Date Night
Once the band's equipment was packed back into the bus, the villagers of Pelican Town all climbed back into the bus for the ride home. All, that is, except for Sebastian and Violet. Sebastian handed off his backpack to Sam to leave at the bus stop so that he could take his girlfriend for her first ride on his motorcycle. After his confrontation with Andi before the concert, Sebastian was not taking any chances for someone else to butt in.
But first, he wanted to take Violet somewhere to grab a bite to eat. Because Sebastian had been in such a rush to get to the concert, he was starving. He heard about a few good places in the city when he mustered up the energy to request recommendations from his classmates earlier that week. Sebastian mainly aimed to get an idea of what was edible around campus, in case he ever forgot to pack a lunch.
Now, however, the programmer decided to take the opportunity to take Violet out on a "real" date. Sure, they had a lot of nights hanging out at her place and as introverts that usually suited them just fine. But Sebastian would be damned if he did not revel in the freedom of being miles away from the prying eyes of their fellow villagers.
The beautiful woman beside Sebastian eyed him shyly as he took her hand to walk down the lamp-lit sidewalk together. Nervous laughter escaped Violet's smiling lips. "Where are you taking me, 'Bastian?" she inquired, giving his hand a squeeze. Neither of them were really used to displaying affection out in public, but Sebastian could admit to himself that it was nice to hold hands with his girlfriend. The physical touch reminded him that he was not dreaming and it made him feel needed, knowing that his hand warmed Violet's own cold one.
It was one of the little things Sebastian learned in their near half-season of dating Violet. His girlfriend got cold often in the cooler months and latched onto him for warmth. While he would not say so out loud, the sable-haired man looked forward to winter not only because it was his favorite season, but because Violet would want to snuggle more often.
Sebastian had developed a habit of touching Violet whenever they sat beside one another reading or watching a movie together. Not in a sexual way, but whether it was a head on her shoulder or a hand on her knee, the obsidian-eyed man simply desired the simple reminder of the farmer's presence even when his gaze was not focused upon her. In turn, Violet did the same. She made a joke that they both must have "physical touch" as a high-ranking love language. Sebastian was not really sure what that meant, but it reassured him that the constant contact was not annoying her.
His eyes darted across the street, spying the glowing neon sign he sought. CHUO SUSHI. Violet's deep blue eyes glittered with anticipation. "Are we grabbing some sushi?" she asked to confirm his plans, her excitement obvious in her higher-than-normal pitch.
"Well, you've made some for me, but I'm no good at doing it myself, so I figured I'd return the favor," Sebastian replied with a smirk. "But don't think this means I'm going to share mine. You're on your own."
Violet returned the mischievous grin. "We'll see about that," she countered, deciding to interpret Sebastian's words as a challenge. Releasing Sebastian's hand, the pastel-haired woman hurried her pace toward the restaurant. "C'mon, race you there!"
Normally, Sebastian did not care to run, but since their destination was so close and they were on their way to his favorite food, he made an effort. The minor sorcerer may have cheated just a little bit, but it was hard to tell for sure whether the spell he attempted did in fact work on his own body rather than external objects. Either way, he won despite Violet's head start and lorded it over her. "Looks like you owe me some of your sushi," Sebastian teased.
His girlfriend huffed, not so much from being out of breath as much as half-hearted irritation. "We never established a prize for winning!" Violet complained, though her hand quickly found Sebastian's and took hold once again. "I guess you'll have to settle for dating me the rest of the season."
Sebastian cocked an eyebrow. "Only until the end of the season?" he repeated to clarify her meaning. Violet was not already doom flagging their relationship, was she?
Violet beamed, smiling up at him sweetly. "I think it's important to have a sushi date at least once a season to discuss terms, don't you?"
The black-clad man could not help but crack a smile at that. "I can live with that," Sebastian agreed, propping the door open for Violet. "Shall we?" The farmer eagerly entered the establishment, not letting go of his right hand. Sebastian felt the muscles in his face beginning to ache, but he did not care.
Violet felt giddy as she wiggled her toes in her socked feet. Her debut as a vocalist for the band went well, she and Sebastian were out on their first real date at a sushi joint that actually had its guests take off their shoes and sit on cushions at low tables, and there was a pile of her favorite nigiri and maki rolls on the plate before her. Since they were a couple, the hostess had seated Violet and Sebastian in a section of the restaurant that was slightly elevated and divided for privacy by paper partitions with beautiful ink paintings between each table.
