Ezekiel had allowed her to remove his hands and he could hear the silence now. The gasp frightened her and he kissed her back gently but made no other moves. They still thought he was a monster, just like his father. He was regaining himself though, calming down in the silence. When they'd separated he could see that Jace had turned pink.

"I think you embarrassed your friend," he said softly. "But I think I need to address the crowd before I ruin your reptuation.

He stood slowly, looking around him and he could see the people staring at him. It felt so surreal at the moment. Mara stuck out for some reason since her nose probably still hurt since she was holding. Her eyes were wide with fear for some reason and he shook his head.

"Ladies and gentleman," he said loud enough for everyone to hear but quiet enough so he didn't strain his voice much. "The courtyard scene was not my doing. If you were to merely ask my cousin, whom I have recently discovered to be alive after twelve long years, he will support me on this fact. He's tracked every incident that's happened in this town and it has all led to one person. The name is not to be given at the moment but I assure you he is being kept under a careful watch right now."

He had no clue what he was saying and if he messed up at all he would absolutely need Veronica to come to his rescue. IF only he could convince them all that he wasn't a monster. The group of people he'd helped escort here, he hadn't seen the girl in a while, or the father.

At this point, Verona was standing beside Ezekiel, pressing against him. Speeches... ugh.
Everyone was staring at them, or her now rather, wondering how she could just stand with him, and not be afraid. A few women smiled though.. It was an amusing scene. Jace looked a bit upset though.
"Umm, good--- people," she began, her voice shaky. "I also, can provide a first hand account, along with a few other people, about that day.. Also..." Verona was bad with this. She stuttered a bit during this little episode too, having an almost cure quality.
"What is the matter with you people?" Her voice was challenging, and loud. She sounded so angry, that a few women gasped; what was becoming of Verona Byers?
"What makes you people think that you are so much better than him? That you never get angry, or jealous, or whatever. What makes him such a monster!?" People were actually listening to her, watching.. She didn't seem to notice much anymore though.
"So what, he's made mistakes.. He isn't perfect, and no one said he was meant to be.. So why do you people act like he should be!? Everyone makes mistakes, everyone has a temper.. Everybody bleeds, and feels, and loves.. Everybody screws up. So why can't you just accept the fact that he's messed up in the past, and move on!?"
She was crying... Jace was hot pink by now.. There Verona was, defending Ezekiel, for everything he was worth.
"I love him, for everything he is!" She yelled at them. "So why can't you...?"

Everything, and everyone fell silent. A lot of people were wide eyed, staring at Verona, who was holding onto Ezekiel's arm, and crying.
No one knew exactly what to say... They were... speechless.

Ezekiel was shocked because of how much she'd told him that he hated speeches. The crowd was too quiet and it was beginning to bother him. Her crying on top of that made him give a sympathetic expression. He brushed her hair gently, being as delicate with her as he could, his bride to be, his beautiful rose.

"I ask of you all one thing," he said finally. "Please help me find a cure for this disease that my mother has. She won't live longer but she is the most important person in my life, next to Verona that is. The man who killed my father... I need to know who it was. Can anyone tell me?"

He was testing them in a way, seeing if they knew it was Mayhen and his brother that had planned it out. He looked to be as though he were weeping for his father's loss but it did not show greatly. A beast would not cry nor would a beast feel compassion.

Jace, hands in pockets, shuffled at the ground with his feet, while everyone else watched. No one had said anything yet, but a couple of men shook their heads. It was a mystery how Winston had been killed. Mayhen had been hiding out in a building at the time, and shot him through a window..
The only person besides Verona and Ezekiel there who knew, stayed silent. They wanted no part in any of the drama.
Meanwhile, Verona stayed glued to Ezekiel. She didn't bother to look at anyone else now.. They wouldn't listen.
Jace oddly enough, stepped forward. "Look people," he began, a little bit blunt. "Verona is a wonderful girl.. She's honest, and kind, in every way possible, despite what you all witnessed." There were several snickers from the crowd.
"If she trusts him like this... Enough to stand here, and place her dignity on the line, then he must be something really special.. If he's good enough for her, he must be better than all of us."
A few men mainly, nodded, and agreed, soon bringing in a few women. Verona was an ideal citizen, and everyone agreed with that.

Ezekiel was shocked that Jace had stood up for them. The nodding from the crowd was good and he was cooling down slowly. He was looking down at Verona now, studying her features while fear gripped him. He did not want her to be taken away from him, he loved her so dearly it nearly killed him at times.

