16: Saturday.

I woke up early on Saturday, I barely slept the night before from the excitement that I was feeling in anticipation for the day after.

Not only was this my first date ever, but it was with the girl of my dreams...

It's funny, ten days ago I wouldn't have even thought about asking Lisa out, but somehow I did. I was both completely ecstatic yet also completely terrified, I mean what if I sed something wrong or made her upset?

What if she ends up hating me and never wants to go on a date with me again?

These were the thoughts that ran through my mind, part of me wanted to call her up and tell her I couldn't make it. But as much as I was afraid. I wanted to see her all the more, after all. For pretty much all my life I've been pining for her, and now I had the chance to date her, possibly become her boyfriend...

And she actually wanted to date me too, though I'm sure if she knew how much of a wretched man I actually was, she probably would have sed no.

I sat at the edge of my bed after reading the book of bathazar, I skipped ahead from church history, (which was about ten chapters of the book. It was twenty chapters in total so I'm sure it'll be a short read once I've decided to start it from the beginning.)

I was most interested in learning about the classes of members in the church.

Apparently there were eleven classes in total.

At the top is the council of seven.

Which are pretty much the head hancho's over the whole thing world wide.

then there's the great elders.

They're basically like a global Senate which are made up of members across the world, everywhere from the states, to Japan, China, all over Europe and the middle east. Pretty much there's an elder for each country in the world. And they help run operations in their own countries respectively.

the knights.

These guys are the one's who protect the elders, and the council and those who dwell in the main church and seminary. They also act as a sort of 'black ops unite.'

Basically when there's a world ending threat, these guys are called in to stop it at all cost. Either by containing the anomaly, or destroying it.

There's also the pastors.

These guys manage towns and cities. Usually there's only one paster per town or city, however on rare occasions the church will send two or three pastors to three different churches in the same city if said place is filled to the brim with the occult and supernatural phenomena.

Then there's the hunters.

The hunters act as the main source for fighting monsters and wizards, they go around and hunt creatures and make sure to fix any anomalies as much as they can.

They don't just hunt, they also stop any supernatural phenomena in general that is threatening the public.

And last is the scribe's and scholars, They work in the main church as well. They basically are theologians who not only study Scripture, and also pagan mythology to understand there enemy's a bit more. but also record church history and add it to there records. As well as gathering info on pretty much everything the church knows of the supernatural.

They actually creat updated versions of the book of bathazar every twenty years, as well as the book of monsters. The book of arc-craft and the book of spirits. (All of them are really self explanatory in there title's.)

After reading for about twenty minutes. I decided it was time for me to get ready,

I got up, did my usual morning routine, calisthenics and light weightlifting. Then I took a shower and put on my best outfit. Which was a black polo and dress pants and a leather belt.

I looked at myself in the mirror, usually I wear my hair messy, but...

"Lisa deserves better-" so I got some pomade I keep for special occasions and slicked my hair back.

"... God I hate this."

But I reminded myself, Lisa should have me at my best. So I let out a sigh and walked downstairs and put on my best pair of shoes I kept in a closet in the hall.

I grabbed my wallet and key's to the house and walked to the door.

I grabbed the door knob, I was about to leave but- 'do you really think you deserve to go on a date? Especially with her?'

"!"

I heard a voice in my head...

I heard that voice before, it was from my dream... The black figure...

"..."

'your unworthy and you know it.'

He was right...

I didn't even deserve to breath her same air, yet alone dating her.

I was trash.

Horrible...

Terrible...

Trash.

But, she obviously liked me...

And the thought of making her sad because I stood her up made me feel guilty just considering it. So I shook my head and ignored the voice.

I opened the door and left the townhouse.

* * *

Knock- knock- knock-

"Coming-!"

A high pitched voice called from behind the door, I stood there nervously waiting for her.

The door opened and there she was, God she was beautiful. She was wearing a white sundress and her signature headband, The white of her dress and her jet black hair really made the blue of her eyes pop. Around her neck was a silver cross necklace...

I saw her wore it a few times before but I never asked about it.

She also seemed to be wearing some shiny lip gloss that made her pouty plump lips look all the more kissable, and she seamed to be wearing some makeup too, but not to much.

Her rosy cheeks seamed to make her look even more adorable.

