[EX] Chapter - 3 (A Date with Jemma)

The evening before your date with Jemma, you receive a message from her confirming your plans for the next day. She’s eager and excited, and you can’t help but smile as you read her message.

Message from Jemma: “Hi Luke! Just wanted to confirm our date tomorrow. I’ll be ready at sharp 6 in the morning!”

You chuckle softly to yourself. It’s clear she’s misunderstood your intention to meet at 6 PM, and instead, she’s planning to be ready at 6 AM. She must have treated this like a School trip. Her innocence and eagerness only make you like her more.

You don’t want to embarrass her, and her enthusiasm is endearing. So, you decide to play along with her misunderstanding. You'll make sure she has a memorable day.

You reply to her: “Looking forward to it, Jemma!”

You can almost imagine her blushing as she quickly responds.

Message from Jemma:  "I’ll see you tomorrow morning!”

---

February 9th, 2008 (Saturday)

At the crack of dawn, you find yourself standing outside Jemma’s door. Before you can even ring the doorbell, it opens, and there she is, looking at you with an excited, shy smile.

“Good morning, Jemma,” you greet her warmly, knowing she must have been waiting just behind the door to open it so quickly.

“Good morning, Luke!” Jemma replies, still smiling shyly.

"You look wonderful and refreshing this morning," you comment, taking in her casual yet stylish outfit—jean shorts, a light jacket, and her hair tied back in a ponytail. She’s wearing minimal makeup, looking naturally beautiful.

“Thank you, you look very good too!” she says, blushing with a small smile. She silently thanks her friends Amara and Helen, who helped her choose the outfit. She’s glad she didn’t go with her initial choice of a sweater and pants.

“I’ve got a lot planned. Are you ready for our day?” you ask, extending your hand.

“That sounds wonderful. Let’s get going!” she says, gripping your hand tightly.

You smile and lead her to your car. You can see she’s a bit awkward, not knowing what to say or do. To make her more comfortable, you turn on the music.

"Oh! This is my favorite song," Jemma says with a surprised look.

"What a coincidence, I like this song too," you smile at her. In reality, it was D.A.I.S.Y. that had picked her favorite song, but your words delight her even more.

As you listen to the music, you soon arrive at your first stop of the day: a charming little café for breakfast. The café has a cozy, rustic vibe with wooden beams and soft lighting.

"I’ve heard about this place," Jemma states as you both enter the empty café. "But I thought it was always packed, morning or night."

You just smile, knowing you had booked it entirely for your date today. A waiter comes and leads you to your seats.

As you both sit down, you order a traditional English breakfast, knowing it’ll make her feel at home. “I thought you might appreciate a taste of home,” you say with a wink.

“Oh, Luke, this is perfect. I miss a good English breakfast,” Jemma responds, her eyes lighting up.

The breakfast is delicious, and you both enjoy the food while engaging in light conversation. You talk about your work, your interests, and your favorite places in the city. Jemma’s eyes sparkle as she talks about her latest research project on curing Cassie's condition.

"My research into self-regenerating cellular tissues will definitely help Cassie, though it might take years for her to heal fully," she mumbles, deep in thought. "Oh, I’m sorry, I started talking about work again," she says with an embarrassed blush.

"No, I don't mind. In fact, I like hearing you talk. Your British accent is such a turn-on," you respond with a smile, making her look down at her food with a red hue coloring her cheeks.

After a hearty breakfast, you take her to a local museum.

"Oh! This museum features a special exhibit on medical history! I’ve always wanted to go, but none of my friends were willing to come with me to a museum," Jemma says excitedly.

"Well, today I’m here to accompany you," you say with a smile as you grab her small hand and intertwine your fingers with hers. You knew about Jemma’s passion for biochemistry and medicine, and seeing the excited smile on her face confirms you made the right choice.

As you walk through the museum, Jemma is fascinated by the exhibits. “This is incredible, Luke. Did you know some of the earliest medical tools date back to ancient Egypt?”

“I didn’t, but I’m glad you’re here to teach me,” you reply, knowing there are many fascinating things about ancient Egypt, but seeing Jemma's excitement makes everything more interesting. “Your knowledge is impressive, Jemma.”

She blushes, clearly pleased by your compliment. “Thank you, Luke. I just like knowing about weird medical facts like this.”

You spend hours exploring the museum, discussing various exhibits, and sharing your thoughts. Jemma is in her element, and you love seeing her so animated and happy.

"I hope I haven’t bored you," Jemma says with an awkward smile as you leave the museum. "Exploring a museum with me couldn’t have been fun for you."

"With a cutie like you accompanying me, how could I get bored?" you say with a smile.

