zinnia.

               Even just thinking about the taste of La Croix really had Gabby’s stomach turning. It simply wasn’t good, tasting like exaggeratedly carbonated bath water, or an fraud, or just—water trying way too hard to impress but failing. Though, maybe she hadn’t given it enough of a chance. Maybe she just didn’t like tangerine flavored water, the one flavor she’d been unlucky enough to sip. Quiet laughter fell past Gabby’s lips, nonchalantly shrugging her shoulders. “I know there are people out there who like it but I’m not sure I’ll be able to get on board. Maybe if I try every flavor I could possibly find at least one I’d like, but I’m not counting on it.” Brows raised at her question. “Actually, no, I haven’t. I go for regular water on a daily basis, honestly. Sometimes I’ll add some fresh lemon too, but for me nothing beats normal, refreshing water. Cold, though. Not room temperature, because that shit’s revolting.”

Finally, someone who agreed with her. Maybe it was just her being picky with food or even just being some sort of random person with her tastes, but she couldn’t find room temperature water that appealing. “That. That’s the shit right there”, she nodded her head excitedly. “I don’t know how people could drink warm water. It’s not as refreshing as cold water. Cold water just tastes so much sweeter than warm--and yeah it fucking sucks when you’re out at the beach with no cooler, but if you give me the choice, I’d happy take cold water over anything else.” 

Zinnia paused for a moment, calming down after her little excited rant before pointing to the other woman. “Have you tried cucumber water”, she darted out, creating more small talk. “I heard that’s supposed to be better for your skin when you drink it.”

“I don’t think it was actual roaches, but there were trace ingredients of the stuff they use to kill them so, either way it was a big no from me.” Kaia understood the other girls struggle, and reached down into her bag to pull out the bottle she had with her. “This one’s called Hint, and it’s actually pretty good! And as far as I know it’s free of roach poison so ya know…big win.”

Now Zinnia understood, nodding her head to show it and scrunching her nose in the meantime. Okay, so maybe the situation was kind of bad--finding traces of poison in the cans of the drink wasn’t really that great. But brown eyes went down to the bottle that was in the other’s hand, taking it as it was offered to her so that she would be able to see the name of it. “Is it like Bubly? Like it’s not so overpowering”, she asked out, handing the bottle back to the woman in front of her to return it.

“Have you seen that meme that says La Croix tastes like if you shout a random fruit name from across the room and suddenly taste it vaguely in your mouth? Because it’s true.” Zach laughed, wishing he saved it to his phone when he first came across it. “But didn’t news come out that it has like, bugs in it or something? I’ll just stick to beer. Forever.”

“Meme what now”, the redhead tilted her head and turned her attention towards the voice, curiosity coursing through her body now. “Okay, so we definitely have to talk about this. I haven’t tried it. Have you?” But she did run a few fingers through her hair now, calming herself for just a moment out of the excitement of a meme and tilted her head. “All day every day beer or just socially? Cause dude, even though I work at a comic book store I can’t in good conscious let you drive around if you’re drunk.”

“I gotta be more careful, man. I’m used to just skating around in the road back in Cali.” Mostly said to make a mental note but also to show the other girl she was actually sorry. Pushing hair behind her shoulders, she shook her head. “Unfortunately not. Though, I’ve been dying it so much I’m sure my blonde hair has taken a liking to being more on the strawberry side.” But she didn’t dye it just to look like some girl on television or a comic book character. “My brother’s hair is naturally red. He got bullied for it a lot when he was growing up. And he’s only a couple years younger so I dyed mine to match his and it’s been that way since.”

If anything, it really didn’t matter just how the other’s hair was the way it was. Zinnia was just proud to be able to meet someone that was more or less similar to her in some shape or form. “Us redheads have to stick together anyway”, she offered out to the other, her hand going through her hair out of habit and then letting her arms fall to her sides. In fact, her little story had been very sweet. “Even dyed redheads who do so in order to protect their brothers from being bullied.”

Maybe it was definitely more than what a chance encounter should have been, but Zinnia felt akin to the girl now. “I’m Zinnia, by the way. And I kind of forgot what I was doing now. So, hi.”