She also was wearing black slippers and she had a small handbag, I stood there admiring her beauty. "Um... Hi." She smiles shyly.

"Hi..."

There was an awkward silence.

"You um... Look really good." I sed as my eyes wandererd away from her.

"Yeah, you too... You look really handsome actually-"

I still couldn't look directly at her, I was so nervous.

She pouted a little when I refused to meet her gaze.

"Hey, look at me."

My eyes met her's, I couldn't help but smile.

"There, that's better... "

She took a few steps forward tapping her chin with her chin, she circled around me looking me all over, as if aprazing me. "Yep, your a total heartthrob darling~"

I blushes like crazy when she called me that.

"Gee... Thanks." I scratched the back of my head bashfuly. "And your a pretty little thing heh."

She suddenly became red in the face too.

"You meanie, I'm sopposed to be the one who teases you... Dummy."

"I wasn't teasing you, it was a compliment, And who made that rule?"

".... Nobody" she sed with a shy voice.

She looked back up at me. "But you know, there is one thing I don't like about your appearance-"

She came really close to me, once again I caught her perfume, vanilla. Pure vanilla.

"Your hair, it doesn't suit you... "

"Oh?... You don't like it?"

"No."

She sed bluntly.

"Why'd you change it?"

"I um... I thought you'd like it if I wore it like this." She looked at me, then smiled.

"So you were thinking of me?... How sweet, but you know... I like you just the way you are." And my heart raced like crazy when she sed that, I had no response to that, I was frozen with affection. "Geez..."

She smiled and grabbed my hand.

"Come on you, let's get this stuff out of your hair-" she pulled me into the house and dragged me into the bathroom in the hall.

"Go wash out your hair and fix it the way you like, ok?" She smiled sweetly.

"Alright... "

I went in and washed out my hair and dryed it off with a towel that she gave me, then I blow dried it until it became spicy again and my bangs covered my forehead.

"There we go, you look so cute darling."

"Your gonna keep calling me that aren't you?"

"Yep, infact I think I'm just gonna stop calling you by your name and just call you darling from now on."

"That would be weird."

"Why? You like it don't you daaaarrling~?"

She sed in teasingly cute Manor, leaning forward.

"I guess..."

I really did actually, honestly all she'd have to do is bat her big blue eyes at me and call me darling and I'd be like putty in her hands.

She smiled and grabbed my arm, rapping her arms around it. "Don't worry, it won't be all the time, I'll still call you by your name dummy. Buuut- most of the time Ill call you darling, got it?"

"Ok ok... Whatever you say Lisa."

"Hehe, now let's go darling. I wanna get a gyro!"

we walked out of her mansion and took a bus to the city.

* * *

We eventually made it to South street, I've came here a lot in the past with my grandpa only for the Greek place.

Because well,

South street doesn't exactly look...

Safe, but then again it's philly, it's known for being rough, thank God it's actually a good neighborhood. Looks can be deceiving.

We entered the Greek restaurant and took a seat near the back in the corner, Lisa ordered a piece of cake, she did order a shish kabob but she wanted her dessert first. I didn't protest.

I ordered a lamb chop and veggies.

We sat and talked for a bit about randomness, stuff that made us laugh and life in general, I was having a blast just getting to know her, eventually her cake got there, the second it did she grabbed her fork and dug into her cake, "Mmmm! So good~"

She spoke with a full mouth.

"Heh... You really like sweets huh?"

She nodded with zeal. "Of course! Sweets are one of my favorite things in the world! I could eat them all day, everyday for the rest of my life."

"You'd get fat."

"Why would I get fat?"

"Sweets make you fat."

"Sweets make you fat!?"

"..."

"..."

We just looked at each other for a few seconds before bursting into laughter.

"Haha!"

"Hahahaha!"

I stopped then grinned.

"Man, were such nerds..."

"Yeah, but... Hey. That's not a bad thing huh?"

"Nah... It's not at all."

Lisa rested her head in her hand and smiled at me lovingly. "Soooo.... I have a confession."

"What's that?"

"This is actually my first date ever actually heh~" she let out a nervous laugh.

"Really? I never would have guessed...

How come? I mean your a beautiful girl. I'm sure tons of guys have asked you out."

