Gentle Not-so-giant (Axelle)

[Axelle Flint]

That was a lot to take in and process. Axelle had to listen, evaluate the sincerity of his statement and figure out what he meant when he said conciously include contradictions. Did he mean he would have to think about doing that? That seemed like a giant pain in the ass...and now he was walking away from her.

What had she done wrong?! He was walking away fast. She didn't even really have time to tell him that she wasn't offended...per say...but, he just...and she was still..."WELL FINE!" she snapped out tearfully as Lucas' voice started mocking her again the mantra of "dumb, fucking bitch" echoing in her head. She couldn't talk to boys anymore, it was too much trouble. On top of Lucas being a dick to her earlier and realizing that Benji had just been using her and Salem being withdrawn she couldn't even imagine what it would be like for a guy just to be nice to her. Well, except for maybe Marcus but she hadn't talked to him recently, for all she knew he thought the same thing Lucas and Benji did, and Koty apparently didn't even think she was worth his time anymore because he was willing to just walk away from her without saying anything.

She was so ashamed that she was crying, it was like she couldn't stop for long. Someone was always hurting her these days. Her friends, people she didn't even know...she turned away and wiped her eyes. Fine, he could walk away; she could walk away...at least a little, at least enough to circle around to the nearest alley so she could try and put herself back together in peace and then go home. School was starting next week and she'd be too busy trying to make sense of her homework to pay attention to any of them. She keened quietly when her imagination ran wild with all the things she’d probably get to watch from the sidelines while people walked by with their friends or boyfriends or girlfriends and she was standing there too nervous to make a move, too afraid of being duped. Scared of being pushed away, of being lied to, tired of thinking she was important when it turned out she wasn’t. Her crying stuttered as she took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

[Koty Hura]

...Apparently with super strength came super lungs. And super loud angry shouts.. For whatever reason Koty had felt Axelle's yell. He'd very nearly frozen up so hard that he tripped over his own feet and fell to the ground, but his eyes landed on something ahead that might.. maybe.. probably-not-but-it-was-better-than-nothing help to fix his blunder.. He wasn't entirely sure what Axelle had specifically yelled about.. He'd had a hard time reading her expression before he'd turned to give her the chance to escape him if he'd honestly offended her.. She'd either been disgusted, confused, or had zoned out.. Or something close enough to one of those three.. It was often hard for him to tell with western women... They just reacted differently to things in Japan. Sure, he'd been in classes about western culture, but there hadn't been many western women there for him to get real, honest experience with.. let alone highschool-aged ones.

So Axelle had turned and was headed away... But she'd said something.. and out of the corner of his eye, Koty guessed that her look was one of hurt.. but not offended hurt. Not the same was as it had been a moment ago about the frogs and the horrible accent. Sad hurt. He had to go back.. and just a few seconds later he wasn't just 'briskly walking' but running in the direction Axelle had gone, a twenty dollar bill missing from his wallet and a few mismatched items in his hands in it's place..

Before she even reached an alley, Axelle would most likely hear the footsteps of someone sprinting behind her... and about the time she might feel the need to turn around, Koty would skid to a halt, his skin red with little beads of sweat forming on his forehead and face.. Because summer plus jacket plus sun plus sprinting after a redhead he clearly didn't understand super well..

Koty gave a wordless bow, staring at the ground, and brought his arms forward... He'd just grabbed what was near the door of the shop he'd seen and threw the money at the counter.. So Axelle was being presented with a rose, a danish, and a bottled starbucks mocha frapaccino. Did Koty know how stupid he must look? Well.. yeah. He wasn't as stupid as he looked.. But clearly he'd done several things wrong, and.. well.. girls liked flowers and coffee and.. um.. danishes?

Without looking up, he made sure to put a slight emphasis on a few contractions. "I'm not sure what exactly happened there. I couldn't tell if you wanted me to leave, and my assumption was wrong.. I brought peace offerings? I don't know what I'm doing. Sorry."

