FLUSTERED
◜ Joy's First Date ◝

"So–uh you like pasta?"

"Sure!"

        Not having expected the question Joy blurted out the first thing that came to her mind with a little too much enthusiasm. Her face now, in its most usual phase which was being red. She wanted to run out, the embarrassment was killing her.

She was finally on her date with Arthur, he had arranged a beautiful dinner in Slughorn's classroom. Being one of his favorite students gave him a few advantages. This being one of them.

             All the excitement she held for the date was gone, now she was filled with pure nervousness. The date had been going well until that moment, at least she thought so. Arthur was in complete happiness, finding her adorable. He was finally on a date with his longtime crush.

Joy looked down under his intense gaze thinking she had messed it up entirely. When she heard him laugh, she thought he was laughing at her. So tears began to fill her eyes, he noticed this and stopped. Reaching out to grab her hand that rested on the table.

Joy looked up at their hands and then at him and saw the smile he was giving her. It wasn't a fake one or one out of pity, but a completely sincere one and slowly her glossy eyes became normal again.

"I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry off, you've been perfect throughout the date." He told her, she shook her head vigorously.

"I'm been anything but perfect, I messed up." She replied, he nodded.

"It's been perfect in the sense that is having the most entertaining date that I've been on. You certainly know how to make me smile." He answered staring at her with an unknown expression. "Would you like to start over?" He asked, Joy gave him a smile indicating her answer.

"I'm Arthur Kinsley, and you are?"

"I'm Joy Eiffel."

         "Well Joy, it is wonderful to meet you. Tell me about yourself." She smiled getting more comfortable in herself. She let her guard down for the night and although she tried her best to be carefree, she was still awkward at times. Arthur reminded her many times he didn't mind, in fact he stated too many times that it's what made her who she was.

That night a Marauder sat on his bed staring at a Map wondering why he was feeling a pit in his stomach. As he stared at two names who were spending their night in Slughorn's classroom.

—

:/