After School (Bella)

[Jyo]

Jyo stood right outside the school parking lot and checked his watch. he had gotten out of school early instead of late so it was instead him waiting for Bella instead of her waiting for him like they had planned. Jyo internally chuckled.
Here I am already treating a girl out even if it isn't a date. Cute but still slightly young for me. Granted not by alot but still I'm in my last year and she's in her first. And if I come back as a teacher then there's a good chance she'd be a student. Wouldn't that be awkward. going from fellow students to one of us being a teacher. He thought as he stood there. He wasn't really bothered by the thoughts. It was just slightly amusing to him as he had considered Bella to be a good person that he already liked. He wasn't sure exactly what type it was but like with a few others hehad met there was a connection. With Kara it had been his first experiance likeing a girl. There was Ghiste. Apparently destined to be a rival and enemy. Kazahana. A person that played a large long game of mental chess useing others for his pawns. then there was lene his adopted daughter from the streets. Jyo had finally gotten her back now that kazahana couldn't do anything to her. Jyo had learned how to notice these connections and knew that in some way or another Bella would make a large impact on his life.

Just like Lene. Should call her. He thought pulling out his cell-phone and hitting for speed dail. It took two rings and the phone was picked up.
"Hello" Said a soft pleasent voice. Jyo smiled hearing it. He had gotten Lene out of the streets and had taken her in. She showed to be highly intelligent and learned things quickly and even spoke to him on an adult level.
"Hello Lene. It's Jyo. I just wanted you to know that I'm not going to be home for a little while. I'm going to give Katie a call and she'll be over soon to watch you for a while." He said. He heard a sigh.
"You found a new friend didn't you? Well is she nice?" Asked Lene. Jyo chuckled. The girl's ituition was highly surprising.
"Yeah shes very nice. I'll probably have you meet her before long. Well runt I'm sorry to cut this short but I also need to call katie. Don;t give her too much grief." He said.
"Okay then. Bye dad. Love you." Said Lene. Jyo smiled each time he heard that. It wasn't exactly the way he pictured having a kid but he doubted he could love her more than if she was his actual child.
"Love you too kiddo. Don't stay up too late if I'm not back before you have to go to bed." he said then hung up after hearing the click on the other end.

He called up Katie next.
"Hey katie I need to be out and about for a while. Mind going over to keep an eye on Lene? Please." he asked. Jyo could hear the giggle on the other end.
"Sure sure. the normal right?" She said.
"Yep. Thanks alot Katie." he said with a smile as she hung up. He was glad Katie and Lene could be in his life again. Without them it was harsh. Now not only did he have them back. he was about to spend a while with a new friend. Things were already looking up.

[Bella]

The bell couldn't ring fast enough for the young dancer. Sitting in her last class of art of all blasted things her legs kept bouncing up and down. She had a date. Well sorta anyway as she waited for those never moving clock hands to strike 2:30. She didn't want to keep him waiting she wanted to make sure that she was ready to go.

The teacher of course was droning on about something or other about shading and light. Art wasn't really Bella's cup of tea but they didn't have a dance class only a dance team and well.. to say the least it was disappointing. Finally the bell rang and Bella grabbed her messenger bag and quickly made her way to the parking lot.

There he was. Like an angel almost waiting for her just hanging up his cell phone. She only hoped that he hadn't been waiting too long. She ran the rest of the way her brown hair flying behind her as she did so and her toned legs showing as well. She waved happily to him.

"Jyo!" she said as she stopped in front of him not even out of breath for the girl was in excellent shape. "I hope you weren't waiting too long, the day just refused to end." she said with a warm smile.

[Jyo]

Jyo looked over hearing footsteps approching quickly. He gave a smile seeing Bella and put his phone away and waving back with his other hand. He shrugged at her comment.
"Well I was out here for a while. But thats just because class got out early. So no worries. besides I was able to make a few calls that I needed to make as it was. Clearing things up at home so I didn't have to be there for a while if need be." He said brushing a few strands of hair from his eyes.

"So shall we head out?' he asked opening the door of the car next to him. The Dodge Viper givent to him as a gift from is parents on his eighteenth birthday. He had the pasenger door held open until Bella got in tthen gently closed it and got in on the driver's side then started the car up and smoothly pulled out of the parking lot and started heading down the street.

"So anywhere in particular you'de like to go?' He asked.

[Bella]

Jyo told her that he had indeed waited but only because his own class had gotten out early but not because it was her fault for being late. The car he lead her to was beautiful and he opened the door for her. She blushed softly as she got in and buckled up after he closed the door.

