#kiplingwriter

“What’s the matter, handsome, friends can’t come out to play today?” A pout pulled at Marley’s bottom lip, cheek propped up by her palm propped up by her elbow on the countertop that separated the two of them. She’d noticed him the moment he’d first walked through those doors; it helped that he stuck out like a sore thumb amongst his peers, at least ten years most of their juniors, but that hadn’t been the only thing about him that’d caught her eye. Tonight was just the first time she’d caught him alone, his usual entourage missing from his side, and Marley planned on using that to her full advantage. “Hope you don’t mind my askin’, but you always hang ‘round men old enough to be your dad?” Her eyebrows raised curiously, pout turned to a slow grin. “Don’t you got any friends your own age?” She’d like to be his friend, she thought. He was a quiet one, but he had soulful eyes; there was a lot more happening behind them than he let on, that was for sure, even if the most they’d spoken was her asking him how he liked his eggs.

“Okay, but you’re, like, definitely sure your mom’s cool with me crashing Thanksgiving?” It was just about the tenth time that Drew had asked since embarking on the car ride with his roommate (which had been going on only two hours, including an early gas station pit stop).