"Yeah, they have but... I've never really been interested in them."

"I see..."

She rolled her eyes. "You do realize I'm saying I've only been interested in you right?"

"Oh. Uhhh..." Once again I became really really red in the face. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"..." I sat there awkwardly.

"Sigh... Whatever, it doesn't matter. What matters right now is us spending time together and getting to know one and other."

"Yeah... Your right."

She smiled brightly. "I'm always right ehehe~"

Wait... So, she's been interested in me for a long time?

I wonder how long? Because I was pining for her for years, and I only lost weight back about three years ago. It couldn't have been before then because well... Who would like a fat slob like I was?

Who knows...

"So, after graduation your planning on going to the seminary right Jack?"

"I guess... I never really thought about that, but if I wanna be a good hunter I guess I'll have to go."

"Good, id hate to go there without you. After all... Your my darling now. And I can't do long distance relationships you know."

"Geez... Its the first date, and your already thinking of me as your boyfriend?"

Her smile faded.

"Well, if I asked you to be my boyfriend right now would you say no?"

"Uhh...."

"Would you?"

"No. I wouldn't..." I admitted.

She smiled smuggly.

"Heh, so your already rapped around my finger, good... Well sense I know it's a yes, then I'm gonna treat you as my boyfriend right now."

"Uhhh.... Ok."

She got up from her seat and sat next to me, she got really close to me and gave me a seductive smile. "..."

'is she gonna-'

Thump!

"Ow!"

She flicked my forehead and gave me a wink.

"Hehe... Did you think I was gonna give you my first kiss so soon? Darling, I may be a bit forward, but I'm not a fast girl hehe... Your gonna have to wait until I'm ready. Got it?"

"Um... Sure."

She leaned back and took another bite of her cake, after a few moments of gathering my composure. I decided to try and take the lead in this conversation, after all. I'm the man and girls prefure if the man takes the lead, so I tried to think of what to say... So. I sed the first thing that came to mind- "soooo.... You like the Phillies?" I sed awkwardly.

I don't even like the Phillies, or baseball... Or football... Or any sports.

"Oh... Uh... Not really."

"Oh."

This is sooooo awkward.

"Um... Let's play a game, I'll say one word. You say the first word that comes to mind after that... Or if you want we can play some kind of other game or... Um... Maybe we can... Um.... "

"... Jack, your trying too hard."

Lisa shook her head.

"Jack, just be yourself."

"I um... "

But I hate myself.

"Sorry..." That's all I could muster out, God,How can she even like me?

Girl's want excitement, not random Superman trivia. And that's all I know.

"I'm... Really boring."

"Your not boring. Not at all... God the more I spend time with you the more I think you seem to loath yourself."

".... I'm just really nervous."

"I'm nervous too. But please, if your afraid your gonna be goofy then I promise, Ill still like you anyway. In fact if you have a goofy side then go on and show it. All I usually see out of you is how quiet you are, I wanna know the real you Jack... So, please let me see the real you."

"..." I hesitated.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"I'm pretty nerdy, and also... Annoying."

"Your forgetting I'm a nerd too idiot."

"Heh... Ok." I smiled.

"If that's what you want then I'll do it, but you asked for it."

And so I preceded to go on a rant about Superman and everything I like about him, and you know what, Lisa actually sat there and listened. And she asked me a bunch of questions too... She was really interested.

And of course I listened to her when she began to rant about sailor moon, And I asked her a bunch of questions too.

After we ate we left there and went to the art museum on the other side of town, we looked at a bunch of paintings and enjoyed the atmosphere. We took pictures and Lisa and I also took a selfie together...

It was fun.

We went back to the bus and rode back to old Town, when we left we decided to take a walk in Ben Franklin park.

We walked over the bridge and through the woods, all the way to a play ground and swing set. It was familiar...

We would play here as kids.

Lisa took a seat on one of the swings. I shood next to her. Grabbing one of the chains on the swing next to her. "Heh... Remember when we'd come here as kids?"

"Yeah. It's really... Nestalgic I guess."

She looked up at me, her expression left her.

"Sorry, I'm guessing you dont like visiting this place much huh?"

"Not exactly but... There's some good things about this place."

"Yeah....it's nice out huh?"