[Axelle Flint]

Axelle was startled to hear footsteps approaching her so quickly and was even more surprised to see Koty sweating, breathing heavily and then....bowing to her. Oh god this was embarrassing. Peace offering? He was apologizing too! "Oh um...crap," she didn't know what to say, this was really...really, REALLY not what she was expecting after everything that had happened recently. When she realized people were staring she reached out to take the rose from Koty, very careful to avoid brushing against his unprotected hands. "Um, I'm sorry too. I don't really know what happened there either," she admitted. "You don't have to make yourself talk like that. I shouldn't have said what I did, it was rude. I'm sorry," she sighed as she realized that she was also hungry and took the danish, once more doing her best to avoid making contact with him so she didn’t accidently invade his mind.

No one had brought her food before, well no one that wasn't already her friend, Koty had good instincts. Her stomach growled so she opened the danish and took a bite before taking the drink out of his hands too. She was losing space quickly even though the danish was dangling out of her mouth so she carefully put the drink and the rose into her purse, thankful that Koty had straightened at some point in the last few seconds. "We could start again?" she suggested hopefully once she had taken the danish out of her mouth. “Hello, my name’s Axelle and I’m super strong and durable and I don’t really have a brain to mouth filter,” she admitted with a slight flush.

[Koty Hura]

"No, no.. It is not rude to state one's opinion. It would be more rude if you were to simply let me continue doing something that irritated you and cast a shadow on anything I said. It would be akin to cutting off a friendship before it's prime without ever attempting to compromise." But he'd slipped mostly back into his too-formal way of speaking.. And they were starting again....

"Nice to meet you, Axelle. You can call me Koty. I would shake your hand, but we would know each other much better if I did. I am a tactile telepath. On the chance that you would still like to shake my hand, I'd like to let you know ahead of time that I very much like your hair. Also, I had not planned on running today, and am overdressed..." He turned slightly and shrugged off his jacket to reveal a fairly snug grey long-sleeved shirt beneath it.. Despite being a pretty skinny guy, Koty was fairly ripped when his blood pressure got up a bit.

"I was headed in this direction to acquire a new pair of gloves and I certainly wouldn't turn down the company of such a strong and beautiful young lady if she had nothing better to do.. Would you care to join me, Axelle? A little birdie told me you needed a new journal and there is a stationary store on the way."

If she agreed, Koty would act the perfect gentleman and give a bow and usher her back in the direction he'd come running from.. "It occurs to me that super strength likely comes with a super metabolism.. Have you eaten today? I would prefer that good company not be hungry.."

[Axelle Flint]

Axelle felt her face breaking out into a huge grin as Koty played along with her. "Nice to meet you Koty!" she chuckled. "Thanks, about my hair...I dye it a lot, I'm actually a strawberry blonde...I think...don't tell anyone," she asked, trying to avoid the fact that he'd called her beautiful because it made her feel shy and happy and while those were normally good things she couldn't help that the seed of distrust that Lucas had so firmly planted in her psyche was sprouting. He was really just saying that, I mean really what about her was so nice to look at? "I could use a new journal," she said instead, trying to ignore those thoughts in her head.

“Ah…” oh god, she wasn’t expecting that. She was hungry…ish…not enough to really sit down and eat but she could go for a more substantial snack. Why did he have to make it sound so reasonable too? It was embarrassing right? That as a girl she could put more food away than some college freshman eating back at his mom’s house…was that an appropriate analogy? Since she’d just eaten the Danish she felt that it was okay to wave him off for now. Her eating habits weren’t deplorable but if they went somewhere to eat…wouldn’t that sorta be like a date? She didn’t want to eat in front of him…that would be weird. “Oh…no it’s fine! You gave me the Danish, it’s okay!” she said instead. “Let’s go then?” she suggested as she started walking and letting Koty walk next to her.