“ Yes, it’s not the usual thing to drink where I’m from but I won’t be planning on changing that if I think about your obvious underlying dissatisfaction with it. “, he disagreed yet smiled, brilliantly, at her as part of his routine polite- and friendliness. With the lack of his own Southern accent in his words and conscious cut any detail to elaborate on said lifestyle, whatever he said left a gap large enough for anybody’s imagination. Not that he needed to now as he doubted the girl behind the counter would ever cross his ways in a professional or networking way for which he had specifically developed this, but habits – good or bad – were hard to shake. Either way, a compulsive need to be good was not a negative, not to the other, he assumed at least, as she continued their conversation in another direction. “ Oh, I don’t read them. “ Taylor’s gaze drops down to the stack of comics in one of his hands, reading the title of the most top comic for the first time, it ringing no bells of any kind of pop culture familiar to him. “ I was planning on buying a stack of these for my cousin. ‘doesn’t appreciate my taste in actual literature… no offense. “

That was something interesting. Usually the people that would come into the store would be 13 year old boys or 50 year old men who still had the mentality of 13 year old boys; but they all shared the same thing--the love of comic books. So it definitely was surprising to hear that surely, he wasn’t in her father’s comic book store for himself, but rather his cousin who enjoyed the little bit of pop culture. “None taken”, replied Zinnia, her curiosity now peeking through more. “But you’ve definitely gone up a spike in interest though. Did you not read these when you were little?” There was a slight pause for a moment as she moved closer, holding out her hand for whatever issue that he was flipping through in order to see. “What sort of things do you consider classics? I mean, you have to admit--comic books have ongoing stories since the 1940s. Aren’t they a little bit classic too?”

“Did you know they have more sugar in ‘em than regular coke?” he says, now only casually flipping through issues that had less of his attention. “Well, had. I don’t even know if that shit’s still around, haven’t seen it in a while. I was at a party once, actually. The CEO of the company was there. He said — and you can choose to believe me or not — he said, We could bottle up liquid shit and sell it, label it ‘healthy’ and they’ll buy it. Obviously he didn’t say this to me, but I overheard.” 

“Hence the reason why I drink La Croix”, interjected the redhead. “A lot less sugar in any and all of them more than regular coke.”

However, as time went on and she listened to him more and more, she realized that maybe there were more and more things she didn’t realize. Of course, that meant that Bellevue was more than what she was lead onto; but still. She thought it was pretty cool that he had been a part of that scene if he was with the CEO of Vitamin Water--if she’d believe it. “Are you for real”, she asked of him. “Were you there working the party or were you invited?”

‘‘Honestly, I never really heard anything about it being hot. I mean, I get the references–or innuendos, whatever they’re called from on-lookers. But..’‘ Clearing his throat and lowering his head in an attempt to hide the fact that his cheeks were turning a small tinge of red, Eddie takes a deep breath before looking up again with a nod. ‘‘I don’t fault you for being curious, its fine.’’ Waving it off, he leans a little forward again. ‘‘You said you play some video games? I think that’s awesome. Mind if I ask what games you’re into?’‘

As Zinnia continued on to listen to the man in front of her, she realized she had more in common with him that she thought. It was refreshing meeting someone who shared her love of video games and not really mention the fact that they watch her playing them. In a way it was weird--having this private, separate life meeting her passion--but it was also...uplifting. So uplifting, in fact, that she smiled so wide and prodded more information out of him. “I play all that I can get my hands on”, started the redhead. “My favorite to play is first person shooters, like Rainbow Six: Seige; but I love winding down with a little bit of Sims 4 when I get the chance. What about you? What are you into?”

For a moment he opens his mouth, and he doesn’t really know how to justify not sleeping. He did get SOME sleep, just not the proper amount sometimes– and that was something he was okay with. Eddie had his reasons for not wanting to sleep all that much. So his icy orbs met hers and he gave a shake of his head in her direction as a silent indicator of ‘no.’ 

‘‘Anytime, I s’pose. I never really had a taste for the donuts, if.. I’m being entirely honest. I was there more for the breakfast sandwiches, donuts is never a thing I really got into. Treats were a good way to get on the good sides to people, So I’d ALWAYS go there for the donuts. God, I probably sound like some weirdo now– I apologize if you think I’m like some donut hating freak.’’ Eddie said with a grunt and lowered his head for a moment.

Looking up at her when she had asked the question, Eddie waves it off with his hand and he nods. ‘’Haven’t you heard, curiosity killed the cat? No, its not a problem. I work as a little bit of both. The EMT, and firefighter part. I have no problem rushing into the action.’’

A donut hating freak. That was something she didn’t think she’d hear coming out of anyone’s mouth tonight, but that happened and it was probably a good thing. She was charmed in that aspect, considering she was already intrigued by his nature and now that she knew just a little bit more--firefighter, military, didn’t get enough sleep, and likes to please his bosses--she could assess her questions and curiosities further. Of course, there was a slight blush that crept upon her cheeks when he started teasing her about being too curious, but it was a part of her nature, she supposed.

“I dunno”, she started out, trying to explain herself. “It’s kind of hot. A guy that can run into danger, you know.” Her tone of voice had definitely differed. She was more impressed with him than anything at this point, and even measuring up to his heroics with her own--though they be fictional--was far and few. “Being curious is natural to me. I mean, it’s a part of who I am. I play a lot of video games so I’m always piecing together puzzles or giving out headshots with sniper rifles.”

