"Coffee, that makes sense," He replied, smiling again from learning a new sign and from the nickname, "We match." The roads were fairly packed, so the going was slow, but he was still excited to bring Rowan to the new burger place and learn more about her.
Rowan nodded and signed slowly though was ready to write down at any time. She figured practice was better for them, "We do match."
(The inside of the place looks something like this, just bigger if that makes sense: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/09/98/fd/0998fdf7181232c785c37e16601cc116.jpg)
Soren glanced over at her as she was signing, proud that he understood her and nodding, "You might have to teach me more if these tonight, I mean, if you want to, it's fine otherwise if not." When the restaurant was finally in view, he pointed to it and smiled, recognising the sign and looking around for somewhere to park. This was one of the best burger places in his opinion, and the fries here were homemade and to die for.
Rowan looked to see the restaurant and smiled. It looked nice and she hadn't been there before, at least not in her memory. She signed carefully and slowly, "I would love to!" Her hands paused for a moment before she finished signing, "I mean, yes I can do that."
His smile reappeared and he seemed happy that she would teach him, or at least, that's what he had figured from the signing. He definitely needed practice. Soren frowned when he didn't find a parking spot near the restaurant, settling for a place a little ways down the street and parking carefully. Before she could get out on her own though, he got out and once again came around to her side of the car, opening her door, "Here we are Rowan, it's only a little ways down the street."
Rowan stepped out grinning. She quickly signed, "Thank you!" before figuring she should go slow for the night. She made sure to keep her bag on her and closed the door behind her before Soren could. She made sure to sign slower, "Sad we couldn't find closer parking."
He watched her sign and didn't really understand, and even though he felt awkward asking he did anyway, "What did you say there? I didn't understand it..sorry." Soren stayed alongside her as he locked his car and made sure he had his wallet with, happy the sidewalks were fairly clear of people and the burger place still looked like it wasn't completely full.
Rowan stopped and nodded. She reached for her notebook as they started to walk towards the resteraunt. She understood if he didn't get things right away, it had taken her awhile as well. But she had the advantage of needing to learn it while Soren did not. She was quick in writing and showed it to Soren once she was finished, Sad we couldn't find closer parking.
Soren read the writing and nodded, walking alongside of her towards the restaurant, "Yeah, I tried to park as close as I could so we didn't have to walk, but there were no open spaces nearer than that one." He signed the few words he knew as he talked, just to practice them even though he knew Rowan could hear him. It was good practice so he could talk to and listen to her talk easier without the writing.
Rowan saw him signing as he talked. She was grinning that he wasn't just learning a few, he was practicing as well. He had a long way to go, but she could help. Damn, this date might actually go well. She nodded along and signed slowly, "I understand. I can't wait to try the burgers."
He grinned and nodded, understanding what she signed back, "They're really good, and the fries here are the best." Rowan seemed amazing just from the little bit of time they spent together, and even though his sign language was terrible compared to hers, he felt like it was a good thing that he was even trying to use it and practice it as well. Now he just had to see and hope she enjoyed the date.
Rowan nodded along grinning. They hadn't even got to the restaurant yet, and Rowan was already enjoying herself. She hoped he was as well, if this was all one-sided, that wouldn't bode well for the future, "Then we have to get the fries!"
Soren was having an amazing time already, and as they reached the restaurant, he opened the door for Rowan and smiling. "After you, ma'am." He could already hear the chatter of others in the restaurant and happy conversations, something that made the place seem very alive.
"Thank you, kind sir," Rowan signed grinning as she entered the building. She looked around the entrance with wide eyes. This place was so lively and yet it was quite cozy, she turned to Soren in the entryway, "It's so lively!"
He didn't understand what her last sign was but he smiled brighter, guessing it was a good thing from the grin on her face. "Welcome to the best burger and fry place around!" There was a small sign at the door that read please seat yourself and Soren glanced at Rowan before heading to the first open table he saw. It was a small, two person table and he smiled, pulling out her chair for her before sitting in his own.
Rowan smiled and sat down in the open seat across from Soren. She was still eyeing the place in marvel adjusting to the new sight and sounds. She looked back at him beaming. Her signs went a little faster than the previous time, "Well see about that!"
Soren's smile grew and he tried to respond as best he could in just sign, still not the best at it and roughly signing, "You'll be amazed by how good it is." He was trying though and as a server came over, he smiled.
"Welcome, I'm Joseph, and I'll be your server today. Here are some menus, do you want to order something to drink right now?" The young boy said. He probably wasn't any older than a high schooler, and seemed to be a little nervous. Soren guessed it was probably his first time as a server and even though he wasn't mean to servers at all, he was going to be extra nice to him.
Rowan was grinning as she saw Soren sign. He was doing quite well for himself. Her attention turned to the new waiter, he was shaky kind of like how Rowan got occasionally. She took the menu and looked over it. She heard his words and nodded before pulling out her notebook and pen. She wrote down her drink order on it and showed it to the young boy. In her head, she was half expecting a bad reaction or at least a strange one.
Joseph just smiled and read the page, not seeming phased by the paper at all, "Alright, and anything for you?" He turned to Soren, seeming a little less nervous after taking Rowan's order but still nervous.
"I'll just have a lemonade please," He said, getting a nod in response and taking the other menu.
"Sounds good, I'll be back in a little bit with your drinks and to take your order if you're ready." He nodded to the two of them and walked away, a faint smile on his face.
Rowan was grinning glad he hadn't asked about the paper. She left the notebook out and ready to write at any moment. As she continued to look through the menu she signed slowly to Soren, "He's new isn't he? He seems nice!"
"Yeah, he seems really nice, I haven't seen him here any other time I've come so I think he's new." He looked through the menu slowly as well, though in his head he already knew what he was going to order. Pulled pork with extra curly fries, his usual whenever he came here.
Rowan looked through the menu biting her lip. She paused for a moment before looking up at Soren and signed slowly, "What would you recommend for me to get?"
Soren read her signs as best he could, shrugging and looking at the menu with a smile, "Do you have anything in particular that you like? Or things you know you don't want?" He was happy to help her, but he was for sure going to recommend the fries.
Rowan thought for a moment her hands pausing. She hadn't thought about it like that and ended up signing after a long bit of thought, "Anything with beef is fine. Chicken would be fine as well. And I want a bun."
"Maybe this?" He signed, tapping the simple grilled chicken sandwich and smiling, "Or a custom burger, those are good." Really anything here seemed good, and he had tried both of the options he showed her and they were amazing.