Then Drink It

(Day 7: Saturday Afternoon)

When Evie hears the knock she stands from the sewing machine, walks over to the door, and when she opens the door she smiles at Doug, "Checking up on us again?"

"No," he smiles. "Just you." When he sees Evie suddenly frown he continues seriously himself, "I just— I didn't see you at lunch. Sooo." He holds up the pink drink.

Evie furrows her brows and shakes her head, "What is that?"

"This?" Doug looks at it for a moment, "It's a smoothie."

"And that would be?"

His mouth gapes at the realization, "You don't know what a smoothie is." He sees her annoyance and explains, "It's just blended fruit, adding in some milk, cream, or ice cream. I rather do like the ice cream ones myself, but I didn't think you'd appreciate that."

"Doug," Evie interrupts. "I really do have some things I need to get done."

"Right," he calmly responds. "Well. It's just fruit." He hands it to her, "Here."

She just stares at it, unwilling to grab it, "How am I supposed to believe you?"

Doug looks at the ceiling for a second before widening his eyes back at her, "What? Now you don't even know what fruit looks like?"

It takes a minute for Evie to comment, "On the Isle our diet consists primarily of grain and canned vegetables. We don't get fruit. If we do it's either half rotten or placed in a container with syrup, which my mother never allowed in the house. It's just so bad for you."

Doug shuts his mouth and evenly expresses, "I'm sorry." He stares down at the smoothie, "I just figured that if nothing else, you'd at least allow yourself to drink something." He looks back up at her, "Really. I'm not trying to trick you. I just want to help."

"I don't have a problem," Evie whispers.

"Then drink it," Doug tries handing it to her again. "Just a sip."

Evie lets out a long breath and rolls her eyes, before she snatches the large cup away from him. "Fine." She places the straw to her lips and takes a sip of the cold, sickly sweet substance. "Yuck. What did you do, put a can of sugar in it?"

Doug takes the drink when it's shoved back at him, "No. I got it from juice place around the corner. I guess sweet stuff just sells more, but, uh, maybe next time we could make our own."

Evie doesn't know what to say, "I have stuff to do."

"I just—" He looks away for a minute, "I'd just really like to get to know you better." He looks back at her. "Is there anything you do like?"

Evie cracks a smile, "Lemonade?"

Doug smiles, "And what about food? Is there any food you find tolerable?"

"Nothing I know of," Evie admits, "but I hear celery is nice."

Doug nods, "How about this: would you like to have lemonade with me sometime, and then I could introduce you to some real vegetables and fruit like celery?"

Evie nods, "Okay. Sure."

He laughs, "Okay, then. How about tomorrow at lunch?" He sees her frown, "Or if you'd like to go somewhere more quiet we can always go outside."

"Outside sounds nice," she accepts, although her concerned frown remains.

"Okay, then. It's a date." He cringes, "Or not a date. Just a hanging out. You know?"

"Yes," she lightly laughs. "I know."

"Alrighty, then." He walks backwards and stumbles, "I'll just see you then, then." Evie sighs at the poor soul, before she shakes her head, heads back into her room, and shuts the door behind her.

- I really hope I'm writing Doug clumsy and dorkish enough, even if it turns out to only be around girls he likes.