In The Food Court

[pen]

Pen sat on a seat at the end of the food court, and an open book in her hands. She was in reality, not reading it, but just using it as a cover. She was people-watching, one of her favorite pastimes, and she'd learned very quickly that people got ticked off if you just sat and stared at them. So instead, she kept her nose in a book and allowed her eyes to flick upward every so often. And she did, of course, constantly listen to what conversations were going. People didn't seem to mind eavesdropping, if they didn't catch her doing it. And she didn't really considered it eavesdropping either. She really only heard a couple of bits of dialog between a few people, before she let her ears drift to some other noise.

No one really seemed to notice her at all. No one seemed to have any interest in a pimply faced, bookworm of a teen-aged girl. Pen liked it that way. There was, occasionally, someone who'd stare at her, and she knew why. They'd notice something odd about her-that her eyes seemed to bright green to be real, that there was something slightly off about her skin tone-and they'd move along once she glanced up with annoyed look on her face. She'd usually hear them mumble about contacts or something along those lines, anything to explain what they thought they had just seen. Then Pen would return to her people-watching/fake reading, glad to be left alone. It gave her more time to observe others when they weren't observing her.

[jack]

Fang was on his own for once. He had a little money, some that he found in a back pocket of a coat he found in a restroom cloakroom a while back. Since he was the 'snappy dresser' of the flock he was in the mall looking for clothes. His stomach rumbled so he called off his fashion hunt and tracked down the food court. A small table with a green skinned girl caught his eye. Green skin? Alien alert! he thought. He pulled the empty chair out and sat down next to the alien girl.

"Hey," he muttered, "I hope you don't mind me sitting here." He would have remained there regardless of her answer but he asked anyway. He loked her up and down, book and all. She had bright green eyes. No one's eyes were that green, not even an alien! Her hair was a nice shade of blonde though. He clocked the waiter and called him over, asked for a coke, paid and sipped.

[pen]

Pen's eyes flicked up, settling first on the boy who'd just sat down. He seemed to be about her age, though she couldn't quite pin down a possible year. She then glanced around her. The food court was packed, and considering it was early afternoon on a Saturday, she wasn't surprised. If it was this guy, some other person would probably ask for the seat eventually. "Go ahead," She said, finally, "Doesn't bother me." She doubted he would've been chased off even if she'd told him no.

Now a bit embarrassed to be watching people with someone sitting right in front of her, she began to actually read the book, starting with the page she happened to be on. She'd read the book a few times before anyway, and could more or less figure out where she was. Absently, she slipped her hand under her hoodie and scratched her shoulder. Her thorns were growing back in; she would need to trim them again soon. She never understood why they always seemed so itchy when they were growing.

[jack]

Fang smiled, "Thanks," he said. He looked at the book the girl was reading. He had never heard of it and he doubted he would like to read it. He didn't read much, only really his blog. He was surprised this girl hadn't run away screaming. A lot of people recognised him from photos in the newspapers and on the news. He was happy she hadn't whimpered and scarpered.

"So," Fang started, "You read a lot i guess?" Although he didn't talk much he hated not knowing things, especially about people that were around him and could be a threat. He looked at her itching her back. He often did that when new feathers were growing through. When they reached the surface of his wing though it was fine and he could live with the constant tickle.

[pen]

"You're welcome," She mumbled with a shrug of her shoulders after he thanked her. She glanced up at him again. She thought he looked vaguely familar, like she'd seen himself someplace before. In the paper or on the news, something along those lines. Or in a picture one of the whitecoats had, She thought, before quickly chasing that thought from her head. How highly unlikely would that be?

"Yeah, I love to read," She said, shortly after realizing he'd asked her a question. She gotten lost in thought for a bit, before his voice brought her back into reality. She hadn't really expected the whole small talk thing, but decided to she may as well keep the conversation moving. "So are you new in town, or a recluse, or what?" She asked him, "Because I don't really remember seeing you around her re before." Hopefully, that would help her narrow down where she had seen him before. She had a pretty good memory when it came to faces, and she couldn't recall seeing him in the mall before then.