[Koty Hura]

Hm. So Axelle was naturally blonde. Or.. 'strawberry blonde' as she put it. Despite the girl's indicating that this was somehow not a good thing, and should be kept secret, Koty couldn't quite help but wonder how Axelle looked with her natural hair color. It was a complete shame that she'd decided not to shake his hand, though.. He'd have shown her plain and simple exactly what he found beautiful about her and how honest it was. All people were beautiful.. but truth be told, Koty's eye for physical beauty wasn't all that keen. He'd seen into her mind. In that instant that was filled with more worry and panic than anything else, he'd gathered enough information to know that Axelle was not only kind and compassionate, but genuinely gave a damn about small things.. that despite her worries she had still reached out to help a total stranger... and the look of relief when he'd showed her that she hadn't caused him any harm....

Basically, regardless what she looked like on the outside (and Axelle surely wasn't hard on the eyes with any hair color) Koty already knew that she was beautiful on the inside.. and that was what mattered most to the telepath. Though.. her hair really did do something for him.. and the rest of her really wasn't painful to look at, either.

Koty's mention of food was.. well.. not-quite-dodged with mention of the danish he'd given her. Axelle had more-or-less accidentally admitted that she'd been hungry.. and that it was okay because of the danish.. but if she'd been hungry and he was correct in that her metabolism was increased to match her strength.. no doubt a simple danish wasn't going to keep her satisfied for very long. He'd have to find a way to nonchalantly make sure they were near a place to get food. It was his duty as both a gentleman and as someone Axelle had already done a great service to.. Besides, he was going to be hungry in a little while himself.

"Yes, let's." But being gentlemanly and a tactile telepath didn't entirely line up sometimes.. and it seemed less than completely appropriate to offer the girl an arm.. so Koty simply turned and nodded, beginning to walk when Axelle did and setting their pace somewhat quick but still casual.. It wouldn't be long before they reached the stationary shop.. during which Axelle was more than welcome to ask any questions she liked or bring up any topics.. but Koty had goofed once already being a bit too outgoing.. so he was going to leave the starter bits up to her.

When they reached the stationary shop, though, Axelle would most likely have very wide eyes and be somewhat overwhelmed... This place was stupidly nice.. The cheapest pens here were around the $30 mark.. and the cheapest journal closer to $60.. The nicest ones reaching up into the triple-digits and starting with 3s and 4s.... Oblivious to any state Axelle may have found herself in, Koty casually strolled up to a leather-bound embroidered journal whose price was well over $100 and picked it up, flipping through the pages.. The color of the leather complimented Axelle's hair and somehow the embroidery on it reminded him of her.. Complicated, yet simple and straightforward.

"Is this something you would be interested in? The color would go wonderfully with your hair.."

[Axelle Flint]

When they reached the stationary shop Axelle was...intimidated. When they had first entered she hadn't necessarily noticed but now that she could literally feel the carpet on the floor pulling her ratty shoes into it like some sort of magical, plush quicksand she was starting to feel out of place. She could see the clerk at the desk and automatically assumed that judgment was taking place and therefore tried not to look at her or really to touch anything. She knew that deep down she could never own something this nice out of fear of breaking it, which wasn't so much a fictional fear as it was a factual one. She broke things...all the god damn time. But that didn't stop her calloused fingers from reaching for and softly touching the covers of a few journals she saw. Supple leather under the pads of her fingers made her almost melt with…feelings. She wasn't sure what feelings they were but it was somewhere between envy and joy...jovy?

She looked up when Koty called her attention to a particular journal and had to admit it definitely had appeal. "Oh, yeah it's really nice!" she smiled, head reeling at the idea that it might be very expensive. She needed to shoo Koty out of this store before she snapped something. "Um, you needed to buy gloves? Let's go do that!" she suggested as she put her hands firmly into her pockets and wandered too and out the door before Koty could offer protest. She really wanted to spend more time there but knew that it wasn’t practical for her to do so since she only had enough money on her to buy a pen and then never use it which would rub against her serious penchant for practicality. Back out on the sidewalk she felt safer and she really hoped she hadn’t left footprints on the carpet; she’d been too much in a hurry to look at anything but the door she was trying not to knock off its hinges on her way out.

