"So you're saying that Godzilla is better than Dracula?" Vince asked with attitude.
"Duh, 'cause he's huge and could kick anyone's ass he wanted!" Frost returned.
"Mm… I don't know," Jane said as she took a sip of her drink. "I feel like… yeah, I'd be scared of Godzilla, but I can just go hide from him. Whereas Dracula, well he's got a whole crew of goons and I might not even know if I were standing next to one," she raised an eye brow.
Frost rolled his eyes. "Yeah, but who cares?!" he exclaimed. "The only thing a vampire can do is make you immortal," he argued. "I don't even see how that's a threat. Godzilla," he exclaimed, "on the other hand, is huge and can kill you!" He didn't know how Korsak and Jane were failing to grasp this concept.
"Ah," Vince said philosophically, "but do you want to live forever?"
Frost's jaw dropped as he rhetorically asked, "Is that even a question?" By this point his frustration was growing from playful to 'are you freaking kidding me'.
"Okay, okay," Jane said calming them both down. "Why don't we just say they're both super cool and move on?" She tried to smile persuasively. "I know! Trials are coming up; have you guys studied?" Even she knew it was a desperate move but she decided that for the health of all mankind (and the two guys in front of her) that it was the best option for the moment.
Vince looked smug as if he'd one with his maturity, and Frost just rolled his eyes.
"Ew," Frost said, "don't remind me. I've been studying like crazy for these things."
"Tell me about it," Korsak said empathetically. "My parents have been bugging me non-stop."
Jane let out a little laugh, "Thank god it's not just me. I think they're more worked up about them than I am!"
"Right?" Frost remarked in agreeance. "It's not even like we're bad kids or anything. Like, I'm pretty sure we'd all be studying enough anyway."
"Ye-" Jane paused to think about it before definitively decided that, "Yeah! We would."
"Anyway, speaking of… I should go before my mum loses it. I'll see you guys at school tomorrow?" Frost said with a smile.
"Yep, unless I magically become a millionaire," Jane joked.
"Or I go pro at baseball," Vince joined in.
"So, I'll definitely see you Vince. Jane, might actually have a chance," he too jabbed casually.
"Oh ha – ha," Vince retorted. By the time he finished his sentence though, Frost was already half way across the food court blending in with the rest of the Sunday afternoon shoppers.
Jane checked her phone, "man, is that the time already?"
"I gotta be home back 6:30," he added.
"Yeah, I'll probably head off around the same time," she said casually. "Do you have anything you need to do?"
"Mm… Nah," Vince paused to think. "Oh actually, Fallout 4 just came out and I wanted to see how much it was."
"What 4?" She mocked, not knowing what Vince was talking about. "Is that like Fall Out Boy?"
"No! It's an awesome game. And if it's anything like the third one it's gonna be even awesomer."
"Wh- Oh… It's a video game," she smiled indicated her understanding.
"A 'video game'" he questioned. "More like a kick ass role playing platform," he said trying to make it sound more grown up.
"Yeah," she mocked in a low tone. "Anything role playing is definitely a game." She laughed.
He smiled, then playfully returned, "well then, I won't let you play it with me."
"Oh," she sounded feigning hurt, "fine!"
"Fine," he quipped. "Anyway, is there anything you wanted to look at?"
Jane stood up from the table and gave herself a quick stretch before responding with, "Nah, not today."
Vince wasn't displeased as this just meant more time for it to look at games.
As they were walking towards to the game shop, Jane asked, "hey, do you still speak to Darren?"
"From baseball? Nah. We talked for a bit after he moved but not really. You?" He said informally.
"Yeah, from time to time."
"Why d'you ask?" He enquired.
"Nah, I was just flicking through photos last night on Facebook and came across the ones from a pizza dinner we went on."
Vince shrugged his shoulders casually before saying, "fair enough." By this point they were steps away from the front of the store and Vince was refocusing his energy toward the 'awesomer' game.
The truth was, not long after they first met Darren, Jane developed a bit of an overwhelming crush. In fact, if it weren't for him, she probably wouldn't have perfected the fine art of acting cool in awkward or uncomfortable situations… Well, as cool as a teenager whose heart is beating faster than the speed of light could be.
That's not why she brought it up though. Really, they hadn't seen each other in ages and Jane was no longer interested in him (particularly after he picked on one of her brother's trying to get some time alone for them). He had been on her mind because he was the last person she had a crush on, and therefore he became the reasoning in her argument as to why she couldn't be gay.
If she liked him, then she had to be straight, right?
And so, she put her fascination with Miss Isles down to an over-reaction to someone who was showing her so much care; something she was not really used to.
Hey, I know I said I was going to cancel this story, and I do still reserve the right to.
However, I really don't like giving up, so I am going to give it another go and see where it takes me.
Sorry for the inconvenience or if seems like I was just trying to get attention. That wasn't my intention.
Hope you're happy and well.
Would love to hear any thoughts you might have.