They strolled side by side ice creams in hand. Just as agreed they met up for an unstrung afternoon out. Lukehiem wasn't planning on eating his ice cream, he only bought it because he knew Jess would find just one unsatisfying. He mused at her sweet tooth and fervent love for ice cream.
The first conversation they ever had was him taking her order for a bowl of the cold sweetened cream. They were heading for a nice open park, Jess had the whole day planned out. She even packed a small bag, props to supplement the fun activities she mapped out.
Luke had already taken a cursory inspection of it's items with the veil. He knew what she brought along, but he didn't really know why. He refrained from asking, asking would only bring up questions —ones he could not answer.
The park was scantly packed today, strange for a weekend. Especially with the clear sunny sky after a series of cold windy overcast days. Jess walked over to a bench and sat down. She needed a comfortable place to finish her ice cream after all. As she guzzeled spoonful after spoonful Luke busied himself trying to decipher her plans for the day.
She finished her ice cream in record time—exactly thirty two seconds faster than the last time. A faint blush coated her face. She became utterly mortified when he caught her staring at his ice cream. His cup landed in her warming hands without any prompts. She liked to believe she did not make it that obvious.
"Take your time you might get a brain freeze." She cursed herself, 'He was paying attention.' In fact he was doing more than paying attention. His mind trained on her every movement, trying to predict her next action or the words that would flow from her lips.
If Lukehiem was being honest with himself. He also found this new connection mildly fascinating. It was a fun but strainous process attempting to build your reflection of someone other yourself.
It was interesting to think up stories for certain behaviors or preferences. It was much simpler to ask, but he would never. It would be much more effective, more efficient, hallmarks of his character—as he believed.
But there was a certain joy watching your idealized view of someone shatter slightly with the discovery of new behaviors or odd saying and then watching it be remade with even better quality. Be remade, turning sharper and sharper into a truer image, a flawless reflection.
Jess put down the cup and relished the already fading taste on her tongue. She appreciated good food and delicious confections. One of the ways she showed her appreciation was by trying to the retain the taste on her tongue for as long as possible after the meal.
She remembered a time she refused to eat her meal after having a beautifully gazed donut so that the new taste didn't wash the old one away.
She stood from her seat and made her way to a spot that would suit the activity she planned out today. Lukehiem trailed closely behind. His eyes still carried that blank substance to them, but she knew he was paying attention. She had a feeling that the hazier his eyes got the more he was concentrating. It was a selfish but otherwise pleasing thought, maybe he was focused on her. She could never be sure.
Luke watched her spread the blanket on the grass. It could modestly fit a person, he wasn't sure how it was meant to fit two. Perhaps it was never her intention to accommodate more than one person. Luke didn't mind standing, she did choose a spot shielded from the sun by a sturdy tree. He could lean on it while they made conversation.
Once again she befuddled his expectations. She patted the little blanket awaiting his cooperation. He sat down and watched her get to work unpacking the other items in her bag. The inventory was a ribbon, a small mp3 speaker, a cannister of hot tea and a little notebook.
He had taken a glance prior, still he had to brace himself for whatever surprise she planned out. Jess turned on the speaker quickly chose a song. In the serene patch of grass under the shade of a tree slow classical music began to play. She picked the ribbon and wrapped it around her waist with a tiny bow at the end.
They locked eyes for a while, he wondered if she was going to do what he thought she was. Jess looked into those eyes and let her nerves settle. Lukehiem appreciated the wholesome environment and the beautiful piece playing he wouldn't have thought of a better way to spend the day. But then she started dancing.
Her ankles rose and her back straightened. Then she took smooth swaying motions letting her legs rise and fall to the rhythm of the song. Her hips dipped and flowed, her arms moved around framing her body and playing with the ribbon on her waist.
They didn't talk, she performed and he watched. She expressed herself with refined twirls and he appreciated them with his eyes and mind. His veil wrapped around her form taking in the finer details.
He noted how she only flexed her feet slightly, she wasn't wearing her ballet shoes and the grass was in the way. Luke saw the tape she had on her left ankle, the same ankle he adviced her on seeking medical help a few months back. It has healed up a bit more now, she always wore some tape over it under her socks.
Jess also took his advice and started working out her leg muscles a bit more, especially the peroneal muscle on her lateral legs. The weak tendons, ligaments and possible bursitis he was worried about were no more a threat.
Lukehiem repremanded himself, how could he let's his thoughts drift towards the medical implications of her ankles when she was straining those same ankles to give him a beautiful performance.
At the climax of the song she took a pause then she reach out for him. Jess waited silently for him to take her hand, and to her excitement he rested him palm on hers. She didn't want to think about how embarrassed she was going to be after this was all over, so she steeled her mind and pulled him to his feet.
"I don't know how to dance." Lukehiem told her hoping she would understand and let him get back to his rightful place on the blanket. They swayed and waddled slowly to the music, Jess took point and pulled him along. She didn't answer, instead she spun him and dictated his body into a twirl. She caught him at the end and smirked.
"Don't be so sure. I've seen the way you move, you're made for this," After that they spun, twirled and dipped. Lukehiem adapted to her pace quickly, using the veil to study her movements, which muscles she used for each specific movement and did his best to replicate. "And you say you can't dance. You had me fooled for a moment." She was smiling, a smug, strangely endearing smile.
Luke didn't have a proper response. He really could not dance. Even now he was only doing his best to keep up. But her, he watched her flow around him like wind in the mountains; like wind flowing around a windmill. She steered and he followed his best. He should have danced first to demonstrate how truly bad he was at it.
Jess studied his movement and watched them turn less awkward at a startling pace. At first there was a stutter to the sway of his hips then they adopted his innate grace. She had always marveled at how fluid he moved, how refined he made motion look. She suggested this activity to test just how far he could take that ability, how talented he was.
She also wanted to impress him with her dance. Possibly get a big reaction out of those disassociating eyes. She loved to dance and wanted Luke to know her interests as well. She wondered why she told him about it so easily, they barely knew each other when she told him. And yet here they were, pirouetting in a park.
Lukehiem exceeded her expectations and her fascinations grew. This new friend of her was sure to be a constant stream of marvel and joy. If he kept up this speed of learning then Jess wasn't sure she would be able to lead him for long.
Jess took pride in her love for ballet and spent a considerable amount of time trying to perfect the craft. When creating art she knew that talent played an important role and contributed to success as much as hard work did. But this was different, it was almost supernatural, ethereal.
A sliver of jealousy bloomed but it died almost instantly. She knew her worth and she would not downplay the effort she put in. In fact she didn't mind being less talented, the more work she put in, the more she could appreciate her craft, her art. And if Lukehiem ever took an interest in ballet she would cheer him on and gladly be there to provide assistance.