SMASH! Chirp chirp. Chirp chirp

As if to emphasise Andrea's explanation about Cricket being a mutant, the noise of his chirping flooded through the restaurant. Judging by the tone of it, he wasn't happy. Most of the restaurant patrons went dead quiet at the noise, as if making a peep would bring down the wrath of the waiter with long legs onto them. Mat, however, couldn't help himself. He burst out laughing and, unlike Andrea who was trying to stifle her own giggles, made no effort to hide his amusement. His laughter echoed through the room and mingled with Cricket's chirping. Any brief jealousy he may have felt at the man's earlier appearance had died completely. Cricket, he was alright.

With a sudden jolt of energy, Andrea bounded from her seat, grabbed Mat's hand and skipped, he noted with amusement, towards a wall covered in photographs. She pointed to one, and Mat let his gaze linger on it. A grey skinned man, holding the staff up on his shoulders.

Not your usual restaurant decoration.

Mat's eyes began to roam the wall, inspecting photograph after photograph. He knew that some fancy restaurants liked to hang pictures of any famous patrons that may have dined in, but this? Every single photograph seemed to contain a mutant of some kind. It was unlike anything Mat had ever seen. It was...beautiful.

>>> "This is what he meant. They have a custom here of taking pictures of the guests like us. A show of friendship I think. The last time I came here, they wanted to take a picture with me... but... I turned them down. I suppose this time I will have no choice.. They will surely want a picture of you too."

“This...this is astounding.” The wall had stirred something in Mat. Something he was having trouble identifying, something he had trouble distinguishing. Something that he hadn't felt in a long time. For what had seemed like an eternity.

Hope. For mutants and humans alike.

“I...” Words tried to escape him. Mat felt that he needed to say something, anything. That he needed to acknowledge it out loud, in case it disappeared like an apparition, like part some cruel prank, but he found himself unable to talk. Found himself unable to tear his eyes away from the wall. It was everything he had hoped could exist in the world. A mutual understanding between those that were, at once, the same, yet worlds apart. Between humans and mutants. Respect. His thoughts went back, as they tended to do, back to the commune and to his friend Trip. Everything Trip had ever wanted was up on the wall, proofed in photographs. The ability for humans and mutants to live together and focus on something other than powers, or the lack of. And at the same time, the wall was a mocking reminder. Of those who had died in spite of such an idea. Of Sarah, and the others.

Mat gave a cough, and quickly wiped away the few tears that had started to gather, not wanting Andrea to see him carrying on like that. The wall, it was bringing forth strong, conflicting emotions in Mat.

He felt a tug on his hand. The hostess had returned to their table, and Andrea was leading him back to their seats. He followed in silence, trying to shake the sudden melancholy that had begun to blanket him. He was here for fun and company. It wouldn't do to start bringing the mood down. He glanced down at the gloved hand that had wrapped itself around his. The hands that turned life into stone. Earlier, when Andrea had given him his flower, Mat had only seen the artistic possibilities of such a gift. Now, feeling the soft fabric of her gloves, Mat wondered just how much of a curse Andrea's powers were. Could she never touch anything, for fear of what she might do? Had she never experienced the pleasure of running one's fingers along the smooth skin of a lover, a companion? Of even a handshake, firm and safe and secure? Pity for the girl was beginning to rise, and Mat hated it. He didn't want to pity this woman, this beautiful and charming woman. She didn't deserve pity. Pity implied a fault, a weakness or a flaw, and Andrea had neither to his eyes. So she didn't deserve his pity.

That damn wall. It had done something to him. Made him maudlin.

They sat back in their seats and Mat, trying to bring the mood back to what it had been originally, asked her where she came from. She was raising a piece of bread to her mouth when the question was posed, and Mat couldn't miss the pause that had followed. She froze like a deer in the headlights, seeming to debate whether or not to answer him. Deep down, Mat felt something squirm, and he mentally berated himself. He had done it again. Assumed that others who were different could relate to him, like the residents of the commune had. It was like the situation with Agnes all over again. In his rush to be friendly, to forge a bond between his fellow mutants, he had been too forthright, too pushy. And when people thought you were prying, they clammed up. They no longer trusted you.