She watched him for a moment as he moved around the car. He was sweet and cute. He seemed to have a maturity that most boys in this school didn't and that aside from his looks attracted her to him more than anything. When he got into the car and the engine roared to life. He skillfully got them out of the parking lot with minimal trouble.

"What about some place nice? A park, a movie, a coffee shop, anyplace really so long as we're together." she blushed deeply and bit her lower lip.

Oh God pull yourself together. She had never been on a date before she was going to ruin it before it even got started. Hell this probably wasn't even a date persay but still a car, a boy, alone, yeah it constituted as date but that didn't mean it was one. She was trying so hard not to over analyze but doing a very poor job about it.

"I mean, is there some place you would like to go?" she asked trying to recover and give CPR to their escapade.

[Jyo]

Jyo raised an eyebrow at the last words but still smiled. He really didn't think e'd have the effect on anyone that he clearly had on her. But then again outside of constantly dealing with problems at his last school Jyo's experiance with others was rather limited not counting Katie and Lene.

"Well I guess we could head to a park. There's one I train at during the night. Haven't been there during the day yet. Mabey grab something to drink first. Coffe shop then the park.... Sound good toy ou?" He asked turning a corner and having to swerve to avoid some guy not driving in his lane. Jyo's eyes narrowed.
"And I thought traffic back where I used to live could be a pain." He said shaking his head then smiled again as he stole a glance at Bella from the corner of is eye.
"Sorry about that. Some people really shouldn't be on the road." He said but the small glance was all he could afford as he focused on the road again.
"So anyways hows does the coffe shop and park sound?' he asked still keeping his calm composed attitude. he'd faced alot worse than a near wreck.

[Bella]

Bella blushed again for some reason as his eyes settled on her briefly. She put her bag down on the floor board and placed her hands in her lap gently. Trying not to look as nervous as she felt right about now. He swerved to miss someone and she grabbed ahold of the door handle. He appologized and she smiled.

"Don't worry about it. There are bad drivers everywhere. You just have to watch out for them like just now." she said with a bright smile.

He asked her once again if coffee and the park seemed allright to her and she wanted to just nod excitedly. But then she'd look like a total idiot something she was trying to avoid at the moment. She smiled softly.

"That sounds great actually. It's a nice day out and a walk will do us some good." she said.

She settled back in her seat and let him drive. Her eyes would glance over to him every so often. In her nerves she pulled a locke of her hair over her shoulder and began to twist it around her finger over and over again trying not be show she was nervous and doing a rather poor job at it.

[Jyo]

Jyo didn't really notice how bella acted next to him. he could sense movment but not much more and he was keeping track of things on the road as he drove. But before too long he pulled into the coffee shop's parking lot and killed the engine and looked over
"Well here's the first stop." he said and got out of the car. He made his way to the passenger side and planned to let Bella out simply to be courtious. Though if she got out beforehand he really didn't mind.

Either way after they were both out Jyo locked the doors and they headed into the shop. He held the door open for another person who was heading in and kept it open for Bella.
"After you." he said and once they were in he looked down at her.
"So what would you like to drink? I'll go get it while you find us a seat." he said.

[Bella]

They pulled into the parking lot of the local cafe. CoolBeans was a great little coffee shop she enjoyed going to when she had a chance. He got out and before she could get out on her own she saw that he was working his way around to open her door for her and she let him. Guys didn't do this stuff anymore and it made her smile because it was so nice.

"Thank you so very much." she said getting out and smoothing down her short skirt.

Together they walked to the front of the small coffee shop and he opened the door for another woman and then held it open for her. She smiled as she entered the area and he came up to her telling her to pick something and then go find them a table. She nodded and looked at the menu.

"You know, I'd really like a hot chocolate with peppermint." she said as she looked up at him and smiled. "I'll go find us a good seat."

She squeezed his hand gently before she left. She hadn't been holding it or anything she had just reached out and given him a slight squeeze. She went and found a perfect spot. A corner booth where they could sit across or next to each other and talk. Get closer or not. She slid into the booth and got a napkin set out for the both of them and she put the sugar and plastic spoon close to where he might want to sit as she waited for him.

[Jyo]

Once again Jyo raised his eyebrow as he felt the squeeze on his hand. He smiled though.
"Alright then. hot chocolate and peppermint. Gotcha." he said and went to the counter and ordered the drinks. He himself had chosen a Mocha with double chocolate added into it. After he got the drinks and payed for them he scanned the shop and found where Bella had sat.

He headed over and set her drink in front of her giving a wink and then sat down across from her and took a sip of his drink.
"Hmm haven't been here before but it's more than likely I'll be coming back." He said.