[Koty Hura]

Koty didn't think too much about the decor or the carpet.. He wasn't here to appreciate the place itself (though it was very nice), he was here to get a new journal for Axelle.. and when she started acting nervous and shoved her hands in her pockets and headed immediately for the door he simply followed her out with his eyes, mumbling, "Yeah.. I think so too.." That had been strange... "I'll be right out?" ..She hadn't responded.. She seemed in a hurry. He was sure he hadn't done anything wrong.. It must have been something else. Perhaps whatever scented candle was burning was something Axelle didn't like? No.. that was silly.. Oh well.

Koty exited a few short minutes later carrying a deep purple bag with actual rope for the handholds.. the inside might have actually been lined with felt. He hadn't bothered looking. He'd just swiped a card.. What was inside the stupidly nice bag? The journal he'd picked up that Axelle had liked.. Only not that exact one. Instead, it was one that was, perhaps, made for someone just like Axelle.. It had 5/32 inch thick carbon fiber in the covers and binding.. the stitching was dyed kevlar, and the seams of the cover were reinforced with kevlar beneath the Italian leather.. It was slightly thicker than the one he'd held up, but it was hardly noticeable, especially given the trade for durability.. Also in the bag were five reams of paper refills for the journal.. a fountain pen made of red-stained granite with an unobtanium tip, and a jar of ink for it. The paper? Well.. it wasn't quite as durable as everything else, but it was at least made from hemp.. It had a wonderful texture and was far, far more durable than paper made from wood pulp.

When he exited, though, he made no indication that the bag was of any importance whatsoever.. "Sorry for taking so long, Axelle.. Please, this way." He would gesture in the direction of the clothing store he needed to visit and start walking, making sure she was coming before he upped his pace to match the one from earlier. Casual yet brisk. Koty wasn't sure if he should bring up why she'd left... let alone in such a hurry.. Surely the store hadn't been an insult to her. Perhaps she'd known one of the employees from somewhere else? That was the most reasonable conclusion he had thus far.. Perhaps she didn't want anyone thinking he was her boyfriend.

"Ah, Axelle.. If you are less than comfortable with being in close proximity t-- That is, if you don't want to be too close to me for fear of appearances.. I won't be offended. I wouldn't want any gossip to start up that would falsely indicate any relationship between us? Or.. if that is not an issue, I find myself unsure why you seemed in such a hurry to leave just now."

The clothing store was just ahead, though.. and they would likely be turning to step inside as Axelle was either replying or stopping to stare wide-eyed at what Koty had just said.

[Axelle Flint]

Axelle waited for Koty patiently and when he exited the store she didn't think anything about the bag he brought with him except "What would you even put in a journal that costs more than $10?" which was highest she had ever spent on such a thing...mostly for practicality reasons. She walked with Koty to the next store, so lost in thought about what you would put in an expensive journal that she almost missed Koty's next question.

"Huh? What? No!" she shook her head in confusion. What on earth was he trying to imply that she didn't want to be seen with him? "No it's just um...that place was really expensive and my family..." she reached up and scratched behind her left ear. "We don't have a lot of money so I don't go anywhere really fancy," she shrugged. She'd never been embarrassed by it before but she'd also never had to explain it quite like that either. “It’s no problem, I don’t mind if people see us together, I don’t think they’re gonna say anything,” she pointed out as they entered the store.

Into more luxury. “Ooooohhh….,” she finally breathed out as it suddenly occurred to her. “You’ve got…a lot of money don’t you? You’re rich?” she asked quietly. Then she chuckled, “Are you sure we’re asking the questions we’re supposed to be? I mean, shouldn’t I be the one asking you if you’re afraid to be seen with me? I mean that’s silly though because you obviously aren’t or you wouldn’t have…you know…let me come with you but I’m…” she looked around furtively and lowered her voice, leaning in as if to tell a secret. “I’m not like a gold digger or something like that, but if we could go somewhere a little cheaper after this I’d be a little more comfortable,” she informed him as she once again put her hands in her pockets and tried not to touch anything.

