Chapter 10
Lunch
Kandomere POV

I'm already at the restaurant and I'm still debating whether or not to call Krista and invite her to lunch with me. My sister- now that we are on speaking terms again- invited herself over for dinner with me last night and brought with her the spicy Thai food she was craving.

She and husband Christopher have moved back in to Elf Town. This is where she grew up and Christopher said it was better than his hometown, and he will die before he goes back to Hickville, population, 1,007.

We caught each other up on the last decade of our lives, and then we some how came around to Krista and my relationship with her. Rosdaladwen thinks I should go for it. Considering how lacking my private life is and has been, I think I agree with her that I need to carpe diem before the Filita sails again. I had to ask my sister what that was, Filita. It sounds like a food similar to a fajita or taquito. She explained to me it's the bastardization of Fili and Krista. A juvinile craming together of their names to show they're together.

To that she added Kandomere and Krista may be Kandorista or Kanista or something just as equally stupid and childish. Kandorista sounds like something that would be a dance.

I look at my phone when is chirps. Amarel has uploaded another video of Elf & Angry Dwarf. Yes, I'm certain now this is what humans mean by guilty pleasure.
As soon as I unlock my screen, I hear it. Krista's laughter. It brightens my mood for all of half a second because I realize it is not her laughter on video. She is here in the restaurant and I can deal with Amarel being third-wheel, but that is not Amarel with her.

Fili.

Don't you have diplomatic things to be doing? Or finding yourself a bride that is not my human? Krista is eye to eye with him. Dwarves don't often get above five-feet, and Krista- according to her drivers liscence- is five-one.
What did he say that's got her laughing like this? I've never heard that sound from her before.

They sit together at a small two-person table against the wall. There's enough people in here that I can't hone in on their conversation. What I can tell is she's relaxed with him. Her movements are relaxed like when she is with Amarel, but I can not remember when she has been this relaxed with me. Has she ever? Can she not relax with me? She even admitted to needing alcohol to relax enough for physical intimacy.

The waitress comes and goes and their conversation continues. Fili lays half on the table with one arm stretched out against the wall and Krista mirrors this by leaning on her right arm, head propped up on her fist.

I can't see him on the other side of her and with her back to me all I can see is that he's done her hair. The only time I have ever seen Krista do her hair was for the Festival of Lights just two days ago. I suspect Amarel did it for her.

He's done her hair. In Dwarf language he's laying claim on her again and she's allowing it!

No, this can't be. She's decided not to be with him. She said so herself that after that attempt on his life made that decision for her.

Then why are they having lunch together?

"What?" I hiss when the waitress touches my shoulder.

"I spoke and you hadn't answered. Twice. Are you alright?"

I place my order and Sarah moves on to the kitchen. Wonderful. The one day off I have in months and I get to spend my lunch watching the woman I want have lunch with a fuzzy haired, big nose- giant eared dwarf!

They share an appetizer and I can see the elves surrounding them are appalled they eat with their fingers. She must've said something while he's drinking because he just snorted it. It only makes her laugh more. She leans backwards in her chair to grab the napkin dispenser on the next table only to fall backwards completely.

She's on the floor with her legs still over the chair and she's laughing.

"That's what you get for making me snort water!"

It's a little more quiet and I heard that before he grabs her chair and tips her upright. He exchanges the napkin dispensers and sits.

"Brother!"

I had heard Kili took an elf for his bride, but I did not believe it until now. With him is a pregnant red haired elf that looks like she is ready to bust.
They sit at the table next to them and Krista begins talking to her. I can't make anything out. There's still too much clatter in here. The redhead takes Krista's hand and lays it in one particular spot and I can see that it makes her uncomfortable. Instead of letting it show too much, she groaps her gently and taps on her belly.

"It's not ripe yet."

Her comment makes them all laugh. The table to my left is now empty but that still leaves the screaming child to my right.

I think Kili has said something to upset Krista. All of them go silent and she excuses herself to the bathroom. While her back is turned, Fili slaps Kili in the back of his head. I don't see the rest. I leave my table and wait for her to exit.

"Jesus fuck! Kandomere," I've startled her and she jumped. "were you waiting on me?"

"So you did notice I was in the restaurant?"

"I'm having lunch with-"

"Fili. I can see that. Why are you having lunch with him? I thought that ship had sailed."

She crosses her arms. "Did you wait out here to remind me?"

"I'm just curious. You said so yourself you were done with him and I see the way he looks at you."

"Ya jealous?"

She is surprised by my response, or lack there of. Silence of course, can mean so much. I realize now she was being sarcastic.

"I'm sorry."

"For what? I enjoy our moments together. It's not like I'm springing a marriage purposal on you." I reason.

"Usually I'm on the recieving end of it and it's accompanied by it's not you, it's me."

"Then what is it? Do we not spend enough time together? We are both workaholics."

She steps back to allow someone to pass between us into the men's room.

"I see how you are with him. I should have said nothing. You are never like that with me."

"Like what?"

"Relaxed. It is different when you are with him. You are formal with me."

"You're an elf."

"You do not trust me because of that?"

"I don't know how to behave because of that. Amarel wasn't raised by elves. She's elf but she's not. You're," She licks her lips as she thinks. "Things I do drive most away. It's precieved as crass, uneducated, one elf even compared me to a neanderthaw because of my behavior. I am formal with you because it fits. Dwarves are not like elves."

That is certain.

"You still love him."

"I don't know anymore. I know it will go nowhere and it will get me nothing."

"Then why bother?"

"Why do people smoke when they know it'll kill them?"

Because they like it and they want it, they need it.

"I'm sorry if I have made things awkward between us." I tell her.

"I'll get over it."

"Maybe I'll grow on you." I can't help but smirk when I say it.

"Just don't start talking children and living in the countryside. I've been there, done that, and I will run for the hills."

"When did that happen?" I ask.

"The end of high school. We had been friends for years and all of a sudden it was I love you, lets get married and have babies. And I'm like," Her expression is one of anxiety and confusion and terror all rolled in to one. "It's a lot to take in when your view of and relationship with someone is completely challenged. Then there's the whole elf-human dynamic. You're gonna outlive me by a few of my lifetimes. Suppose this does evolve into something, you really wanna sign up to watch me wither away and die?"

"Such a pessimist. There is still a lifetime before that will happen."

"Pessimist and realist am I. I have to get back before someone comes looking for me. You're not going to forever ignore me, now, are you?"

I smile. "If I did that, how am I going to grow on you?"

She smiles softly and I can see her ears wiggle. I've noticed she has a little tell. Even when she turns stoic, which is often, her ears give her away.

"Everythig okay?" Fili asks her.

"I'm alright. That water had to make an exit some time."

The rest of my lunch, I spend watching her with them. With Kili and his spouse with them, they have turned calm and their conversation seems to come mostly from Kili.

Maybe I should enlist Amarel to help me get out of the friend-zone Montehugh warned me about.