He wasn't in Kansas no more, there was no commune. It was gone, dead, burnt. Forever.

>>> "I am from Greece, Rhodes to be specific. I do miss home... sometimes. But not for the reasons most do. Home... to me, was not filled with friends. It...was very quiet. Very lonesome at times... but I find myself longing for the solitude now days. This...is hardly the time for sad stories though. New York is a new life for me... right now, with everything going on.. I must look towards the future."

“Or else the past will eat you alive,” he muttered, finishing the train of thought Andrea's words had started. She was right of course, all anyone could really to was look towards the future. “I know exactly what you mean.” Andrea went back to eating her bread, and Mat decided he should as well. It seemed distasteful to break the sullen silence that had descended too early. There was nothing else he could really say.

>>> "Why were you sleeping in the bus?...I find it hard to sleep around strangers...er...well... on buses at least."

Well, silence over.

“I, uh, it wasn't intentional,” he replied. He gazed at Andrea's sunglasses for a moment, trying to peer through the tinted lenses for one more glimpse of those gorgeous eyes. He could easily make up a story about why he had fallen asleep, but what was the point? Lies, especially trivial and pointless lies, helped nothing and no one. “I don't sleep. I stay awake for as long as I can, sometimes days at a time. I guess it just caught up with me.” It had been so long since he had admitted this to another person. The last time he had discussed his somniphobia with someone had been with Trip, when they would work through the fear together, trying to help Mat get on top of his phobia. Trip never needed to sleep. His mutation kept him awake, 24/7. But it also meant he could affect others, stop them from sleeping so long as his powers were active. Many a night, Trip would help Mat ease himself into the comfort of sleeping, would talk him through the terror until finally Mat was no longer afraid. That had been wiped away over a year ago, cleansed with fire.

Mat took a deep breath and plunged into the freezing pool of honesty. “I have a fear of sleep.” He tore off a piece of bread and chewed at it slowly. "Silly, I know."

The green woman was, as always, oblivious to the effect the picture wall had taken on Mat. She missed the subtle cues that others may have picked up on, due to inexperience with people and the excitement of the situation. On the upside, her bread was as tasty as it had been the last time she had eaten at the restaurant... and this time she wasn't alone! ...and better yet, this person appeared to understand her. She smiled, her nervousness over the question ebbing away and set her bread down.

No use getting full on the appetizer... Her own question seemed to strike something, though she couldn't tell exactly what. She blinked at him, tilting her head a little. She supposed that one could fall asleep in an unintentional way due to the movement of the bus... she had seen many a head nodding on her back and forth trips from the sanctuary into town... but her nerves had thus far kept her from experiencing the same thing. It was rather hard to fall asleep while surrounded by people, crammed into a giant tin can on wheels.

..not that staying awake had saved her the embarrassment of her snakes getting entangled with someone else...

He furthered his explanation, and Andrea felt her body still. Her excitement dulled, and she found herself suddenly rather sad- if only for the poor male in front of her. "..You cannot sleep?" Sometimes days at a time, he says. Her smile vanished, replaced by a deep, concerned frown. It was always when you thought you had it worse than everyone else, that another was brought into your life to put you back in your place. "...It is not silly, Mat..." She started, her concern being driven by the knowledge of what sleep deprivation felt like... and what it could do to a person. Images of her personal monster still haunted her in her dreams some times... she couldn't imagine what it was like to live in his shoes.

Before she could continue, a different type of chirp filled the air within the building. A happy, satisfied chirping... Shaded eyes turned and caught sight of Cricket making his way toward them, long legs carrying him in lengthy strides towards their table. "Dinner is served... Apologies for the long wait." One steaming plate was set in front of Mat, and another before Andrea. She sent a small smile the waiters way, and dipped her chin a little as she thanked him. He stuck around for a moment, making sure everything was absolutely perfect, before the tall man ushered himself away to take care of other business.

