she looked than himself and sometimes it showed. For the lunch with Elaina Ryan had put on a crimson long-sleeved shirt and a pair of tan pants that he had actually taken the time to iron. If she commented on it he would probably be embaressed but he had wanted to look nice for her, for whatever reason.
Ryan wouldn't admit to himself yet that he found the fellow teacher attractive and that their friendship might become something more in a few months or so, when he was ready, but some part of him already knew and was setting things in action for that day when he was ready.
Lily-Rose was similarly dressed up, her pale blonde locks pulled half-back with the strands braided around the side of her head to form a halo or crown. Her father hadn't had a clue about hair but every once and awhile he got a lesson or two from his half-faerie babysitter and it seemed he was a quick learner. She was dressed in a hunter green and navy jumper and a matching green turtleneck underneath. Black tights completed the picture.
Ryan held her hand as they walked down the hall, glad that she was still at an age where she would let him do it. He had watched kids grow up before and seen how at a certain age they would look embarassed and yank their hands away. Ryan knew that even if that hurt wasn't meant he would feel it when the day came that Lily-Rose hit this age.
Entering the cafeteria Ryan's dark eyes scanned the are, finally resting upon the brunette teacher, who had picked a spot right by the window. He grinned at her and made a motion towards the food line, which had dwindled a little in the minutes since Elaina's arrival.
Ryan guided his young daughter through the line-up and helped her choose her foods, settling on some mac and cheese and pot roast for his little girl. He avoided the mashed potatoes, remembering an innocent urge Lily had once had to build a tower out of her potatoes after hearing about Close Encounters. Ryan himself took a few of the potatoes and added peas to his plate. Lily got apple juice, he stuck with water.
It took only a few minutes then Ryan was leading Lily-Rose over to the table and taking a seat across from Elaina, his daughter on his right side. "Sorry we're late," he apologized, meaning it.
Ryan began the introductions. "Elaina this is Lily-Rose, Lily this is my friend Elaina." The blonde girl looked up from her food slightly shyly and smiled. She was a very curious and friendly girl but sometimes got a little shy around strangers. It often took a few minutes before she warmed up to them and felt comfortable.
"Hi," Lily offered, her tone soft but her smile genuine. She was a perceptive little girl sometimes and somehow she knew that it meant a lot to her father that she get to know this grown-up and like her.
Re: Braving Lunch in the Dining Hall
Ryan was running a bit late, but Elaina didn't mind. She knew, from her days of teaching elementary school and babysitting, that kids could always make you lose track of time. She was actually quite psyched for their lunch meeting today. She was going to meet his daughter and finally put the look of adoration he'd had when describing her to the face. This was going to be nice.
The light brunette wasn't sure what she expected this lunch to mean. On the one hand, he was single and quite handsome and they shared quite a few things in common. However, he seemed to have this sadness about him; like he was still mourning the mother of his daughter and presumably his wife. So, she wasn't going to push it. She could be friends with him; nothing wrong with that. She knew how to still do that with a guy.
"Sorry we're late,"
His arrival brought Elaina back to the present with a smile as she looked up at the two them, standing up to be polite as she did so and sitting down when they did. He looked quite handsome today. He seemed to clean up well. And it was then that her amber gaze landed on Lily-Rose. The little blonde was quite the cutie and was dressed up as well. Well, so far, so good.
"Oh, that's quite alright," she said in response to his appology. It was then that he introduced Elaina as his friend to Lily-Rose. She smiled, her amber eyes seemed to dance as she spoke to the young girl, "Hello Lily-Rose. My you look pretty." She then looked Ryan and winked before continueing, "I especially love your hair. Your father did a good job on the braids." She wasn't sure that Ryan had braided his daughter's hair and if he hadn't, he was sure to correct her. Either way, the effect was one to be admired. She turned to Ryan once again with a ready smile before stating, "You look nice too. I hope you didn't go to all that trouble for me. I feel underdressed compared to the snazzy outfits you two showed up in." She was only teasing him, but she wasn't really as dressed up as the two of them. At least, not by her standards.
The female English teacher was actually wearing a turquoise ribbed knit turtleneck and some nice blue jeans with black zip-up boots. Her hair was up in a high ponytail, the light brown locks cascading down to just a little below her shoulders. She had opted to wear some dangly teardrop opals and a glass teardrop vial that held some water and broken opals that floated inside. It was on a silver chain that let it come down to just below her bustline. Her grandmother had given it to her as a college graduation present and it had been one of her favorites ever since. She wore an tri-stoned yellow gold emerald ring with the middle one carat emerald bigger than the half carat emeralds on either side (all princess cut) on her right hand ring finger.
