Perfect School

"Let's eat here. I want to see the competition if they come in.". I said after a moments thought. I tapped a fist against my leg before nodding. " we are being watched though, east side at 2'o'clock. And probably another from behind us.". I brushed my hair behind my ears before taking his arm and giving a fawning smile up at him. Like switching out a mask, my expression went from unfeeling to a lovesick puppy. "Shall we?"

Jonah:

“Yes dear.” I muttered. I would have rolled my eyes if there wasn't an audience. As we had been told, we were the youngest here by a few years. There was a girl sitting alone at the bar that was eying us. I looked down at Kira, she looked like a young defenseless girl. Her size alone made you think she was about twelve.

We sat down in a booth and were given menus. I looked it over for a minute before deciding what I wanted. The girl at the bar was still watching us. I glanced at Kira then back to the girl before giving her a half wave, acknowledging that I knew she was there. She smiled polity and turned away.

“Any of these fit into your diet?” I asked Kira now that we had one less pair of eyes on us.

"Everything. I am not on a diet, but thank you for noticing what I eat Jonah. Girls love that.". I searched the menu absently as I talked. "It is a certain level of nutrient and medicine I need. Hence my black sludge.". I shrugged then offered a charming smile, the mask still in place.

Jonah:

I smiled back at her. “You look almost like The Joker when you do that.” I told her in a low tone. It wasn't true of course. She looked beautiful with a smile on her lips, but it was empty with no light behind her eyes. She could easily fool anyone looking on, but to someone who had spent as much time studding the lines of her face as I had, it looked awkward.

"I look like a sociopathic clown with a love for another man who calls himself justice...how sweet of you." I kept up the smile as I turned my attention to the menu again. I picked out what I wanted, a stir fry mix over a bed of white rice with a peanut sauce to go over the top. Setting aside my menu I resumed my smile at him, fingers lacing under my chin.

Jonah:

I grinned to myself. “I am Batman.” I said with a nearly perfect imitation of the voice. If she wanted to put up an act then I would humor her, and let my inner-child out along the way.

An unlady like snort slipped free before turning into a girlish giggle. "More like my Harley Quinn, but like Joker I'd never ride my harley."

Jonah:

I laughed and rolled my eyes just before someone came to take our order. I got salmon with rice pilaf. “Maybe we could take a dip in the jacuzzi after lunch.” I suggested.

I told them my order before look to Jonah again. "Jacuzzi?". I repeated after a moment of staring at him. "Maybe....if your good..."

Jonah:

My eyebrows twitched in amusement. “You like being in water. I would think you would be eager to get in the pool. It's larger than the one at school.” I said to her, folding my arms on the table and leaning in.

"Jacuzzi is not a pool." I countered with my own lofted brow as I mimiced his position. "A dip in the pool would be welcome. But I'd have to decline. Too open."

Jonah:


“Too open? It's not like you have anything to hide Kira.” I said smoothly looking in her deep green eyes. “You're an open book.”

"Oh? None at all?" I dropped my gaze from him and coyly played with the shoulder strap of my dress. I slid it down a few inches on my shoulder before pulling it back up. "I'm sure I still have some surprises for you." My voice was sweet and a bit sultry, but underneath where only he would know where to look was the taunting tone.

Jonah:

It was an act but it still caught my eye's attention with her strap. I smiled coquettishly “I'm positive that you do.” I was greatly enjoying myself. Even if it was an act, playing with Kira was fun.

I caught his gaze to my shoulder, marking it as a win on my end. I let the silence drag on for a long moment before asking a sudden question. "Why me I wonder though. I can't help but wonder what made you pick me Jonah. So many would love to be in my position now...Akiko...Jamie.....Emily...."

Jonah:

“Mm.” my smile stayed but the playfulness behind it diminished. Emily had not once crossed my mind since stepping out of the school doorway. It wasn't a welcome reminder, as I had been growing more fed up with her every week. “I imagine so.” I said as I leaned back, off the table. “Anyone would be pleased to be as talented as you.” I knew that was not what she meant, and not why she said it, but I didn't care to talk about any other girl at the moment.

"Not everyone." My mind dipped back to Andrew for the briefest of moments before I pushed it out of my head. Our meal coming was a welcome reprieve from the ruined conversation. "Thank you for the compliment though." A note of genuine thanks lay in my voice as I settled my napkin across my lap.

Jonah:

I studied her for a moment, letting my food sit in front of me. It always stirred something inside me when she was genuine in a positive way. So often she was closed off, dulled and matter of fact in all her manners, but when she smiled, or reacted honestly, it was like a sliver of light shining behind her closed door. I craved nothing more than to pry her open to get to the girl underneath the layers of masks that made up her outward personality. Then I could truly understand her.

I focused on my food after that, letting the silence grow comfortably. The food was passable, good compared to the average every day meals. But compared to things I had while near Marie it was poor in taste and quality. But the school was much the same way and I ate without complaint.

Jonah:

I ate my food, my mind turning to the competition. Halfway through our meal the girl at the bar was joined by a short muscular guy. There were a few other people in the restaurant now, all young.

My eyes steadily roamed the people as they came in before a pair entered and made me stiffen. "Shit..." I murmured expressively, all pretenses dropped as I eyed the pair of guys. The one on the right I had trained with. The one on the left...I knew him by reputation alone. The one I had trained with was British and even from here I could tell he had a smile on his face. A thin face with a blond mess of hair and dark blue eyes. He'd been cute when I had met him, now he had grown to a handsome one. The one beside him was Irish, with red hair, green eyes, a mess of freckles and a perpetual scowl as his big hands flexed.

Jonah:


My eyes flicked to follow hers after her unusual reaction. I appraised the two guys who came then analyzed Kira. I looked at her expectantly rather than voicing my question.

"The Irishboy is named Dub. He's stronger than you'd think and more ruthless than you have ever seen. I know him by repuation alone. He will do everything in his power to make his opponent lose. No matter how dirty. The other...his name is Sean. I spent a part of my life with him..." My words on the blond were spoken softly, a thoughtful expression on my face. "He'd give you a good challenge...I'm not sure who would win between you both..."

Jonah:

My fish was mostly finished so I set my fork down and contemplated what she said about the two guys. “You trained with him?” I asked, ignoring the tinge of jealousy. I was confident in myself that I would win even if he was skilled. Though if he had been trained like Kira it would be a difficult one to win.

"Trained with him, lived with him for a time, even had to share a tent out in the field. He...reminds me of you. You both fight with similar styles..." A finger tapped at my lips thoughtfully. "I don't know how he has improved since last I saw him..."