Window Shopping ((open))

[amber]

"Hey, I am giving him credit for not trying to grope one of us. And it seems he's trying really hard to keep the flirting under control. So, yeah, I like him well enough." She grinned at them both and wondered if she was going to play peacekeeper. Amber really didn't mind it was kind of funny watching the dynamics between the three of them.

Amber sat down at a table and looked over at Heather. "Oh homecooked is always best, but sometimes I like getting out, you know? Besides I'm not the worlds best cook and sometimes I get a little carried away." She chuckled a bit and then looked over at Dom when he asked the question. Oh this is going to be good.

[Lifeguard]

[/color]," she asked, suddenly hearing Dom's question. This guy, did he really expect her to respond to such a question? Obviously he did, and Amber was quiet on it.

"That is a stupid question, mate.," Heather bluntly replied. "Neither of us really knows you, so we can't make an assessment. But you keep asking things like that, I may find you creepy and in dire need of attention."

It began to dawn on Lifeguard that she was practically beating this poor guy to death, but he kept walking into it. All Heather could do was remain honest, and if that got her to be viewed as mean, so be it. Dom seemed like the kind to take a punch or two, and wake up the next morning.

Now, food. What to eat, what to eat?[/font][/ul]

[dominique]

Dom took note on what Amber said, but his attention mostly remained on Heather. He had just asked for her opinion, a simple question. He was already coming up with multiple reasons why she was so defensive. He took his seat calmly and eyed her, taking all her actions, words, and attitude up to this point into thought and breaking her character down.

"Its just a question, Cheri. We tend to be blunt down south, forgive me if it offended you." he said, grabbing a menu. There had been nothing stupid about that question, it was to get a response. She wasn't the only one who could trap and test others. He just did it differently and less obviously. Honestly, he didn't care what she thought of him. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't change who or even what he was. He would still be respectable, still flirt, and always be a mutant. It was who he was, take it or leave it.

"Actually, the response you just gave is still rather insightful," he said with a smile. "But that question also leads into this one: Do you butcher every guy you meet so mercilessly or am I just special?"

[amber]

Amber hadn't seen any reason to actually respond to his question since it had been directed to Heather. Honestly, she couldn't blame the guy for asking, had she been in his shoes, she would have left already. Probably after calling Heather a few choice names, but gone none the less. At least he was trying to get along with them. She kind of felt bad for the dude. But then from what she could tell about Heather she was still young and possibly hadn't found her balance yet. "Alright you two. Let's just have a nice lunch and see if maybe things don't calm down some after we eat something."

She picked up the menu and then took a sip of her water. The girl nearly choked when Dom actually asked the question, she really didn't think he had it in him to ask that. He had been so polite, but then he was a southern boy and they won't usually take much crap for very long. Unless of you course you were their mama. Amber coughed a few times and looked between them. "You kind of earned that one, Heather. He's buying us lunch, he's toned back down on the flirting, and you keep baiting him. Breathe, girl." The words weren't said mean or even condescending, they were just stated.

[Lifeguard]

[/color]," she reminded Amber. "Wouldn't you find it rather strange if a total stranger asked you what you thought of them at a bus stop, and after only two minutes? I don't know about you two blokes, but I tend to save such curiosities for a month down the road."

That said, Heather wasn't sure what she wanted.

"I'll probably ask for a recommendation from the waiter."[/font][/ul]

[dominique]

Amber didn't seem to like the idea of Dom and Heather fighting. A negotiator trying to keep the peace between them without really taking a side. However, Dom wasn't trying to be agressive in their conversation. In all honestly he was just curious and simply trying to understand. He just tended to be a bit hard to understand while doing so.

Heather's actions and character conflicted in interesting ways. She hated the idea of being treated as an item and yet she still compared him to a common piece of cloth. From her words he saw her as very headstrong and prideful. She also disliked the idea of coincidence, maybe created out of a will to determine what she wanted for herself? Dom was carefully weaving his thoughts together as she spoke.

"I did expect an honest answer, Cheri, and I am very glad you don't pull your words as it is rather refreshing from the mundane. But not every question has to have a set answer. Sometimes its more fun to see the thought behind the answer you get...or even the lack of an answer." Dom absently wondered if she realized that by not giving an answer he could have simply taken it as a yes anyway. The girl was probably too busy drawing her own conclusions of him to notice.

Having decided on his order, he placed the menu down and idlely glanced around the place in order to take it in the details. He noticed the piano in the corner. It had been quite some time since he'd played one. He'd have to ask the waiter when he ordered if he could play it.

[amber]

Amber scrubbed a hand over her face and wondered if this was some sort of test. How often was going to have to go through this once she truly got established at the Academy. Even though she was only twenty-two she suddenly felt a lot older, and wondered when teenage girls became so cynical. Her head shook as she looked over at Heather and wondered if the girl was ever going to understand. Then she wondered if she even really wanted to attempt to. "It might have been odd, if you hadn't stated that I liked him well enough first. You answered for me, but not for yourself, hence why he asked the question. I would have done the same." She honestly wondered if the girl didn't realize she kept setting him up to fail. No matter how you looked at it, he'd never be able to give the right answer.

The young woman decided on ordering the special. It was the easiest and cheapest thing. She wasn't about to make the poor kid go broke just because she could. "So, what do you two do?" She'd peg Heather for a high schooler or college, and Dom for college or at least looking for work. Of course she doesn't have a school roster and hadn't met all of the students so she had no way of knowing that Heather was in fact a member of her school.

