Yankee Doodle Dandy - Jessie James

Rogan jumped slightly as he looked up at Jessie’s smiling face; He blushed briefly, embarrassed that she had once again found him with his nose in a book. She’s really going to think you’re a nerd now, Ro. He tried to quickly close his book so she couldn’t tell that he was actually reading a chapter ahead of where the class was at. “Oh…uh… H…H…Hey Jess… I mean, Aphrodite.” Rogan smiled meekly at her, hoping that he could flatter his way out of the embarrassing situation. “I was just… reading up on charms?” He swallowed heavily, his hands trembling with anxiety. Jess had asked him to go to the formal with him a couple of days ago; of course he’d be willing to go with her, but he had no idea how to go about telling her yes. Was this the type of thing where he could just go up to her and tell her yes? Would he have to keep talking to her after that? Rogan wasn’t sure if he would be able to talk to her in a one-on-one setting.

But, he was acutely aware of the fact that it didn’t matter if he was ready or not because it was just Jessie James and himself out here right now… and with no Jack to help him, Rogan suddenly felt as if he was drowning in the black lake. He took a deep breath and mustered a smile up at her; “Is it too cold for you out here? I’m sure a southern bell like yourself isn’t accustom to sitting out here in sixty degree weather.” He found the statement fairly easy, he guessed that being raised a gentleman made it easy for him to check on her and ensure that she was completely comfortable in their current environment. “We could go somewhere else if you’d like. I’ve got nothing to the rest of the night.” Rogan realized that he had said the last statement a little too fast and had sounded a little too eager to spend time with her. Rogan felt the blush return to his cheeks before adding, “I mean… that is… if you’re free?”

Rogan furrowed his brows and cocked his head at Jessie, “God of war?” He asked slightly confused. Rogan was one of the most non-violent people he knew; “I’m not a violent person, I actually despise war.” he added, completely missing what Jessie was trying to imply. He wasn’t exactly sure as to whether or not she wanted him to stop calling her Aphrodite or not, so he figured that he could just try to avoid it for the rest of the conversation until he could ask Jack about it later.

Rogan’s face dropped, he hadn’t intended on sounding like an overprotective mother; “Oh. I’m…I’m… I’m so sorry” He stammered, completely hating himself in that moment, he had merely just wanted to make sure that Jessie was comfortable and not getting chilled. She then quickly told him that she hadn’t meant it in a bad way and that it was cute; Rogan felt the blood rush to his face as he tried to figure out what she actually wanted him to do. As if he wasn’t confused enough to begin with, now she was sending him mixed signals; first telling him to stop and now telling him not to. He furrowed his brows together in complete and total confusion.

Rogan smiled softly as his face returned to normal as she told him that she was fine, “Ok, I just wanted to make sure that you were comfortable. I’m from Rhode Island, so I’m use to a little colder weather. I’d hate for you to be uncomfortable with me” Rogan wasn’t sure if that had come off right, but it was too late for him to try and correct himself now, so he simply smiled and hoped that he didn’t sound like a complete idiot. He felt his face blush as she mentioned always having time for him. “Th- Th- Thank you.” he stuttered, his blushed reddened even more as he stuttered. He watched as she swirled her finger into the ground and Rogan could feel his palms getting sweaty, despite the fact that it was actually a little chilly outside. “I haven’t seen you in a while, what have you been up to?” he asked, trying his absolute best to make small talk and avoid the long gaps of awkward silence that usually came with Rogan talking to a female.

Rogan quickly looked up at Jessie and cocked his head, completely confused by the statement that Ares was supposed to be good looking, “Of course he was, he was a God after all… I guess that’s just another reason as to why I’m confused that you would…” Then it hit Rogan. Jessie was telling him that she found him to be good looking, and he blushed deeply; so deep he was pretty confident that his face was the color of blood. “Oh. I uh…um…I… Thanks?” was all he was able to get out in response, completely unsure of how to react to her compliment. Rogan after all was not use to flattery in any shape or form, so to be told that he was as good looking as a God, was beyond his comprehension.

Rogan smiled and shook his head, “No need to apologize. I guess… I guess I can get confused easily when it comes to girls.” the words were out before he had a chance to think about them. ”Take that last statement for instance.” he mentally told Jessie. Rogan had zero experience when it came to girls and he was confident that it was obvious at this point. “I mean… I just… Um.” He shut himself up before he could make an even bigger fool out of himself, and then thought long and hard about what he was going to say and tried his absolutely hardest to enunciate it “Of. Course. I. Care.” Rogan sounded like he was speaking to a person that was hard of hearing as he paused after every word, but it was the best that he could do in his current state.

Rogan looked up at Jessie and smiled before looking away anxiously, he couldn’t look her in the face so he quickly adverted his attention to the charms book and reopened it, trying to busy his hands. “I…I’d love to go with you. I… I actually thought you were avoiding me because you regretted asking me in the first place.” Rogan quickly began jotting down notes on the chapter, trying to prevent himself from dying of embarrassment.