Back at the Apartment (Tristan)

[Claire Weiss]

"I rarely even get that," said Claire. "There are times when I skip breakfast all together, but usually I grab a muffin. Which reminds me, I've got to go shopping for more food. I don't really have anything in my apartment." She picked up her orange juice and took a sip from it. A swirl of thought hit her. She started to think about how she wanted to be entangled with him again. The faster she got away from him, the better. Maybe then, the thoughts would just disappear and she could pretend like none of this happened.

Claire picked up her fork and took a bite of her eggs. The thought of having someone in the same apartment with her every morning would be pretty nice. And that someone was Tristan. These thoughts had to stop, and they had to stop now. "These are really good," she said making her voice even.

[Tristan Collins]

Tristan was feeling very strange. He was torn between wanting her to stay forever, and wanting her to leave right away, so that maybe these strange thoughts he was having would stop. He didn't know what to do about it all. He'd never felt like this before and it was starting to freak him out. He was actually glad he had to work soon, because that would be his excuse. His chance to get back to normal.

He took a bite of his eggs. "Thanks," he said, smiling. "Like I said, it's pretty much my specialty. I'm generally not a very good cook, but I can do eggs."

[Claire Weiss]

Claire laughed. "Well, whenever I don't really have anything to do, I like to experiment with cooking. Sometimes the results are delicious, others not so much," she said. "If I do feel like cooking breakfast in the morning, this is what is usually is. It's pretty simple and quick." She was thankful to have something that would get her mind off what it has been on here recently, even though it was for a couple of minutes.

[Tristan Collins]

Tristan smiled. "I'm not one for experimenting in the kitchen," he admitted. "The last time I tried to experiment, I nearly burned my house down!" he laughed, relieved to be talking about something that would help him get his mind off of the crazy thoughts he was thinking.

"So I used to choose places like the Leaky Cauldron or the Three Broomsticks, where I could get something to eat downstairs and not have to cook at all. Moving in here was a bit of a risk for me... luckily, the Hot Panini is right around the corner. Have you been there yet?"

[Claire Weiss]

Claire laughed. "Luckily, I haven't almost burned anything down. My mother was pretty good at teaching me a few things in the kitchen. Sure, we had a few house elves, but my mother still taught me how to cook and take care of things in the kitchen because she knew that I would be on my own sometime. I have to say that I'm thankful for that."

"Hot Panini? No, I haven't been in there yet, although I heard that it was pretty good. I usually come home and cook something, if I'm not out somewhere."

[Tristan Collins]

"Well, maybe we could go there together sometime," Tristan blurted out, before he could stop himself.

Oh, crap... had he really just said that? Now she would surely think he was a fool. This was a one-night stand, there wasn't supposed to be a second date. He never even bothered to promise most girls a second date. What was he doing asking her out again?

He decided to play it cool, like it was just an empty promise. He started eating his eggs, to keep himself from saying anything else stupid while he waited for her to politely turn him down, or to offer a vague, empty promise in return.

[Claire Weiss]

Did he just ask her out again? Claire did her best to fight off her smile that was threatening to appear across her face. This was supposed to be just a one-night stand. Not a 'hey let's have fun one night, then let's go out on a second date' thing. Claire had no idea what she was getting herself into. Maybe taking that bet wasn't such as good thing.

She glanced up from her plate. "Sure," she found herself saying. "That would be nice." She didn't know where the words came from. Although, she knew that if he was asking to go out again, then she didn't want to be mean, which was something different. Not that she was mean to everything, but usually she never asked or anything about a second date.

[Tristan Collins]

He relaxed slightly as soon as she agreed. Maybe he hadn't made a complete arse of himself after all. But was she just saying that? Or did she mean it? "Cool," he said casually. "I'm busy this week... maybe next week?"

There. That was good. It was still pretty non-committal. It sounded casual. And he didn't seem like he was desperate for another date, even though inside, the thought of waiting until next week to see her again was surprisingly painful.

[Claire Weiss]

"Next week? Hm, I don't think I have anything planned, so that would be good," Claire said. She felt herself go at ease. Claire also found herself desiring that this coming week would just hurry up and pass already. She couldn't wait to be able to see him again. This was completely strange, and of course, it sort of scared her in a way, because she was excited about seeing him again. However, she told herself that this may not happen. It's just a planning out thing. Tristan may get so busy that he may forget about it and forget her too. Claire thought she would be happy that that was a good possibility, but she was also slightly angered by it. She didn't want him to forget, but she thought whatever happens, happens, and there is nothing she can do about it.

Finishing up breakfast, Claire put her fork on her plate gently. "Well, I suppose I need to go and gather my clothes and get dressed," she said standing up. "Breakfast was delicious. Thank you."

[Tristan Collins]

Tristan smiled as she said that she didn't have anything planned for next week. "It's a date, then," he blurted out.

