Beyond the Grey Sky

[Torrence Paige]

"Thank you", Tori muttered as Zander opened the door for her. She didn't know why she felt quite flattered with the gesture. Probably because there weren't many guys who do that now. It wasn't like she expected them to. After all, Tori was all for throwing out gender labels and stereotypes. But maybe it was just nice to have someone showing some chivalry, even though it wasn't to be expected.

She listened as he excitedly described what the store had to offer. She couldn't help a giggle from escaping her lips. "You sound like a kid in a candy store", she said with a smile as she read through the menu. She must admit, he was right. Every option seemed to be as tasty as the next one. "Maybe I can go without the mint chocolate flavor for now", she said, biting her lip to look through the choices again. She turned to him and pointed to the menu. "You choose for me. You know this place better than I do. So, I'm gonna go with the best client's recommendation", she said, with a slightly challenging tone. Honestly, she loved ice cream enough that she didn't mind whatever flavor he'd choose at this point.

[Zander Grubbs]

Beyond the grey sky Seaside ice cream parlor Closed

When the giggle left her lips he felt the tips of his own quirk up into an even bigger smile. He really was just like a kid. He wouldn't even try to fib. He was happy to be back there again. "I can't help it." He admitted with a shrug, glancing over the menu himself.

She seemed willing to try, and he felt willing to buy just to let her try out the different flavors. But when she pointed and challenged him, he looked over the menu anew without much doubt in it. The place was good. Disappointment was hard. So why not have her try something different? "Well if that's then case, then two retro floats please." He answered in reply, directing it to the worker behind the bar. Then he turned back to her with a smile.

"It's not that much more expensive, and since this is your first time you really should try at least one float out." Was his reasoning. "Also nice job experimenting! Not everyone does that but trust me, you won't regret doing it in this place."

OWL

[Torrence Paige]

Tori listened to him place their orders to the worker. She smiled. "Well, I'm a fan of sweets, so I think I'm pretty easy to please in that department", she said. Although, she was actually relieved that he didn't get anything coffee-flavored. As far as she was concerned, coffee was to be taken black. No other way for it.

"So, where do I go pay for it?", she asked, definitely not forgetting the reason she was here in the first place. She was actually beginning to be grateful that she'd offered to buy him a new ice cream. She was finding that she was quite enjoying herself in Zander's company. Then she realized that they might have to consume the floats together, on a table somewhere. This made her a bit anxious. The small talk they'd exchanged while walking towards this shop was well and good, but sitting on a table for an actual conversation felt a bit too intimate for her, having only met Zander a few minutes ago.

Relax, Tori, he's not gonna eat you alive, she told herself, making sure to plaster on the smile on her face so he wouldn't find anything amiss.

[Zander Grubbs]

Beyond the grey sky Seaside ice cream parlor Closed

He was glad she gave him a smile. Hopefully his choice wouldn't miss by a mile and she'd enjoy it as much as he did. The worker gave a nod and went about his work, while he turned and pointed to the clerk. "You pay over there. Thanks again for this you really didn't have to." He said with a smile of his own. This kind of kindness was rarely found.

"Oh, you can get it to go by the way if you want." He added after a thought. "That way you could get back to your friends on the beach. You might not get the mug with the float, but at least that way you could leave the shop. I wouldn't want to keep you." She's already been nice enough coming here to buy his stuff. If she had friends to get back to, he'd want her to go and have fun.

OWL

[Torrence Paige]

Tori approached the clerk and paid for their floats before walking back to where Zander was waiting. The offer to leave and go back to her friends was tempting, seeing as it would mean she didn't have to be in an awkward I-don't-really-know-what-to-talk-about-now scenario. But it seemed like a rude gesture to take the offer. It wasn't like she actually had any friends to go back to at the beach. The girls she was throwing a disc with weren't exactly people she was close to. They'd probably packed up and left by now, actually. And it wasn't like she wasn't having a good time talking to Zander. He was quite comfortable to be with, actually. She just wasn't sure what else is there for them to talk about. The whole walk to this shop had been about this shop. Now that they were here, and about to get their floats, it would seem like they may have to figure out what to talk about next. Small talk felt awkward and forced for Tori. But she knew it was part of meeting someone new. She'd just have to suck it up, though. Fight through her introversion and all that.

"No, it's fine. Those girls are probably gone by now. I'm not really in a hurry", she said with a smile. "Unless... maybe you need to go as well?", she suddenly added. Maybe he was being polite in implying that she can leave so he can, too. Maybe she got it all wrong, and he was the one who didn't want to stay after all.