Picking up her cup of plum wine and tipping it toward Sebastian, she proposed a toast, "To sushi!" Violet announced in a volume appropriate for private conversation in a busy restaurant.
Sebastian pitched his steaming cup of matcha toward her slightly and the two tapped their ceramic cup together with a soft clink. "And us," he returned in a voice barely audible above the din of the other diners, taking his first sip of the hot liquid.
Violet blushed. She had not dared to toast their relationship for fear that it would jinx them, but she was pleasantly surprised that Sebastian was willing to take the risk, even if it was in a whisper. Glancing down at her sushi in the dim light of the lantern fixtures above, she admired the brightly colored array on her platter before using her chopsticks to pluck one from the culinary display. She plopped a piece of spicy salmon roll into her mouth and stifled a moan of delight. "It's so good!" she mumbled, covering his mouth with her hand as she chewed.
Sebastian followed suit, dabbing a bit of wasabi on some fatty tuna nigiri before bringing it to mouth. "Fuck, that's delicious," he concurred, quickly grabbing another bite from his viridian-glazed plate. "My classmates have good taste, after all."
Violet finished a piece of squid nigiri as she resolved to ask Sebastian about his cohort. "So how are the other people in your class?"
Her boyfriend shrugged. "They're okay, I guess. They leave me alone for the most part, which is nice." Sebastian frowned as he revealed the bigger problem. "There's some freshman who keeps trying to hook up with a professor and thinks I'm the guy to help her for some reason." His expression soured. "I swear she's stalking me and she's really pissing me off."
Violet felt a pang of panic as a sense of déjà vu overcame her, and not in a comforting way. She knew that this was completely different than when she discovered Kyle cheating on her, but the woman once scorned could not help the fear gripping her heart. "W-what happened?" the pastel-haired woman inquired, stuttering slightly as she spoke.
Sebastian shook his head. "She literally cornered me in the unisex bathroom I used to get ready for the concert and added this damn stuff around my eyes." He popped a segment of maki roll into his open mouth, this time he did not wait until he was done chewing to talk again. "I would have swatted her away, but I didn't want to hurt her and I thought it would sting if the stuff got in my eyes…"
Unwittingly, Violet's eyes flickered to inspect the stranger's work. She had done well enough, the skill was not on the same level as someone like Bex or Haley, but the farmer had to admit she liked how it brought more attention to Sebastian's face. Still, the idea of another girl getting that close to him to apply the makeup stirred up feelings of insecurity, jealousy, and anxiety about the future.
"But once we bumped into Doctor Edge - the guy she wants to bang - she invited him to the concert," Sebastian elaborated, the exasperation in his voice palpable. "But she told him that we were dating so she 'wouldn't be a threat?'" the black-clad synth player lifted his shoulders in an exaggerated shrug. "I don't get what the hell she's thinking, but she damn well better stop bugging me."
Violet gripped the hem of her leather jacket, trying to keep a level head. Sebastian wouldn't be telling you this if he were trying to hide something, the farmer reasoned to herself. And he would have to be an incredible actor to give off this aura of aggravation if he was two-timing you with this 'stalker girl.' But old wounds did not make one rational, they were a reminder of past harm. Violet could not help but tune out her boyfriend's words as she imagined this mystery woman running her hands through Sebastian's hair, kissing him roughly in a dark corner on campus.
The farmer bit her lip, trying to choose her words carefully. Violet did not want to offend Sebastian by questioning his story, but she wanted to make a few things clear. "What will you do if she keeps bothering you?" she solicited her partner.
Sebastian's obsidian eyes blinked at her in surprise. "Report her to whatever campus office deals with this shit, I guess," he answered with a sigh. He leaned his elbow onto the table and rested his face in his open palm. "Andi is pushy as hell, but I'm not going to let her walk all over me." Sebastian reached his free hand across the table and stole one of Violet's untouched nigiri. "I'm already in a relationship and I'm not about to fuck that up because of her."
Her mind processed Sebastian's words like molasses flowing out of a jar, but eventually she smiled at him and nodded her head. "That's right," Violet nodded her approval, choking slightly on her words as she held back tears welling up in her eyes.
Violet's boyfriend sprang to his feet and slid to rest on the cushion beside her. "Hey," Sebastian coaxed, pulling her close in an embrace. "I swear nothing's going on between Andi and me, okay?"