Andrea glanced down at her Moussaka, and the little green leaf salad that had been tucked into the corner of her plate, before glancing across the table at Mats food. He had a Duck dish, one that she had never tried before. Once cricket was out of ear shot, she ignored her food and turned her attention back to Mats lack of sleep, or rather, fear of it. "...It must be awful, to fear sleep.... I know what not sleeping feels like, but I have never not wanted to..." Her hand found her fork on its own accord, and she poked at her food solemnly. "...How do you deal with such a burden?"

Perhaps that was why he had seemed so... happy, when she had knocked him out. She could imagine that any resemblance of sudden, if forceful, sleep was a welcome thing. Seeing as one can't really fear something they don't see coming. She felt suddenly bad for withholding her own problems from someone who so openly shared his own. She had been a closed book to nearly everyone she had met since coming to the states... save for one person. Her poking stilled, and she scolded herself for playing with her food. "...We..... are most likely very different people. So.. I cannot in all honesty say that I understand what you are going though, or even where you have come from." Damn...she had always been so awkward at trying to relate to people. "I appreciate how...open you are." The Greek cringed inwardly... this, was probably another reasons she avoided people.

Andrea's smile vanished as Mat explained his phobia, and he couldn't help but be touched. It was such a strange affliction to his mind that he assumed most wouldn't be able to understand. Insomnia was one thing, almost everybody had had some stage in their lives where sleep evaded them, and could empathise. But to actively avoid sleep, that was something that most people would call foolish or strange. And while it was a disappointing thing to see Andrea's smile vanish, he was moved by her concern. Before they could discuss it any further, however, Cricket returned with a chirp and their food. Andrea was given some lasagne-looking dish, while Mat was given some kind of bird resting on a bed of vegetables and sauce. He thanked Cricket, and when he and Andrea were left alone once more, prodded at his food with a fork, curious as to what it was. His experience with poultry was limited to chicken, and this, he knew, was not chicken. Duck, perhaps? Or quail. A thought came to mind, that maybe the dish could have been pigeon. They were in New York after all, and there was no shortage of the creatures.

Fine dining wasn't Mat's forte.

>>> "...It must be awful, to fear sleep.... I know what not sleeping feels like, but I have never not wanted to...How do you deal with such a burden?"

Andrea's demeanour was still sombre as the discussion continued. She picked and prodded at her food with her fork, not actually eating. Mat gave her a reassuring grin, hoping she didn't think he was going to keel over at any second. After all, he wanted to see that gorgeous smile once more.

“I'm used to it,” he answered with a shrug. “It started a few years ago, so I've had some time to adjust. When it first began I used to go for long walks around my town. Then when I ran away from home I found things that helped me stay awake. Coffee, caffeine pills, No-Doze, things like that.” He neglected to mention the other substances that used to help. He doubted that Andrea would appreciate that little fact. Belatedly, Mat realised that he had told her about his running away from home. He hadn't mentioned that before. Not that it really mattered. “I had a friend who used to help me with my phobia. Trip. He never slept because of his own mutation, and could manipulate pleasure centres in the brain. So he used to sit up with me and help ease me into sleep.” Again, Mat decided not to mention that Trip was essentially a living drug with his mutation. “Other than that, I usually try and wait until I'm tired enough to just fall asleep straight away, before the fear can kick in.” Not the easiest method, but one of the few he had left.

>>> "...We..... are most likely very different people. So.. I cannot in all honesty say that I understand what you are going though, or even where you have come from."

Again, Mat gave her a smile. “That's what makes it interesting though, isn't it? I mean, if we were the same, or if we had lived the same lives, then it'd be like talking to myself. And I'd much rather talk to you.” There was a trace of a wink in his voice.

I appreciate how...open you are."

The statement caught Mat by surprise. He honestly hadn't given the fact much thought. “I can't see any reason not to be. You ask me some questions, I give you an answer. I have no real need for secrecy.” Which wasn't entirely true. There were plenty of things that he would keep to himself. Still, for the most part he was an open book. One need simply ask the right questions. “Besides, who could say no to a sweet thing like you?” Any trace of the sadness that had crept up on Mat earlier was being stripped away as he talked with Andrea.