"Man, it seems like it's been ages since I've eaten here," she said as she put a piece of cut up pot roast on her fork and examined it, "I think I was a senior when I last ate here." She grinned then, trying to start a conversation wasn't always the easiest to do, but hopefully this would spark one...
Re: Braving Lunch in the Dining Hall
Although acceptance of his tardiness was expected Ryan still appreciated the casually spoken forgiveness. He introduced his daughter with fatherly pride, pride he deserved since he had raised the child alone after the death of her mother and had done so admirably.
"Hello Lily-Rose. My you look pretty," said the young woman and Ryan was pleased to note that her dark eyes seemed to dance as she talked to the child. Ryan's gaze turned fondly to the girl in question and found her smiling and blushing slightly. His eyes were back on Elaina to catch her wink before she continued. "I especially love your hair. Your father did a good job on the braids."
"One of the students, Tessa Macneil taught me. Sometimes she babysits when I have classes," Ryan explained, pleased that the hairstyle seemed to have turned out well. The half-fairy had said that he was a quick learner.
The English teacher had compliments for both parties though and said, "You look nice too. I hope you didn't go to all that trouble for me. I feel underdressed compared to the snazzy outfits you two showed up in." It was only a tease and usually Ryan could take a joke but today, knowing full well that he had dressed up and that he had taken special care to make sure his daughter was dressed well too, it was true and he showed his resemblance to the seven-year-old at his side by turning pink in the cheeks.
The natural response to a compliment was often to be embarassed or pleased, sometimes both as in Ryan's case, but it was just as natural to study the one who had given the compliment in hopes that it could be returned sincerely. In Elaina's case this proved to be easy.
She was dressed in jeans, which was probably why she teased that she was underdressed for the occasion, yet the turquoise turtleneck suited her and her opal jewelry was very attractive. He wondered what she looked like when she was dressed in a "snazzy outfit"
Having recovered enough to sufficiently return the gesture he replied, "Well thank you but I'm not the one in the - opals are they? I'm sure you suit them better anyway." He could have flirted or made some more obvious gesture but Ryan wasn't that type, even if he were interested which, at least for a few more months, he wasn't. His inner voice said this firmly but another voice deep inside seemed more doubtful.
"Man, it seems like it's been ages since I've eaten here," Elaina said as she began to eat. Taking her movement as a cue to begin Ryan took a bite of mashed potato, noting that they weren't bad for cafeteria food. Lily shyly ate her mac'n'cheese. Ryan was pleased to notice that she did it with her mouth shut.
"I think I was a senior when I last ate here." A senior? Ryan gave an exaggerated groan for the benefit of Elaina and his daughter. "Okay now I feel old," he complained but his tone was light.
Beside him Lily giggled. "Daddy you *are* old," she exclaimed in a moment of youthful perception.
Ryan grinned and caught the younger teacher's eye. Perhaps this lunch wouldn't be as awkward as he had initially worried. In fact, if things continued to go as smoothly as this he hoped there would be more lunches down the line.
Re: Braving Lunch in the Dining Hall"One of the students, Tessa Macneil taught me. Sometimes she babysits when I have classes,"
"Ah, well she must be a good teacher," she said with a grin before stating, "You look nice too. I hope you didn't go to all that trouble for me. I feel underdressed compared to the snazzy outfits you two showed up in."
"Well thank you but I'm not the one in the - opals are they? I'm sure you suit them better anyway."
A small laugh bubbled up from her throat as her hand went automatically to her necklace. "I guess we both wanted to make a good impression," she said with a smile. Indeed, she had tossed about a good many outfits before settling on this one. One must look their best when meeting someone new; even if they're only a pretty little blonde girl!
"Man, it seems like it's been ages since I've eaten here," she said as she looked at her tray and then up at Ryan and Lily-Rose, "I think I was a senior when I last ate here."
"Okay now I feel old,"
At his groan and following statement, both she and Lily-Rose giggled. If this made him feel old, imagine how old she felt! The young teacher was working side-by-side with teachers she'd had when she'd last come here. It was almost unreal sometimes to see the kids of said teachers (like the Enrights) running around as teens when she could remember a time when they had run around terrorizing their parents. "Daddy you *are* old,"
Elaina had just put her drink to her lips and was about to swallow when Lily-Rose stated this with a giggle. Of course, the liquid went down the wrong tube, causing her to sputter and put her glass down. It went up her nose and almost out. Thankfully, it didn't come out her nose at the beginnings of her laughter. She shook her head then and after a few more moments of sputtering, she was okay. To their concerned looks, the pretty brunette simply grinned and said, "You really should watch your timin', kiddo. Ya gotta let us grown-ups swallow our food or drink before ya lay down one of those whopping truths!"
