There moment was disturbed when they heard a loud banging on the front door followed by someone yelling on the other side.
"Yo, you done in there!" Shale was about to reply but the door was already opening.
'Dam, forgot to lock it again.' She stood up and made sure to stand in front of Edward to block the persons view of him. The person in question was a girl a few years older then Shale. She wore a white shirt with ripped sleeves and jagged black text saying "Destroy". She had two necklaces, one black studded choker and a silver lock and chain.
'An emo then. By herself, might have some friends waiting for her. Seemed confused, me or Edward?'
Both of them stared each other down. Shale broke it first. "Look, I'll leave soon. Just give me a moment."
The Emo girl raised an eyebrow but didn't leave. The street rat kept her gaze firm and stepped closer into the other girls personal space. Anything she could do to keep focus on her, but she saw her eyes shift to Edward anyways.
"Oh, another one of those mates" What the girl said and how she said it immediately set of several alarms. She said it so casually, no shock, no surprise.
'Another, implying others. There are other surviving experiments!?'
"Wait!" She grabbed the other girls shoulder. "You know where the others are?"
She raised an eyebrow at her question and pulled her hand off but didn't outright leave. "Yea, your mates said something bout a cafe. Right down the street. Can't miss it."
"Yea, I know the place. Thanks, we got side-tracked." She nodded back towards Edward. The other girls expression turned distasteful and Shale already knew why. Her ratty clothes and Edwards uncomfortable state didn't exactly paint a pretty picture without context. "And no, I don't mean like that. He had a panic attack. I'm just a friend."
"Oh, right." She rubbed the back of her neck, embarrassed. She left the room and closed the door. Shale made sure to lock it this time.
The red head sat down next to the former engine. "Hey Edward, you ready to go now?"
"Yes." He answered. Shale stood and offered a hand out to Edward. He didn't take it, instead he stood up and started to collect the spare clothes around the room.
"You know, you don't need to clean up. There are people who do that." She said smiling.
"Oh, it just feels like the right thing." He left the clothes on the bench. Shale noticed how they weren't folded (not like he would know how) but were instead sorted by types. Shirts, pants and some of the sweaters.
Something about Edward taking initiative like that struck her with guilt. "Actually yea, I'll help you out." She started to gather the rest of the clothes and started to fold.
"Here, I'll handle it, you can go sit down or something." And Edward did have a point, it did feel better to do do this.
As for the later, he kept gathering the clothes and creating separate piles. Since Shale didn't protest again he assumed it would be alright to help but he'd leave her to do what she was doing. There weren't many clothes so it was fairly quick.
"Is there anything else you need to do?" He asked
"Edward, it's alright. You can just relax, maybe browse around the store if you want. I could probably pick something up for you." And by 'pick something up' she meant 'smuggle it into her bag and shoplift it when nobody was looking'. Though part of her did wish she could pay for it.
"Are you sure?"
"If you feel better staying here, then that's alright too." She folded the last pair of pants and laid it on top of the others. She grabbed her jacket and pulled it back on. "Anyways, We can go now. C'mon. Let's get something to eat."
"Eat? But don't you have to give more money for that?" Shale held the door open and let Edward walk through first.
"Yea, I'll cross that bridge when I get there." She noted the the emo girl was still sitting on the bench and looked up once they walked out.
"I swear, where did you blokes get your makeup done? It's brilliant." She said
Shale just shrugged. "Sorry, trade secret." She made a lock and key motion over her lips for emphasis.
"C'mon, one rocker to another. I won't leak it to a soul." She insisted.
'So she's a punk fan. That could be useful. Hopefully that would mean other people would assume the same. Also persistent, better give her an answer then.'
"Trust me, you don't wanna know-" You really don't. "-it takes forever to wash of. Not worth the effort. I've gotta catch up to my... friends anyways." She left before the girl could reply. Edward followed close behind, but he turned to give a brief wave and smile at the girl who waved back awkwardly.
While walking up to the counter Shale passed by a small jewelry rack and stopped when something caught her eye. On a silver chain was a cloud-shaped charm with a number two carved into the middle.
'Perfect.' They weren't in view of the cashier yet so she discreetly reached out carefully and grabbed the chain so it didn't rattle the others and hid it in her jackets sleeves. Edward also didn't seem to notice as well, but it was for the better.
Once they were in view of the counter, the red head pulled the money out of her bandana. The cashier took the money but frowned.
"Are you wearing the products your buying?" She said slowly.
"Yea, I already counted. Bout' thirty bucks total." Said Shale. "You can check again if you want to."
He did. Shale hoped that he wouldn't but it didn't matter. She could stiff afford this anyways.
"Sorry, your about ten bucks short."
Shale just shrugged. "Don't worry, I've still got some money left. Just gimme a sec." She set her bag down on the ground and started to fish out the billfold. Shale pulled them out but not before letting the silver chain fall from her sleeve and into her bag.
"Here." she set the money on the counter. "This should be enough."
He took the bills without question. And just because she could, Shale nicked two packs of candy from a nearby shelf before speed walking out in case the cashier noticed.
As they walked to the cafe down the street Shale tucked the candy in her pocket and fished out the silver chain. She unwrapped one of the bars and held the other out to Edward.
"What is that?" He pointed at the bar. It wasn't anything fancy, just regular chocolate.
"You can have some. It's called chocolate, see." Shale bit of the tip and held it in her mouth and stuffed the rest in her bag.
"Oh yea, there's something else to. Here." She held out the necklace.
"I'm sorry, but whatever happened to you is probably permanent. I didn't know if you'd want this but I though you'd want something to remind you that you're still you. Nobody can change that."
'Woo, motivation, happiness. How long do you think that'll last for. Oh quit being a pessimist and enjoy the damn moment.'
"Wow, all this for me?" He let his fingers trace the charm but didn't take it.
"Yea, and before you ask why it's because you deserve something to smile about." She undid the latch holding it together "Turn around. I'll put it on."
She had to stand on her toes but she managed to draw the chain around his neck and reattached the latch. When Edward turned he was smiling for the first time Shale had met him.
"Thank you for taking care of me. I wish I could make it up to you somehow." He lifted his arms, going for a hug but stopped.
Shale sighed "Ahh, screw it. C'mere you old kettle." She opened her arms as a invitation and let Edward pull her into a slightly-crushing hug.
When he let go she took a moment to catch her breath. "Wow, remind me to never get on your bad side."
"Oh sorry, did I-"
"Don't worry I'm fine." said Shale "The cafe's around the corner. There are some people that I've got to meet here."
'And by any chance you'll want to meet them to.'
