clockworkgirl (clockworkgirl) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2014-04-04 19:42:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, jem carstairs, tessa gray |
Who: Tessa and Jem
What: Coffee and pastries
Where: Baxters Bakery
When: Weds 26 March
Rating: PG
Status: Complete
Jem had been enjoying spring break so far. It had given him time to relax when he wasn’t working and unwind a little from the current semester. Of course he was missing Jubilee since she had moved and was worried about Laura, but he was also trying to enjoy his week off at the same time and that included meeting with Tessa. He had enjoyed talking to her both times they had meet so he was looking forward to seeing her again. It didn’t hurt that she was attractive as well.
They had decided to meet at Baxter’s Bakery then see where things went from there. Jem had arrived a few minutes before the time they’d decided on and started pursuing the cases of pastries.
Tessa was delighted when Jem asked if they could meet up again. She had very much enjoyed the chance encounter they had at the book signing and had hoped they would have the opportunity to continue to get to know each other. Of course, she wished that this meeting could have come at a happier time for James, but she would try and be the best friend she could be in the situation. As she ducked into the bakery, she spotted him over by the glass counters, examining what lay inside. She came up behind him, a smile on her lips as he seemed so focussed on the pastries. “You have a bit of a sweet tooth then?” she asked.
At the sound of Tessa's voice, Jem turned and smiled at her, "Just a little bit." She was just as pretty as the last time he'd seen her and was glad that he'd asked her to meet up, "I don't think it would be possible for someone to come in here and not get something though. Sweet tooth or not." He'd only had a Danish the last time he'd been there, but he'd known then that he would need to try more of the pastries. "What would you recommend?"
"Oh well, it's Audrey's so I recommend everything," Tessa grinned as she held her hands out. "But, if you insist..." she stepped up beside him, eyes eagerly scanning the counter for her target. "The cinnamon whirl and the cinnamon crunch scones are to die for," she pointed them out through the glass before turning to look up at him with a smile.
Jem watched Tessa as she searched the case then glanced up at the girl behind the counter, "I'll have one of each." He indicated the pastries that Tessa had chosen. They were both big enough to share between two people, "What are you going to have to drink?" He asked, looking back at Tessa with a small smile.
"Oh, I would love a tea, please," Tessa smiled at him. It always made her a little uncomfortable when people bought things in case she never got the chance to pay them back, but with Jem smiling back at her, healthy and happy, she knew there would be other chances. Funny that him being healthy was a criteria, she thought to herself. She shook her head to rid herself of the thought and reached into her handbag to pull out some money.
Jem ordered Tessa's drink then one for himself before bringing his attention back to the girl next to him, "You don't have to do that. It's on me today." Jem was happy to pay for the pastries and the teas. As the girl handed over two cups as well as two plates with the pastries, Jem handed over the correct number of bills, having gotten quite good with American money over the last few months then turned back to Tessa, "Where should we sit?" He held his tea and one of the plates while Tessa had been handed the other two.
“Thank you,” Tessa smiled at him, taking the plates she was handed by the waitress. She turned to look around the cafe as she considered his question. “By the window?” she gestured to a small table with two chairs that had just been cleaned by another waitress. “I love to people watch,” she gave a little shrug.
"You're welcome," Jem smiled once more then nodded and headed in the direction of the table that Tessa had pointed out. Once they were sitting, both small plates on the table between them, he took a sip of his tea before speaking again, "How are you today, Tessa?"
“I’m good, thank you,” Tessa grinned, setting a napkin next to her cup. “The shop has been busy which has been nice after all that business with the volcano, how about yourself? How are your studies going?”
“Good. I’m glad. Too many bookstores are going out of business these days because of kindles and things.” Jem took another sip of his tea then broke off a piece of the scone, “They’re going well. My exams weren’t too difficult and I’m fairly certain that I passed them all.” Jem hadn’t known what to expect from an American University, but so far things had been going well.
“I know what you mean. I can see how Kindles can be useful for some people, but I find having a paperback in my hands to be much more satisfying,” Tessa smiled up at him, reaching for the other pastry. “Good, I’m glad. So are you on break now? When do you start up again?”
