Alex smiled at her and leaned forward a little to rest an elbow on the table. "Good thing I am the type of man that usually takes action then." He smirked, teasing her. He raised his eyebrow at what she said, "Oh actions usually get rewarded?" She's leaning over... Doesnt she look beautiful! He was smiling as her lips touched his. Alex kissed her back, happily. The nervousness was gone and he felt happy. They were on mothers now. "I think all mothers go to a class to learn that look... I swear my mother seemed to have perfected it." He chuckled and smiled, looking at her.

"Get sick of you? Ha! That seems impossible, Jazz. You are a delight to be with!" He beamed and looked at her. Alex nodded at the mind jogger. "Hmmm..." Without much debate, he spoke up, "I could take you out to dinner... if you want." He flashed his usual pearly white smile, "I mean, I would invite you over and cook for you but I am afraid that I am not quite settled in... though if you named a restaurant, I would love to take you to it..." He offered as he stood up slightly.

"Good thing.." she smiled and winked. "Yeah they doo.." she smiled and leaned towards him and saw his reaction. He was just as shocked as she was when he kissed her. She felt him kissing back and was relieved the feelings were mutual. She couldn't stop smiling. "Yeah I feel like every mother perfected their stare. It is like a special class we are not aware of.." Jasmine laughed and it could be true right? It was the only logical explanation.

Jasmine blushed at his comment and squirmed. "You are just saying that.." Jasmine heard his offer about cooking and thought that was a great idea. "Well I would love a good cook in dinner. We can cook in my apartment if you want.." she offered. "I have a kitchen I have yet to use and I know a few recipies.." she grinned sheepishly. "Unless you have a recipe in mind?" she asked curiously. Please say yes!

For Ashley
 

Always the gentleman, Benjamin had arrived early and secured a table inside the cafe. The place had a good turnaround and he had plenty of people to watch while he waited, bouquet of paper flowers sitting on the table by his hands. He'd owe Maddie for making them but it was worth it if this girl he was waiting for turned out to be cool. Speaking of, the brunette who'd just entered was quite attractive. Was she looking for someone? Cooper sat up and straightened his bow tie, intrigued.


"Benny," He corrected, a small smirk playing on his lips when that same brunette called his name. He stood and motioned towards the table, making sure to take in every inch of the girl as he did. Beautiful, she was. Better than expected.

Benny. His name was apparently Benny and not Benjamin. That had not been written on the piece of scrap paper that she had so how was she supposed to know? Selena put a smile on her face. Well, at least he wasn't ugly. Who knew? With these matchmaking things, for all she knew he could have looked like a troll. She approached the table and stuck a hand out, making note of the... paper flowers at the table. Cute.

"Selena Zabini-Riddle," she said, waiting for him to shake her hand or whatever before she sat down. Selena still had manners even if she didn't exactly want to be here. "It's nice to meet you, Benny Cooper."

"You sure are." Benny grinned and then took her hand, bringing the back of it to his lips. That's it, Cooper. Lay on the charm. "Nice to meet you too. Hope you're hungry. Heard this place has delicious pastries." He motioned her towards the empty seat and then returned to his own, eyes never leaving hers. Hopefully this chick was a big eater. He couldn't stand the type that simply picked at things.

"These are for you, by the way." He'd seen her eyeing the flowers. Girls were a sucker for those things. Holding them out to her, he eyed his sisters craftsmanship. She'd done okay, squirt had. "Figured paper flowers would last longer, yeah?"

Handsome and thoughtful. Selena had lucked out, clearly.

He kissed her hand.

Selena wasn't quite sure how she felt about it but she found it a bit... cute? Maybe she'd not hate this after all. There was nothing wrong with a little dating here and there anyways and there was definitely nothing wrong with seeing an attractive person who kissed hands as greetings. Selena took the empty seat and looked around.

"Good. If the place is going to serve pastries it ought to be delicious. If not, what's the point?" Selena said with a little laugh. Besides, any place that served bad food shouldn't be open and wouldn't stay open for long. "Have you ever eaten here before?"

The flowers were for her? Selena wasn't sure who else they'd be for at the moment, but she accepted the bouquet of colorful flowers. Selena pretended to sniff them too. It smelled like paper. That was not a pleasant smell. She cleared her throat with a little ec-hem. "Thank you. Did you make them yourself?" Because if he did that would be impressive. She highly doubted that though; most guys weren't exactly good at crafts like these.

