He took up a spot near the counter but out of the way while he waited, pulling out his phone and putting in Rowan's number. This was one of the few times he had ever gotten a girl's number, and by far the first from someone as pretty as her. Before he started to write out a text to her though, he was called back to get his drinks and he had to postpone the message. When he got back to his and Eril's apartment though he would text her for sure.
Rowan continued work. There was a customer who started to yell at her becuase she couldn't speak and was different. Rowan shrank away and tried to signal over someone else to deal with them. She finally caught the eye of the manager and Rowan managed to get away and to the employee room. She took deep breaths and put both earbuds in.
With the drinks held tightly in his hands, he made his way back to the apartment with ease. The route was pretty much ingrained in his memory and the only problem he had was opening the door once he got there. "Here's your coffee, idiot," He called out to Eril, watching as his roommate slowly stood up from the couch and made his way to the door where Soren was standing.
"Thanks," He replied, taking his drink and handing him a few bills in return.
Rowan waited until her coworker came and got her. She shakily signed thank you to the coworker and went back to work. She was probably just going to take it easy to the rest of the day. Maybe unpack some of the new books back in the shop and see if she needed to put them out on the shelf.
"Don't write on my arm that crappily anymore," He replied, jokingly scowling at his roommate and muttering a few words before running his hand over the writing on his arm. Thankfully Eril knew about Soren's magic use and had promised he wouldn't tell anyone. When the words had faded and his skin was clean again he took his own drink and plopped onto the couch to text Rowan. Hey, coffee shop guy here, just making sure the number works and you aren't regretting the decision of giving me your number. It wasn't the best message, but he sent it anyway, not knowing if she was even going to respond at all.
Rowan felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She pulled it out and smiled at the message. She paused what she was doing in the back to type out a response, I'm regretting it. Yet. But yes, this is coffee shop girl. She went back to what she was doing opening up another box of books. She was pretty grateful seeing it was Harry Potter and they had just sold their last few copies. She looked at the door and walked over to go put the series out on the shelf.
Well then, if you're not regretting it too much, would you like to go out to eat sometime? He knew it was a little soon to ask that, but he really wanted to see her again. His drink was sitting next to him untouched as he smiled lightly at his phone. Eril flopped down next to him as well and turned on the television, going back to watching whatever sports show he had been watching while Soren was gone.
I wouldn't mind. Where are you thinking? Rowan responded not really minding. He was cute and she was going to take her chance considering he didn't seem that bad. She brushed a bit of hair out of her face as she put the last book on the shelf. She took a step back and smiled before heading back to the backroom to continue her task of unboxing. she looked up at the clock and saw that not much time had passed. This was going to be a long day, good thing she only worked there in the mornings.
Soren's smile grew and he cheered internally, texting her back pretty quickly, I know a good burger place if you eat meat, or we could go to the new italian place that opened a few weeks ago. He almost didn't believe that Rowan had taken him up on the offer, and now he wanted to try to learn sign language to be able to talk to her.
Burgers sounds great! Rowan texted him back leaning against the wall in the storeroom. She bit her lip and thought about her notebook. She might need to add a few new pages in order to have a smoother conversation. Since Soren probably didn't know sign language, Does today work? I get off of work at noon. I mean, if it doesn't that's fine too!
"Oooo, who are you texting?" Eril asked, grinning as he saw Soren's fingers flying over the screen and downing his coffee.
"A girl I met at the coffee shop," He replied, blushing a little and trying to focus on his message, Yeah today works! I have to work until about five tonight but if you want to meet up for dinner I would be happy to :) Telling her that he had to work today reminded him to get his butt in gear and actually get to work. Soren had a job at a mechanics shop down the street and for once he was going to try to get there a little early so maybe he could get off a little early. Maybe he would have time to try to learn some sign language during his lunch break or before meeting with Rowan again.
Dinner works, Rowan responded her face tinging pink. This was happening. She pulled out her notebook and started to write different conversation questions and answers. She always had to be one step ahead when it came to social gatherings. It just came with her conditions.
Sounds good, do you want to meet there at six or seven? He asked before tossing his phone onto his bed when he walked to his room. It didn't take him long to get ready, he changed into a pre stained shirt and jeans before pulling his hoodie back on and grabbing his phone once again. All he needed to do was find his keys. It sounded like an easy task, but he had a habit of forgetting where he put them down whenever they left his hand. Eventually he found them with Eril's help and childish teasing about talking to Rowan.
"Stay safe sweetie," Eril jokingly called in the girliest voice he could, grinning and waiting for Soren's usual response.
"By honey," He called back, waving and rolling his eyes as he saw Eril blow him a kiss to go with the daily joke.
Six works better, Rowan responded. She went back to her chewing on her pen thinking of responses she made need. She thought one up and wrote it down quickly with a little smile.
Soren smiled as he heard his phone buzz and he reached his car, responding to her text before getting into his car, Perfect, do you want to meet there or should I pick you up? Once he got in he was on his way, his phone tossed in the passenger's seat of his car and his fingers drumming on the steering wheel. It was hard to believe that within less than an hour, he had met a really pretty girl, got her number, and was now going to go on a date with her in another few hours.