He locked eyes with Bella like he normally did when talking to somebody and spoke.
"So are you from here in L.A. or from somewhere else?" he asked wanting to know a little bit more about her as he found her highly interesting.

[Bella]

Jyo came over to her and she smiled up at him as he sat down placing her hot chocolate in front of her. She stirred it soft and inhaled the wonderful scent of peppermint. It seemed to clear her senses and almost relax her in a way. She took a sip and closed her eyes. Man they made good stuff here.

"It's good here. You should come more often. The prices are even reasonable." she said with a smile.

She heard his question and she put her cup down but left it in her hands to keep them warm. That was one thing she had constantly was cold fingers. For some reason her extremities could just not stay warm on their own.

"I was actually born here but when my parents divorced my mother took me and moved to a small city on the outskirts. One of those small mountain like cities. Anyway, she recently got remarried and her husband travels a lot but I can't with school. So to keep her from picking between us I told her I would move in with my dad and see if that didn't work out better. So now I live here in LA." she explained.

"What about you, where are you from?" she asked as she sipped the warm chocolatey fluid.

[Jyo]

"Divorce huh? Must have been hard. I'm glad I never went through it with my folks. Though it mus have been nice on the outskirts for a while. At least if you are into the peace and quite one can get there." He said thinking about the summers spent with Ryokashi and Kara in the woods and the tranquility there.

Jyo took another drink of his coffee and then set it down in front of him and gave a faint smile.
"I grew up in another part of California and lived there until now. During that time I spent my summers in the woods. I'll go into that a bit later." He said then took another drink.
"I went to #499 for most of the time. I had a pretty rough time there as I gained the position of captain at freshman year and held it until the beginning of my senior year before losing it. Now after many events I left and came here to attend #259." He said then sighed and shook his head.
"It's a nice change already though. Not nearly as many horrible events. I'll spare you the details unless you are highly interested. And even then it will have to wait until a bit later." he said with a soft smile.

[Bella]

She shook her head slightly.

"Actually they divorced when I was still a baby. I don't remember it but my mother couldn't handle the city life. She said she just didn't have enough space to breathe. And my father couldn't handle life in the outskirts because he said there was too much space. They're still friends but they just can't marry." she told him softly.

She listened as he spoke vaguely about his own past. It seemed that he had been powerful at his last school and she wondered how he was settling in here. She smiled softly.

"Don't worry about it. You can tell me things at your own rate. Im not in a hurry. Besides some things are better left to unfold and blossom like a rose over time then all at once." she said with a smile.

"So tell me about your family." she said softly. "If you want that is."

[Jyo]

Jyo smiled at hearing that Bella didn't have to go through the hard part of her parents splitting apart. And the fact that there wasn't any friction between the, From what he had seen it could make a person's like a living hell if things went badly.

"Nice metaphoe with the rose comment. Not many people tend to use them these days." he said with a soft chuckle.
"As for my family. my mother is a cop and my dad's a writer. They do well together. I have a younger sister but my family lives in Nevada. I visit every so often and keep in touch with them." He said pausing to take a sip of his coffee.
"Then there is Lene. Before I met her she was a young girl living on the streets. I decided to take her and and went through the legal process to adopt her. It took some persauding but it went through. She's at home right now with a good frined of mine." he said with a grin very curious as to what Bella's reaction to the final bit would be. not many would think he had a child to care for already.

[Bella]

Bella listened. She blinked a few times when he said he had adopted a young girl. But that was about the sweetest thing she had ever heard in her entire life of someone so young doing. She smiled softly and thought about what she wanted to say.

"That is so sweet. I think it's so honorable what you did. I'd love to meet her sometime. If you come over for dinner and any point you can definatly bring her. i wouldn't want to take time away from you two if I can help it." she said excitedly.

That was so neat! Most would be scared that he had a child but she loved kids and not only that but it was so neat to have one that was older and not needing a constant diper changer or something.

"I am an only child so I don't have any siblings. I live with my dad but never really see him because he works nights. He's the LAPD police chief." she told him with a shrug moving the conversation right along.

[Jyo]

"I'm sure Lene would like that. I have the feeling you two would get along pretty well." He said and took another drink and couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to not see her dad much. She didn't seem botered by it but still it must be interesting to normally have the house to one's self when they didn't actually live alone.

"Must be interesting not seeing him much. I remember when I was younger I was glad knowing that when I stepped into the door my folks would be at home. But at least you don't seem bothered about not seeing him much. though it would be interesting to meet him at some point.' He said drinking the last of his coffee.

"So do you have anything left of that drink of yours. If not we can head out to the park. The sun's setting soon and from what i hear it's supposed to be rather pleasing at sunset." he said.