[Koty Hura]

Koty turned and blinked when Axelle asked him if he had a lot of money.. He was going to ponder on the question, but then looked like he'd been punched in the face when she turned his question around on him.. and made him out to be one of those snobby holier-than-thou platinum-encrusted toilet paper types.. And then went immediately into reversing her statement.. and then made sure he knew she wasn't a gold-digger or anything.. and then mentioned how she would be more comfortable in a place that wasn't so stupidly nice...

And Koty's look faded to neutral as he pressed his thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose for a moment to take in what was unexpected and spoken far too quickly. "I have no idea if I am rich.. or how much money I have. I know that before she died, my mother ensured that I would never want for things that I may need.. And I would never be afraid to be seen with someone like you. If others cannot see what I saw the moment you caught me, that is their loss. I did not let you come with me, I requested it. I hoped that I might receive the gift of your company.. Because completely regardless of the amount of money in your wallet or to your family's name you are a good, caring, compassionate, kind individual. I am truly sorry that you feel uncomfortable here.. and had I know that bringing you here would cause you discomfort I would have.. ignored my obligations in favor of spending the time in a place you are more comfortable. I have had only a very small glimpse into your mind, but that was enough to tell me that you are not and never will be a 'gold digger'.. People like that do not care for the needs of others. They only care for themselves. Someone like that would not have caught me as I fell, let alone been worried that they might have caused me pain.."

..Yeah.. so.. suffice it to say that Koty didn't entirely understand why Axelle would even feel the need to defend herself. He already knew enough to know that she was anything but a parasite. "We can go wherever you like as soon as I am done here.. And.. I will not bother asking if you like anything. I would not want to put you in any more awkward a situation.. Though, if you did, it would be my gift to you."

Er.. wait.. that had kinda canceled out the 'not asking' thing, hadn't it? Gah. "I will be only a few moments.. Feel free to wait for me here or outside, as you see fit." He disappeared between racks of designer clothing... and if Axelle didn't move, would be back in just over two minutes wearing a very fine pair of light grey gloves.. giving her a small bow whether he found her where he'd left her or outside.

"I find that I.. for lack of a better phrase, 'fail miserably' when it comes to preparing ground beef.. Would you know a good 'burger joint' nearby? A good, american hamburger is one of few things that I simply cannot seem to cook for myself."

Apparently Koty was interested in distracting Axelle from awkwardness.. hoping that he could put her right back into her element by getting her advice on a burger place nearby.. Though it was likely somewhat comical to hear him say 'burger joint'.. because it was literally the first time he'd ever actually said it out loud. He was trying to speak more normally.. he was trying.

[Axelle Flint]

Axelle blinked at Koty and thought (again) that he spoke really formally but somehow in the last ten minutes it had become a little endearing rather than off-putting. "Wow, you're very...er, what's that word? sufficient? no wait, su-su...," she gave up. "You're deliberate, which is something my grandfather likes to shout at me when I trip over thin air. BUT ANYWAY, I am going to wait for you outside then!" she chirped as she turned around and fled the shop, stumbling over the door jamb and nearly flying head first into the street before she miraculously righted herself and landed on the sidewalk outside. When Koty joined her a couple minutes later she looked at his gloves for a moment and back up at him as he began to speak.

"A burger? OH, well...there's a burger place that's really good around the next corner. Kind of a hole in the wall but the service is good and the burgers are amazing!" she gushed. She totally had time (and money) for a burger. This could be part of her "enjoy the last bit of summer" her father wanted her to do. "Do you like cooking?" she asked curiously. She had to admit, next to muscles, cooks contended for the top spot on her list of "wants" in a potential partner....recently...ever since it dawned on her that she didn't know how to cook...anything and would starve if her grandfather or father ever left her alone. To that end "cook" ended up at the top of her list.

