James was thrown off guard by the question. Saying what was on his mind in this moment would have made him sound like a pervert.
"I just wanted to chat to you for a bit" he replied instead.
Roxanne patted the sand next to her as an invitation for James to sit down.
James hadn't been sure this was a good idea. Roxanne was intimidatingly beautiful. While Meghan and Alexandra were at the very top end of what he might optimistically consider attainable, this girl was clearly out of his league.
Not only that, but rest of the class seemed to hold her in such reverence, even Morgan. It can't have just been her looks as Maria didn't seem to command the same level of respect, and Roxanne didn't stand out as a particularly gifted magic user compared to some of the other girls. But she seemed so self assured and confident without giving the slightest hint of arrogance or superiority. It was hard not to be impressed by her, even from a distance.
"So how did you end up here?" She asked, already completely in control of this interaction.
"Elspeth asked me to help her" James replied. Roxanne let out an almost involuntary laugh.
"I'm sorry" she composed herself quickly while still looking amused "But I know better than anyone what my mother's idea of asking usually entails"
James heart almost stopped at this revelation. What?! How was that even possible? This girl seemed at least half a century younger than Elspeth! Still, he figured the rules always seemed to be different with witches. And now he thought of it, there was a slight family resemblence there. It wouldn't have surprised him if Elspeth had been a looker in her day.
"You'd think it would be an easy ride being the teacher's daughter, right?" Roxanne carried on talking normally despite the bombshell she had just dropped while James wondered if attempting to chat up Elspeth's daughter in front of Elspeth was really a smart idea.
"I don't get any special treatment though" Roxanne continued "In fact she barely acknowledges I exist. I live with my father and it's fair to say they don't see eye to eye. She's never shown me any hostility, but it's pretty clear she'd rather I wasn't around."
"That must be difficult for you" James sympathised.
Roxanne shrugged "It's always been that way, even when I was a child. I've come to accept it"
She paused for a moment and James took the opportunity to lighten the mood.
"So what do you like then?" James asked.
"Birds" Roxanne's face lit up suddenly "I've been the biggest bird nerd ever since I was a kid!"
James hadn't been expecting that answer. This had to have been the sexiest bird watcher he'd ever encountered.
"They are such fascinating creatures" she was speaking more animatedly now "did you know, for example, that pigeons used to deliver the results of the Olympic games? That cardinals like to cover themselves in ants and nobody has a clue why or that bassian thrushes find their food by farting?"
"I didn't" James smiled "but that's pretty cool"
"Isn't it?" Roxanne smiled back "and thank you for asking me what I like. Nobody ever does"
With not much time left James stood up, though he would have very much liked to stay longer "thanks for the chat, I've really enjoyed it"
"Any time" Roxanne smiled.
As he began to walk away she called out after him.
"Hey James!" he turned round to hear her parting words.
"Don't think you can't pick me because I'm Elspeth's daughter" she grinned "you can"
Well, that was another encounter that hadn't gone as he had expected. James wished he had a chance to talk to all of the girls and find out more about them, but there was only time for one more and he already knew who that was.
Melanie was currently perched on a rock by the water's edge staring out to sea and looking like something out of a movie. James had liked her from the beginning and needed to find out more about this girl before he could give Elspeth an answer. Then it would be time for what already felt like an impossible decision.