Of course, she now had the urge to muss up Lily-Rose's hair, but she refrained and instead took a bit of whatever it was her fork was closest to on her tray, enjoying it after all that sputtering from earlier. "So, Miss Lily-Rose, maybe you can tell me what there's to do for fun around here. Its been a while since I've been around, so I figured I'd get some info from a bright youngster like yourself."
She sipped her water then and smiled before adding, "Of course, feel free to add anything, Ryan. As it may help to get a fellow grown-up's input as well. I'm not as young as I used to be, ya know."
Re: Braving Lunch in the Dining Hall
When he was younger Ryan had thought that everything rested on a first impression. That was what his mother had taught him and what he had always believed he would pass on to his daughter. A first impression was important. He had made a good one with Elaina he thought, being one of the first faculty faces for her to get to know and helping her with her bags as any well-mannered person would. Once upon a time dating had taught him that it was necessary not to rest all on this first impression though. A good first impression just meant that you got to chance number two, it by no means sealed the deal.
He wasn't sure why he found himself thinking of the advice his parents had given him nor about his dating years and the way that having a girl had suddenly more than just picking a clean shirt and trousers that weren't too wrinkled. Suddenly there had been time spent in front of the mirror, fixing of stray hairs and so much more. Marriage dimmed that somewhat. You came to know and love your partner and everyone had off days. You saw eachother ready for romance but also in the mornings afterwards when makeup and clothes had been abandoned. It had been more than a decade since he had dated. In truth he had only gone out with a few girls. Mandy-Lynn had been his high school sweetheart and they had been drawn apart only by her death.
He loved her still and always would but she was dead these two years now and Ryan couldn't believe that he was supposed to be alone now until the end of his days. He knew this was not what she would want either, that right now she would be looking down and teasing him about the attractive younger woman seated across the table from him. Maybe that made it easier somehow. He knew that all this reflection on Lynn and on impressions had to do with Elaina and the fact that for the first time in over two years he had dressed with the idea of impressing a woman somewhere in the back of his mind. It didn't mean he was ready but it was a first step in the right direction.
All this after she had laughed lightly and brought a hand to her necklace with the words, "I guess we both wanted to make a good impression." As she changed the subject back to the dining hall and how long it had been since she had eaten here Ryan felt his humour returning and another sharp reminder of his age. His reflection on such was met by giggles by both girls and an honest comment from his daughter, perhaps too honest!
Used to such blunt statements from living daily with a seven-year-old, Ryan only grinned and caught Elaina's eye but noticed quickly that she was less prepared for his daughter's words. Sputtering led to a burst of daughter that was contagious. Seeing another person laugh always had the effect of coaxing the teacher often accused of being somber or quiet into laughter. However, Elaina still seemed to be choking on her drink and his laughter quickly lapsed into concerned silence and a glance that asked without need of words if she was okay. Out of the corner of his eye a glance at Lily-Rose assured him that she was truly her father's daughter for she wore an identical look. Luckily Elaina was taking things in stride and grinned, saying, "You really should watch your timin', kiddo. Ya gotta let us grown-ups swallow our food or drink before ya lay down one of those whopping truths!"
Having been the victim of such a truth before and in a less-prepared state, Ryan had to agree with a grin of his own and a slight nod of his head. He wrapped a free arm around his daughter's waist momentarily in a one-armed hug and gesture of affection before drawing away. She was seven and hadn't yet started pulling away from him yet Ryan feared it would happen soon no matter what he had taught her and how much she loved him. It was this fear and another darker fear of losing her as he had her mother that kept him so closely protective of the little blonde seated beside him.
"So, Miss Lily-Rose, maybe you can tell me what there's to do for fun around here. Its been a while since I've been around, so I figured I'd get some info from a bright youngster like yourself."
Elaina had opened the subject again, giving Lily-Rose the chance to prattle if she chose but diplomatically also addressed the question to him.
What did he do for fun? Ryan was not as new as Elaina but he was not one of the elder teachers here and so much of his time was consumed by his daughter that he wasn't sure he had anything to offer. All he had to offer was that he had Lily-Rose for fun and how much more outside of that could there be? Sometimes the cheerful half-fairy babysat for him but even then it was often to give him a chance to catch up on work, plan for a class or maybe grab some dinner in a slightly classier place than the school cafeteria.
Lily-Rose, on the otherhand, seemed to have more to offer. "Sometimes," the little girl confided, "I go 'sploring. Oh and last week I played Harriet the Spy!"
"I read it to her last weekend," Ryan explained, exchanging a glance with his colleague. As a fellow English teacher she was sure to understand the thrall that the popular children's book might have on a child.
In another display of honesty Lily added, "Daddy doesn't do anything for fun. He's never goes anywhere 'cept for dinner in places that don't have zoodles." Ryan nearly winced but didn't, instead just smiling and mussing the girl's hair affectionately while hoping Elaina didn't find him as dull as he obviously sounded.
