Chapter 7 An Apology Lunch

Catalina was sitting at probably one of the cutest little cafes she had ever been to. There was tall window's with light blue curtains that were on three out of the four walls letting a warm light flood the area. They were currently sitting on white chairs that had blue bows decorating the backs. In the center of their table was a medium size vase filled with blue and purple hydrangeas. There was an assortment of cakes and little sandwiches on the table of which that Casimir had ordered and would be paying for. 

Catalina picked up a pink cupcake inspecting it before glancing at him.

"So, I'm aware your name is Casimir, but what's the rest of it? Which family do you belong to?" She questioned. She bit into the cupcake.

He threw her a small shy smile as he proceeded to pop a lemon bar in his mouth. His eyes shifted around apprehensively before he popped the whole thing in his mouth, chewing and swallowing after.

"To be honest, I don't really want to divulge my family now at the moment. It tends to make people act differently once they find out which house I belong to. Or which son of said house. That and I think a little mystery in life is fun every now and then, don't you think? But I will tell you that we have the same middle name. Though it is spelled differently."

She looked up from her second cupcake, suspicion written where there once was an intense look directed toward the dessert.

"Really? That's weird. I've heard of people with the same first name but rarely the same middle. And it's not as if Rain is a popular name to begin with. How did you figure out that it's spelled differently though?" Cat inquired.

Casimir placed his head on his right hand, throwing a smirk her way as he stated proudly, "After you shouted your name at me before stomping off the terrace, I decided I should look up the little lady who I so terribly irked that day. "

She gave a small shrug as she bit into the pink sweet, "I guess I would have done the same. How old are you though? You said you were nearing your thirties but never specified how old exactly."

Casimir answered her question without hesitation, "Ah though I am loathe to share this, I'm in my twenty-seventh year. You know, they say it's rude to ask one's age."

She looked up, "That's for ladies. Though I do suppose you could possibly pass for one with your beauty."

He gave a closed eye smile, "My my, are you saying you find me attractive?"

Catalina had picked up the menu on the table, looking down at it.

"No. I'm simply saying you're beautiful. Kind of like when one calls a painting or dog or cat beautiful. It's an objective assessment, not a subjective one. I'm merely stating what anyone who looks at you can see."

She glanced around before finding one of the cafe maids and waving her over, "I'd like this one and three more of these please."

Casimir supported a frown, "Well when you put it like that.....actually I'm not quite sure how to take that. And are you really that hungry? Perhaps we should have gone somewhere that serves a more appropriate meal?"

Cat shook her head as she arranged her desserts and sandwiches in groups. The were arranged in colors and then shapes it seemed.

"No this place is fine. I like the laid back atmosphere. And the food is good."

"uh huh," He tilted his head to the right still frowning, "I can see you're quite taken with the food here. And their colors it seems."

She gave a small nod without looking up, "So since you won't tell me which family you're from, how about you tell me something else about you then? "

He leaned back in his chair as he thought.

"Something I can tell you. Hmmm. Well I guess that depends on what you would want to know?" He asked 

She finally took her gaze off of the dessert arrangements and gave him her full attention. Her eyes narrowed as she regarded him.

"Hmmm. I guess I want to know what part of the Order of Magic are you? I've seen a similar pendant on some of the apprentices but never one like that. Are you a teacher or something?" She inquired.

His eyes widened a fraction as he looked at her in surprise. He was fiddling with the pendant at the moment.

"You truly do not know who I am? Even slightly?" Casimir probed.

She was sliding a blue cream desert over with two others of the same color. Not even her eyes lifted as she answered him.

"No, not really."

He was absolutely bewildered by this information. His head resumed its former position as he stared at her with concerned eyes.

"Well, this would be a first for me," His features began to take on a smug look, "And you know, I think I'll leave it as a mystery for you. Can't be giving all my secrets away to a complete stranger on the first meeting."

"Ah well that makes sense I guess." Cat rearranged some deserts.

He raised a a slim eyebrow, "You're not gonna try to convince me to give you more info? Not even a little bit? Normally people do."

"I guess you're just not as interesting as you thought you were. At least to me. Though you still have yet to tell me anything else about you." Catalina quipped back. 

Casimir jerked his head back at that before erupting in laughter, tears coming to his eyes.

"You're amusing haha. Possibly one of the most amusing people I've met. And you're right, I haven't really told you anything. So, I'll tell you this." He calmed down a bit, "I'm a bit like a teacher but not quite. I do help the apprentices with some things, but I have other duties we shall say. I don't really have a knack for teaching for the most part. And I'll tell you that my least favorite color is pink."

"I'm glad your enjoying my company. And that's strange that pink is your least favorite color considering you eyes are a shade of it. Do you think I should group them by shapes or colors? I'm undecided."

He took her question seriously as he looked over the arrangements she already had. His expression was one of deep concentration as he looked them over.

"These eyes of mine have caused a plethora of problems since birth, and I think by color would be better. I do wonder when you are going to eat those though. Also, how old are you? You know my age but you've yet to tell me yours. Hardly seems fair." Casimir pondered.

Catalina started moving the deserts, "Shapes it is then. And I'm eighteen years of age. So, nine years your junior."

His right eye twitched in slight annoyance.

"I see asking for a man's opinion and then choosing the opposite is a habit all women seem to share. My mother does the same thing." 

He lifted the light blue teacup to his lips drinking the remaining tea and licking his bottom lip in what seemed like to Catalina slow motion. A light blush painted the top of her cheeks as she waved down the cafe maid. She lightly clapped her hands together as she tried to keep her concentration on the center piece while speaking to Casimir.

"I believe I have sated my hunger for the evening." She announced. She turned toward the maid. "I'd like to get these in a box to go please." 

He gave her a questioning stare, "So soon? We were just getting to know each other better."

Cat's gaze was directed downward as she fidgeted with her sleeve.

"Yes, it has been a pleasant evening and lunch. But I'm afraid I should get going now if I plan to meet the coachman where I told them I'd be. It was a surprisingly pleasant apology lunch. I appreciate it." She thanked him. 

"Oh," A small frown and look of reluctance pass over his features, "I understand. I wouldn't want you to miss your ride home. I would offer to take you back in my carriage, but I get the feeling you're not someone who takes rides from strangers. "

She gave a small nod with a shy smile as she stood up.

"You wouldn't be wrong to assume that haha. I have no intention of ending up in anyone's gossip at the next party." She chuckled, "See you around Sir Casimir."

As Catalina left the shop with her books and bag of deserts, Casimir watched her leave with an amused smile. He raised his teacup that was freshly refilled with hot lemon tea.

"I do hope so. Seeing you again, that is."