Mat speared a piece of sliced meat onto his fork, raised it to his face, sniffed at it, and popped it into his mouth. Flavour instantly burst form the small morsel, filling his mouth with such delight that Mat had to close his eyes and savour it. It had been a long time since he had eaten anything this fine. “You have to try this,” he said to Andrea, pushing his plate across the table. “How's yours?” She still hadn't touched her food, save for playing with it. Hopefully his gentle reminder would get her to eat something. He didn't want her going hungry because of him.

He watched the green gorgon, took in her features for what seemed like the millionth time since meeting her. He wanted to commit her to memory. She was so fascinating, so mesmerising, that to forget her face would be a crime against nature. Every part of him wanted to learn more about her, but she was so timid that he was afraid pushing her would cause her to close up even further.

He decided, against his better nature, to push a little further anyway.

“Can I ask a personal question,” he began in a gentle tone of voice. “Do you resent your mutation? If that's too personal, you don't have to answer.”

When prying into intimate details of a stranger's life, it pays to be polite about it.

“Other than that, I usually try and wait until I'm tired enough to just fall asleep straight away, before the fear can kick in.”

His friend, this Trip... She wondered what such an affliction would be like. Never to sleep because of a mutation... but still had, in some way, seemed to have helped the male she was sitting across the table from. She sometimes wished her own affliction had held such positive side effects.... Her frown deepened at the mention of his running away, and for once she wondered exactly how old Mat was. The way he spoke of the act made it seem distant... but one could never truly tell these days. He moved on before she could collect her thoughts on the matter, so she held her tongue...

“That's what makes it interesting though, isn't it? I mean, if we were the same, or if we had lived the same lives, then it'd be like talking to myself. And I'd much rather talk to you.”

It was suddenly harder to frown. The corners of her mouth tipped gently upwards in a smile, and she ceased poking at her food. Whether it was a polite gesture, or if he truly meant it, it still felt good. She had always been so awkward in the conversation department- stumbling over her words, or forgetting what she was saying right in the middle of saying it... not to mention how hard it was for her to open up to people. "Thank you. I... enjoy talking to you too."

“I can't see any reason not to be. You ask me some questions, I give you an answer. I have no real need for secrecy.”“Besides, who could say no to a sweet thing like you?”

His words sank in, and almost instantly her cheeks turned dark brown. It was suddenly quite hard to think, and she couldn't help but giggle. She took a drink of her water to try and calm herself... She watched as he tested out his own meal, and was pleasantly surprised by his reaction- enough so that she laughed and tried to forget about her burning cheeks. "Do I?" She questioned, as a genuine smile lit up her face. Andrea accepted his plate, and picked up a clean fork to spear herself a little bit of the meat. She eyed the little morsel for a moment, knowing full well that she could have and would have taken a lot more had it not been his food, before she popped it into her mouth. She tasted butter, salt and pepper... an unknown spice that left a pleasant burning sensation, and garlic.. "..This is... duck?" She questioned, not entirely sure right off the bat. "I am sure it is duck..." Still savoring the flavor, she pushed her own plate across the table his way. "I have had mine many times before... You should try it though."

Sharing.... that was something new that she had never done before. The Greek found that it was all kinds of exciting, and much better than simply wolfing down her food as fast as humanly possible. Which, as she had found out, she could do pretty fast. While he sampled her dish, she recalled the glass rose at her side and turned to fish it out from under her coat. She didn't want it getting squished, or falling off and smashing on the floor. It was while she was holding the little trinket that he popped his next question...

“Can I ask a personal question,”“Do you resent your mutation? If that's too personal, you don't have to answer.”

Her smile dulled... but for some reason the usual sadness that accompanied such thoughts stayed far away. She felt it in her chest- a cold little ball of pent up feelings... but that is where it stayed. "...It is personal, but I do not mind telling you." She adopted almost a shameful expression, and tinkered with the flower in her grasp. "...I do in some ways... It must seem silly though- most think it is..." Like Saph... and the majority of the people she had met on her adventure in the states.

