SUE: Of Sniffles and Awkward Interactions

[Amanda Joy "AJ" Lane]

AJ was sitting at a corner table in the tea shop, trying not to sniffle and dig another tissue out of her bag. She felt miserable and whenever she felt this miserable, it was time for a cup of tea, or three. She had her hands wrapped around the mug of green tea and was breathing in the steam coming from it, hoping it would help clear up her sinuses.

She was thinking it was possibly allergies. She often got them at the start of summer, but even if they were, she felt a lot worse than that. She'd already had a cup of Earl Grey and was wearing a slouchy sweater as if it was still winter because she kept getting the chills. The only reason why she was out was because she'd ran out of teabags in her dorm. Hopefully she didn't see anybody she knew.

[Oliver Barnes]

Oliver and Tak had been planning this day for awhile now. The dates had been shifted to accommodate for last minute projects and final essays for classes, as the dwindled down for the summer. Finally, the two had a break from the homework, and despite his feeling under the weather, Oliver was determined to make it happen. He hadn't thrown up all day, which was an improvement, and the blisters that covered his hands and feet weren't as itchy as they were a couple days ago.

Now in public, he tucked his hands into the pockets of his jeans, self conscious about the sight. It was still... gross. Oliver walked with the dark haired girl, hoping that his stomach would allow him to keep down a cup of Earl Grey tea and maybe some saltine crackers. "I'm glad we finally get to go out together." He admitted, shyly smiling at Tak. In their short time knowing each other, the introverted boy had grown fond of the girl and her calm aura she brought with her. The two had hit it off, and Oliver had shared a lot of the darkness in him that he shoved away with other people.

He opened the door to the tea shop, still smiling as he was excited to spend the rest of the afternoon with Tak. The shop was empty, except for one girl with a familiar set of dark locks. An incredulous expression crossed Oliver's face.

Really, how many times could he run into AJ on accident?

[Takchawee Ominotago]

Tak had told Oliver if he wasn't feeling well enough to go out, they didn't have to. As much as she enjoyed the silly, quiet boy's presence, she did't want him out and about if he didn't feel up to it. But he insisted, and so they went. Tak had been fortunate not to catch the bug that seemed to be spreading around; even after her little 'visit' with Anthony, she was healthy as could be, coining her strong immune system on her regular detox routines, genetics, and luck.

She didn't care how Oliver looked; he was a kind soul, and that's all that really mattered to Tak. If he wasn't already infatuated with a certain someone, Tak would have gladly pursued him herself. As it was, she kept the flirting light, not wanting to make him uncomfortable. "I am too," she replied back, looping one of her arms into the boy's with a returned smile. "If you get too sick, though, we don't have to stay. I don't want you to be too uncomfortable." She gently patted his arm with the opposite hand.

When they walked inside, Tak's gaze immediately landed on the only occupant, and only a faint flash of surprise and recognition came over her features before she set her face into a small, smug smile. Oh... This could be interesting. She knew AJ from around campus, though they hadn't actually met, as far as she could recall. Tak squeezed her arm wrapped around Oliver's before she unlinked them, nudging him towards the table where the girl sat. "Excuse me," she purred, leaning over a little so the collar of her already low-cut shirt flashed a little extra cleavage to the beautiful young woman. "You go to Hammel, don't you? I think I've seen you around. AJ, right?" She nudged Oliver again, subtly knocking him towards a chair sitting across from the dark-haired girl. "Here, sweetheart, you should sit down. I can place the order - what were you wanting to get?" Face turned away from AJ, Tak gave him a wink.

Oooh yes, this would be fun.

[Amanda Joy "AJ" Lane]

The only reason why AJ looked up from her cup of tea, breathing in the steam that came from the piping hot mug, swirling the tea bag boredly in her cup, was because of a female voice that was awfully close.

"Excuse me--"

A girl was leaning over her table and speaking to her, a raven haired girl she might have seen on campus at one time or another, but what shocked her the most is who was trailing behind her. Oliver just kept surprising her. First, he had a power and was suddenly at Hammel, even though he'd been there for a year and just phasing through walls to avoid her whenever he saw her, and now...now he was hanging around with this obviously confident, intimidatingly beautiful girl.

"Yeah," she mumbled in response, briefly looking towards Oliver, who stood with his hands in his pockets. She hadn't seen him since the day at the Book Nook, and now their appointment with Dr. Neville was just looming over them. She suddenly felt slightly inadequate in her baggy sweater and she knew her nose must be red. And her voice had to sound like she was congested. Great.

The girl was nudging Oliver to sit down and calling him a pet name and it made AJ stare down into her cup of tea again.

