Would you like fries with that shake? (solo)

Well, that could have gone better. Van had managed to keep his thoughts focused on other things as he walked and subway-ed home, but as soon as he climbed the narrow stairs to the apartment above the bar he couldn't keep the image of Etta throwing fries at him out of his head. He didn't totally get it--it's not like they'd talked about the kissing before it happened, no promises were made by either party. It had been an organic experience that should be treasured but not over analyzed with labels and timetables and other things that kinda rhymed with 'labels'. In Van's experience you could analyze something too much and end up with a mockery of the original beautifully fractured concept. It was like over editing a paper--sometimes the feelings got lost in translation.

Not that he'd explained his thinking to Etta.

Nope, he'd killed the moment with three one-syllable words:just for fun. Now the major question on the boy's mind was: Did he care that he'd killed the moment, virtually ending any and all relations with the girl-who-was-also-a-mutant-and-cute-and-interesting-and-a-bit-of-a-good-kisser? There are two sides to everything, and thus his answer to that question was doubled.

Van's Tough Parts vs. His Gooey Parts

His Tough Parts thought: Um, she's just some chick. We don't need her. We are totally fine being alone--it's cool, like being detached from the world is cool. We are our own man and shall do what we want when we want and with who we want. Who is she to make us feel obligated and nice? Nice doesn't get you anywhere kid, it just brings you down. Go hard or go home and all that--you think you'd have learned that by now.

Van's Gooey Parts thought: But she's funny and nice and I liiiiiike her. (his gooey parts were a bit of a whiner) It can't be healthy not interacting with decent people some of the time. I think she liked me for a while there, can't we be friends or something? She's a good person and she at least deserves an apology or something, right? I should talk to her, tell her what I really think.

His Tough Parts replied: Or not.

Van's Gooey Parts decided: That might be easier...

--
Nothing was decided that night, only that things would look better later in the morning and that he was probably blowing things out of proportion at the moment. Van ended up going to bed after a long shower and an hour of I Love Lucy reruns that always seemed to be on really late at night.

He'd think on it, that was a good a plan as any.