A Few Short Words - Part One

"The trick," Aeneas said, a toothpick sliding behind one canine, "Is saying something."

"It's not that easy," I said, peering out from behind the corner.

"'Course it is," he said, and leapt down from his perch atop the crates, pausing only to sweep a few strands of hair away from his muzzle. He gestured across the street, to the object of our conversation. She held a small basket in her hands, full of single stemmed roses. "You walk over, you open your mouth, words come tumbling out."

"Isn't that just the problem? I don't want just any words to come tumbling out. They should be the right words, shouldn't they?"

"And what would the right words be?"

"I don't know."

"Owen," he said, and patted me on the shoulder, "This is a remarkably circular conversation we are having right now. If you don't know the words you want and or need to say to this darling specimen of the female gender, how do you expect me to?"

"It's so much easier for you," I said and felt my shoulders slump, in spite of myself.

Aeneas responded by flicking one ear. No matter how much he insisted he meant the gesture in good humor, that never made it hurt less. I bent the ear down and rubbed it between my fingers, casting a glance back to the flower girl across the street. Aeneas arched a brow, and glanced between us. He shook his head, and smirked.

"The problem," he announced at last, "Is you don't have my predatory magnetism."

"Predatory magnetism?" Oh, this would be good.

"In the natural world, you would flit around a field, hopping from grass patch to grass patch, nibbling on things and stomping on the ground when trouble reared its head. I, on the other hand..."

"Your parent species was created by humans through years of selective breeding."

"I, on the other hand," he said, a slight but noticably force in his words, "Am designed to hunt. On the prowl. And the ladies, well... it both repulses and attracts."

"Repulses? So, you admit it, then?"

He bared his teeth. "Watch it, Hoppy. Need I remind you which one of us has had dates in recent memory?"

"Then help me out. What do I say to her?"

He let out a long sigh, then grabbed my forearm. I lost my footing instantly, and had no choice but to fall in step behind him. I let out small protests as my feet dragged against the pavement, but as with everything else in our lives, Aeneas would not be denied. We finally stopped in front of the flower girl, and he presented himself with a slight bow.

"Madam."

She let out a light chuckle, and picked up a rose. "Lemme guess, y'all need flowers for yer dates?"

"Well, that is one half of the problem. I need a flower for my date this evening. My long earred friend, on the other hand--"

"Aeneas..."

"--has a problem of another sort--"

"I am going to kill you..." I muttered.

"--He lacks a date entirely--"

Only the iron grip on my forearm kept me from dashing back into the alley, back to our current home, maybe all the way back to the SPIA training grotto in hopes of living today down.

"--And I... well, he as well, but I'm the one who can speak of it... was wondering if you might be occupied yourself this evening?"

I saw a slight flush appear behind the tan fur on her cheeks, and she slowly leaned over, her pink, jewel like eyes appearing from behind Aeneas's arm, and looking at me.

"Does he talk?"

"Hi," I said, my voice barely audible.

"Oh, he does. Nifty." She snickered, and picked up a rose from her basket. With one quick motion, she tucked it behind the crook of Aeneas's ear. "So, there's yer flower."

"Thank you very much, miss," he said, and smiled. "And the cost?"

"That depends," she said, and slid around to his side, coming to face me. "Mr. Silent Friend, are y'gonna take me out, or what?"

"Y-you will?" I said. My heart felt somewhere in the vicinity of my throat.

"I think the question should be, will you?" She lifted another flower from the basket and held it in front of me. It took a moment for me to take the hint, and take the flower from her hand.

"Y-you mean you haven't had anyone else ask?"

"Lotsa people have asked," she said, her head tilting to one side. "I ain't heard nothing but cheesy pick-up lines all day. Y'all, on the other hand, just asked an honest question, and I'm having a hard enough time draggin' just one word out of you. Besides," she paused to tap one finger against my nose, "Yer cuter than the rest of 'em."

I stared at her, my whole body feeling a little numb from the experience. It amazed me that my footpads felt soaked, and yet my mouth felt bone dry. I could feel one ear twitch a little, and I blinked, still finding it hard to believe this gorgeous girl said yes. And thought I was cute. And she said yes!

"Uh, Owen," Aeneas said, offering a sharp elbow to my ribs, "You're supposed to say 'yes' now, if I understand the process correctly."

"Huh?" I felt a sudden warmth in my cheeks and let out a laugh, far higher in pitch than I would have liked. "Oh, yes. Of course!"

"Well, now that we got that outta the way," she extended one hand forward, her large tail swaying slowly from one side to the other, "Lemme tell you who yer dating. Telara Ansara, at your service."

"Owen," I sputtered out. "Owen Matthias."

"Well, Owen Owen Matthias, when can I expect you to escort me to dinner?"

"Tonight."

"Yeah, I gathered that much. Didja have a time in mind?"

"What works for you?"

"I'm pretty open minded," she said, and chuckled a little bit. "Did your friend have a time for his date?"

"Aeneas," he said, and shook her hand. "And how does 6:30 sound?"

"It sounds like a time," she said, that infectious grin crossing her face again. "Meet me here?"

"S-sure," I said.

"Well, Miss Ansara, it's been a pleasure. If you'll excuse us, I'm going to go teach my inept friend a few more words in the English language before we meet again."

I gave a weak wave before Aeneas again dragged me off, shaking his head. I stared until she became a small figure in the distance, more customers walking over and buying flowers from her.

"Only you," he muttered.

"What?"

"You scored a date by being a complete idiot. That Ansara girl must love charity cases." He shook his head. "And why in the name of Bede does that name sound so familiar?"

"Not sure," I said, and finally turned away from her. "Hey, Aeneas?"

"Yeah?"

"You don't have a date tonight."

He stopped, glanced down the street, and caught the eye of a petite jaguar girl walking down the street. He smiled, turned to where the hair that fell down over the right side of his face was toward her, and arched one brow.

"Hi there."

"Hello," she said.

"Doing anything tonight?"

"I suspect I am now."

"Aeneas Van Barkarne," he said. "Your escort for the evening."

"Cinnia Keelin," she said.

"6:30, I'll meet you here. Sound good?"

"Sounds perfect."

We made it a few steps away before he boasted that obnoxious grin.

"What is it with you, anyway?"

"Predatory magnetism, my friend. Predatory magnetism." It wasn't until months later I found out he and Cinnia were already an item, but that failed to tarnish his reputation. After all, he got me the date with Telara.

If only I knew how it would turn out.