The pastel-haired woman felt the dam break and the tears slid down her face. Violet was embarrassed that Sebastian caught on to what was going on in her head, that she could not contain her insecurities, even in a new relationship. "I-I believe you," the farmer sobbed quietly into Sebastian's shirt. "I'm sorry, just give me a minute," she pleaded in a whisper. Violet felt Sebastian's hand caress the top of her head.
"Take as long as you need," Sebastian comforted her, keeping Violet's face tucked away into his chest so no one would gawk at her if they walked by, though luckily the paper screens did a decent job of that already. The woman nuzzled her face into his soft cotton shirt and breathed in his calming scent.
"I can't take that long," Violet argued weakly. "I think the place is going to close soon."
"Then I guess you'd better hurry before I eat all your sushi," Sebastian teased. Violet opened her eyes to catch her boyfriend red-handed as he popped one of her Alaskan roll segments into his open mouth.
"You jerk!" she exclaimed, causing several other guests within earshot to jump slightly at the outburst. One of the waitresses peeked in on them to make sure no trouble was brewing that would be bad for business. Once she was satisfied there was no present danger as she refilled their drinks, she disappeared back into the kitchens to gossip with one of the other waiters.
Once Violet reclaimed what remained of her sushi, she dabbed her eyes on a napkin and resumed eating. Her appetite returned with a vengeance. For the first time, she noticed that two pieces were missing from her plate. Violet shoved Sebastian with her shoulder in retaliation and she quickly downed the rest of her food. The dark-haired man beside her began to rise and return to his side of the table when Violet tugged him down to remain seated.
"I know lots of people find it annoying when couples sit on the same side," Violet admitted sheepishly. "But I'm cold." It was a lie, but a harmless one. She just wanted the comfort of having Sebastian near her. The possessive side of her also noted that if Sebastian found out about this place from members of his cohort, it was possible someone he knew might see him here. And while two people sitting on opposite sides could just be two friends meeting up for a meal, this way no one would have any doubts that Sebastian was taken.
Sebastian smirked knowingly and wrapped an arm around her. "Okay, then." He playfully inched his fingers toward her plate and she batted them away with her chopsticks periodically.
"You've had plenty!"
"Yeah, but not enough of yours," Sebastian chuckled, reaching across the table to grab his tea. Violet stuck out her tongue at his childishly, but still offered the last morsel to her boyfriend anyway.
"Just don't tell Bex," the farmer requested. "I never shared with her."
Sebastian's obsidian eyes darted her way. "... What about Kyle?" he wondered in a hushed tone. "Did you ever share with him?"
Violet frowned. It was fair for Sebastian to be curious, especially after he had been so open about his interactions with Andi. The question was not an invasive one. Violet considered that maybe this is how Sebastian felt when he realized the doubt rooted in her heart when he shared the unfortunate events of earlier that evening. "No," the former city-dweller responded honestly. "He doesn't even like sushi."
Sebastian clamped his mouth over her chopsticks. "Good," he declared as he savored the food. Violet could not quite understand whether Sebastian was pleased that Violet never shared her favorite food with Kyle or because said ex-boyfriend did not enjoy their shared interest, but she decided not to make a big deal. It would ruin the air of contentment hanging between them.
Violet felt Sebastian's hot breath on her neck, made almost steamy from the matcha. She felt the goosebumps forming on her skin. "W-what are you doing?" the farmer asked as she felt his lips press against the soft flesh of her neck.
"Warming you up," Sebastian replied nonchalantly. Violet could feel his smirk through the touch of his kisses. "You told me you were cold…" He pulled her closer, adding, "And the drive back to Pelican Town is going to get chilly riding on a motorcycle."
Sebastian loved making her flustered. Violet knew she enjoyed ruffling his feathers a little, too, so she could hardly fault him. However, they were technically in public, even if no one could see them in their little screened-in corner at the moment. Violet wondered if he was acting this way to demonstrate to her that she was the one he wanted, or out of a bit of his own jealousy thinking about her past relationship with Kyle. Perhaps a little of both.
But Sebastian's tender kisses weakened her resolve for answers and social decorum. "Close that door," she instructed him, tilting her head toward the sliding panel as she took the last swig of her plum wine for courage. She checked her phone. It was about fifteen minutes till closing time. "I think we'll be safe for about five minutes before they come to kick us out and I don't want to get banned for life."
Sebastian bared his teeth in a satisfied smile before he leaned into Violet and claimed her lips. "I'd better get to it, then."