[jack]

Fang let a smile flash onto his face when she spoke. It was nice to have some company, apart from the flock that is. He looked back to the book to see if he ever had heard of it or maybe even read it but the title didn't recall in his mind.

"So are you new in town, or a recluse, or what?" This surprised Fang slightly, the girl seems so forward however she looked quite shy. "Um," he didn't want to give away that he was a mutant bird freak, "I travel." He smiled and laughed slightly to muffle his uneasiness on the subject. What if she was an eraser that hadn't been retired? Well, she didn't seem to wolf like, maybe she was from Chimera Corporation and a spy. No, she seemed too nice. Maybe she was just a normal girl wanting to talk, get to know him.

"Yeah, my past is a bit cloudy," he said slowly, "I left home when i was, what? Like 4 or something. Well i was kidnapped - i think." He would see how she took this, she would either laugh and say he was lying or nod and ask him something. Either way he had answers and excuses, he had had to lie a lot in his past before now. Would one more make a difference?

[pen]

Pen watched him carefully as he answered her question. He seemd a bit uncomfortable as he answered it, barely noticable. But she had a knack for picking up on such things from all the people-watching she did. Maybe his isfrom one of the Itex labs, She thought, Where else would I have seen him? Even if it was just a picture or something... She let her thoughts trail off as he continued to answer. He spoke of a hazy past, and a kidnapping, though again he seemed apprehensive about it. She decided to get off the subect of the past and on to the present.

"Okay," She said, with a slight nod of her head, unsure of whether or not to believe this story, What about now? Are you just passing through, or do you live here now? Are you going to Hampton High?" It was a simple enough question; he looked the age to be in high school, unless he was held back or something like that. And if he was going to Hampton High, she might get to talk more with him-and have a better chance of figuring out where she'd seen him.

[jack]

Fang smiled. He was glad to get his past off his chest to someone new. He ordered another soda for himself and a drink for the girl. "Did, i tell you my name?" he asked, unsure of this, "Well, i'm Fang." He nodded, they had already greeted, a handshake wouldn't fit the time.

"Yes," he said, "I live near here and i have just started high school. Well, i'm half way through but i've only been once before." He smiled awkwardly. He remembered how that had turned out - Lissa. "Do you got to Hampton High?" He wanted to get to know her better, they could be friends. The girl seemed nice enough.

[pen]

Pen smiled, glad to see the boy was more at ease now. "No, you didn't give me your name before, and I didn't give you mine, for that matter," She said, "I'm Pen. Its nice to meet you, Fang." It seemed like an odd name to have, but it could be a nickname for all she knew. And with the fact that she named herself after a writing utensil, she wasn't about to open her mouth about. She was unusually comfortable talking to him. Typically she'd have her guard up around strangers. But for some reason, she just seemed to trust him. Which might or might not be a good thing, she thought to herself.

When the waiter arrived with the drinks, she took hers. "Thanks," She said, not having really expected to do anything like that. She wasn't too thirsty, but took a few sips. "Yeah, I go to Hampton High. My brother does, too. I'm surprised I haven't seen you there, either. Did you just start a few days ago?" Maybe that's where I've seen him, in the hallways at school, She thought, still refusing to totally submit to the experiment theory.

[jack]

"Hi Pen," said Fang, "Its also lovely to meet you." He had a broad grin on his face now. Pen must be short for Penelope he thought, or Penny. "Is Pen short for anything?" he asked with ease, what if it wasn't and he offended her? Well that would be a quick friendship. He hoped it wouldn't offend her, he seems to feel comfortable around her, trusted her. Fang found it hard to trust however this girl seemed genuine.

Fang smiled to her when the drinks arrived. He gave the waiter some money for both drinks and watched him leave, he left a scent of uncleanliness behind. Fang couldn't complain however, he must have stank out the house before he lived in Hampton, what with not having real showers. "Um," he started, he thought hard, "No, I haven't been yet. I have had a look around but no lessons yet." He smiled and thought again, she seemed to recognize him but he had never seen the face before. Strange?