"...but... Rhodes is not like New York. People who were different were shunned by most in my community... I learned early on through my parents, that my.. mutation... would bring only negative attention." It was hard... to tiptoe around everything in her past, without at least hinting at it in some way... Andrea sighed, and dropped her hands to her lap. "I do...resent.. what I am sometimes... I wish with all of my heart that I could simply shed my skin and just be me for once."

So many memories, and most of them were...bland. "But, I have always been this way. I was born with this shade of skin, with these eyes. I am only human, so I can control my feelings only as much as the girl who does not like having freckles, or the boy who wishes he had been born with e different color of hair." She took a little pause, and washed the feelings down with a sip of water. "I cannot say I have had a terrible life, though... I was lucky to have parents who sheltered be from the world until I-...well, I guess in a way I also ran away..." From her home... from the one place that she had ever been truly safe- even if she had been greatly unhappy. She squirmed for a moment, not liking how thoughts of home made the ball in her chest triple in size. It was becoming hard to breath... She had spoken enough about herself, and she had answered his question. It was time to shift the attention back onto him, had a question of her own to retaliate with.

"...What about you? Did... your mutation have something to do with you running away?"

She was smiling again.

That brought a smile to Mat's own face. She was radiant when she smiled. And she was far too sweet to be sad. Soon, she was giggling and blushing brown, just like she had been not that long ago, when they were in the alley. She was also eating now, rather than fiddling with her food. And eating. And eating. Mat watched her, a bemused, slightly surprised grin tugging at his lips, as he watched her eat. She had offered to share her food with him, and as delicious as both dishes were, Mat was already feeling full. It didn't take a lot of food to satisfy him, probably a result of being limited the small amounts of food he could scrounge in his years on the street. But Andrea, she didn't look to be stopping any time soon. Mat wondered how she could fit so much food into such a thin frame.

She looked ready to eat the table, if need be.

When he sprung his question, he saw her smile falter, and his own expression mirrored hers. The last thing he wanted was to upset Andrea, but sometimes it helped to open up about things. Luckily for him, she began to open up rather than closing herself off further.

>>> "...It is personal, but I do not mind telling you....I do in some ways... It must seem silly though- most think it is...but... Rhodes is not like New York. People who were different were shunned by most in my community... I learned early on through my parents, that my.. mutation... would bring only negative attention. I do...resent.. what I am sometimes... I wish with all of my heart that I could simply shed my skin and just be me for once. But, I have always been this way. I was born with this shade of skin, with these eyes. I am only human, so I can control my feelings only as much as the girl who does not like having freckles, or the boy who wishes he had been born with e different color of hair. I cannot say I have had a terrible life, though... I was lucky to have parents who sheltered be from the world until I-...well, I guess in a way I also ran away..."

Mat made sure to listen carefully, giving Andrea his undivided attention. He suspected this wasn't information she threw around casually. This was her baring part of herself, to a stranger no less. She deserved to be listened to, without interruption, without comment. When Andrea had finished, Mat let her words settle, before giving her a warm smile. A thankful smile, thankful that she trusted him enough to share.

“It isn't silly at all, Andrea. I can't imagine what it must be like, to stick out as you do. I've met a lot of mutants in my time, some who you would never imagine to be, and others who left no doubt. I've seen mutants who wear their mutation proudly, and mutants who would trade anything to fit in. I'm lucky, in that I've had it easy in that regard, that I haven't had to face the prejudice, and blind stupidity of those who can't see past green skin, or grass for hair...” He had meant to say snakes for hair, but in that moment, Andrea reminded him an awful lot like Bloom. “I could sit here and tell you that you should be proud to be who you are, but that's not my place.” A sly grin crept up. “Though, if it's any consolation, you are a beautiful girl, green skin and snakes included.” Mat let his face grow serious again. “Thank you Andrea, for being honest with me. Wanting to be different than you are, to fit in, doesn't make you foolish. Like you said, it makes you human. I think more people need to realise that.”