“I agree completely.” Jem said, smiling, “I will always prefer a physical book as opposed to digital.” He could see the appeal of Kindles, but no one ever had to recharge a book and if a book got wet one simply had to let it dry out. A Kindle would more than likely be ruined if it got wet.
He nodded in response to her question, “I am. I go back on Monday.” Jem hadn’t done much on his break yet, but he was enjoying it regardless.
“Well that’s good, does that mean I can be expecting to see more of you in the store?” Tessa asked a little cheekily.
Jem chuckled and nodded, “I think I can arrange to come in again.” He certainly wouldn’t mind going back to Tessa’s shop and spending more time talking to her, so long as he wasn’t bothering her. He knew that she ran the shop, but that didn’t mean that she didn’t have someone else to answer to if someone complained that she was spending too much time socializing, “Maybe I’ll come in this weekend.”
“I’d love that,” Tessa smiled. “My assistant has been...pushing the boundaries lately. Think I’m going to have to let him go, but I’m hoping that my friend Myrcella will be able to help me with running the shop so I can hopefully have a bit more free time,” she told him. “Plus he’s really quite boring,” she sighed.
Jem looked concerned as she spoke about her assistant, “I’m sorry to hear that. What sorts of things has he been doing?” He didn’t know the reason that her assistant wasn’t acting professional, but he couldn’t help but wonder if it was because Tessa was a woman and if that were the case then Jem had no respect for this man.
“It’s lots of little things really. Like if I send him out for drinks but he won’t come back for half an hour or texting on his phone when customers are needing to be served. Not to mention his...personal hygiene needs some improvement,” she made a slightly grossed out looking face.
Jem’s nose wrinkled at that as well, “I’m sorry you have to deal with that. I hope your friend will be a better assistant than your current one.” He didn’t like the idea of someone taking advantage of Tessa like that. “It certainly sounds like you’re in your rights to let him go.”
"Thank you, but in the meantime I would greatly appreciate the extra company," Tessa told him, hopeful on the inside that he would keep her in mind if he ever had some spare time. "So tell me more about your course, what do you do? Do you have any performances booked?"
Jem shook his head, “No. I’m still learning. I don’t think I’ll be conducting anything until next semester.” Jem was looking forward to getting the chance to put to use what he’d been learning over the last few years, both in England and since transferring to American University.
"You can read music then?” Tessa wondered idly as her gaze ran over his face.
“I can read music.” Jem stated, “I’ve tried playing instruments in the past and it’s always been absolutely horrendous. I know, it doesn’t seem like that should be possible if I can read music, but it’s the truth.” He took another sip of his drink, “So, instead of playing during performances, I’ll be the one standing at the front with the baton, keeping everyone else in sync.”
"Which instruments have you tried playing in the past then?" Tessa asked, sipping her own drink carefully.
Jem thought for a moment or two, “I’ve tried guitar, piano, violin. I’ve never tried drums, because I didn’t want to cause too much noise pollution.” He smirked and ate a piece of one of the patries, “Do you play any instruments?”
“Oh um, no,” Tessa replied. “I’m much more of a words girl, though I was always intrigued by the violin. It can be so beautiful to listen to,” she smiled at him. “What about singing? How is your voice as an instrument?”
“My voice is okay. Nothing special, but I have sang a few times; here and there.” He didn’t really enjoy the times he’d had to sing in front of a class or group, because it put him in the front and center where as being a conductor meant that while people would still be watching him, his back would be towards the audience. “What else do you enjoy doing?”
“I don’t really get time for much else besides running the shop and reading,” Tessa blushed a little. She wasn’t exactly a social butterfly, never really had been but maybe meeting Jem was a sign that she should get out more. “If you have any suggestions then I will gladly entertain them,” she smiled across at him.
Jem smiled back, “I suppose we’re more similar than we originally thought.” It was nice to have a friend who wouldn’t constantly try to get him to go out or tell him how boring he was being, “Maybe together we can think of something.”
"I can only hope so," Tessa smiled. "So, what would you like to do with the rest of your spring break, Jem?" she asked.
“I’m not entirely sure. I’m sure I’ll figure something out, but if I don’t, I’m glad we got to spend some time together today.” It sounded a little silly, but he meant it and hoped he and Tessa got to hang out again together soon.