Birds of a feather

Chapter 5

It had been exactly one week since Lightning had eaten with the Estheims and things had changed in her life. For the better in her opinion. She could tell that her and Nora were growing closer. Nora was beginning to treat her as a dear friend, her days now beginning with a hug from Nora and ending with a hug goodbye. Luckily she still called her 'Miss Farron'. Lightning feared she would break the girl's heart if she had to tell her not to call her by name and prayed that day would not come. If she was being honest it was becoming clear that she no longer had a professional student-teacher relationship with Nora. She was beginning to view Nora as a little sister.

"Yeah she is kinda like Serah at that age," She mumbled to herself as she drove through Bodhum towards a little restaurant called Tameras. Sunday her and Serah ate here for lunch as she recounted the dinner to her dear little sister. Lighting thought they were going to be kicked out because of Serah squealing over ever little detail. Seeing how happy her sister was Lightning had decided to mention staying to watch a movie.

Bad idea.

Serah jumped up and grabbed her so quick she nearly tipped over the table.

As she pulled up and parked she felt a little embarrassed, she didn't plan on coming back so soon but something told her to come here. Also she could go for one of their hamburgers every day of the week. Getting out of the car she shuttered as a chilly gust of wind blew over her and she made haste to get into the warm building. She walked into the small restaurant. It was the hole in the wall type, the kind of place you had to know about to find, but they had the best food in Bodhum. As she walked in she saw in the corner of her eye a messy head of silver hair. The last thing she expected to see here was Hope.

Without thinking she made her way to him. He was staring out the window he was sitting by so intently he didn't notice her. As she drew closer she noticed the dirt covering his neon yellow hoodie and his khaki cargo pants.

"Is your jacket bright enough." She expected him to jump a little but he simply turned to her with a smile. It would have been funny if she scared him but she'd take that smile over anything.

"It could be brighter. I call it may road crew jacket. Every time I ware it, without fail, someone asks me what mill I work at or if I'm with D.O.T"

She smirked "What have you been doing today? Other than playing in the mud."

"Oh just finally cut down that dang tree in back. It got struck by lightning and died some time ago. For a second I thought it was going to fall on the house when I was cutting it. It didn't thankfully but it sure did scare the neighbors when it fell though." He let out a gentle laugh that pulled at her heart strings.

"You got lucky boy. Call some real lumberjacks next time."

"They cost money."

"They are professional." She grinned.

"Ouch. That stung. Anyways you meeting someone here?"

"Huh? Oh! No I was just craving a burger from here."

"Well take a seat if you have time. I haven't ordered yet."

Normally she would decline but she automatically said yes. She took a seat and as if she had been waiting the waitress walked up. The two placed their orders and and after the waitress left Lightning leaned across the table and said.

"What SMU group were you with?" She had to know.

"Straight to the point aren't you."

"Well who wouldn't want to know. Wait it's not one of those 'I can tell you but I'll have to kill you' deals is it."

"Ha ha no its nothing like that. There's very few that are allowed to know until a set amount of time has elapsed." He let out a small chuckle and continued "Vanille knows become friends with her and maybe you can pry out the info."

Why does he have to mention her so much?

"Vanille knows what group you were in?"

Hope nodded "Yeah she was my wife and that allowed her to know. Just her though no one else."

"You're not scared she could get mad at you and tell people?"

"Nah it was made very clear she would crash and burn with me if she told."

She darted her eyes side to side before asking "So much longer until you can tell me?"

Hope crossed his arms as he pondered "Let's see I'm 34 now sooo… in another 90 years." He smiled at her.

Well so much for that.

"Ok then. Well how has your week been? Surely I don't have to wait 90 years to hear about that. "

Grinning he said "It's been odd."

"How so?" her interest was piqued.

"Vanille called me."

"What did she want?" She spoke the words as a jealous girlfriend would.

"Nothing. That's the odd part, she just talked with me. We had a plain and normal conversation." Hope shrugged and not wanting to hear more about Vanille, Lightning changed the subject by talking about how one of her students had a can of silly string burst in his backpack.

There was one thing on her mind that she desperately wanted to bring up to Hope though. Something Serah said she should do as repayment for dinner at his house. It seemed a little too much though. Her began to beat rapidly as she tried to find the right words. Finally she began to speak.

"So me and Serah, My sister, ate lunch here Sunday and I told her about dinner."

"Oh yeah you mentioned she wanted to hear all bout it."

"Yep. She's just as nosey about my personal life at 25 as she was at 15. Anyways she said I should invite you and Nora to Thanksgiving dinner with my family." She looked away and then back at Hope.

He stroked his chin as he said "Meeting the whole family? The whole Farron family."

"Well not the whole family, just my parents and sister….and her trashy husband." The last part was spoken with gritted teeth.

"Well it sounds like fun." A smile crept to her face. "But" Then dropped from her face. "I actually don't have Nora on Thanksgiving."

"Oh. Well that can't be helped." She was disappointed by his response. "I know Serah will get on to me if I don't so I'll ask this, what about next year?"

Hope shook his head. "I don't ever get her on Thanksgiving." Lightning clenched a fist. Was this Vanilles doing? Was she trying to keep Nora as far from Hope as possible?

"It was my choice to have it like that." He spoke as if answering the thoughts in her head.

"Why?" She didn't bother to hide the slight anger in her tone.

"I don't have a family." He stated it plainly. "Mom died when I was 14 and me and dad never got along. I always did Thanksgiving and Christmas with Vanille and her family growing up. I didn't want Nora to have memories of pitiful Thanksgivings with just me."

She exhaled a deep sigh "You idiot. She would love and cherish those memories. Do you know why? Because they're memories of you." Hope's eyes widened before he turned away from her gaze.

When he turned and looked at her he said. "I guess you're right."

"Of course I'm right. Now call that EX wife of yours and tell her you and Nora are eating with my family."

"Well Vanille's family is going to the mountains for Thanksgiving soooo it'll still be a no."

Lightning stared daggers at him.

"Nora's looking forward to going to the mountains." He pleaded.

She relaxed her stare and said. "Well that can't be helped." She could feel her face heat up as she said "The offer still stands for you."

With a raised eyebrow Hope spoke "Oh. It is."

"Yeah….but only if you bring them green beans."

"Deal." She smiled a genuine smile at the man across from her after hearing that one simple word.