Carmen leaned back in her chair, fiddling with the silverware on the table.

"So, what's your plan exactly?" Ivy interrogated, reminding Carmen of an ACME agent.

"We're going up to Santa Cruz."

"'We' meaning?"

"Me and Gray."

Ivy and Zack shared a glance before Ivy questioned, "Why?"

Gray didn't know if this dinner was going well. Ivy and Zack, as Carmen had formally introduced, struck him as two things: protective of Carmen and distrustful of him. Gray glanced at Carmen as they awaited her response.

"I need a break," Carmen stated simply as if it answered all the questions Zack and Ivy surely had.

"Anyways," Gray began, deciding to change the topic of conversation and give Carmen a break, "I've never eaten here. I assume you know what's good." His eyes glanced over each of their faces before they lingered a little longer on Carmen's, who seemed to be giving him a grateful look.

"Oh, yeah," Said Zack, "You gotta try the California burger! I always get it. It has guacamole and bacon. It's so good." Gray could practically see his mouth-watering. He threw a glance at Carmen who gave a little nod.

"Okay," Gray acquiesced, "I'll get the California burger."

Ivy and Zack were seated on one side of the booth table while he and Carmen were seated on the opposite side. Gray did the best he could to not meet Ivy's death glare. Yeah, he was quite certain that she did not like him.

The awkward dinner didn't feel like it was going well to him.

Carmen spent most of the dinner, save for a few brief pauses when the waiter came around to take their orders and serve their food (Zack was right, the California burger was really good, though Gray couldn't finish it; it was just too big), explaining and working out the details of his and Carmen's vacation.

While he was munching on a chip, thinking to himself, his thoughts were interrupted by Zack, "So, uh, do you call fries 'fries' or 'chips'?"

"Excuse me," Gray asked, a bit caught off guard by the sudden topic change.

"Like, I know in Britain, they call them 'chips' and we call them fries in the states, so what do they call them in Australia?"

"We call them chips."

"So do you call chips crisps?"

"No, we also call them chips. Hot and cold chips."

"Ah, I see."

Gray smiled a bit, and, when he glanced at Carmen, Carmen smiled at him.

A/N:

Ivy would not like Gray for a few reasons: 1. She associates Gray with VILE. 2. She wouldn't like that Carmen wants to travel with him. Not that Gray blames her for feeling that way. I'd imagine he'd be understanding.

Honestly, this situation is my worst nightmare. Not only to be at a dinner with people I don't know but with people who don't like me. I do not envy Gray.

Title is from Crywank's Only Everyone Can Judge Me.

I know I missed an upload last week. Sorry, I had a death in the family and I was just too busy. To make up for it, there's gonna be a double upload today.