Doctor Edge had not meant to eavesdrop, but it was difficult not to overhear the shouting from the general direction of his motorcycle. "Then why the hell did you tell him we're dating if you're trying to get with him?" a male voice shouted clear as day from the other side of the hedges. It sounded familiar, but the man with greying hair could not quite match a face to the angry voice.
The instructor did not want to interrupt a spat between two students, but just in case things got ugly, Edge wanted to be close enough to step in and put an end to things. There was also the trouble that all this had the potential to make him late for the concert.
As Edge peered through the burgundy leaves of the shrubs, he realized that it was Sebastian and Andi on the other side. The adolescent leaned against the retaining wall as she lit a cigarette - something illegal to do on campus grounds, though enough members of the student body were bold enough to do so anyway since the rule was not often enforced.
"Most professors don't want to meet a young, female student 'out in the wild' because of all the potential drama," Andi confessed. "I'm not a threat if I'm already dating someone else." The auburn-haired undergraduate took in a drag of her cigarette. "It's totally normal for professors to go support their students in their extracurriculars outside the classroom and it's not a big deal to meet a total snack like me when my boyfriend is around, right?"
Sebastian appeared angry, and rightly so. "You're crazy, you know that?" he scoffed, closing the gap between him and his motorcycle. "I'm not taking you to the concert," the upperclassman told the first-year. Edge could not see Andi's face, but Sebastian did not let up just yet. "And it would be fucking weird to give a ride to some random stalker to meet with my actual girlfriend!" Sebastian shook his head, "The whole situation is fucked up. Even if I told her the truth, it would sound like a lie."
Stalker? From the sound of things, Andi and Sebastian were not actually dating. The educator wondered how serious the accusation was and whether he should intervene, but after a volley of heated words, the two parted, Sebastian leaving the immature woman standing alone in the parking lot.
Furiously, Andi threw her cigarette to the ground and stomped on it mercilessly as she cried out in anger. "Stupid, fucking, useless -" Her dark orbs noticed his movement in the corner of her eyes and quickly extinguished the rage inside her. "O-oh, hi Jay!" Andi greeted him sheepishly, flicking the cigarette away from her with the sole of her boot.
Unable to tell if Andi's tears streaming down her face were out of frustration or sadness, Edge approached her cautiously. "Trouble in paradise?" the leather-clad man inquired, giving her an opening to explain herself.
"H-how much of that did you hear?" the girl demanded to know, holding her arms around herself defensively. Edge wondered if she was concerned he might hit her, based on her stance. Perhaps life at home had not been pleasant and he could relate, but luckily for him, those days had long passed.
"Assume I heard it all," the motorcycle-enthusiast answered the young woman curtly. After securing his bag to his vehicle, he locked eyes with his pupil. "I don't like being lied to, Andi, so what's going on?"
The red-clad woman burst into tears, babbling her apologies for deceiving him, and for all the trouble she caused. "It's just that I-" As Edge sensed Andi's ramblings slowly shift toward a love confession, he stopped her. "I'm flattered, Andi," he began to say, but the girl cut him off.
"Please don't reject me right away! Just give me one chance to prove -" The man immediately placed a single yellowed finger over the girl's lips to silence her.
Exhaling heavily, Edge reminded Andi that perhaps this was not the most appropriate place to have this discussion. "I will escort you to the concert," Jay informed Andi sternly. "Because I'm concerned you're going to do something incredibly stupid if someone doesn't keep an eye on you." Andi grinned happily and the professor wondered if this kindness was going to come back to bite him in the ass. But honestly that was the least of his worries at the moment, this was his last semester of teaching anyway.
Andi wiped the tears from her jet-black eyes. "Thank you, Jay! This means so much to me." She headed for the Hayabusa and Edge shook his head.
"No, I think not," he thought aloud, grinding Andi's motions to a halt. "We will be taking the very public, very platonic bus to the concert this evening." He rubbed the stubble on his chin, grabbed a few necessities from his bag, and tucked them away in his pockets. "C'mon, let's go."
Luckily, he had a few teaching assistants who enjoyed local music and were able to text him the likely address for Sebastian's concert. It was a run-down place where lots of hopeful fledgling artists performed, trying to make a name for themselves among all the city noise. Edge noticed how sullen Andi appeared seated next to him at the front of the bus. It was clear to him now that Andi had been flirting whenever they were alone, and in retrospect on their past interactions, the teacher could hardly believe how obtuse he had been. Clearly, she had hoped he would let her ride on the back of his motorcycle and this was not at all as she planned. Well, it was for the best anyway. Or, so Edge hoped.