Man, I need to shut up he told himself. He was just digging himself into a hole. She probably thought he was a complete idiot and was just agreeing in order to shut him up.

But there was the chance that she really meant it and really did want to see him again. Stranger things had happened, after all. He wondered to himself just how long it was necessary for him to wait. After all, it was Thursday now. Would Sunday count as next week? He wasn't sure he wanted to wait a whole week to see her again.

As she got up and said that she needed to get dressed, he was unable to fight back a frown. He quickly took a sip of orange juice to hide it, then came back with a smile. "Well, if you must, I guess I can't stop you," he teased. "Actually, I have to get going soon, too. I've got the early shift at the hospital. Glad you enjoyed your breakfast."

[Claire Weiss]

What exactly had she just agreed to? She knew it involved going out again, but the true question was did she mean it? In truth, she meant it, and she knew that. If she didn't get out of there, there would be no telling what would just slip out. Claire couldn't chance anything stupid just slipping. She was excited about seeing him again, but she contained everything. "Alright then. I'll see you sometime soon then I suppose," she said.

A smile spread across her face. "Well, thank you, again," she said. She stood there for a moment. "I'll be back in a few minutes." She disappeared into his living room area and to the hall. Claire picked up her clothes along the way and find the bathroom without a problem. Once in there, she shut and locked the door. Splashing cold water on her face, she looked up into the mirror and just shook her head. This was a first time that she ever agreed to a second date with one of these one-night stands, and it confused her as to why. As she slipped his shirt off and dressed, the memory of telling Edmund she would be meeting him hit her. Claire wasn't sure of the time right this second, but she hoped that it wasn't later than when she said she would meet him.

Claire placed his shirt back into his room and reappeared into the kitchen, fully dressed. "I guess I better be going. You've got work and I've got a few things to do. I wouldn't want to make you late or anything." She gave him a wink and before she could stop herself, she leaned in and kissed him. Claire put her arms around his neck. She slowly pulled away and returned her arms by her side. "I guess I'll see you sometime next week. Don't work to hard," she said giving him another wink then headed for the door.

[Tristan Collins]

When she left the room, it seemed strangely darker. What was wrong with him, anyway? He was surely losing his mind. He was not supposed to be having these thoughts. She was just supposed to be some girl he met and had a great night with... not someone he made second dates with. He told himself that the next date would be the last. Yes, it would be much easier that way. Surely it was just because the night before had been so much fun... the next time probably wouldn't compare, and they'd just quietly go their separate ways.

But still... there was a part of him that felt very depressed by that idea. The idea of never seeing her again.

He finished his eggs and was about to get up and rinse off the dishes when she walked back into the room. As beautiful as she had looked in just his shirt, she looked just as god in her own clothes. Why did it feel like he'd been punched in the stomach when he looked at her? he smiled at her and was about to speak when she leaned over and kissed him. It took everything he had to let her go after that kiss.

"Yeah, I'll see you soon," he said as she winked at him. "I'll send you an owl or something. Thanks for a great night."

[Claire Weiss]

"Alright," said Claire. "That sounds great. By the way, I left your shirt on your bed. I wasn't sure where you wanted it." She glanced at the clock while she was in the kitchen. She still had enough time to go up to her room, shower, and change clothes before it was time to meet Edmund. Putting her hand on the door knob, she turned and glanced over her shoulder. "Anytime," she said with a smile and a wink. Claire opened the door and slipped out. Something in her felt empty and she felt oddly and strangely, completely alone. She told herself it was just because no one else was in the hallway.

Claire took off to her room as quick as she could. A nice cold shower was in need.

[Tristan Collins]

Tristan watched as she left, then the smile slipped from his face. It felt cold and empty in his apartment now that she was gone. He didn't like the feeling.

He stood up and began to rinse off the breakfast dishes. As he picked up her empty glass of orange juice, he paused and ran his fingers over the top of the glass. Her mouth had touched here. He felt a shiver run up his spine at the thought.

Was this how other people acted? Was this why all those disgusting sappy love songs were written? He felt like he was being split in two. Part of him wanted to run after her and whisper sweet nothings in her ear. The other half of him kept yelling at him for acting like a lovesick fool. He was a Death Eater, for Merlin's sake! He was not supposed to be thinking this way! Had he learned nothing from the story of the two traitorous lovebirds, Isabella and Voltaire?

He rinsed off the glass and put it in the sink, then headed into bedroom to get dressed. But as he set foot in his room, he saw the shirt she'd been wearing laid across his bed. The memory of her wearing it nearly sent him to his knees. Slowly he walked over to the bed and picked up the shirt. Holding it to his nose, he breathed in her scent. She was spicy, like cinnamon and ginger.

Oh, yes, he was definitely in trouble.