You're the Music of My Heart

Twelve: An Evening Date

When Jean walked down the stairs to the lobby, I was floored.

His blazer matched well with a light green suit and a black tie as well as a thin jacket over. Despite his hair always being messy, it looked like he had tousled with product or something and cleaned it up a lot. He looked thin but lean with muscle. He also seemed pretty composed and relaxed. I was impressed.

I felt the opposite, I thought I looked like a wreck. My hands were nervously fidgeting in the pockets of my pea coat and I felt like my tie was uneven, causing to always adjust it. I felt big and awkward, my stomach was big and even with my lavender button down shirt tucked in nice and snug, my gut still went hung over my belt. It was frustrating; I was always someone to eat decently, I exercised moderately, yet I had a terrible metabolism. Of course I wasn't a gym freak nor a gourmand, but I was someone that was mindful of my diet.

My self consciousness turns to amazement for Jean again when he walks over, his dress shoes quietly clinking on the linoleum floor.

I adjust my eyeglasses momentarily before we start walking towards the door.

"Wow, Jean. You look... amazing." I can see him start to blush and I feel sheepish again.

He grins. "Thanks and it's fine. You too, you clean up pretty well. Then again, you always wear nice outfits while I dress like shit."

There's something about talking to Jean that's different about talking to others. He sounds human when he speaks. He doesn't just talk about the newest phone or video game he got, it's just he talks about normal things. He isn't preoccupied in other people's opinions and he has know problem speaking the truth, even when he knows it could hurt someone's feelings. I respect that about him.

He opens the door for me and I thank him, as we both walk into the cold depths of the city in the same stride.

"So, when does your practice recitals start?"

"Oh, they start tomorrow morning at 10am. I should be done by about 3pm so after than I've got the rest of the day to really do whatever. We could probably hang out or do something."

He smiles. "Cool. And yeah, that sounds awesome."

We pass a small Christmas tree shop decorated with warm vanilla lights and we reach the street crosswalk, waiting for the sign to turn green.

I turn around to see him, his arms wrapped around his chest and he sounds like he's shivering.

"Here, let me give you my scarf. It's awfully cold out right now."

I can see him relax and unwind when I unwrap it from my neck and put it around his'.

"Thanks, that was nice of you to do that."

"Anytime," I say. "Besides, I'm surprised you only brought that jacket. It's wintertime and we're in the Alps."

I see him deadpan. "Yeah, my mom told me to bring more layers but I refused. And normally it's not as cold where I come from so I'm not used to it being like this. This was my heaviest jacket."

The signal turns green and we both walk down the crosswalk onto the next block and I can see the restaurant a couple of shops away from where we are. A large, modern sign saying "Klaus's Brasserie" blinks with cool, white lights and Christmas trees and even more holiday lights decorate the windows of the restaurant.

"Wow, Jean, this place is incredible. How did you even find out about this place?"

He smirks. "The concierge. And I wasn't feeling for any hotel food. Plane good is gross and I needed something actually good to eat."