She had a nice laugh, the kind that complimented her features. Not that he was letting on how much he enjoyed her face. No, Benny was trying to play it cool. Just because he'd not been out on a proper date in a while didn't mean he wasn't a pro at this sort of thing. Maybe. Ahem.

"I pop in every now and then. The pie here is delicious. Speaking of, what are you in the mood for?" He'd go up and order for them, of course. He already knew exactly what he'd be getting.

The smirk was immediate when she smelled the flowers. She knew paper smelled like paper, yes? Though Maddie could've done him a solid and perfumed it, for Merlin's sake. He'd make a note to complain about this later. Maybe send the kid a howler just to stick it to her properly. "My kid sister did, actually. She's into origami these days."

He smiled at her wink and oh my gosh her kiss! "Hmmmm yeah." Alex chuckled. Yep, a special class!" He nodded, agreeing with her. He had a sappy smile on his face because of the kiss. It was amazing.

"Nope. I really do think you are charming and I find it impossible not to want to be around you." He smiled at what she said, "That sounds wonderful." His smile widened. Alex shrugged, "I might be able to dig up some old family recipes if you desire..." He rest his head in his hand and smiled at her.

Selena could say that she'd never been here before for actual food. She'd come here every so often when Emma had work and got a lunch break out. They'd mostly go get coffee and just chat but never really anything to eat. She pursed her lips as she looked at the menu board.

Ah... food... why was it so hard to choose? He did say the pie was delicious... But cake existed and so did everything else.

"Cake. I'll have a slice of cake." Selena had decided. Except... she hadn't decided on the flavor. She glanced over the displays and then at the menu again. "I'll have a slice of chocolate cake." You could never go wrong with chocolate. Chocolate was probably one of the best inventions ever.

Kid sister? He had a sibling? She placed the paper flowers on the table, taking note of that smirk on his face. Yes, Mister Cooper, Selena Zabini-Riddle had noticed that little smirk. "Your kid sister is very talented." And she wasn't lying just 'cause this was a first date and all. They were very pretty which meant she had to be talented to create them. Or maybe the kid had just practiced a lot; who knew. "They're beautiful though they don't smell as good as they look," she added.

It smelled like paper. Given, Selena should've known that but still.

Alani Marie didn't have her date waiting too long, knowing the cafe he was speaking of as it wasn't terribly far from where she worked or lived. And while apparation was an option, Alani preferred to walk to the cafe.

With his letter on her mind, she approached, stared obnoxiously at every man who passed her field of vision until one with a paper mustache appeared before her. Ah. "You're either my date." She slipped into the seat across from him. "Or a very odd man who's compensating for lack of facial hair."

"Or both," Rhys offered with a grin. He stood and removed the mustache with one hand while extending the other to shake her hand. Another redhead. Why was his life plagued by redheads? This one was very pretty, too, and a little to reminiscent of his last girlfriend.

"I'm your date, but I'm also quite odd. And a man. And I have a serious lack of facial hair. Rhys Tate. A pleasure." Even redheads could be good company, and they deserved to eat. Or drink. Whichever. He remained standing, giving a nod at the counter. "Can I order you something at the counter?"

"Wise choice." Benny smiled, thinking chocolate really was the only way to go where cake was concerned. "And to drink?" Apple pie and hot chocolate sounded good to him right now and maybe he was a bit of a child as far as his food choices were concerned but hey, he was a child at heart.

"I'll be sure not to tell her. Maddie already has enough of an ego as it is." It was clear in his tone he had a soft spot for her, unlike his younger brothers. What Selena said next made him laugh lightly, his eyes bright. It had been funny to see her sniff the flowers and the fact that she wasn't embarrassed about doing so was refreshing. "Perfume for future paper flower endeavors, then. That I will tell her."

Did she have to stand TOO? Alani had just gotten there and the walk wasn't the shortest, so she continued sitting when she shook his hand. If he wanted to sit back down, that would be good considering his height.

Also, she wanted that pretty face close for inspection.

"I'm glad you're a man. It's okay about the facial hair because fake mustaches are more entertaining. Alani Marie." And he was still standing. Oh, food! "Coffee loaded with cream and sugar, and a scone." Was he offering to pay as well? Sure, he was dressed gentlman-y, but that didn't mean he was paying. Alani got out a galleon and held it up for him to take.

