A meal with a view - Barnaby (open tag)

[barnaby]

It was far too glorious an evening to spend it at home... More so when said home was still littered with unopened crates. Barnaby somehow couldn't rustle up the enthusiasm to complete his unpacking... Not while there was still so much to explore around the area. Besides, the fridge and larder were pretty empty. What better reason to go out and eat? Ok, so he would be doing that alone but at least by heading out he stood a fair to middling chance of meeting someone. That wouldn't happen if he ordered something in.

The Boardwalk was bustling with early evening life and the sun was still warm enough to see a jacket not needed. He ran his fingers through his longer than average hair and set off to find a good place to eat. Good as in busy and not too expensive!

He quickly found what looked to be the perfect place. Figtrees Cafe and Grill. Right on teh Boardwalk itself with ample outside tables where he would be able to watch the world go by.

For 'world' read 'girls'.

He was quickly ushered to a table and Barnaby scanned the menu.

It all sounded delicious! Fresh grilled vegetables, creative omelettes, grilled salmon and seared ahi tuna, chicken avocado with melted swiss cheese sandwich, fish tacos and scrumptious quesadillas with chicken and vegetables as well as oriental and pasta dishes.

"What to choose..." he mused to himself.

A pretty blonde arrived at his elbow, pen poised over the small pad she held. "I can come back if you haven't chosen," she offered.

"What would you suggest?"

She glanced down at the menu. "We-ell the grilled ahi tuna is good but then so is the Santa Fe chicken... "

"Chicken... that sounds perfect!" Barnaby replied with a warm smile.

She made a note, returning his smile as she did so. "And to drink...?"

"Beer... Whatever you have that's local."

"You prefer light or dark?" she asked.

"Dark," he told her.

"Coming right up!"

The girl vanished and Barnaby relaxed back to soak up the sun... and the passing scenery...

[June Griffin]

With the going and comings at the Jergens household and talk of the wedding, June needed to get away to study. Although Colby had promised her something to do for the wedding, she felt a tad out of place.

Figtrees Cafe seemed the perfect place. It was noisy without it being overly loud. She grabbed her books and headed out. She didn't figure how much she was going to be carrying.

She got dirty looks from the passengers on the bus with her disorganized organization. Once her fare was paid she sat quietly.

Upon arriving at the cafe, she was shown to a table. However she didn't see the leg of a chair sticking out slightly.

She went down, the books and papers went up and everywhere. She felt like crying right there as she franticly gathered her items.

[barnaby]

“Bloody hell!” Barnaby exclaimed in shock when the crashing sound of a body smacking against the floor rang out and easily cut through the ambient chatter. His chair scraped back as he hastily leaped to his feet and as he spun towards the sound of the impact he saw a dark-haired girl sprawled on all fours, her books and other paraphernalia strewn around her.

He strode around the tables between them and dropped down into a crouch as she started dragging her items back into her arms.

“Here ya go,” he said with a smile and he handed the girl an errant notepad. “Oh and I think....” He crawled beneath a nearby table, offering the two women who were using it a wry grin as he resurfaced, brandishing the pen he’d spotted rolling away from the immediate scene.

“I think we have it all,” he added. The poor girl looked close to tears. Barnaby straightened and reached down a hand to help her up, pretty sure he’d seen her at school.

“Plenty of room at my table,” he added. “Feel like joining me?” He’d wait until all eyes were well and truly off her before checking to see if she’d hurt herself. He highly doubted her tears would hold back with any such a show of sympathy.

[June Griffin]

If there was ever a knight in shining armor, it had Barnaby's name on it. June gently took his hand and got to her feet.

"Th-thank you." She stammered slightly. "It looks like I know how to make an entrance." She was embarrassed beyond belief but was hiding it as best as she could. It took a moment for his words to register in her brain. "Me? Sit with you? If its not a problem." A few stray tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I don't know how much company I'd be with all the work I'm doing," she debated with herself slightly, after all he had been helpful and made a nice offer without it being the "L.A. Way" as her friends back in Kansas said. "Still sitting alone can be tedious. I think I'll take you up on the offer." There was a small smile on her face.

[barnaby]

“As entrances go I would have to agree you made quite an impact,” Barnaby agreed with a wink. “And no worries about not much conversation,” he went on. “Its just nice to know I’m not sitting here all on my tod.” He leaned closer slightly. “Between you and me that happens far too much!” Barnaby liked company and wasn’t so keen on spending his time so alone. Even if the girl had to work he’d take whatever he could get.

The waitress appeared and took the girl’s order. “I’m Barnaby, by the way. “I think I’ve seen you around school... I teach world history. Well, I only started this week to be honest and so I’m struggling to place names to faces. Do I teach you? “ He didn’t think he did but could very easily be wrong.