[Lifeguard]

[/color]," she said, tone indicating an indifference toward the whole situation. "I've some consideration to make about my meal of choice."

Amber's question would have to wait, though it would receive an answer. It was Dom's turn to shine, to have his other fifteen minutes of fame.[/font][/ul]

[dominique]

Amber was defending him now? While he didn't really mind it did come as a slight surprise as he really didn't need her to defend him. He could take plenty of hits and keep going, he was just to subborn to give up easily. Her question made him think while he waited for Heather's answer. Odd Heather seemed to be losing her fire. Now she was just shutting herself off from them.

"Ah, but Cher, I was enjoying your company as much as Amber's," he said in response to Heather's cold brush off, she needed to lighten up. Then he turned to Amber, "I'm in college, Cher. But I'm taking a break right now."How much should he tell them if pressed? No telling if they would even believe that a shameless flirt like him was practically a genius, especially considering he looked more like a jock type. And it did tend to annoy him when people called him out as a liar or gave him that disbelieving look.

[amber]

How did this go from a nice little chance meeting to nearly a nightmare? At least for her? Oh that's right she was trying to keep the peace, well from now on if they just want to keep doing what they were doing that was fine by her. She speak if she were spoken to, maybe make a suggestion of shops or places to visit (should they continue on their way together, or even separate). Heather was withdrawing and Dom was trying to draw her out. When did kids become so damn cynical? She couldn't be that much older than Heather yet Heather seemed to be years older in spirit. It made Amber want to weep. Caution was one thing and something she encouraged, but this was something that should be saved for old age.

Her brow arched at Heather's damn near dismissal of them and again she shook her head. One hand scrubbed over her face and she stopped herself from banging her head on the table. So the girl had no trouble dishing it out, but when she got called on it she pulled back. Typical. Her mind snapped back at Dom's reply. "Well, at least you are smart enough to know you need a break, right?" It didn't escape her notice that Heather didn't reply. Ah well at least Amber was trying.

[Lifeguard]

[/i] Heather wanted to play Brer Fox, Dom wouldn't know what hit him.

Ugh, waiter get here and get here quick![/font][/ul]

[dominique]

Amber was a nice woman. And even though Heather hid herself behind a wall of ice, she also seemed like a good person at heart. However, things did seem to be deteriorating quickly. No doubt because of his poor social skills. This is why he didn't like to be noticed. He should have just apologized, flirted, and bailed out as soon as the opportunity presented itself as he did with everyone else he met.

How tempting it was to just 'disappear' and leave them the money for their meal. But that would be cowardly, he'd made it this far may as well see it through completely. He had been hoping to make friends with the two of them. Now, he saw that was a bit unlikely. With a sigh, he leaned back in his chair and turned back to Amber.

"Honestly, Cher, I'm on break because there isn't anything else for me to learn," he said without thinking. With all the time he had on his hands all the material eventually just waned to nothing. It wasn't that he was some sort of prodigy more that he had all the time in the world to understand something and since he didn't have much else to do he soon passed everyone up. His thoughts were on the piano.

A sudden idea to lighten the mood occured to him. "Would you two like play the piano? Just for a bit fun," his different colored eyes shined. "I bet even Heather would enjoy herself. And it'll help pass the time."

[amber]

Amber really hoped that after they ate, they could start over or something. This was going down hill fast and she didn't want it to. She thought she might have been too hard on Heather, but she had felt bad for Dom. Heather seemed to have withdrawn and that wasn't good. When Dom asked about the piano she smiled up at him. "I'd like that..." Before she could go any further the waiter showed up. She put in her order and waited for the other two to put in theirs. "You guys think we can salvage this? I don't want anyone uncomfortable. Heather, I'm sorry if it seemed like I was coming down on you, that was never my intention." It's a start, at least she hoped so.

[Lifeguard]

[/color]"

Heather wasn't his master, she could not dictate to him what he did and did not do. The same with Amber, which was evident by her next remark.

"Don't apologize.," she said rather suddenly, pausing only for a momentary breath. "You do what you do, mate. No need for the sentimental stuff, but if it makes you feel better, its fine."

Heather believed that you should never change who you are, as it was being untrue to yourself and submitting to another. Honor was one thing, but flat out becoming another person was unforgivable to the blond. Amber had every right to speak and do as she pleased, as did Dom, though they would have to accept the fact it may irk her. It was their right, and it was just how she lived life.

That out of the way, the waiter had come and left Heather with a bit of a predicament. She still had no clear indication of what she wanted, and with that in mind she asked the waiter for his recommendation; receiving it, she order that.[/font][/ul]

[dominique]

Dom was surprised when they both agreed to play piano with him. And not only did Heather agree she had also smirked at him. For a moment he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. Did she happen to like music or was she starting to lighten up?

He ordered his meal, one of the burgers sounded as if it would hit the spot and he enjoyed a good burger any day. He wasn't one for the fast food burgers, he liked real ones that were actually cooked. It was also a perfect choice to guage the place by. See how price compared to quality and quantity. If it was good he might drop by another time and order something else. However, before the waiter left he asked about the piano. The waiter gave him an odd look, but finally answered that people could play the instrument if they didn't disturb any of the other guests.

Dom nodded and the waiter continued on his way. "Well, lets see if a Cajun and two ladies can create music while their food is cooking," he said walking over to the instrument and motioning for the other two to follow.