She blushes with a happy smile. "Then, umm, you wouldn’t mind if I asked you to visit other museums with me, would you?" she asks, looking at you in anticipation.

"Definitely, I would love to accompany you wherever you want," you reply with a warm smile as you tighten your grip on her hand.

Her smile widens as her good mood improves even more.

Since it’s already afternoon and time for lunch, you take her to a charming little bistro that serves a mix of British and Californian cuisine. It’s a perfect blend of her home and her new life here. The restaurant is cozy, with dim lighting and soft music playing in the background.

As you both sit down, the waiter brings the menus. “I took the liberty of ordering us some appetizers. I hope you don’t mind,” you say with a smile, already knowing her likes.

“Not at all, Luke. This place is lovely,” Jemma responds, looking around in awe.

The place is small but exclusive, perfect for a private date.

You both enjoy a delicious meal, engaging in lively conversation. Jemma, knowing you don’t mind her talking, continues discussing her latest research project. She might be enjoying it a lot because you are indirectly solving her doubts, never giving her the answer directly but making her realise it on her own. 

Anyways you still find yourself fascinated not only by her intellect but also by her passion.

“Tell me more about your research on Myasthenia Gravis,” you say, feeling a bit guilty about having her put that research on a low priority since you’ve already cured Cassandra.

Jemma’s face lights up. “Well, it’s a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the neuromuscular junction. I’ve been working on a potential cure that targets the acetylcholine receptors…”

She continues explaining with excitement, even forgetting to eat until you remind her. You listen attentively, asking questions and making her feel appreciated. 

You like to think that your intellectual engagement and genuine interest were the reasons why she was blushing and smiling throughout the lunch, not because you were putting her favourite foods in her dish from yours.

After lunch, you take her to a beautiful botanical garden. The garden is lush and vibrant, with flowers in full bloom and the sweet scent of blossoms in the air. You both walk along the winding paths, enjoying the serene atmosphere.

“This place is lovely,” Jemma says, her eyes wide with wonder. “I never knew there was such a beautiful garden here. I feel like I’m in a fairy tale!”

That’s because it’s not a public garden but a private one, which is now owned by you

“I thought you might like it,” you reply, smiling at her. “It’s a nice change of pace from the lab, don’t you think?”

“Absolutely. It’s so peaceful here,” she responds, her voice soft. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

You find a secluded spot with a bench and sit down together.

You two sit there and start talking, the topics range from your hopes and dreams, to your favourite books, and even to your childhood memories. Jemma opens up to you, sharing stories about her life in Devon, England, and her journey to becoming a biochemist.

"When I was a kid, I had scoliosis. After the surgery, I had to spend months bedridden in my room. I had nothing but my father and books to relieve my boredom," Jemma reminisces with a small smile.

You knew that when Jemma was born, she came out upside-down with her umbilical cord wrapped around her head, causing her spine to curve into an S-shape, which is scoliosis. You also knew her mother had died when she was young due to a chronic illness.

"I think that’s where I started developing a passion for science. I had my bedroom filled with books, mainly related to life and biochemistry, as living organisms always fascinated me!" Jemma speaks animatedly, her smile bright as she doesn’t even notice your hand resting on her waist.

She blushes furiously, realizing her head is now resting on your chest as you slowly bring her closer.

After some time spent in each other’s arms, you bring her to the next destination.

As the evening approaches, you take her to an aquarium. The cool, dark environment is a perfect contrast to the bright garden, and you both marvel at the sea creatures swimming gracefully in their tanks.

“I’ve always loved aquariums,” Jemma says, looking at the colorful fishes with a smile. “There’s something so magical about the underwater world.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” you say, watching her with a smile. “It’s like stepping into another world.”

You had brought her to the aquarium, not just because you knew Jemma liked fish, but because you had arranged a special surprise for her.

You lead the happy Jemma towards the center tank. She was looking at all the fish and telling you interesting things she knew about them, but she stopped in her tracks when she saw the main tank.

"Cuttlefish?" Jemma exclaims as she approaches the tank and presses her face close to the glass.

"Look, Luke! Cuttlefish! When I was a kid, I wanted to become a biologist and study cuttlefish. I was fascinated by them as they can change skin colours with chromatophores!" she says excitedly. "I didn't know they had cuttlefish in the aquarium."

"They didn't until yesterday," you say with a hidden smile.

"Luke, did you bring the cuttlefish here?" she asks in excitement. "Did you do it for me? You are the best!" she exclaims with a wide smile as she hugs you tightly.

"It was not a big deal," you smile, as it was true. You had just bought the whole place, so an addition of another fish species was not a big problem.

You spend hours exploring the aquarium, holding hands and sharing your thoughts about the different exhibits. Jemma’s excitement is contagious, and you find yourself completely captivated by her.