She sed looking at the flowers and trees in full bloom. "Yeah, it's beautiful out."

I looked at her and suddenly. I wanted to have some fun, I got behind her and gave her a push. "!"

She let out a yelp, then she started to laugh as I kept pushing her more and more.

"Hehehe! Haha! Higher!"

I grinned and pushed her harder.

"Yeah!"

"Haha!" I laughed.

I pushed her a few more times then she leaped off and landed. "Woo!"

She looked back at me with a beautiful joyful expression. "I bet you can't go further."

"Yeah your probably right."

She gave me an annoyed expression.

"Your supposed to say you can dummy."

"Um... I've never actually jumped off a swing."

"Oh. Really?"

"Yeah... "

"Well we're gonna have to change that."

She walked behind the swing and shook the chains. "Come on."

"I can't."

"C'mon!!!! Do it!-"

She started saying it over and over again.

"Do it- do it- do it-"

"Nope"

"But!- "

"No way.... I'm not some little kid."

"I'm not a little kid and I did it!"

"Don't care."

"Oh your no fun-" she pouted and crossed her arms. "Please?"

I let out a sigh.

"Fine fine, only because you asked nicely."

"Yay!" She exclaimed.

"Good boy! Now get over here and let me push you darling~"

I walked over and sat on the swing, her tiny hands rested on her shoulder. "Ready?"

"Yep."

She started pushing me, she pushed me once, twice, then thrice- I was getting higher and higher with each push. "Hehe!"

She kept laughing, so was I.

"Alright darling, get ready to jump in 5... 4... 3... 2.. 1!-" as soon as she sed that I attempted to leap off it. And it worked!

I was flying through the air...

...

...

...

For about a half second before landing flat on my face. "Oof!'

"Darling!"

Lisa rushed to my side and checked on me.

"Jack, are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine..." Once again I humiliated myself in front of Lisa, great. Absolutely great, just perfect, I sat up and dusted my shirt off. "Im sorry, I shouldn't have asked you so much... Your all dirty."

"It's ok..." I looked back at the swing, I've humiliated myself twice in front of Lisa, I'm ok with losing to her in a fight because she's my teacher, but with swinging? Nope.

"Lisa... Push me again."

"Hmm? You wanna go again?"

I stood up and went back to the swing and sat down with a look of determination on my face. "Yep"

She got up.

"Alright. Let's do it."

...

...

...

Fast forward thirty minutes later...

"Oof!"

And I fell again, in fact I had tried for the entire time none stop. Lisa for some reason was

Putting up with it, right up to the end when I fell so hard I ended up scraping my temple.

"Jack!" I got up as she rushed to me.

"Yeah?"

"Your bleeding."

She looked around to see if no one was around, then she stretched out her hand and hovered it above my cut. It glowed for a few seconds... Im guessing she was trying to heal me. But, as the energy escaped her hand it was burned and disintegrated before it entered my cut.

!!!!

"Eep!" She quickly withdrew her hand.

"!"

The flames suddenly escaped my body, only a little bit though. Then they stopped.

"Your cut... It's gone."

I touched it.

"It is... And the blood that came out is fine too."

"That seal, it must heal you too."

I looked down at my hand.

"Wow... What else can this do?"

"I guess you'll have to find out the more you use it. "

"But how do I do that?"

"Beats me, divine seals are the one thing I don't know about."

"Geez... Well, at least I'm healed... "

I was still a bit disappointed that I made myself look like a fool in front of Lisa.

"Hey so... I wanna show you something, you weren't supposed to see this until later on in your training but... Come on-"

She grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the playground and took me into the woods, she led me away from the path and through the area all the way to an old run down house. "What's this?"

"Just follow me ok?"

She opened the door, we walked in and headed into the basement. She pulled out a key from her purse and walked to a door and unlocked it. We went in, and there inside the small room was a well. It glowed with bright blue energy coming from the bottom.

She stood on the edge of it.

"Hey! What are you-!"

She smiled and reached out her hand to me.

"Do you trust me?"

"..."

I hesitated for a moment, then grabbed it.

She smiled at me, then pulled me to her and fell into the wall pulling me over.

"Ahhh!!!!!"

I was enveloped in pure light everything went black after that.