Ironically, Edge recognized the area when they came to their stop since it was close to his first apartment. He had moved out of the area ages ago and like many inner-city zones, gentrification stripped most of the buildings of their unique character, but there were a few landmarks still intact.
Edge paid the bus fare for both Andi and himself as he gestured for his youthful companion to step off the bus. The concert had already started, music blaring from the sound system, and a crowd was clustered around the stage. It was amusing to see peoples' heads and bodies bobbing in time to the beat from a distance, they looked like shaggy sheepdogs trying to shake water from their fur. Andi motioned for him to join her near the front, but Edge opted to stand near the back, much to her chagrin. Still, it was a place where Andi could stand on a crate to properly view the stage, since she lacked the stature to view the band over the heads of the taller concert-goers.
Edge closed his grey eyes, taking in the sounds and the singer's voice. These kids were good, especially the guitarist. The bright lights and loud music reminded him of his band days as a teen. A lot of those buddies were either in prison for drug dealing, dead from lighting their candle at both ends, or got the hell out of ZuZu City to start a fresh new life. Sometimes he found himself wishing he had followed the latter group's example and left this city behind, too. But, he supposed that was why he planned to retire early and travel for a season or two before -
"This music isn't half-bad," Andi shouted over the din of the crowd to grab his attention as the song came to an end. "Do you like it, Jay?" She smiled at him shyly, like a puppy trying to get their human to do something with those cute, dark eyes staring up at him.
Despite himself, Edge beamed in reaction. "Experimental sound has always been a favorite of mine," the man confessed earnestly. "It's a lot of trial and error to find something unique that will still appeal to the masses." His slate grey eyes scanned the stage and found Sebastian in the back, though the young man's own eyes hardly left the woman at the microphone. He wondered if she was Sebastian's "actual girlfriend."
Andi was not sure what else to say and eventually got bored of Jay standing with his eyes closed and rocking his body to the music like a lame chaperone at a high school dance. Edge noticed she joined the rowdier portions of the mob. Edge smirked when he spotted a few familiar faces in the mob, realizing Andi must have found some of the friends who supposedly "ditched" her for the frat party. It was a shame she had caused so much trouble unnecessarily.
While Edge did not consider himself particularly popular, he had a few students approach him throughout his career. Of course, he turned them all down as politely as he could, but the last time this happened was over half a decade ago and the woman had been a graduate student. Never in Edge's wildest dreams would he have expected a first-year fresh out of high school would take things to such an extreme as to rope in someone else.
Either way, Edge hoped his initial rejection in addition to his indifference to her over the course of the concert would make Andi lose interest altogether. Most of them did when they realized he would not budge on his strict no-dating-students policy. When the music finally stopped and the blond guitarist thanked their fans before shamelessly promoting the cassettes available for purchase, Edge chuckled to himself at the absurdity. Other than old guys like him, who had a cassette player these days?
Still, he supposed he would humor the kids and buy one to support their work. The mechanical engineer paid for his promo tape and tucked it away in one of the inner pockets of his jacket. The chill from the damp night air seeped into his bones far more than he expected, but then again, it always did lately. It was just one of the changes he would have to get used to in his condition.
Edge was about to head back to campus when Andi found him again. She's a persistent one, the mature man reflected.
"Hey, Jay!" the auburn-haired woman chirped cheerfully. "I'm starving! Would you like to grab a bite to eat with me?"
The man was about to decline the invitation and head home when his stomach betrayed him with a loud rumble. A gravely laugh escaped the dark-haired lecturer, "I suppose the decision has been made for me," he replied casually. He craned his head to search for Andi's classmates. "Do your friends want to join us? My treat!"
Shaking her head, Andi led him away by the crook of his elbow hooked into her own. "They really do have a frat party," the pint-sized woman with gaged ears insisted, "but it didn't start until ten, so of course they didn't want to get there until at least eleven."
"Ah, fashionably late," Edge observed sarcastically, gently prying his arm from Andi's and stepping back to walk at an acceptable distance between them. "So where is it you want to eat?"
"I heard the sushi place down the street slaps," Andi countered quickly. Her ink-black eyes darted in his direction, seeking his approval. "Is that cool with you?"
