writing prompts

first date jitters

Lucia pov

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

Why am I so awkward?

I nervously fidget with my hands under the table, desperately reaching for my glass of Dr. Pepper for the fourth time in just a minute. Instead of looking at the man sitting across from me, my gaze remains fixed on the table. I know that if I were to meet his eyes, my face would turn redder than the rose elegantly placed in the center of the table.

Unlike my fidgeting, the man remained completely motionless. He was so still that one could easily mistake him for a mannequin. Occasionally, I would sneak a quick glance through my lashes, only to find his expression unchanged - completely blank.

I take a few deep breaths. It's just a date.

The chatter of the restaurant effortlessly overpowered us considering the fact we weren't saying much.

Everyone appeared to be happy. The restaurant was filled with genuine smiles and hearty laughter. I couldn't spot a single frown, which made me want to smile too. It was as if their joy was contagious, and it filled me with a sense of encouragement.

As I take another refreshing gulp of soda to satisfy my thirst, I gather the courage to meet the man's gaze directly. Attempting to steady my breath, I find myself unable to escape the intensity of his dark, piercing eyes.

"So, um," I gulped. "I remember seeing your name, but how do I pronounce it?"

As the question is asked, I can't help but roll my eyes internally. However, I do acknowledge that it's a valid inquiry. After all, nobody likes it when their name is mispronounced.

Ciaran eyed me in a way that made my stomach turn; in a good way, I think.

Even though I find everyone physically attractive to some extent, I never really become intrigued by them until I get to know them. That's why I've never understood when people talk about having celebrity crushes, because I don't know these famous individuals personally.
But for some reason, Ciaran made me question the pattern. I can't help but wonder, what is this feeling?

With his pale complexion that resembled an ashen hue, he looked like a vampire, especially when paired with his sleek, jet-black hair and eyebrows. I couldn't help but let out a soft giggle.

"Key. Ran."

His voice cascaded over me like a river of honey, causing a delightful shiver to run down my spine. If I hadn't been seated, I'm certain my legs would have turned to jelly. Goodness, what has come over me?  I mentally shake my head, unable to resist whispering his name. As I raise my gaze to meet his eyes once more, I notice a sudden shift in his expression. There's something mysterious and captivating about it.

As he leaned on the table, his hands clasped together, my attention was drawn to his biceps hidden beneath his loose sleeves. I couldn't help but wonder what they looked like.

"Are you two ready?"

The sound of the voice made me flinch. It seems like I was completely absorbed in my own thoughts. It suddenly dawned on me that I hadn't even glanced at the menu yet. In a rush, I skimmed through it, desperately searching for a seafood option.

"Sim. Vou querer Moqueca e ela vai ter..."
[Yes. I'll have Moqueca and she'll have...]

As I perused the menu, I couldn't help but notice his speech had slowed down suspiciously. Despite my unease, I tried to ignore it and focus on the task at hand. However, the intense gaze of Ciaran and Smith made me nervous, causing my hands to tremble. I quickly hid them under the table and let out a hesitant "Um-" as I struggled to make a decision.