Second Date! (Jyo)

[Jyo]

"I could go for something to eat. I'm not picky. I think the question is would you like a hand or two in the kitchen while you cook." Jyo said smiling. Lene gave a big grin at the compliment to her. She eagerly nodded at what Jyo suggested.

"I mean if you don't want a hand I understand. I' just not used to not helping out. Same with Lene here." he said

[Bella]

She smiled brightly at both of them and nodded. She enjoyed cooking and sharing that joy with someone would only make it better. She liked Lene she was a sweet girl and she could instantly see why Jyo wanted to have her so close in his life. Bella headed to the kitchen where she began looking at what he had and pulling out what she could use to make something.

"I would the help from both of you. I think Lene has the makings of a expert noodle watcher and I think Jyo looks like he's that man that can help with the beef." she chuckled softly as she tilted her head to the side with a bright smile for the both of them.

"Come on guys." she said as she began finding the pots and pans she needed in the kitchen. She sat the pot on the stove filled with water and added a bit of salt.

"Allright Lene, you're job is the noodle pot. It's a very important job mind you because if the noodles aren't just right then the whole dinner won't be as good. But I see inside you this awesome Noodle Girl so tonight is the test." she said with a bright smile as she lifted the girl onto the counter. "So your first task as Noodle Knight is to tell me when there are bubbles in the middle of the water."

She turned to Jyo and smiled. She wasn't trying to belittle Lene but make it fun. After all the girl was only eight cooking wasn't just fun by itself you had to make it fun.

"And you. Well you've got that strapping Baron of the Beef look so I will abdicate my current position and let you fair Baron take over browning the beef." she said with a bright smile. "While I will mix the sauce."

"Battle stations everybody!" she said with a bright smile as she opened the can of sauce before hunting down spices to make it that much better.

[Jyo]

Jyo and Lene both gave an odd tilt of their heads but Jyo gave a small chuckle and a warm smile even as he shook his head. Lene gave the smile but not the chuckle. Though she knew Bella was doing her best to make things fun she wasn't much into such things. Though she grinned and gave a little salute before attending to what she was told to do.

Jyo kept his smile as he leaned in close and whispered.
"Bella It's fun and I like what you're trying. But keep in mind Lene was on the streets for most of her life. She and I really found the wordplay fun. But I'll give you a free tip. She thinks you're going to try too hard to have her like you. Just be relaxed and converse with her like you would with me if you really want to get to know her and let you in. I think you might find it interesting." He said kissing her on the forehead and giveing her a wink as he went to take care of the beef.

[Bella]

Well crap. She had done everything wrong. She felt the kiss on her forehead but still it really did nothing to calm her. She was trying to do good. I mean the girl was eight. Regardless of being on the street she wasnt going to be THAT mature but apparently it mattered little she had done practically everything wrong since she got here.

"Sorry." she said to the both of them.

She went to the sauce and continued mixing the ingrediants in. She didn't say anything else at the moment. Everything thing she had done was wrong now. Hugging Lene. Giving her the keychain. Making cooking fun. Everything. She tried not to be too upset that she was ruining her second date but there was not much she could do about that. She just worked on the sauce.

[Jyo]

Jyo stopped for a moment then walked over after turning the burner down so as to to ruin the food.
"Hey nothing to be sorry for. If anything I think I ought to be apologizing. After All I didn't really xplain things at first." he said with a small smile. Lene looked over grinning.
"Don't worry I think everything was kinda fun. I'm just not used to much. Mostly Jyo and I read or talk thats all. I get most of my playtime at school." She said walking over and grabbing her hand looking up.
"Smile before I go watch noodles again?" She asked.

[Bella]

Bella felt Jyo come by but she didn't look up. Not yet. He told her not to be sorry and she listened as Lene said she was having fun even if it didn't look like it. She smiled softly over her shoulder at the girl and squeezed her hand gently.

"I'm sorry guys. It's just that I don't have any brothers or sisters and I've never really been around children. So forgive me if I go overboard I just.. am doing my best." she whispered.

She smiled at them both and looked up at the extremely tall Jyo and smiled bigger at him. She hugged him hoping that neither minded but she needed to hug him right now. She looked up at him and grinned.

"Isn't your job the beef?" she chuckled.

[Jyo]

Lene smiled back and went back to what she had been doing. Jyo smiled and returned the hug.
"Don't stress over it. You don't have to impress anyone here. Just relax and enjoy yourself." He said and gave a nod at her other comment. He walked back to the burner and turned it up. he started humming one of Mozart's works. And Lene joined. She wasn't always on key like Jyo but it was clear she had done it before. Jyo stopped and looked back to Bella.
"Forgot just a little something Lene and I practice." he said with a small chuckle.
"Normally it's her and I alone."

"Bella whats the school like? Jyo's told me all about some of the students and of course you. But what do you think of it. Fro what I hear it sounds a bit scary." Lene asked. Her voice was even but highly curious and a bit anxious.

[Bella]

She chuckled as they began humming Mozart but just about when she was about to chime in they stopped and Jyo appologized. She chuckled and pointed her wooden spoon at him.

"Now now, look whose appologizing now. Please, continue. You forget, dear Jyo, that I am a ballet dancer, Mozart is my muse!" she giggled with a bright smile as she turned back to stirring the sauce. Lene asked about her school and Bella turned and leaned against the counter to explain.

