Afternoon Hangout

[Annabelle Ventus]

Belle smiled when Nate had taken the seat she suggested and still took her hand. Then she watched and felt as his happiness quickly faded and went back to how he felt at the hospital.

As she listen to his words, she looked away and took a deep breath then looked back at him as soon as she felt him caress her hand.

"Nate..please, understand why I did so. That man has taken away everything I ever cared about...including my father. I didn't want to lose anyone else..especially you. That is why I didn't tell you. If he didn't know who you were, he wouldn't come after you. You don't know how scared I was when I saw you rush him. It brought back the memory of my own father doing the same..." Belle paused, took another deep breath and looked Nate straight in the eyes."

Nate, just promise me that if he ever comes around again, you won't just go after him. I can't lose anyone...I can't lose you Nate, I just can't.." Annabelle said in a low tone as well.

"But Nate, it's become apparent that both you and I haven't told each other much of anything about our pasts, and due to mine, bad things happened. I know from experience you aren't one to talk about those things, but for this situation to never happen again, you have to tell me. In return, I'll tell you what happened in mine." Belle stated as she held his hand tightly.

"And I won't make you say it here were there are people...I'm not that cruel." Belle stated with a caring smile.

[Brianna Watson]

Brianna placed her order next, which would be a water as she giggled at what Anti said. "And you think I lay my head on just anyone's shoulder huh?" She started then felt her head being moved and just put her chin lightly on Anti's shoulder.

"A fact about me huh? Well, I'm rather computer savoy, at least that is what my cousin tells me. Most likely due to the fact that I'm a pro at getting rid of viruses now." She smiled.

"But to be so close to me, I think the same penalty should be arranged, so tell me a fact about yourself." She said, as she poked the side of his rib.

[Pepper Winthrop]

Pepper flashed a genuine grin at Raphael, "Thank you! I love waitressing. It's a great way to meet new people. She wrote down what Brianna and Gianna wanted to drink.

"Nice to meet you, Gianna," she smiled after Gianna introduced herself. Well, Gianna seemed really nice. Pepper was genuinely excited about Raphael and Gianna's relationship, "But I wouldn't call myself gifted," she wondered if Bree or Nyx would stop by, "I just have a great teacher," she had to tell someone about this! She needed to gush over this with someone!!!

Then she wrote down the rest of the drink orders, "Okay, so three waters, and a soda. I'll be right back," she grinned before walking toward the kitchens, stopping long enough to see Nate and Belle. She thought that she would definitely have to watch that table, too. This was just like being in a romance novel!

[Gianna Holmes]

"I'd love to hear about it," she smiled at him, "I love places that have so much...history," when he said that she should go to Italy, a sort of dreamy light twinkled in her eyes, "That would be lovely. Italy is one of those places that I'd like to go to one day." She wasn't sure when or if it would happen, but she had always wanted to go to Europe.

"Nice to meet you, too, Pepper," she said to the waitress after Raphael introduced her to Pepper. She thought that Pepper seemed sweet, "And don't be so modest. I'm sure he's not exaggerating," she meant what she said. Gianna didn't feel jealous at all when Raphael told Pepper that waitressing was the ideal job for her. She had only just met Pepper, but she agreed that Pepper seemed to have the perfect attitude for a waitress.

She glanced over at Brianna and barely stopped herself from frowning. She didn't like how close they were. She told herself to ignore it.

[Anti Moretti]

"Computer savey huh? You'll have to show me your talents sometime. Viruses can be tricky, but really fun to create actually. You'd be amazed to find out what you can learn from one. Not that I know of course.." he said and winked at her.

He laughed when Brianna poked him in the rib, and rubbed it, "Hey now.. if you keep doing things like that then I might have to say that the act of sitting this close to you is the penalty!" he said, teasingly. He then followed this by poking her in the side as well.

"Alright, a fact about me.. let's see.. books bore me, even though I work in a library, you'll rarely ever catch me picking one up." He said.

[Nate Brightmore]

Nate's jaw set as he listened to Belle's response, and his eyes lowered to the table. He understood what she was saying, he didn't like it, but he understood it.

"I understand that, but losing you, and not even being able to do anything about it.. it's a fate worse than dying Belle. I cannot promise to not react the same way if put in the same situation, but perhaps if we work to be completely honest with each other then this situation can be avoided in the future. Together, we can overcome anything Belle, don't you believe that?" he asked, looking back up at her.

When she said that they hadn't been completely open with each other and that she wanted to know about his past, he once again looked at the table. The memories were a little too difficult, the wounds still too fresh, but he would open them again for her.