[Koty Hura]

"Oh, very much so.. I find cooking to be satisfying both physically and mentally. I like knowing exactly what has gone into my food and is going into my body, and cooking itself is.. meditative. It is a skill that will never not be appreciated, and it is one that ensures I have a purpose and a schedule. I do not know if I would enjoy being a chef at a restaurant, but I very much enjoy cooking for myself and occasionally another. I would be happy to provide you with lunch one day.. Most of the cooking I do is based heavily on Japanese dishes, but I find most of what I make to be satisfying, filling, and reasonably tasty.. I welcome your criticism if you choose to take me up on my offer as well."

Because how else did one become a better cook than by cooking for people and finding out what they liked and didn't? Sure, taste was subjective, but it also offered a lot of perspective.. It offered one ideas they may not have come up with on their own. For instance Koty had eaten egg rolls dozens of times throughout his life.. but he'd never once eaten them with mustard until he'd seen someone do it here in America... and while it wasn't familiar to him, it had been an enlightening experience and not a bad one.

At some point while he'd been talking, Koty would have gestured in the direction Axelle had indicated.. and if she'd understood he'd meant 'lets go' and started walking, they'd be well on their way..

"Axelle.. forgive me if I am being.. too deliberate.. but I have one request for you. I understand that it is.. somewhat typical for women to avoid eating or avoid eating their fill in the presence of others.. If there is a chance that my presence would prevent you from eating your fill - which I can only imagine is far more for you than for me, given your ability - please allow me to leave and wait outside. I would not and cannot force you to eat, but as much as I would rather avoid enabling a horrible custom, I do not wish for you to be hungry.. Even if that requires me to vacate your presence for a time." ..Er.. with the complicated talking again.

"Sorry, what I meant was.. I want you to eat as much as you want to eat, even if I need to go away for you to feel comfortable doing it. Being embarrassed about eating your fill is both silly and cruel to yourself." Of course.. by this point, Koty had repeated it twice.. and even in his own head it sounded the tiniest bit like he was accusing Axelle of eating a crap-ton of food.. Which wasn't his intention, he only wanted to make sure she understood that he didn't want her not eating on his account... but having said what he'd already said, he simply hoped she'd understand and not assume he was... poking fun at her or accusing her of overeating or something stupid like that.

Really, it made perfect sense to him that someone with super strength would need a lot of food.. plus Axelle's stomach was likely as strong as the rest of her.. further increasing her metabolism in his mind. He didn't want her hungry.. but he also didn't want her thinking that he thought she was a glutton... Stuck between a rock and a hard place. Oh well. Koty was likely overthinking the heck out of the situation.. and Axelle had likely already decided how much she was or wasn't willing to eat in front of another person outside her immediate family already.. his input wasn't likely to change it.

[Axelle Flint]

The first thought that Axelle had when Koty began to talk about cooking was how passionate he seemed about it. She really appreciated that in people, the idea to be driven, to want to be good at something, to have ambitions regarding the things you liked. The two continued walking down the street towards the burger joint Axelle had pointed out. It was then that she gone not one, but two similar pieces of "advice" from Koty. She had to smile; in spite of it all in the half-hour that she had come to make Koty's acquaintance, his manner of speaking was growing on her. In fact she was starting to understand some of his more formal speech too, though she did rather appreciate a simplified version, if only because him making the effort made her feel happy. She knew now that it wasn’t fair of her to assume that he was treating her intelligence as inferior to his (even though it most definitely was), he was making an effort to be understood, while not speaking to her as if she were five.

But he had brought up a point that was rather important to her, the fact that she was a little more than embarrassed to eat in front of people. She was a self-conscious teenage girl. Despite the pep-talks, the necessity of needing to eat and the constant reassurance of those around her that it was perfectly alright to eat enough food for three people at any given time she was still uncomfortable about it sometimes. Having the reassurance that Koty was willing to leave her alone so she wouldn’t be uncomfortable was rather sweet actually. “Ah, well thank you very much, but I think it’ll be okay. They serve a lot of food here in one sitting so I should be okay until dinner,” she assured him. She smiled at the thought that he was concerned that she feel comfortable around him, especially after their not so fantastic start. “Do you like French fries?” she asked suddenly. “When I eat hamburgers they’re my favorite part of the meal,” she added.