[Oliver Barnes]

As if on cue, a small cough escaped from Oliver, and he turned away from Tak while bringing his free arm up to cover his mouth. He gave his friend a sheepish smile, as her arm looped around his. "Sure thing, I'll let you know how it goes." Hopefully, him being sick wouldn't disrupt the afternoon. It would be a shame.

Looking over at Tak, his eyes widened as he noticed the smug smile on her face, and the way she confidently strode over to where AJ was sitting. Just like that, from the simple connection of their arms, it felt like the calmness Oliver was feeling moments beforehand was ripped away, leaving him anxious, and mostly confused. Did Tak know who AJ was, besides from his stories? It took him a second to gather the strength to follow his dark haired friend to the girl from his past. AJ. He paused behind Tak, hands still in pocket as she gave her a generous... showing. Oliver's eyes widened even further, astounded.

Was she flirting with AJ??

The sight made Oliver vaguely uncomfortable, but didn't voice his concern. He was too naïve to see that Tak was probably doing this to get him to react. Oliver found himself being nudged gently into a chair, and the legs creaked against the floor. He wasn't thinking at the moment, his head clouded with confusion as he looked up at Tak with a blank expression. Something about ordering... right. "Oh, uh, I'll have a cup of Earl Grey tea please." He stammered out, taking out his blistered hands with his wallet and resting them gingerly on top of the table. "Thank you, Tak." Oliver began to dig for some change to pay for both of their drinks.

Looking across the table, was AJ. They hadn't talked since he accidentally stumbled upon her at her job and now had the therapy session planned in a few days time. Swallowing the lump in his throat, Oliver managed a small, awkward smile. How was it possible that she, AJ, still looked good while obviously sick.

Oliver didn't know what to think of her wink, but somehow, he had a gut feeling that she had something planned. He sighed, nervously fiddling with his thumbs.

[Takchawee Ominotago]

Tak definitely had something planned. She wasn't entirely sure what it was yet, but she figured it would be something along the lines of flirting with the pretty girl and somehow trying to make Oliver.... More comfortable? Or perhaps make one or both of them jealous enough that it helped speed them along their recovery? Whatever it was, Tak was just wanting to help...

Well, okay. She really did just want to flirt with the pretty girl too.

"Earl grey, got it," she nodded. Tak took the money he offered with a smile and a quick peck on his cheek before she scooted off to make the order, giving the two a couple minutes to get used to each other's presence. Soon enough, she returned with two steaming cups of tea, and handed one to Oliver while keeping one for herself.

"So! AJ," she started again with an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I guess I should introduce myself. I'm Tak." She glanced over at Oliver, considering. "And this is my friend Oliver, if he hasn't introduced himself already. He's very sweet, but quiet," she added, deciding to feign not knowing about the two's troubles. She didn't want AJ to get angry at Oliver for telling her, or anything. "I hope we're not being rude or intruding," she added with a small pout, taking a sip of her tea. "I just can't help myself when I see a pretty face. Do you come here often?"

Her gaze slipped sideways to Oliver, seeing how he was reacting. "How's your tea?" she asked with a smile.

[Amanda Joy "AJ" Lane]

Earl gray. Of course that was what he ordered, it's what he always ordered. Back in Minnesota, when the two of them got sick from negative temperatures in the harsh winter, they'd just sit around and drink endless amounts of tea and read. Earl Gray was always his first choice, and AJ's second, next to Green Tea.

He handed over money to Tak, paying for both of their drinks and she scurried off just after pecking him on the cheek, which made AJ raise her eyebrow at him as if to say, 'Well when did this happen?' The girl was a bombshell. Tall and dark haired. Even when she was gone getting their teas, Oliver said nothing, and AJ just sipped her tea as absentmindedly as she could manage, trying to think up an excuse to leave. Just when she'd realized that 'I'm not feeling very well' would actually suffice and it was true, the girl returned to the table. The funniest part of her introduction was that she introduced Oliver to her as well. Sweet and quiet. Those adjectives were dead on.

"I'm sure he is," she replied, not necessarily confirming anything. "Nice to meet you, Tak." She paused to look down into her mug, which was now nearing empty. "Uhm, I do like tea, so I suppose often enough..."

[Oliver Barnes]

Both girls knew that Oliver appeared to be, and always would be, a creature of habit. Life was safer that way. Tak's flirting didn't seem to phase AJ, at least, from what he could tell. Maybe it was wishful thinking on his part. Although, he did feel a pang of jealousy, even if she wasn't reciprocating the actions. Which was a sense of relief, Oliver selfishly thought.

