"Let's get you cleaned up…. And maybe get you out of those burnt shirts…" Said Sadie, as she escorted Lars away from the extinguisher foam.
The pair walked down the boardwalk in silence, all the way back to the Big Donut.
"I'll go get you some water." Said Sadie.
Lars locked the store's opening and flipped over the sign on the door to "closed" before slinking into the back of the store and sitting in the box of napkins. Sadie brought him a glass of water, with some ice cubes and a sorry smile.
Sadie perched herself on the table, and the two sat quietly whilst Lars sipped his water before croaking, "I'm sorry."
"That must mean something, because you never apologize." Sadie said, half joking, half serious.
Lars didn't find it funny.
"I like you Lars, I really do, but I do so much for you, and I only ever get burned."
Lars opened his mouth to speak, but seemingly decided against it.
"It's like, we have these moments where nobody else matters, and it's just you and me, but you hurt me and you hurt me and you hurt me. It's like you're somebody completely different when we're around people…"
Lars kept his head down, and Sadie fumbled with her shirt.
"Maybe we shouldn't talk anymore." Said Sadie, with tears welling up in her eyes. She was heading for the door when a desperate hand grabbed her shoulder and spun her around.
"Sadie no! I-I…. do you want to play video games with me?" Lars said, through a charred gullet and a nervous look.
"I don't know, Lars…"
"W-we can get those oyster crackers that you like!" he was begging now.
"Please… you can be Player 1."
Lars was looking at Sadie with the sincerest look he could muster, and Sadie could tell. She looked at Lars and smiled.
"You'd do that? For me?"