"I'm still new enough to be making wrong turns and figuring things out," Ryan added quickly. Perhaps his relative newness to the school would excuse his lack of knowledge about the activities available to grown-ups in the area.
Re: Braving Lunch in the Dining Hall"Sometimes..I go 'sploring. Oh and last week I played Harriet the Spy!"
Elaina grinned at Lily's honesty. She remembered reading Harriet the Spy and had always wanted to do what Harriet had done. Exploring and writing down everything she saw. However, her mother had sniffed that part out and had made sure that she'd kept Elaina quite busy after reading that book so that she wouldn't have enough time in between books to get into trouble. Soon enough, she was absorbed in another book and dreaming of what it would be like to have her own adventures in another setting.
"I read it to her last weekend,"
"It is a good read," she said with a smile before taking a bite of her butter beans, savoring the taste. There wasn't much you could do to mess up butter beans, in her opinion. That is, unless you burned them. But that was pretty hard to do. Or so she thought, at least.
"Daddy doesn't do anything for fun. He's never goes anywhere 'cept for dinner in places that don't have zoodles."
The brunette teacher tilted her head and raised an eyebrow at Lily before giving Ryan a sympathetic look. After watching her sister go through motherhood and her own adventures in babysitting her sisters kid, she knew how easy it was to get absorbed into the lives of the child and completely forget about one's own life. Not to mention one's own version of fun!
"I'm still new enough to be making wrong turns and figuring things out,"
"It can be easy to get lost here if you're not used to it," she said with a decisive nod, "As for the fun things to do around here? I think I remember seeing a flyer for a movie night in the teacher's lounge this week.." The English teacher grinned at this possibility. She loved movies and always thought it was interesting to compare the movie to the book. In some instances (like with Stardust), the movie was better than the book. However, with most books turned into movies, the book was better than the movie.
"And then, of course, there's the town too," she said with a grin, "Town excursions are always fun. Maybe your father will take you into town sometime soon...Unless you've already been?"
Re: Braving Lunch in the Dining Hall
Catching the sympathetic glance Elaina had cast in his direction, Ryan worried that the fellow English teacher would soon be making excuses and finding ways not to get involved with a single dad who's entire life revolved around his daughter. Hoping to remedy the situation he threw out the excuse of newness, hoping she would understand that he wasn't against the idea of adult activities... he just needed a little company and some coaxing out of his shell!
As she nodded her agreement about getting lost in the twists and turns of the school Ryan couldn't help the beginnings of a smile and was unable to deny that he was pleased she hadn't turned him down. His perceptive, if sometimes too honest, daughter noticed him smiling as well and filed it away with interest.
Lily-Rose loved her father and she loved spending time with him, but even in her limited experience she understood that most people, of all age groups, had friends. Her father didn't seem to really have friends like other people. Sure he would talk about the fellow teachers and sometimes his students but he wasn't really close to anyone and sometimes she thought that it would be nice to see him smile with someone else. Besides, it was totally exhausting being her daddy's only friend!
"As for the fun things to do around here? I think I remember seeing a flyer for a movie night in the teacher's lounge this week.." Elaina trailed off suggestively and Ryan naively wondered if this was a friendly suggestion of an activity they could do together or something more. He'd been out of the dating scene for so long now and had always been a little thick when it came to whether or not women were flirting. Not quite ready to take it as anything more, Ryan decided to take the suggestion for what it was, a fun night during which two colleagues could get to know eachother better and perhaps even become friends.
"And then, of course, there's the town too," Elaine continued, smiling. "Town excursions are always fun. Maybe your father will take you into town sometime soon...Unless you've already been?"
"Only when we're shopping... and once for ice cream," replied Lily-Rose. Her blue-grey eyes were alight as she remembered the brightly coloured cone, having inherited a sweet tooth from her mother. "But dad says when I get older we'll go see shows and stuff," she assured Elaina, not wanting the woman to think that her father was keeping her from all fun.
Ryan smiled, indulging her. "Yes I've promised her we'll go see something in New York City when she's a little older. She's always loved music," he said by way of explanation. Remembering Elaina's suggestion though he attempted to veer the conversation away from his daughter long enough to give her an answer.
"I think I missed that flyer but it has been awhile since I saw a good movie," Ryan confessed with a genuine smile. "Or at least, a non-Disney title. I have always enjoyed comparing movies to the original books."
Although Lily-Rose didn't see what was so wrong with Disney she did understand her father's desire for a different genre of movie and, so far, she liked Elaina. Besides, a night with Elaina meant that Tess could come babysit her and Tess never got tired of The Lion King.
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