"If that is your wish, we'll be completely open with each other.." he said, and looked back up again, squeezing her hand gently, "because I meant what I said.. together we can overcome anything, even nightmares from the past."

[Szayel]

Szayel sat down at his own little corner, away from the other two. That left Grapha to do the same.

"Uh, yeah sure..." Szayel saw that another girl from the school was waitressing tonight. He waited for the menus to arrive.

[Neah Brightmore]

Neah walked into Chimera and looked around. When she spotted Nate and Belle, her eyes went wide. Oops, she knew that they were going to go on a "date" but she didn't know it was going to be here. Oh well, no reason that she had to leave, so she looked around to see who else was there.

That's when she spotted Szayel and two other people that she didn't know. As she got closer, she found that the girl was a vampire and the boy was a... hunter? He didn't look familiar. She felt that she needed to go over and introduce herself.

She walked over to the table and smiled at Szayel, "Hi, I see you have an empty seat, mind if I join you?" She asked.

[Szayel]

Szayel wanted to smack himself in the face, but at the same time, it didn't really bother him.

"Uh, go ahead... I don't mind..." Szayel pushed the leftover chair out with his foot for Neah. Grapha seemed to loosen up when he saw a hunter girl approach. In a way, it did relax him a bit to be in familiar company... well, the same species anyway. He smiled up at Neah and spoke. "Hi."

[Raphael Santino]

"You are really gifted, and have a great understanding of literature Pepper, don't be so modest." He said.

When Pepper left, he focused back on Gianna. "Well if you would like, I could bring photos that I've taken on my many trips around Europe and other places to the school.. if you're going to be there again. I know that it's not exactly the same as being there, but I can show you them and tell you about each one, it'll be like being there." he said.

He noticed Gianna glancing over toward Brianna and Anti, and looked over himself, "You two seem to be getting along quite well."

[Neah Brightmore]

Neah gave Szayel an amused look and took the seat, "You're always so... cheerful Szayel, really. It's like all warm and sunny when you're around." She said and chuckled. When she stopped laughing, she cleared her throat, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't poke fun of you." she said, her voice still light.

She looked over at Grapha and smiled warmly at her, "Hello, I'm Neah Brightmore.. I'm surprised to see a hunter here that I don't recognize. Have you been here long?" She asked, not being nosey, just curious.

she then looked over at Riley and noticed that the girl was watching her very closely. The girl realized that she was staring and smiled slightly, the embarrassment clear. Neah smiled back, "oh hello to you too." she said.

"Hi," the girl said quietly.

[Szayel]

"Don't worry about it..." Szayel began tapping his foot, wondering when Pepper would get to them.

Grapha smiled up at Neah wider. "Ah, one of the Brightmore twins. We hear alot of you in Europe. I'm Grapha Sheogorath. Don't worry if you don't know me, I'm just happy to meet you."

[Pepper Winthrop]

Pepper hastily walked toward the table where Raphael, Anti and the two new girls were, "Here's your drinks," she gave everyone their respective drinks, "And I realized while I was in the kitchen that I forgot to give you guys menus!" she laughed as she handed out some menus, "I'll be right back to take your orders, okay?"

Then she made her way to the table where two hunters and two vampires sat. Her nose wrinkled at the two smells. She walked up to the table with a sunny smile, "Hello! I'm Pepper, and I'll be your server today. Can I start you guys out with some drinks?" she said as she handed out menus. It was a rare moment when Pepper Winthrop forgot to give her customers menus.

[Szayel]

Szayel chuckled at Pepper's professional attitude. "I'll have the usual, Pepper." Szayel's smile faded after he ordered. His usual was a tall glass of blood with a wine spice, just enough to thin the blood.

Grapha smiled at the lycan girl. "Hello, Pepper. I'll have water, if that's ok." After he was able to turn his attention back to Neah, he remembered that he hadn't answered one of her questions. "I haven't been in town for very long. Just this morning, actually."

[Neah Brightmore]

"You've heard of my brother and I? It's good to know that people in our homeland still remember us. You're from Europe? A kindred spirit! It truely is a pleasure to meet you Grapha." She said, meaning it.

When Pepper showed up to take their drink order, Neah grinned, "Pepper, you work here? I guess everyone decided to show up at Chimera today. I'll have an ice water please?"

"I'll have a water too please?" Riley said, though she knew that it was close to time for her to break down and have.. a more vampiric drink. The thought of it made her cringe, but she was already feeling the pangs that came with not feeding.