"Well lets see. Really to tell you the truth I like the school. I mean heck on the first day I met your dad here, so the school already had bonus points. But then like every school really it has that dark section or bad areas. But at 259 it seems a tad more prominent than in others. I suppose because fighting is in the open there. Where as other schools, so I've heard, it is banned and you get in trouble for acts like that. But overall if you only concentrate on the bad things that is surely all you will see. But I'm a pretty optimistic person so I tend to see a lot of good there. So I hope that answers your question." she said with a smile.

[Jyo]

Jyo raised his eyebrows.
"Interesting. Mozart was better known for his operas instead of ballet. Though his ballet pieces were very nice." He said going back to humming the tune.

Lene listened with the normal stare of a child listening as intently as they could. She nodded.
"So the classes and all that are okay? But you're saying it's a bit more violent than other schools?' She asked curiously.

[Bella]

Bella had finished her sauce and turned to the girl leaning against the counter she smiled at Lene. She tucked her brown hair behind her ears and thought about her next question.

"Yes, the classes are okay, just like any normal school except the teachers know how to keep them in line. With a more violent school you have to know how to solve problems before they get out of hand. So that is always good. I tend to sit by the windows and daydream a bit and study when I get home but that's just my method." she said with a soft smile. "As for the violence there is a bit. I'll admit. As your father no doubt knows better than I. I tend to skirt around the danger and just try to avoid calling attention to myself. However.."

she turned to Jyo and smiled.

"Running smack dab into your father's chest was not the best way to remain hidden. But I'm glad I did in the long run. You can't be afraid though of the school. Because certain people seem to sense fear and are drawn to it. I'm a very happy person and I smile and laugh all the time even at school. I'm not afraid there I think it's a good school." she answered.

"How's that beef and noodles coming guys?" she asked

[Jyo]

Lene listend curiously and then went back to taking care of the noodles. She was interested in Highschool even if it was a long time away for her.
"THe noodles are ready." She said in response to Bella's question.

Jyo was still a bit busy with the beef. Considering he had turned down the burner when talking with bella for a moment.
"Just a second with the beef." He said as Lene walked over with the noodles setting them next to Bella. Jyo soon came over setting the Beef with her.
"I'll go set the table I guess." He said with a shrug and headed to the mid-sized dining room and busied himself with getting things et up leaving Lene and Bella in the kitchen for now.

[Bella]

She smiled at the both of them. They kinda acted like a little family in a way all three of them cooking in the kitchen just like this. She heard Lene call out that the noodles were ready and Jyo told her it would be some time for the beef. She smiled and nodded at the both of them. The sauce was ready and all she had to do was wait for them.

Lene soon brought the noodles over to Bella and she carefully took the hot pot from the small girl and to the sink draining out the excess water. That done she waited and as soon Jyo brought her the beef she used the residual heat from the beef and the pan to mix it with the sauce. She hummed softly.

"So Lene, tell me about your school. What is it like?" she asked as she stirred the beef and the sauce together.

It was moving along rather well. So she thought. Jyo was as nice as ever and Lene seemed to be a really cute kid. Grown up in a lot of ways. And she wondered if she would ever find that childish joy in certain things like most eight year olds did.

[Jyo]

"Well it's nothing like the highschools wich is good. That means I can play and have fun instead of have to be scared all the time. My classes are fun. I have the best grades in math out of my entire class. But I have some problems with reading. Jyo's helping me with that though. Most of the kids are nice but some are mean. They pick on some of the boys in my class. the teachers are great to." She said with a big smile ready to help Bella out with anything she might need.

In the other room noises of movment could be heard as Jyo busied himself with setting the table. Normally he set it only for himself and Lene. It was never set fancy but they had dinner and breakfest together which was more than alot of people had together anymore. Now Jyo was actually setting out a nice cloth with candles and nice plates as well plus he also brought out the actual silverwear instead of the random utensiles in the kitchen drawer

[Bella]

((Sorry it's taken so long to reply. With my internship coming to a close I've been so busy))

Bella smiled as Lene went on about her school. The little girl was indeed energetic but sweet at the same time. She liked how it was between her and Jyo. Bella softly wondered what Lene thought about her and if Jyo would be willing to continue dating her regardless. She liked Jyo a lot especially considering they hadn't known each other all that long. Yet, here she was meeting the 'daughter' so she must have done something right.

"That's great, I'm glad you like school. I always did and people thought I was weird and even now, I still like school. And don't you worry about those boys they only pick because girls mature faster than boys and they're jealous. Not to mention that they probably think your fun and are trying to show that without being mushy." she chuckled softly.

She drained the noodles and put them in a bowl as well as the sauce into a different bowl. Gather utensils she headed to the table and smiled seeing it already set. She sat the sauce and pasta bowls down in the center and smiled.

"Well now, aren't you helpful." she chuckled and gave Jyo a quick kiss on his cheek. "I'm having a good time, I hope you two are as well." she whispered in his ear.

She turned and got extra napkins just in case. Raiding the fridge she found iced tea and poured each a glass setting them down on the table.

"Allright, I believe dinner is indeed ready." she said looking at the table.

[Jyo]

"Mabey." Lene said simply with a small shrug and moved about the kitchen taking care of the small odds and ends left to do.

When they came out Jyo had just finished and gave a small smile and a quick shrug.
"Well I need to be good at something besides fighting right?" He said helping Belle and Lene into their seats and than taking his own. He got setteled in waiting for the girls to be ready as well.
"Bella niether Lene or myself are religious or anything. but if you are and pray before meals then feel welcome to and we'll be kind enough to cross arms and close eye while bowing our heads while you do so." he said before they started eating.