"Wow," Jonesy murmured, peering through some binoculars he'd managed to get hold of at his new gig – "The Adventurer's Pit Stop". Across the hall, in some store Jonesy hadn't caught the name of, was a brand new hottie – one he hadn't seen around before.
"What'cha doin'?" Jude asked loudly, appearing from nowhere behind Jonesy and making him jump a few feet in the air.
"Spying on a hottie," he replied, after catching his breath. "What are you doing?"
"Munching on some food." Whatever it was Jude was eating, it did not look edible.
"Want some? Star made it."
"I'll pass." Jonesy went back to his binoculars. This hottie had big green eyes, curly brown hair and an amazing smile that she happened to be flashing at a sales assistant. How Jonesy was jealous.
"All right, I'm going in. Gonna wish me luck?" Jonesy asked.
"Erm….actually…"
"Thanks, man. I appreciate it. Here I go!" And Jonesy sped across the hall.
"…why is that chick in 'Rock-a-bye Baby'?"
"Hey here, I haven't seen you around before. Fancy a date? My treat," Jonesy said smoothly, pouring on charm like maple syrup on pancakes.
The girl didn't even turn around. She just asked him how old he was.
"What?! What kind of a question is that?!" he roared.
"Ah. Your true colours," she smiled, turning to face him. "So how old are you?"
"Sixteen," she said, and she burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" he asked, annoyed. "You can't be older than nineteen, tops."
"That's very flattering, but not very believable, considering what store we're in."
"What?"
She smiled again, trying not to laugh. "Don't you know what store we're in?"
Jonesy looked around for the first time since entering. Bears. Nappies. Baby Lotion.
"I'm married, kid, and I have a one-year old son. I'm 22 years old."
She stuck out her hand, unable to keep her smile from spreading across her face.
"Miyuki Seto. Pleased to meet you."
Jonesy nearly fainted, but caught himself just in time.
"Will you….please excuse me for just a minute?" he asked faintly, with the intentions of curling up and dying somewhere (someone was bound to have seen him in this store), but this Miyuki had a tight grip on his wrist.
"Tell me," she said, quite menacingly, "Do you hit on every woman you meet?"
"N-no…." he stammered, trying to wriggle away, but failing miserably.
"Oh, right, yes. Sorry. I meant every 'hot' woman."
"P-please let me go…." He whimpered. She tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Well, you're right. We should go. There's nothing in this store anyway. But," she said, looking him straight in the eye, "Don't read anything into this, but I wouldn't mind going on that date. Does the offer still stand?"
"B-but, you're married…" Jonesy practically wept.
"Jeez, you say it like it's a disease. That's why I said not to read anything into this. It would be a completely platonic, friendly meal."
"Friendly? Meal?!"
"Yes friendly, and yes, meal! What else? Let's go to El Sporto's. I like that place.
"But, I-"
"Save it! You seem like an interesting subject for an experiment I've been planning. Let's get to the bottom of this, shall we?"
Jonesy was going to ask if she was referring to his wallet with her last statement, but was finding it hard to talk through his tears as she dragged him, by his collar, out of the store.
Jude, who had been watching the whole thing through the binoculars, was speechless.
"Wow….." he murmured, "That was weeeird." But he could sense someone slowly creeping up on him to demand that stop eating in the store and that he pay for the binoculars. So he made a run for it, back to work.