He was silent now, preferring this rather than speaking and digging himself into a hole that he would not be able to climb out of.

Soon enough, everyone was cheering. Verona only smiled weakly, and hid her face in Ezekiel's chest.
This was the kind of stuff that Jace did back in the day. He was always very sweet, and polite. If she told him no, he listened. And if she meant no, he listened as well; he'd keep his hands to himself. That was the way Ezekiel was.

"I mean, come on people!" Jace yelled to everyone. "Look at her! Isn't she gorgeous!?"
Where was this one going..?

But wherever it was going, it was working.. People were cheering and screaming. It was amazing how riled up everyone had gotten. But as long as they were doing so positively, it was good.

Ezekiel had started smiling also because he knew Veronica was gorgeous, she was like a goddess to him and he would be ready to kill anyone who hurt her. His temper was cooled and he just wrapped his arms around Verona gently.

"We need to get coffee," he said so only she could hear. "It'd be good so we can get to know each other a little more."

Jace by now, had most, if not all of the crowd, going crazy. Verona blushed slightly, as she glanced at him, and he winked. He meant nothing by it of course.. But Ezekiel wouldn't have been able to tell.
"y-yeah," she said softly, beginning to pull him away from the mass of bodies.

Rolling his eyes, a look of hurt could be seen on Jace's face, for less than a second, only to turn back into his happy-go-lucky grin.
He was a little disappointed..

((my dog is snoring))

Ezekiel was careful, more careful than usual actually. He was watching what others were doing so carefully now that he was nervous. The cafe wasn't that fr away so he'd be fine for a while.

"Thanks for helping me out there," he said softly. "I get nervous when I have a huge crowd around me sometimes. Worried that I might do something stupid and piss them all off, it's the last thing I'd want to do."

"I know," she whispered lightly, wiping her eyes. They were after all, a bit bloodshot still.
"They were just being so judgmental.. They had no right to do that to you... And then I punched someone...so..." If anything, people were bound to be looking down upon Verona. Jace though, seemed to have helped lighten the mood a lot..
"I'm sorry if I made you angry.." She was referring to Jace.. "I didn't ask him to pick me up and stuff.."

"Yeah I know," he said with a sigh. "It wasn't your fault really but he did make me pretty jealous and a bit angry."
He hugged her tightly to his side for a moment, ignoring a slight pain the followed with it. He was content for the time being but he couldn't really think about anything else but Verona at the moment and the way she looked at him sometimes.

(YAY!)

"We're ancient history," she said. "Last time I kissed him, I was like what.. sixteen I think."
Jace was older than she was of course.. But as stated, he knew what no meant, and what was too much for someone her age.
"It's been years.." She said, looking down. "But you, I try to kiss you as much as possible."
Now that was true.
She loved kissing Ezekiel... Being with him was everything to her..

"Ancient history," Ezekiel said with a slight laugh and a bit of comfort to his ego. "That's comforting to know since I'm quite greedy at times. I wouldn't want anyone else to touch you now."
He had gripped her hand lightly after that and looked back to the street. It was a few more blocks before they would reach the place that he wanted to get to. It wouldn't take that long and then he could be sitting with Verona, getting to know every detail of her life, and also drinking coffee.

Verona laughed slightly. "I wouldn't want any other person to touch me but you anyway.. You're all I need," she told him.
He was all she ever wanted too. Everything, and nothing all at once. It was an entertaining thought.
"Yes, I know how fragile your ego is. I remember that time at lunch.."
Things had been so awkward. For the first time, she was going to be getting to know him, and then all hell broke loose. His father had gone crazy..
And then Verona had attempted to kill the men from animal control. It was actually quite funny. But looking back on it now... Not so much.

"Well," he said with a sigh. "Things would be much different if I hadn't yelled at you when you visited and ran into the bathroom. The shower was cold anyways... I hate it when my sister does that."
He laughed slightly before stopping briefly to glance across the steet at the coffee shop. Before glancing either way on the street he led her across to the other side. He enjoyed leading someone or being led by someone... either way he was with her for now and that time couldn't be replaced with anything else.
"Of course you know how fragile my ego can be," Ezekiel said. "And I know how you can have a temper sometimes. Trust me you'll get whatever you want, whenever you want when we get married."
He set the last part quietly so that no one else could hear him.