"Coffee," Selena said with a slight nod of her head and a smile. Wise choice. Of course it was a wise choice. It was Selena's choice. Selena did not make stupid choices... at least none that she could think of. If she had done anything stupid in the past it was long forgotten.

Not to tell her? An eyebrow rose before she started to laugh. "Nothing wrong with having a big ego," Selena pointed out. "She could sell these. With a little bit of perfume, these could replace real flowers." Except then there would be no flowers for perfume for these fake flowers. Well... maybe they'd just replace flowers for dates then. Real flowers could be used at other stuff like banquets.

"Does your sister attend Hogwarts?" Since they were on the subject of her and all.

Should he put the fake mustache back ON? Or... Rhys left it off and smiled gamely at the woman. Alani. Pretty name. Pretty woman. "Coffee with cream and sugar. And a scone. And put that galleon away, or you'll hurt my feelings."

He retreated to place their order, returning with a cup of coffee for each of them, a scone for Alani, and a slice of carrot cake for himself. "I'm eating healthy, obviously, and this is my dose of vegetables for the day." He slid back into his seat and took a big bite of cake. All show, just for her.

"I love health food, don't you?"

"Coffee and chocolate cake. You got it." Benny moved to get up but paused, a smile playing on his lips. "Hold that thought, yeah?" About his little sister and all. They could discuss over delicious food as soon as he returned

...

It took him two trips but when he'd finally seated himself again, there was a piece of chocolate cake and a mug of steaming hot coffee in front of Selena. He'd even had some cream and sugar packets in front of her as he didn't know how she took her coffee. For him, the very adult choice of hot apple pie a la mode and hot chocolate. Everything looked delicious.

"Now, where were we?" He wrapped his hands around his mug and looked at the girl across from him thoughtfully. "She'd love that, Maddie. I'm sure she'd have her business up and running by summer if I told her there was a market for it." And more likely than not, her older brothers would be the ones buying most of the flowers from her. Especially the younger two with the way they went from girl to girl. "And yeah, she's a Ravenclaw. She seems to like it." Or so he thought. It was hard to read her, truth be told.

After sipping on some hot chocolate, he added, "What about you? Got any sisters or brothers?"

Selena nodded and waited patiently for her cake. She fiddled with the edges of the paper flower petals while she waited and when she had the food down in front of her, she grinned. Oh chocolate cake, how she loved it so. And coffee. She wasn't particularly fond of coffee but she found that with enough sugar it tasted amazing.

"That looks good," she said, eyeing his pie. Why hadn't she gotten that instead? It had ice cream with it. Drats. Then she looked back at her cake... hm... still. Chocolate pretty much trumped everything.

She looked up from the cake and the pie to him, while ripping open sugar packets and dumping it into her coffee. "She'd make a little fortune off of it," Selena said with a nod. A little entrepreneur as a sibling? That must be interesting. "Your sister could sell them to students, it'd win over everyone," she added with nod. Or to professors. They could keep a bouquet on their desks and they wouldn't have to water or really care for them at all.

"One half-sister. Despise her. Don't talk to her or contact her really," Selena said, mixing in some cream with her coffee. Selena didn't exactly like talking about her family. Then again, she just didn't like her family. She took a sip of her coffee and stuck out her tongue. Ow. Hot. And ew. Bitter. She added more sugar to her coffee and smiled. "Did you attend Hogwarts?" Because she didn't really recognize him from the halls or classes or anything and he could not possibly be much older than her.

"Should of let me order for you." Benny grinned and waved a fork at her lazily before using it to break off a piece of pie. He nommed it happily and then let out a content sigh. Delicious. After a minute he nudged his plate towards her. "Kidding. Help yourself to some if you want a taste." He didn't mind sharing with a pretty lady.

"She's actually not much of a people person. Maybe this'd help, though. I'll have to write her about it." Which he didn't normally do but she WOULD want to know how his date went so it couldn't exactly hurt to slip this into the letter.

"I see." He did and could tell she wasn't a fan of the subject so he wouldn't push it. Benny was no stranger to family issues himself so letting the topic die was probably for the best. First dates were meant to be kept light anyway, yes?

