"So.." Marshall says in a tense voice. "How is it? You okay?"
Gabriel looks up dramatically in the calm florescent lighting. Shadows litter his face with added effect as he says with a sure look, " This is positively, absolutely…"
Marshall holds his breath the slightest, eyes widening. Gabriel suddenly grins. "… the best thing I've ever had! I can't believe I lived without tasting this, this glorious desert!"
Marshall throws his arm around his neck, laughing. "Well I'm glad man. Whoo, if you hated it I don't know what I'd do."
The girl in the green visor behind the counter eyes them with a slow smile. "Wow."
Marshall turns to her. "What?"
She shakes her head slowly, giving a short laugh as Gabriel eats his bowl like its going out of style. "I just.. I've need seen someone so excited over some frozen yogurt before. You guys are weird."
Gabriel pauses to swallow, holding up a hand to tell them to wait. Then he says, "Let me clarify for you. This is my first time having frozen yogurt. Ever."
Her mouth widens into the shape of an O, and she looks to Marshall for confirmation. He nods coolly, and she turns back to Gabriel, giving a slow clap. "Kudos to you then. Have a great night."
Marshall tugs them out the shop, sending a wink to the girl behind the counter. She looks down with a faint blush and he laughs. Gabriel pauses to give him a look. The air outside is warm with a breeze, sky alit with a midnight blue and thousands of souls called stars.
"Why'd you do that?"
Marshall shoves his hands in his pockets, walking on the cracks of the sidewalk like a trapeze artist. "Do what?"
"Flirt, I think. Flirt with that girl."
He shrugs in response, wobbling to keep from toppling into a shop sign. "I just do it without thinking. It's kinda how I talk to girls all the time."
He makes a face. "Even Ms. Tuttle?"
He laughs, looking up at the sky. "Naw man, like… like pretty girls. Nice girls around our age y'know? I just have that kind of charisma."
Gabriel nods slowly, taking another delicate spoonful. "Hmm."
They wander through the maze of shops on the left side, pausing to glance into each one, 'oohing' and 'ahhing' at the merchandise sold inside, then moving along. Eventually, Gabriel asks, "If it's your charisma, then why don't you do it to guys too then?"
Marshall feels something dark and cold rise in his chest and he stops altogether. Gabriel pauses a few feet ahead of him. "I…" He shoves his shaky hands in his pockets again and blows out a depth breath. For the first time, he truly wonders why he flirts all the time. It's not like he has any specific intentions like most people do, it's just.. harmless. Like a game or a puzzle, to figure out how the girl is going to react. The flirting game. So, if it's just a game, then does it really mean anything? "I don't flirt with guys, bro. Only girls. "He swallows and looks up from his feet "Pretty girls."
"Why, do you flirt with guys Gabriel?" He asks, throat tightening. Gabriel rolls his shoulders.
"I don't flirt with anyone. I don't really get the concept of it, you know?" He looks down at his cup, then back up with a bright smile. "I just try being nice, is all. But you probably think that's stupid, right?"
Marshall shakes his head out of its figurative black fog, jogging over with that same smile. "Nope. It's just you man. Just… the Gabe way. It's sweet."
They continue strolling down the boulevard, but without Marshall snatching the boy's cup and eating the rest of it.