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Chapter 24 - Little Romance

Anne looked beside herself when L and I joined them by the entrance of Carabelli's. "Gracie! How on earth did L materialize like that?"

"Yeah, man. Didn't know you were that good!" Fritz marveled and Liam slapped L heartily on the back, causing him to lurch forward.

"I reckon he was hitchhiking and Gracie picked him up. Am I right?"

"If I had seen him hitchhiking, he still would be." I commented wryly. "But it's no matter. I'm famished!"

"Right! Well the reservation was for five, but I'm sure they can squeeze another in." Anne led the way into the establishment; sashaying proudly up to the maître' d' who eyed us with poorly concealed surprise.

"Hi there! Cornell, table for six." She greeted him cheerily while the maître'd's attention fell on L hovering behind the rest of us. After a moment, he drew his beady eyes away from him and regained his grip on the situation as he glanced in his book.

"Madam, you are aware that the reservation was made for five." He enunciated the last word and smirked. "Did you possibly miscount?"

I stepped up then, pulling out the icy clipped tone I used when I spoke with authorities. "Oh it is impossible to confuse a five and six is it? Not to worry about chairs. Certain people won't be able to stay in theirs anyhow."

I heard Jinya giggle behind me and the maître'd' flushed as he examined the page more closely. "Ah yes, you are correct, madam. Truly a number six. Er, this way please."

Anne, Liam, Fritz, Jinya and I passed before the maître' d' stopped L taking in his baggy jeans and plain white shirt. "My dear...sir. A tie and jacket are required for the dining room. Do you have...either?"

"Obviously not." L shrugged. "I cannot enter then?"

"No, we do have...erm...loaners for this circumstance, but you will need a shirt with a collar. I'm not sure if we have any of those. I will have to look."

"Please do." L responded as the man went to hunt down the proper clothing. He then turned to me. "I did not realize the clothing rituals necessary for coming out to dine."

"I gathered that. Do you even own a tie?" I teased as I joined him by the ornate mirror that reflected into the dining room.

"I'll have you know I do. It has strawberries embroidered on it. Watari gave it to me for my sixteenth birthday." He smiled in his quirky way and then glanced at our reflections in the mirror. "I should have known it was a fine establishment by how appropriately you dressed for the occasion. My apologies."

"L!" I laughed. "You didn't even know you were coming until several minutes ago. Don't worry about it."

"Erm, sir?"

We turned to see the maître' d' holding up a hanger with a grey suit jacket, oxford shirt, and black tie on it. "As soon as you change, you may be seated. I fear there is nothing to be done about the dungaree trousers however."

L took the hanger from him with his thumb and forefinger. "I see. I shall do so directly. Thank you."

Fritz was apparently more ravenous to eat than I for he strode over to us then and snatched the hanger out of L's delicate hold. "All right, I'm not waiting an hour for you to change, L. Arms up. Let's get this over with!"

"FRITZ!" Anne shrieked in disbelief as I paled.

L blanched for a second, then roughly ripped the clothing out of Fritz's hands and backed up. "NO! Er no! Erm, I shall change in the lavatory. Yes, the lavatory. Quickly, I promise you." His eyes looked wild, his tone was erratic. I couldn't understand it.