[Koty Hura]

For lack of a better way to put it.. Axelle had a very cute look she gave people when she thought they were being cute. Koty wasn't fully aware that she thought he was being cute, all concerned and trying to make sure she was comfortable, but he did like the look on her face all the same. He had half a mind to reach out and touch her arm just so he could figure out exactly what it meant, but.. well.. that would probably not be the smartest thing ever. Women were mysterious. Maybe it was intentional, maybe it wasn't, but some part of him was sure that as soon as he removed it it would have been intentional and he'd have violated something important.

Regardless, she seemed to appreciate his ramblings, and he let out a noticeable sigh of relief. He didn't want to talk to anyone like they were stupid, but he didn't want to speak in such a way that they had to blink and stare at him for several moments and feel stupid while they processed what he'd said. It was one of those 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' situations and Koty was relieved that at least this time he hadn't managed to screw it up.

So this place was generous with it's portions.. that was good. He could order too much, plan to take some home, and end up giving it to Axelle. "I have yet to find french fries that are.. exactly what I feel they could be, but I do enjoy them, yes. I had a milkshake with a hamburger once.. I believe the contrast between sugary-sweet cold and juicy, savory warm was my favorite part of the meal.. but then I may be a.. less than normal individual." Gah. Still with the overly complex speech. Stopit, Koty. How to recover from what didn't technically need recovering from?

"Are the fries good here? You are welcome to some of mine if you like them." But then Koty wasn't as familiar with this area.. and if left to his own devices was quite liable to get so wrapped up in his thoughts that he'd walk right past the place if Axe didn't say something or stop him. She aught to make sure to do that.

[Axelle Flint]

"I like milkshakes too!" Axelle assured him with a smile. "You described it perfectly! I like strawberry the best. This place has pretty good milkshakes but they aren't the best in town," she frowned. "Still, for the money and as part of a whole experience they aren't bad, the fries make up for it though," she said answering his other question with her observation. "I might take you up on that. I tend to like fries no matter what," she admitted with an embarrassed chuckle. "I don't really like junk food all that much and I eat pretty healthy most of the time, but like, there's something about french fries that are really good," she admitted.

Axelle was aware that she hadn't given a name to the shop and had assumed for the time being that she was acting as a guide. Though she might have been surprised to hear that Koty was unfamiliar with this part of town. Axelle had a tendency to forget however that many of her class and schoolmates did not grow up in Pilot Ridge like she had and might not be aware of all the nooks and crannies that were tucked within the small town. "There it is," she announced as she pointed just ahead of them to a red-bricked store front with a sandwich board scribbled with colorful chalk advertising that day's menu. Axelle stopped and stared at it for a minute.

"Oh! An avocado chicken burger...that sounds great!" she said more to herself than to her companion. "They have a regular burger with avocado too if you want. The cheeseburger here is also pretty good," she added. "They've got a larger menu inside, these are just the specials today," she pointed out, probably unnecessarily since most restaurants seemed to operate that way. She felt herself fidgeting self-consciously. She'd only known this boy for what amounted to almost an hour and she was feeling nervous around him. It probably had something to do with the fact that they had both shared the act of experiencing her emotions. There was just something about THAT in particular that seemed intimate and it made her careful around him.

“Let’s go inside,” she suggested before she could allow her nervousness to get the better of her. She could do this! She was making a new friend…a new friend who had given her a rose when he made her angry. A new friend! She walked inside and noticed the “seat yourself” sign and pointed to a generously sized booth near a window. As they sat down she carefully moved her things to the wall and arranged herself carefully so she didn’t accidently break the table.