"Yay!" She cried suddenly bouncing up and down. She'd initially wanted to jump on top of Ezekiel, however, she knew it would hurt him quite a bit..
"Oh Ezekiel, I can't wait!" The night of their wedding, once she began Mrs. Verona Singston, she was going to be a very happy woman. She would. She'd have everything she ever wanted, and more; she couldn't wait!
"Oh, I'm so excited! I can't wait, I can't wait, I can't wait!" No, she wasn't excited at all..
"I want to marry you as soon as possible!"
That was true; if she had to wait anymore, she'd about burst with excitement.

"Are you really excited?" he asked a bit perplexed at first. "Of course you're excited."
He hugged her slightly, though it was gentle and he was careful not to injure himself.
"Come now let's converse over a cup of coffee and plate of whatever food that may sound good," he said with a cheesy grin.
He led her after into the cafe where he'd ask for a notebook since he wanted to get to planning all of this as soon as possible so his mother could see him get married.

Still giggling, Verona clung to his arm lightly. It was tough adjusting to the bruises on Ezekiel's body, when she was used to being able to grip his body however tightly he pleased.
"Oh I love you," she gushed, closing her eyes. Of course people stared, especially at Verona, who was being loud, and pink, and excited all at once.

As they made it to a table, Verona moved her chair next to Ezekiel's. Being close to him was more important than looking at him at the moment.
"Shoot," she told him, ready for her interview.

Ezekiel paused for a moment, pushing aside the thoughts of arranging the marriage. The people behind the counter were tempted to send someone over but when the conversation seemed to start they were reluctant to interrupt it.
Now Ezekiel already knew what her favorite color was since it was so blatantly obvious to him. He was curious about other things especially since she'd seen him when he'd changed.
"What's your favorite animal?" he asked as he slipped the two menus out of the waiter's hands that had come over to give them to him. He'd placed one in front of Verona and one in front of himself but he had no intention of looking at it yet.

(IAMSOOOSORRY! DX I was on vacation and such.. </3)


Twiddling with her fingers, Verona began to think about his question. "Well," she began softly. "I've always like birds.. And cats! I love cats!" She meant domestic of course, since she'd had quite a few over the years. Her father usually however, got rid of them at the first chance he got.
"I've had lots of cats! I have one now, I think.. I'm hope my father hasn't tossed it out yet.." It was a high possibility. "She's the sweetest thing! And then my dad hates anything living with four plus legs, so.."
Most likely, he beloved Peaches, was gone.

((I've been playing WoW so you're fine))
A gift idea... that was a good question he had asked there. He'd get her something very nice, a good cat that was loving. Well then again he did have himself but he knew she meant the domesticated non-scary and non-short tempered cat that was not related to anyone that was human.
"I personally adore dogs ironically, purely dobermans and hunting dogs since they're so high energy," he said with a smile. He could remember the first and only dog he'd ever had. It had been a doberman and had done some of the best tricks in the world. It was sweet too and had watched his door whenever his father got angry at him and sent him to his room.

(Okays, I'm glad. I felt so bad, because I forgot to tell you before I left..)


Verona sort of giggled at mention of dogs. She loved dogs too.. But cats came along with birds. Every cat she'd had was as sweet as could be! They would always cuddle with her in bed, and it was nice.
"So," she said. "Am I allowed to ask questions too? Or no?" She wanted to ask questions.. Though as of now, nothing was coming to mind, which was bad. Especially considering she just asked if she could ask questions.
Verona was glad, that even though she didn't know Ezekiel the best in the world, like she did Jace, that she'd met him.

"You can ask a question whenever you'd like to," Ezekiel said with a grin. "I'd like to kow though, why is your favorite color pink?"
It was something that perplexed him that most, if not all, girls were obsessed with the color pink. He didn't know what was so great about the color and his curiosity was so great.

Verona was at a loss for words. Why did she like the color pink so much...? It was such a odd, yet simple question. But somehow, she didn't know what to say. "I don't know.." She admitted. "But blue isn't so bad! Pink is just especially pretty though.. Just like you!" She poked his nose quite randomly. Why did she like the color pink so much.. It gave her something to think about..

He still looked slightly confused and he stared at her for a second when she poked him. He shrugged then and looked down at the table, studying the grains of the wood for a moment. He hadn't felt awkward after a compliment before and now that he felt that way he just didn't like the feeling.
"So," he said with a relaxed tone. "What do you like doing on Saturdays?"