She tells you that her stomach is still full from the heavy lunch, so you cancel your dinner plans and take her to the last spot.

"A planetarium?" Jemma exclaims with a wide smile, looking at you as if you had just won her heart.

"I just thought you would like it," you say with a small smile.

"Like it? I love it! Let's go!" she says excitedly as she takes you inside.

As you had booked the planetarium for tonight, there was no one there except for the staff and the two of you.

You both sit at the best seats beside each other.

Jemma is holding your hand tightly as she looks very excited. The lights go off and the show starts.

The two of you sit under the stars, holding hands as you watch the mesmerizing show. Jemma quietly tells you things she knows about every constellation and every star and planet shown. Her knowledge is much more extensive than the announcer's.

“Isn’t it amazing how vast the universe is?” Jemma whispers, her eyes glued to the dome above.

“It is. And yet, in this vast universe, I’m most fascinated by the person sitting next to me,” you reply, looking into her eyes.

She blushes deeply, smiling at your compliment. “You always know what to say.”

As the show ends, you both sit there in comfortable silence with her head on your shoulder.

"I told you about my childhood problem, no? So, my father, in order to relieve my boredom, would place my bed outdoors so we could both stargaze together," Jemma says with a blissful smile.

You knew about this from your meta-knowledge, which is why you had brought her here.

"In the future, I will take you to those stars so you won’t have to gaze at them from afar," you whisper in her ear, making her blush profusely.

After the planetarium, it was already late night, so you take her back to her home. The ride home is filled with soft conversation and stolen glances. When you finally arrive at her place, you walk her to the door.

“This has been the most amazing day, Luke,” Jemma says softly. “Thank you for everything.”

“There’s one more thing,” you say, pulling out a small box. “I know how much you love stars and the universe. So, I got you this.”

She opens the box to find a delicate bracelet with a star gem.

"A small gem for my Jemma!" you say with a small chuckle.

Her eyes fill with small tears of happiness. “It’s beautiful, Luke. Thank you so much.”

“I’m glad you like it,” you say, as you take it out and gently place it around her wrist. “You deserve all the stars in the universe.”

Jemma’s blush deepens, and she looks up at you with a mixture of admiration and affection. “You’re too good to me, Luke ….. W-would you like to come inside for coffee?” she asks, looking at you nervously.

You nod, and she takes you inside her house. After she closes the door, you notice she is fidgeting slightly.

You smile and approach her, making her stop and look at you in panic.

You lean in closer, your lips almost touching her ear. “I’ve wanted to do this all day,” you whisper before moving towards her face.

She blushes and closes her eyes in anticipation.

You touch her pink, moist lips and gently kiss her. You nibble on her soft lips as she presses her lips tightly to yours. Your hand grabs her waist, making her open her mouth, giving you the opportunity to slip your tongue inside.

She awkwardly tries to respond to your kiss, her tongue also meeting yours, and her hands go inside your shirt as she starts caressing your abs.

The kiss deepens, you taste her sweetness, and your hands find themselves on her breasts. You grope them, and you are pleasantly surprised because they are way bigger than what you thought before.

“AH!” Jemma moans into your mouth as your tongues entwine, her body trembling with desire. You know you could take things further, but you pull back slightly, looking into her eyes.

“I think that’s enough for today. I don’t want to rush things,” you whisper with a small smile, knowing her nervousness.

"I-if you are stopping because of me, then don’t worry … I am ready," Jemma murmurs, looking at you with a red face.

She says that, but you can feel her trembling in your arms.

"You are so adorable!" you exclaim as you lean down and plant a kiss on her nose, making her look at you in surprise. "Listen, do not compare yourself to others. Let us go at our own pace. We have all the time in the world, so we can take things slowly."

"If you think so," she nods, her cheeks clearly flushed. “Thank you, Luke. Thank you for accepting my request for the date. Thank you for giving me the most amazing first date ever. This has been the best day of my life!” She looks up at you with blurred eyes and a wide smile.

"Then just you wait, the next date is going to top this one for sure," you declare with a smirk.

She smiles sweetly, hearing you confirm the next date. “Thank you so much, Luke,” she utters, standing on her tiptoes to give your lips a quick kiss and blushing as she steps out of your arms.

"I can’t wait for our next date,” you admit with a smile as she accompanies you to her door.

“Neither can I,” she replies, with a wide smile.

"Good night, Jemma," you call as you wave her goodbye, walking towards your car.

"Good night, Luke," she stands there watching your car disappear with a happy smile on her face.

As you drive your car, you smile wryly, looking at your erect dick, unsure if you'll be able to stop yourself next time!