>>> "...What about you? Did... your mutation have something to do with you running away?"

Mat gave a small, slightly sad smile. “It did. The town I grew up in, it's only a small country town, where everybody knows everybody. I was...” Mat debated whether to tell Andrea about his sister, and decided against it. He didn't want to make her sad again with his problems. “...going through a difficult time. So when my mutation kicked in, I freaked out and panicked. I thought...that it would be unfair to my parents, having a mutant for a son. Especially in a town like ours. And especially after...” Mat swallowed the words that were on the edge of his tongue, and pulled himself up. “Word spreads in towns like that, you know? People can't understand. Small town mentality, and all that. You know what I mean, don't you? Anyway...I figured that it would be best for everyone if I just disappeared. That way...” His parents wouldn't have to bear shame of losing both of their children. One to the grave, and one to the X-gene. “That way my parents could move on and live their lives.”

It all sounded very selfish, now that he was saying it out loud.

Mat looked down at his plate. Two sliced pieces of the duck were left. He looked over to Andrea's now empty plate and couldn't help but laugh. She had eaten the majority of the food. Not that he minded. Wearing his grin once more, Mat ate one of the morsels and pushed his plate across to Andrea so she could take the last piece. “I must say, that was an amazing meal. Thank you for bringing me here.”

>>“It isn't silly at all, Andrea. I can't imagine what it must be like, to stick out as you do. I've met a lot of mutants in my time, some who you would never imagine to be, and others who left no doubt. I've seen mutants who wear their mutation proudly, and mutants who would trade anything to fit in. I'm lucky, in that I've had it easy in that regard, that I haven't had to face the prejudice, and blind stupidity of those who can't see past green skin, or grass for hair... I could sit here and tell you that you should be proud to be who you are, but that's not my place. Though, if it's any consolation, you are a beautiful girl, green skin and snakes included. Thank you Andrea, for being honest with me. Wanting to be different than you are, to fit in, doesn't make you foolish. Like you said, it makes you human. I think more people need to realise that.”

She couldn't stop the blush that reared up again, and she was rather at a lack for words. Three times in a day, he had gotten her... She had relaxed more than she realized. Mat had... a way about him. It reminded her of those she knew... and yet at the same time he was completely new. Fresh.

>>“It did. The town I grew up in, it's only a small country town, where everybody knows everybody. I was......going through a difficult time. So when my mutation kicked in, I freaked out and panicked. I thought...that it would be unfair to my parents, having a mutant for a son. Especially in a town like ours. And especially after... Word spreads in towns like that, you know? People can't understand. Small town mentality, and all that. You know what I mean, don't you? Anyway...I figured that it would be best for everyone if I just disappeared. That way... That way my parents could move on and live their lives.”

"I do." She agreed, nodding her head ever so slightly. She knew well what it meant, and what he probably felt. "I used to think that way too, that my parents would be better off if I was gone." Many a night in fact, she had laid away and wondered the answer to that question. "... but you know... it is not all bad. While I have met my fair share of people who dislike me for my skin, I have met others who think I am the bees-knees because of it. I... have even met mutants who hate me too..." And some who were just simply out to hurt everyone. It was a shame, really...

"I guess we have more in common than I had first thought." She muttered, and shifted in her seat. Cricket was on his way over to check up on them. He swooped in, eyeballing Andrea's polished off plate, and then Mats, before he cleared his throat. "Escusimuwaaaah, I trust that dinner was perfect...?"

Andrea nodded, and dropped her gaze back down to Mat's plate. He had not eaten all of his food... did he not like it? Concern briefly touched her features, before she accepted the plate he pushed her way, and smiled at Cricket as he strode back off. Somehow amidst the fluffy of shoving plates and removing of dishes, the older mutant had dropped the bill on the table in front of Mat.

>>“I must say, that was an amazing meal. Thank you for bringing me here.”

"No... Thank you, Mat..."