Of course, when Tak kissed his cheek before running off to go buy their drinks, the spot her lips touched his skin was red. And then he noticed the curious expression on AJ's face. "Oh.. uh, it's not.. you know, like that." He stammered out quietly, nervously fiddling with his sore hands. Great conversation opener, Oliver mentally scolded himself. He didn't say anything. What was there to say?

Thankfully, Tak had returned before things between himself and his former best friend got too awkward. "Thank you." He said, both for returning to alleviate the tension and for bringing back a much needed cup of tea. His hands slipped around the hot mug, clearing his throat as Tak introduced herself. Smart idea to feign not knowing who she was. As the two girls talked, Oliver sat there, silently, his lips pursed together. He couldn't help but to smile a little at AJ's understatement. She loved tea. Green tea, to be exact.

It killed him knowing all of these things after everything.

[Takchawee Ominotago]

The idea, perhaps, was to get each of them jealous enough of the other for them both to realize (AJ in particular) that they should really try their best to work out whatever differences and traumatizing events that had come between them. Tak could do that; flirting was easy, and feigning ignorance wasn't that hard either.

"Of course, hun," she cooed, giving Oliver a bright smile as she settled back down. "How are you feeling? Any better?" The Native girl sent a sad look over to AJ. "He hasn't been feeling well. I think it has to do with that bug that's been going around the school." She could tell AJ wasn't looking all that well either, but she was still gorgeous, even sick. Tak sipped on her own tea as she looked over the rim at the dark-haired girl.

"It's a nice little shop," she hummed. "I thought about applying for a job here, actually, but I don't think they have any openings right now." Too bad - it would've been a nice place to work, and convenient.

Tak shot another glance over to Oliver, then once again turned her attention to AJ. She sat her cup down and swirled her finger around the edge. "So, AJ... A beautiful girl like you, you have to have a boyfriend, or a girlfriend, don't you?" she purred, fluttering her lashes.

To be quite honest, Tak would have loved to find herself between these two cuties... But she was only doing this for their benefit.

.... And it was kinda fun.

[Amanda Joy "AJ" Lane]

AJ just nodded at Oliver's weak explanation. What was she supposed to say? And what did it matter if Oliver did like this girl? Honestly. She really didn't like the fact that she seemed to be talking for him though, as if he couldn't himself. She did it again when she returned, explaining to AJ that he was sick. "Yeah, me too. It's really making it around Hammel." She tried to ingore the fact that she called Oliver hun. Maybe she called everybody that.

"It is, I've been coming here since I moved to Pilot Ridge. I mean, whenever I'm really low on tea in my dorm." The conversation was simple up to this point which is what AJ could handle, what she liked.

"No," she mumbled. "I mean, I did...at one point." That last part came out extra quiet, as if it was some huge secret she didn't want Oliver or this girl knowing.

[Oliver Barnes]

Oliver took another careful sip of his Earl Grey, his eyes watching the two brunettes. He honestly had no idea how they were going to react to one another. By the way things were going, it seemed to be going relatively well. The conversation was all small talk, with Tak being the driving force behind it and AJ answering her questions while he sat in silence. He smiled over at Tak, nodding twice. "Yeah, I am feeling better." The week before, Oliver hadn't even wanted to leave his dorm room.

His hands tightened around the mug, slouching back in his chair. Curiously, he gave Tak a look as she mentioned looking for a job. Made sense, since she was moving out after this year. He felt like he couldn't contribute anything to the conversation, and continued to sat there in his awkward silence, listening to his friends (plural? singular? Oliver didn't know) talk about tea and work.

Until Tak asked if AJ had a boyfriend or girlfriend. Oliver clenched his jaw, not wanting to hear the response. Again, the introverted boy said nothing, but if one was listening close enough, they could hear the sharp intake of air. He lifted a hand to reach for a sugar cube, dropping it into his tea, watching the waves ripple across the top. Oliver narrowed his eyes while looking at Tak, and then the answer came out. Yeah, she had.

Of course, what was he thinking? AJ had her own life now and was free to live it how she wanted. Why would she wait around for him; an awkward mess of a boy from Minnesota who almost took advantage of her in the middle of their school hallway? "Oh." The quiet word slipped out of his mouth before he could even process it happening. Had. Past tense. He almost asked AJ about it. 

[Takchawee Ominotago]

Tak did give everyone pet names. That's just how she was. Hun, sweetie, sweetheart, cutie... She could use them for a lover or a casual friend. But of course, AJ had no way to know that. "I'm sorry to hear that," she said sympathetically about the sickness going around. "I'm not sure how I haven't caught it yet. I've been around quite a few sick people." Like another boy who was awkward like Oliver, but much more touchy-feely...

