Disclaimer: If it came from Tamora Pierce, it did not come from me.
A/N: Some of you might have read this before - I was romanceaddict44, but I'm switching everything over (and making some improvements) since I use this account more. :)
"I'm trying to eat Evin. Now is not a good time to tell me about your personal life." Seventeen year old Miri Fisher took another bite of oatmeal, shaking her short black hair out of her eyes. The two of them were seated across from each other in the mess hall as always.
"So when would be a good time?" Evin countered, wide awake. His own oatmeal had long ago vanished into the bottomless pit of his stomach.
"Never." she said flatly. "I've no desire to hear how you and Lady Whatshername..."
"Alissandra," he prompted.
"I've no desire to hear how you and Lady Alissandra spend your nights."
"But..."
Miri raised an eyebrow.
"Evin," she said, her voice warning. He sighed.
"Fine. But if I can't tell you of my personal life, then you can tell me about yours." Miri scowled.
"I'm still eating."
"That hasn't stopped you until now," he retorted, grinning. "Besides," he added, affecting disdain, "who needs to eat? I certainly don't."
Miri ignored the last comment. "I'm not going to entertain you with the details of my personal life, because I don't have one."
"Miri!" he exclaimed in exasperation.
"What? I don't have anything to say that piques your interest? I am dreadfully sorry, perhaps if I am too boring, you could leave me to finish my breakfast in peace."
"Don't be ridiculous," he said.
"Then what?"
"You promised on your last birthday to find yourself a man and get tumbled properly."
"You only said that so you could laugh because Buri would be mad at me instead you."
"Not true."
"Then why did you?"
"So I could laugh when you complained about Buri being mad at you." Miri rolled here eyes.
"Besides, I haven't found a man yet, and it's pretty hard to accomplish that without one."
"Your birthday is in three days!" he reminded her impatiently.
"I hadn't noticed." she replied drily. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"You're going to be eighteen! And you still haven't found someone! That's old!"
"Oh yes, it's ancient. In case you hadn't noticed, Buri's thirty-five, and she doesn't have a man."
"Not now maybe, but she has before."
"So?"
He sighed. "Miri, you're hopeless."
"Well, hopeless I may be, but this is the only part of the day I get to enjoy, and you're making it very hard."
"How?"
"You're being difficult."
"I'm the one being difficult?" he asked indignantly. "I'm being difficult?" Swallowing another bite of oatmeal, Miri nodded.
"Yes. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to eat my breakfast in peace, and since you've already eaten, I'm sure there's something you should be doing."
"Yes there is - knocking some sense into you."
" Not an option. Didn't Buri say something yesterday about reporting right after breakfast?" Evin swore and stood up in a hurry, knocking over the bench he'd been sitting on.
"I completely forgot! Miri, what would I do without you?"
"Probably get into more trouble," she replied as he rushed from the room, leaving her to finish her breakfast in peace.