Rowan thought for a moment. On one hand, she didn't know where this place was and if she would be able to walk there, on the other hand, a kind of stranger having her address. She eventually texted back, You can pick me up. This is my address.
Soren didn't read her message right away, though he heard the phone buzz next to him as he pulled into a parking space. He smiled a little and quickly read the message once he had shut the car off. Alright, see you at six! He messaged back before tucking his phone into his pocket and making his way into the mechanics shop. Time to get to work.
Rowan grinned seeing the message back. She finished up her shift doing little work here and there for next few hours. She did eventually go out and work on the floor once more. She hung up her apron and waved to the store hearing a chorus of goodbyes. She was thankful her shift was over and she could head home to start getting ready for her date.
During the next few hours, Soren's focus was between the date and the work he was doing. Working with engines was one of his favorite parts of this job, between how everything worked together and even the grime from the grease. It made him think he was actually doing work that mattered. The date with Rowan was still on his mind though, and when he finally got to his lunch break, he started to think about what to wear and if he could learn some sign language to talk to her easier.
Rowan was laying back on her bed and was thinking about what she could wear. Should she wear makeup? Maybe. Probably. Yes. She had plenty of time, but her mind was focused. She walked over to her closet and made sure she still had the dress she wanted to wear, or more importantly it was clean. It was there thankfully, and she shook her head and gently hit her cheeks to get herself focused. She still had a few hours until the date with Soren. Letting out a deep breath she grabbed a book and laid on her bed. Reading would take her mind off the date.
Normally Soren finished his lunch within minutes and spent the rest of the time just doing nothing, but with a task on his mind, he spent the rest of his break trying to learn some basic sign language. If he was allowed to do magic in public, everything would be so much easier with trying to learn it, but he was limited to just his memory and hands since he was around people. He doubted that Rowan would be happy about magic use as well, so he decided to stick to learning it regularly even if he had the chance.
As Rowan read her mouth formed the words she was reading. She couldn't speak, but that didn't mean her mouth didn't work. As she mouthed the words a few of the objects in her room started to float. Nothing noticeable just a slow rise that Rowan couldn't see since she was focused on her book. She stopped mouthing along since she was getting to a good part and around the room a gentle thud was heard. Rowan looked up and around not seeing anything wrong or out of place she shook it off and reminded herself, I don't have magic. Even if I did I probably can't use it.
By the time his break had ended, he had learned some basic sign language, though he wanted to learn more before he went to pick up Rowan. The next hours seemed to go by fast, though the last two hours before he could leave felt like they took ages. Soren didn't really mind since he was now working on a motorcycle, something he didn't usually get to work on. It was dirty work though and when he finally finished, his shirt and hands were covered in grime and grease.
Rowan had finished her book. And the next book. She stopped reading in order to go and to run an errand for her roommate, who worked a full time job so they only really saw each other in the mornings, evenings, and weekends. She let out a sigh and continued on her way back with the bag of groceries she bought. Thankfully, the cashier hadn't wanted a conversation either, so Rowan hadn't needed to speak the entire time. Speaking of her roommate, she should probably let her know that Rowan had a date tonight.
Soren wiped his hands off on a piece of towel and grabbed his few things once quitting time rolled around, out the door and on his way home in a matter of minutes. He didn't need to do much to get ready, but scrubbing grease off in the shower did take a while, and he wanted to make sure he looked nice as well. He was excited to see Rowan again most of all though, and show her the few things he had learned so that they could communicate better.
After texting her roommate, and the flood of questions afterwards, Rowan started to get ready. First she did her makeup, nothing overly fancy just some eyeshadow, eyeliner and lipgloss. Then she tried to figure out what to do with her hair before deciding to leave it as it was. Finally she put on her black dress. It was long sleeve and about knee length and flared out towards the skirt. Simple, but cute was Rowan’s name for it. She went to the door with her bag that had he notebook in thinking that would be her main tool of communication.
With Eril's skilled eyes pulling together an outfit, he took a long shower to make sure he was nice and clean. That alone took up most of his time, thankful his roommate was good with clothing and had picked out a casual but nice outfit for him. A nice button up shirt, his nicest pair of jeans, nice shoes and a coat overtop was the selected outfit, perfect with his combed hair. It wasn't too over the top he decided, but yet it still looked nice as he grabbed his keys, phone and money. Soren would be right on time, as he texted Rowan and was on his way, Just making sure you're still up for a date tonight?
Rowan heard her phone go off and reached into her bag to read it. Her nerves were finally setting in and she was really looking forward to this. In her head they maybe were going fast, but this was just a date. Nothing permanent. She smiled when she read the message and quickly responded, Positive. And you?
Soren heard his phone buzz again and he glanced over at it, thankful that he could read the message from the screen and type a quick response before leaving. 100% sure, see you in a few minutes! He started his car up and checked her address one more time before making the drive. The address she gave him didn't seem too far away and he pulled up only a few minutes before six.
Rowan smiled at the text and went back to waiting. A few minutes pass and she spotted the car pull up in front of her house. She had been waiting by the door and looking out the window. Rowan stood up from where she was waiting and exited her house and walked down towards the car really hoping that it was Soren and she wasn't just about to get into some strangers car.