Blossoming Rose

Chapter 3

     "...I've got a bad feeling about this."

     Emily shook her head lightly as she stared up at the brightly lit sign. Above her were the words Bella Porcellino, hung from a sign above an elegant doorway. Well-dressed patrons walked around her to exit and enter the building, and she could hear the sound of a piano drifting out from past the open door. A sudden gust of wind blew chills across her arms, prompting her to begin walking forward.

     "What am I doing... this is insane... she probably won't even show up..." Emily mumbled off a litany of complaints to no one in particular. She entered the restaurant lobby and cast a quick look around while fiddling with her dress. The mystery date was nowhere to be seen, although Emily spotted several tables concealed by the elegant columns throughout the dining area where her date could be hiding. Straightening her dress once more and taking a deep breath, she turned towards the wait staff at the front of the lobby.

     Sarah had picked out an outfit for her friend which, in her own words, would "guarantee some action on the first date". Emily wore a slim, form-fitting, low-cut dress which fell down to her ankles with slits cut out to expose a good deal of her legs. The shimmering blue fabric shone even in the dim light of the restaurant, and paired with heels and a dazzling necklace, even Emily admitted she felt as impressive as Sarah said she looked. Reaching the front of the lobby in a few steps, Emily shook back her hair and cleared her throat.

     "Er- excuse me, but I'm supposed to meet someone? They, uh, might have a reservation, I don't really know." At the waitress' confused look, Emily elaborated. "Oh! Her name is Fleur, I think?"

     "Right this way, miss." The waitress nodded and led the way out into the sea of tables. Emily hurried to keep up but repeatedly stopped to discreetly examine the dishes on each table. The dining area was a storm of mingling scents and delicious aromas, with wait staff rushing from table to kitchen bringing out food and clearing away plates. After nearly bumping into one of the waiters, Emily navigated her way to a table on the far side of the room where the waitress was waiting. A moment later, Emily felt a hand rest against her arm.

      "Emily! I'm so glad you made it. I was worried for a minute you weren't coming..." Fleur's silky voice came across as a whisper into Emily's ear. The blonde spun around in response, jerking her arm away from the other woman's hand.

     "Oh! Um. Yes. I made it! Got here in one piece. Not that I would get here any other way, heh..." Emily's vocabulary crumbled at the sight of the stunning beauty standing next to her. She rubbed her arm anxiously where Fleur had touched her and let out a forced chuckle. "You, uh, you look great! Wait, not great, I'm sorry I know I already said that word this morning but I don't mean that you're not great just that I need a better word and–"

    Fleur silenced Emily by holding up a finger to the other girl's lips. A jolt of electric feeling ran through Emily's body from the contact, and Fleur gave her partner a small grin.

     "Relax." She sat down on one side of the table and gestured to Emily to take the opposite seat. "And thank you. You look... magnificent... as well." Her smile grew at her word choice, playfully teasing Emily's awkwardness.

     Emily quickly slid into her chair and hid her face behind the menu. "Thanks," she mumbled quietly while her face turned beet red. When she heard Fleur pick up her menu as well, she took the opportunity to steal another glance at her date.

     Fleur was breathtaking, to say the absolute least. She wore a flowing purple dress which seemed to cling to every curve on her body while hanging loosely from her shoulders in an elegant fashion. Her outfit accentuated the pronounced swell of her hips and chest, appearing to flow off of her body like a second skin. She wore her hair down, like before, openly displaying the colorful streak of purple strands running alongside her face. Her plump lips were a brighter and darker tone of purple than before, giving her a look of mystique and deadly charm. However, Emily's eyes were drawn to the low cut of Fleur's dress, which exposed so much skin it was barely respectable for the type of place they were in. Her fixation was only broken when a purple fingernail began to trace the contours of Fleur's ample cleavage, leaving soft impressions in the pale skin. Emily snapped her head up to meet the Fleur's bemused look.