CHAPTER ELEVEN
The rest of the day went along without a hitch. His class ended on time at three o'clock leaving him with the rest of his afternoon to lounge around at home. He was anxious to put his feet up, light up a cigar, and maybe treat himself to a small glass of scotch. The doctor said not to drink on the days he needed to use his Diazepam, but it wasn't like he was going to get drunk – he just needed something to unwind.
He'd done more socializing today than he had in months.
Snake got out of his work gear and into his regular clothes, a pair of khaki slacks and a simple white t-shirt, before stepping outside into the hot desert sun. He worked his way to edge of camp where once again, he was stopped by the same high-pitched, breathless voice of a girl running after him.
This time, he knew it was Zahira, and he turned around before she had caught up with him. Unsure of what to do, he waved awkwardly. What could she possibly want this time, now that she had gotten her lunchtime conversation?
"Hey-o," she said with a smile, wiping the sweat off her forehead.
"Uh, hi," Snake responded raising his eyebrows in confusion.
"What's with the face?" Zahira asked coyly, her smile turning into a smirk.
"Well, you already talked to me a lot today, I guess?" Snake replied rubbing his lips with his hand.
"Is there a one a day limit to how much I can talk to Ishmael or something?"
Snake closed his eyes and sighed, he should have pretended he didn't hear her. He would have been halfway home by now.
"Well no, it's just, I'm not the most cheerful and approachable person on the planet – I don't really understand why you'd want to talk to me so much," he answered – and it was the truth.
Zahira stretched and chuckled, "You're interesting, that's why."
"Interesting?" he responded, his confusion growing.
"Yes, interesting," she laughed, teasing him.
Snake shook his head; she had him at a loss once again.
"I don't know how you'd get that from me, but alright Purple," he answered with a small smile.
"Alright, Grumpy," She giggled.
So, he was "Grumpy" now. Snake rolled his eyes. Whatever, at least he wasn't some crazy, off-her rocker botanist.
Shoving his hands into his pockets, Snake shuffled his feet unsure of what do next. All he could think about was going home. He wanted a shower, he wanted a nap, he wanted time to himself. He was exhausted, and it was straining him to keep a game-face on. Eight hours a day was more than enough.
"Anything you wanted though? I was going to head home – I'm bushed," he asked.
Zahira bit her lips, she was clearly embarrassed about something, but he wasn't sure what it was.
"Oh, well if you're tired it's alright," she replied, a little too quickly and uncomfortably, "I just wanted to ask if you wanted to wander around or come to my place for dinner or something," she finished, her face flushed.
Snake narrowed his brow in confusion, "Uh, dinner?"
"You know, I wanted to show you my research! Or what I have at least, it's still in the preliminary stages – at least the experiment that I'm going to conduct in the Registan. But, I figured since you asked maybe you'd be interested?" she rambled, her voice growing higher in pitch. Why was she embarrassed? He didn't get it.
"Maybe another time? I'm sorry, but I don't think I'd be much company right now, I need to go home and take a shower – I stink," he answered bluntly.
Clearly, what he had just said had only added to her embarrassment, and it made him even more confused. Women were a mystery.
"Alright," she said weakly, "but tomorrow? If you're free?"
"Lunch not good enough for you anymore?" Snake laughed.
"No!" she answered defensively, "but like I said, I find you interesting and I just thought it'd be nice," she concluded, trying to regain her composure.
"Well, only if you make dinner – you can save me doing dishes for the night, and I hate take-out."
"Excuse me; if I make food, you're cleaning up. That's how it works Grumpy."
Snake grinned before sauntering off, "Well, nothing lost, nothing gained,"
A/N: Shorter chapter this time! The next one will be longer.