She couldn't let him shift all of the thanks onto her. Not after all he had done... "You... have made me happy, at a time when I did not have much hope." She smiled, and fidgeted with the glass flower in her lap. "... God has a funny way of bringing joy into your life when you least expect it. When you feel like you have hit a wall, and there is no where left to turn." Something touched her lips, perhaps bitterness hidden behind a smile. God also had a funny way of taking those things from you when you most needed them. She would never understand...

"I cannot thank you enough, for being here.... for being you." Her smile widened, and she heard the approach of feet again. As quickly as she could she ate what was left of their food and fumbled for her money. Cricket turned the corner, just as she finished throwing a small wad of twenties at Mat. The older man gathered up the newly empty plate, and took a peek to see if the check was ready to be brought back. It was not. "... I will be back momentarily, and WITH a camera,might I add! You will not be escaping this time, Missy!" He turned and headed back off to the kitchen. Andrea shot Mat a sly grin.

"We should run, while he has his back turned..."

>>> "I do. I used to think that way too, that my parents would be better off if I was gone.... but you know... it is not all bad. While I have met my fair share of people who dislike me for my skin, I have met others who think I am the bees-knees because of it. I... have even met mutants who hate me too...I guess we have more in common than I had first thought."

“I think out story is a common one, these days,” Mat replied. “Still, that just means there are plenty of people out there who can understand.” Just as Mat was about to continue, Cricket returned, in a more than flamboyant fashion. Even Mat couldn't help but chuckle at the waiter's antics. He wasn't so bad, Cricket.

Until he dropped the bill in front of Mat.

Mat stared at the small black folder, hesitant to open it. Why had he been given..?

Oh... Right. Man.

Cricket must have assumed that this was a date, a fact Mat himself was still unsure of. And of course, dating etiquette meant that the man paid for the woman. Made sense, except for the fact that Mat had forgotten about that part. He had gotten so caught up in Andrea's invitation that he hadn't quite thought about the economics of such a venture. Opening the bill, Mat gave a sigh of relief. Not the cheapest of meals, but not an astronomical price. Slipping his hand into his trouser pockets, Mat felt the crumpled bills he still possessed. He was sure that he had enough, though it would pretty much be everything he had left. Mat smiled to himself.

Going hungry for a few days was totally worth it.

>>> "No... Thank you, Mat...You... have made me happy, at a time when I did not have much hope.... God has a funny way of bringing joy into your life when you least expect it. When you feel like you have hit a wall, and there is no where left to turn. I cannot thank you enough, for being here.... for being you."

“My pleasure. And thank you, Andrea, for being here. For being you.”

This girl. Mat was glad to have met her.

Mat heard the footsteps of their approaching waiter, craning his head to see him approaching. As he began to face Andrea again, his face was introduced to a wad of flying cash. Smacking into his cheek, Mat sat, stunned slightly. Once he realised what had assaulted him, he felt his face grow red and warm. Of course.

He looked like a bum. So it was only logical that she would assume he was a bum.

Which he kind of was...

Still, his manly pride was wounded slightly. Gathering up the bills, Mat folded them together and slipped the bundle into his pocket. Then he reached into the other pocket and pulled his own crumpled currency, slipping it into the folder, under the table. He still had some pride, after all. Belatedly, he slipped his last note into the folder, almost forgetting that you were supposed to tip in America.

Crazy yanks...

Cricket gathered the bill and the dishes, then told them to stay put while he fetch a camera. Mat wasn't sure that he liked that idea. The tightening knot in his stomach seemed to be in agreement. He looked to Andrea, and she had a sly look about her.

>>> “We should run, while he has his back turned.”

Mat grinned in reply. She just kept amazing him. “C'mon, let's go,” he giggled, standing from his chair and taking Andrea's gloved hand. He made his way swiftly to the door, stifling his laughter, keeping an eye out for Cricket. Making the exit, after some strange looks from the blonde hostess, Mat pushed the door open and felt the cool caress of the air. He stopped just outside the door, peering back into the restaurant. Cricket was standing there, camera in hand, and exasperated look on his face. Mat could hear a muffled chirp coming from inside.

