s q u i p .

   The smile was responded to with a    smirk and she prepared to keep up,    she moved. “So—I didn’t quite catch    your n a m e.”

“Think I’ve got a cousin             with that name. ‘S real cute.”

Part of him wondered whether her cousin got called Barbie  too, but after a few weeks with the Squip, he knew better than to ask. "Y'from 'round here?"

  “Thank you. I’d rather not get lost—again.”

"Makes sense," he said, giving her a smile. "Just follow me."

       Oh—fine brows rose in realisation and she        turned her head to look to the left, then to        the right until her look was eventually cast        upon him again. Her lower lip ended up being        tucked in as a frown made it quite obvious        that she had taken the w r o n g turn.

Petrol?

"Uh, yeah," he said, clearing his throat,                         "I get that a lot actually."

 The young woman trails behind a   moment, then proceeds to pick up   the pace in order to walk to the   right of him.

     "Kendal. 'm Kenal."   He gave her another smile,      just like the Squip had   taught him. He was a fast      student. "Nice to meet'cha."

  And she’s nudging his shoulder to wake him.

AWAKE.

READY.

   ”Umm, thanks? That’s very                  sweet of you to say.”

Malachite optics survey the other, if only for a moment—but her reply comes easily.

                "There's a place down the block.                          C'mon."           And with that Kendal started off down the street,                 anticipating that the brunette would follow.