Edge nodded. "I've been known to enjoy sushi now and again," he acknowledged in as neutral a tone as possible. While it was not his favorite, he did tend to like the fruit wines and sake. But acknowledged that tonight would not be a good one for drinking. He did not want to give Andi the idea that he was interested in anything other than treating her to a meal.
There was still a sizable horde of diners in the restaurant when they arrived, despite the time, and immediately he and Andi were directed to a small enclave that housed smaller, lower tables well away from the larger parties. Edge began to regret the decision to humor the student this far. The dim lighting and the semi-private room might suggest romantic intent. Perhaps that was her plan all along when choosing this location. He heaved a sigh. Well, there was no turning back now. After removing his shoes and taking a seat, he quickly chose what to order.
Andi, however, took her time and requested the waitress go over her options. Edge's grey eyes glazed over as he zoned out for a while, pondering his next steps, but he swore he heard Sebastian's voice. He doubted it at first, however he then heard the words, "I swear nothing's going on between Andi and me" and the motorcyclist knew that his acquaintance was indeed in the next room beyond the paper screen. Edge heard a stifled sob and a female voice assure him that she believed he was telling the truth. I'm too old for all this melodrama…
"Jay?" It was Andi. Focusing his consideration on the girl across the table, he sighed. The red-tinged brunette frowned. "What's wrong?"
Edge rested his bony hands on the table, rising to his feet. "I think I've humored you long enough, Miss Andrews," the educator decided. "You are welcome to keep the food I ordered, too. Don't worry, I'll settle the bill with the hostess up front."
Andi opened her mouth to protest, but instead she leaned onto the table and began to sob softly into the well-polished surface. "I'm sorry. Please just eat with me, Professor. It's just a meal."
This girl is a mess, Edge observed silently. Reluctantly, he eased back onto the plush cushion on the floor. He folded his hands on the table in front of him. "Miss Andrews, if I may be so bold to ask, why are you focusing all your energies on an old man like me where there is an entire city full of people your age?"
The petite woman seemed genuinely surprised that Jay remained in his seat to hear her out. Mopping up her tears with the sleeve of her white long-sleeved t-shirt, Andi sniffled. "Be-because guys my age can't scare off my mom." It was then Edge noticed a hint of blotchy purple skin peeking out from the edges of her clothing. She did well hiding it, wearing shirts and pants that covered most of her body. If she had not answered him so honestly, Edge may never have known to be aware of potential signs.
"I need someone who can help me go where she'll never find me." She glanced at him guiltily. "And you seemed like a nice enough guy. A total dork, but no wife, no kids, no pets even," she sniffed in amusement. "I thought maybe…" Andi sniffled, her dark gaze fixing on him, "we could help each other out. You seem kinda lonely sometimes."
Ah, I've been caught, Edge mused as the gravity of Andi's situation weighed him down like ice-cold water. He rubbed the scratchy five o'clock shadow on his chin. "I know some people at ZuZu U who can help you, Miss Andrews."
Andi shook her head, her long hair falling off her shoulders. "I need my mom to help pay for my tuition. Once I'm done with school, I can get a good job and get the fuck outta here," the bruised woman said, balling her fists on the tabletop, "I live at home with her for now. I don't have the money or anyone I'm close enough with to share an apartment, but when I graduate I don't want to be forced to move back in with her. I can't!"
Edge was interrupted from responding by the waiter arriving with their food. Suddenly, anything to eat sounded delicious and he was not about to walk away from perfectly edible food. He graciously thanked the woman for the meal and requested the check. "I'll be paying for the couple behind us, too," Edge pointed over his shoulder with his thumb.
The waitress looked surprised, but nodded before disappearing to produce the two bills. Andi tilted her head curiously. "Who's at the other table?" she inquired, shoveling the first piece of Philly roll into her mouth.
Edge chuckled, "Your 'boyfriend' and his girlfriend." Andi flushed awkwardly when it was obvious something was going on between Sebastian and his girlfriend from amorous giggling from the other side of the paper screen. It seems they've bounced back just fine. The middle-aged man composed himself before adding, "I think you owe Sebastian an apology, but I'll pay the debt for now."
Andi nodded solemnly. For a while, the two sat in silence. Finally, the young woman spoke up. "Thank you, Jay," she articulated appreciatively. "For sticking with me tonight and for the sushi," she raised her chopsticks to emphasize the food.
"We'll talk about everything later," Edge promised his student, resting his utensils on the ceramic rest and staring down at his empty plate. "For now, just eat up and relax for a bit. You're safe now."