He let out a small laugh as he watched her sip her coffee, one that was quickly stifled. "Careful, it's hot." His smile widened and he took a sip of his own beverage, amused. "I was home schooled by my dad. 'Fraid I missed out on all the Hogwarts action. I hear that place always has something going on." And Maddie seemed to enjoy it as far as he could tell. "I take it you did?"

Selena couldn't help but laugh at what Benny said. She shook her head ever so slightly and cut into her cake with her fork. "Well, chocolate pretty much trumps everything else," she pointed out. Selena practically lived for chocolate at one point or another. His pie did look really good though; she was not going to lie about that. But it was not chocolate. When he offered it to her, Selena let out a long sigh. "I don't know how it's going to compare to chocolate cake," she said, smirking at him and taking a little bit of it. It tasted amazing. Maybe better than the cake but she was not telling him that at all. "Hmm... it's... okay," she said, with a nod of her head.

It always baffled Selena when she found out people weren't "people persons" when they attended Hogwarts. She just found it downright strange. "You should. Hogwarts is a wonderful place to meet people." Selena had met loads of people there. A lot of fruit people.

She stuck her tongue out at him. "I am fully aware that it's hot, Mr. Cooper, I burned my tongue," she pointed out laughing. She mixed her coffee a little bit more, taking a bite of her chocolate cake which she was not going to offer. Nope. Chocolate cake was all hers. She called dibs. "Homeschooled? How was that?" Because Selena had been taken out a year and she had found it downright horrid. When he asked her the question Selena sat up a tad bit straighter.

"I not only attended Hogwarts but I was prefect my sixth year and Head Girl. Slytherin house of course but the other houses were nice too," she said proudly. Because how often did she get to mention that she was once head girl? Not really often.

"Everything else?" His eyebrows were raised, his expression doubtful. Surely it wasn't better than snogging. Snogging trumped lots of things. So did his pie and he could tell she enjoyed it. "Better than okay." Smirking right back at you, Selena. "Delicious. this is. I think the only way I'll be able to get an accurate assessment of which is better is if you offer me some of your cake." Benny wiggled his fork at her, head tilted to the side. "It's only fair."

Was it? Benny had heard it was a wonderful place to get into trouble but he supposed you couldn't believe everything you heard, yeah? "I'll keep this in mind." He would.

"You poor thing." He grinned before sticking his tongue out in retaliation. It was refreshing to meet someone with a good sense of humor. The girls he'd met in Italy weren't keen on his teasing. After sipping happily on hot chocolate, he placed his mug down and considered her question thoughtfully. "It wasn't all bad. Having one-on-one attention from your teacher is beneficial but I missed out on meeting kids my age, yeah?" 'Least he had his brothers around.

The way she talked about her time at Hogwarts was amusing and Benny played up his reaction accordingly. "Prefect and Head Girl? My, my, I'm out with Hogwarts royalty." His head bowed in respect and then he chanced a glance at her, all smiles. "Why the matchmaking service, your highness? Seems a girl like you could do fine finding a date without one."

...Though he was happy she'd ended up out with him today.

Well she didn't want him to cry or anything, so she took her galleon back and made note to buy something for her pet instead.

The wait wasn't that long and she occupied it by watching with people watching before he returned, and then the food was in front of her and it got all of her attention. Most of it at least. "I like you're brand of healthy foods. Might have to try it out more myself." She grinned before taking a bite of the scone and washing it down with coffee.

"I like it in the form of pies and pastries." If that's what he was asking. "What else do you like, Rhys? Or do you prefer Tate? I'm going to call you Rhys." Because it sounded like the candy almost. And she liked candy too.

That's the spirit. Rhys appreciated a woman who could play along, so much so that he gave her a grin that was half goofy and half cream cheese icing. He could be adorable, right? At one point in his life, he'd been very charming... but maybe he'd aged past that point in recent years. Wasted 'em on a girl who didn't want adorable.

"I have rules about healthy food. Mostly, if it comes from a plant, it's good for you. Chocolate, coffee, whatever, they're all health foods, if you think about it." He could write his own diet book, if he wasn't absolutely sure his theory was really just bunk.

"Pies and pastries. Flour comes from wheat, so health food. I appreciate your lifestyle." And it didn't seem to be doing her any harm. Rhys offered his cake to her for sharing. "I'm just Rhys. There are too many Tates, and it would get confusing."