She looked over at Oliver again, wondering how much she should nudge him to talk. He was being awfully quiet. "It looks like tea is something we all have in common," she chuckled. "Of course. That was a silly thing to say. We're in a tea shop." Tak chuckled at her dumb moment.

When the conversation turned to AJ's love life, Tak listened intently to the girl's somber response. "I'm sorry to hear that, sweetheart," she said softly. "Breakups are no fun." Tak hadn't really had any bad ones herself, but she could imagine how it felt. She heard Oliver's soft exclamation, and, under the table, reached out and rested a hand on his leg, giving him a comforting squeeze. "On the bright side, it means someone else has the chance to date someone as lovely and sweet as you." Tak fluttered her eyelashes again.

"Oliver, what else do you like to do? Read, right?" The Native girl turned her green eyes back to the boy, winking when AJ was looking away from them at the table or her tea. She then 'secretly' leaned in towards AJ and murmured,"Between you and me, this boy is quite a catch. A little awkward, and a little shy, but he's extremely endearing and would never purposefully hurt anyone." Tak leaned back again and smiled at her friend, throwing an arm around his shoulder and adding more loudly,"Of course, he's not my type, then. I, for some reason, seem to only attract and be attracted to assholes, and sexy ladies."

[Amanda Joy "AJ" Lane]

Oliver wasn't saying much, except mumbling things to Tak in response to what she said and providing other mumbling commentary that wasn't easy to make out. Needless to say she felt uncomfortable having him present for a conversation about her past boyfriends...er, boyfriend. There was only one.

Tak was doing most of the talking actually, which made things kind of awkward, since the things she chose to talk about were tea and AJ's love life. "It's okay. I actually broke up with him. It's a long story." She looked down into her tea and absentmindedly sloshed the tea bag around. "And I'm not rushing into anything." Wow, Tak really laid on the compliments.

And then she addressed Oliver again and was practically advertising him to AJ, as if this was a dating show and she should meet eligible bachelor #2. A great catch. Endearing. Awkward. Shy. Never purposely hurt anybody. A red flag might as well have hit AJ in the face and she turned her head slightly to look at Oliver, her lips slightly parted as she tried to fumble for words.

"I know Oliver," she said, her voice slowly rising in volume. "I've known him since middle school." She felt the need to finally say something about it. "So you don't have to keep talking about him like I don't know who he is." Her voice wasn't at all snappy, but there might have been slight irritation behind it. She was trying to keep her cool though.

She knows. She knows what happened.

[Oliver Barnes]

Oliver had to hand it to Tak; she was trying really hard to keep a conversation going between the three of them. He honestly appreciated her efforts, but... him and AJ were just... awkward. He was awkward in general and never knew the right thing to do or say. His life was pretty much a joke, him being the punchline.

And then there was his outburst. When Tak squeezed his thigh, Oliver felt more at ease. She was comforting to be around, both her personality and her ability providing so. Gratefully, he gave her a small nod, his eyes completely focused on the cup of tea in front of him. "I'm sorry... to hear that." He mumbled out a condolence to AJ before looking up.

"Oh... uhm, yes... I love reading. And writing." Oliver shifted in his seat. "What... what is your favourite genre?" He asked, both girls, trying his best to insert himself into the conversation and keep it going. Of course, he already knew AJ's but...

Now the charade was over. Clenching his jaw, Oliver ran a hand through his hair with a nervous sigh. His eyes landed on Tak, flickering between her and AJ. And of course, he stayed silent and fidgety.

[Takchawee Ominotago]

Tak knew she was doing most of the talking, because she was really trying her best to make this unpredictable run-in turn out alright. But even she was only so good at trying to make things less awkward - it was obvious that these two had a lot to get through, and she wasn't sure how much she was helping at all.

The whole flattery business was supposed to hopefully help ease the tension the two felt, maybe dispel any thoughts of what the two probably mulled over when they saw each other - the incident that had drove them apart. Tak hoped that, if AJ could start to see that Oliver really was a sweet guy and she didn't think he would ever want to hurt anyone on purpose, then maybe they could get on a less rocky road.

But apparently she'd said too much. Fortunately, Tak managed to look surprised and glance between the two of them as AJ said she knew Oliver. "Oh, well, that's a coincidence, isn't it?" she chuckled, shaking her head. "I apologize, hun, I guess you must already know what he's like, then." She took a sip of her tea and glanced over at Oliver, hoping he would be able to keep up the charade as well. "I guess I'm the odd one out here, then. I've only known Oliver for a few weeks. But it would be a pleasure to get to know both of you better." Cool under pressure, phew.