“Hang on, I feel bad. We should leave them something...” Stomping on the concrete footpath, Mat tuned to Andrea and grinned. Pulling themselves from the pavement were replica's of himself and Andrea, though Mat had left their faces blank. He had the feeling that was the reason Andrea didn't want her picture taken. After all, it was the same reason he didn't want his on the wall either. Taking control of his creations, Mat commanded them to walk to the door and enter the establishment. Once they were inside, Mat could see through the window that he had gotten the attention of the entire restaurant, people craning from their seats, Cricket standing dumbfounded. With a final command, Mat had his sculptures stand back to back, while the concrete Sloth wrapped around the pair, pulling them into an awkward serpentine embrace. The final product.

A concrete replica of how Mat met Andrea.

With a wave to the stunned patrons, Mat held out his arm, to escort his new friend away. Reaching into his pants pocket, he produced the wadded up cash that Andrea had thrown at him, holding it in a way that it looked like less money than it was.

“Oh, by the way, Cricket gave me some change...” He gave Andrea a wink and a cheeky grin, hoping that she'd take the money. Not because he didn't want her charity, which he didn't, but because he truly wanted to make this his treat to someone who had been kind to him. Someone he was glad to have met.

With a stifled giggle, they were off. She felt slightly bad for once again ditching the kindly waiter... but no more than she had the first time. In all honesty, she was elated that the day had panned out so well. A new friend, a good meal...

“Hang on, I feel bad. We should leave them something...”

Turing a half raised eyebrow toward the male, she started to voice a question in return, but stopped to watch him as he worked silently. One little stomp of his foot, and two figures burst to life. It amazed her still, what he could do. It probably wouldn't ever stop. She recognized herself, faceless, but obvious to her eyes and Mat. They marched back into the building, earning attention from all of those inside, and Andrea left Mat's side to press herself to the window glass like a child. She recognized the embrace... how they had met- more or less.

She felt a giddy wave of emotions wash over her and grinned at Cricket as he waved back at Mat, a little dazed. Half turning, she tossed a brilliant smile over her shoulder, not even bothering to try and hide her fearsome teeth. The joy she felt was within her lungs, her arms and legs. She felt like skipping, like she could float off into the sky- and she didn't really know why. She also felt a little like crying... and couldn't find a reason for that either. With a hurried wave to her favorite waiter, she turned and placed herself back at mat's side.

“Oh, by the way, Cricket gave me some change...”

She accepted the money in once gloved palm, a goofy smile still plastered onto her face. Being none the wiser to his trick, she simply slipped it into her pocket and made to reach for his hand again. She was already wondering where they would go next... what they would do-

....Oh.

Her hand froze on its journey, before she let it drop back to her side. She had been having so much fun, enjoying the moment... that she had nearly forgotten where she was. Who she was. What she was supposed to do. She stared at the person before her, his cheeky grin and messy hair, and felt a large knot root itself deep within her chest.

"Thank you... Mat." For a moment, she felt lost again. To have something so bright and happy before her, with in reach. She could forget, start anew- just as she had been planning. The soft hissing in her ears woke her up. She smiled bitterly at the pavement. All good things must come to an end... "For everything..."

The statues, the dinner, the glass rose... the mini her. She had mementos of this encounter... she wouldn't forget. Not any of it. A cold calm washed over her, driving her excitement away for good. She could not in good consciousness follow around another, when she had abandoned those dearest to her only weeks before. If she truly considered this boy a friend, all she could do to show her love was protect him. From herself. A small, forced smile uplifted her lips and she avoided looking directly at him.

"...I... have kept you long enough, I am sure. I should probably... head home... before people start to worry." Over what, she wasn't sure, But it was as good an excuse as any. Sloth tensed around her neck, reacting like the others to her shift in mood, and she took a nervous step backward. They had been good so far... but they were the reason she had left home in the first place, and Sloth had already proven himself untrustworthy around the male. They were not to be trusted.

"..I... I hope we meet again." Another step back, then another, and she turned away from him completely. "Goodbye!" She didn't pause to look back, because it would only prove to hurt more... It was what she had to do, she told herself, she had to. So she left.