‘‘I didn’t say I’d down one of the five hour things. I pour them into my double espresso thing in case if I’m deadass exhausted and I’ll go on like its a normal shift. Because technically it is a normal shift, everything is just a LITTLE heightened… and going a bit faster.’‘ He mumbled the last part, only shrugging as he moves to pick up his glass of water and take another sip. Oh.. OH. Thats what dunkies was, he felt a little stupid with that. ‘’Oh right, I kne– knew that.’’ Her leaning in closer made him pause for a second before he shrugs again, and sets his water down. ‘’Its that good, hm? The base I was stationed at, they had one like a block or two away from there. It was a good way to get on your CO’s side if you bought him or her coffee and a little treat.’’

Zinnia paused as she listened to everything he said, propping her head up with her hand and using her elbow to stabilize herself. Hearing his explanation made her teasing lessen, only because she figured he was doing more important things when drinking the five hour energy rather than her trying to grind experience points in her video games. “Do you not get any sleep”, she asked out again, curiosity getting to her before another realization had it.

His falter and recovery had amused the redhead, finding it adorable in a small sense, but she didn’t comment on it. Instead, she listened more to his story and soon found out about his military background. Was there no end how attractive he could get? “Okay, noted if I ever sign up for basic training”, she continued out. “Thank you, by the way. For your service. And trust me, it is that good.” Of course, it had been months since she had a real donut from Dunkin Donuts and maybe it was the nostalgia talking more so than her actual tastes; but there were times when she craved the sweet treat more than anything.

“Okay, you’re gonna hate me for asking so many questions”, Zinnia paused, a smile growing upon her lips. “But what exactly do you do? Police? Fire? Emergency Medical? Conductor on a train? You said Station before and now I’m curious.”

‘‘Usually? Or its those can of the double shot espresso things, usually mixed with a five hour energy. It works really well, especially if its one continuous shift.’‘ His smile grows slightly. Leaning a little forward, his head tilts a bit in a confused manner. ‘‘I honestly hate to be that person that asks.. what a dunkies is. But I’m gonna– you know ask.. What IS a dunkies? Would it be worth having over here?’‘

“That’s just too much right there. You don’t like sparkling water, but you’ll down one of those five hour energy drinks”, the redhead asked out, her tone of voice more or less in a state of confusion. The experience she had with those things--during streams that required her to be more awake at a later date--were just awful in the greatest sense of the word. “Those crash you out so bad.” 

For a brief pause, she watched the man lean in gently and she let out a soft laugh. Of course she’d realize that the little colloquial words she had for certain places wouldn’t resonate in Washington. “Dunkies--Dunkin Donuts? Coffee shop chain we had over in Boston”, she continued out and leaned in closer towards him, brown eyes growing wide. “It’s the best donuts you’ll have in your life.”

Brows now furrow in confusion, his head just tilting slightly as she asks the questions. Bringing his cup up, he takes a sip of the water then sets it back down with another shrug. ‘’Water. If i’m off of work, I’m drinking more water or whatever the guys usually drink at the station.’’

Station--she didn’t know why the word resonated with her, but it was definitely cool to hear that he was in the emergency field and a first responder. In a way, she thought it was kinda hot. Everyone loved a good hero. She gravitated towards them with her gaming and the stories that she played of them. Why wouldn’t it manifest in real life? “So I’m guessing it’s a lot coffee then”, she prodded, not wanting to be overly annoying with her questions, but still wanting to take more of his time. “What I wouldn’t give to have a Dunkies right now too. One thing I miss about the East Coast, that’s for sure.”

               “Oh, God,” Gabrielle started, nose crinkling up in distaste. “Honestly, the taste of La Croix makes me nauseous. I kinda wish they’d take it off the shelves. I’ve tried it a couple of times because I really thought I could give it a couple chances, but that was a bad idea. Never again.” Laughter was evident in the dark-haired girl’s voice, but it was more so a laugh of disbelief—because how could water taste so bad? “I’d rather drink regular water over La Croix. They need a re-do.” 

Hearing the other say that she got nauseated while drinking it made her wonder if the stories and the rumors were actually true--she remembered some lawsuit that went viral a few weeks ago involving the drink itself. Though she didn’t remember it being pulled from shelves, there was a lot of controversy in itself with its distributors. “For real? That sucks”, she commented on the other, scrunching her nose and shaking her head gently. “You tried drinking Bubly instead? It’s getting even more interesting that coffee chains are even carrying some of the flavors too. Just the other day, went into Starbucks, found a couple just sitting in the cooler.”

His brows raise for a moment, staring down at his drink before looking up at her with a shrug.‘‘Not really a fan of any bubbles in my drink, or.. bubbles in general you know? I feel like bubbles just take the.. the taste outta the drink, or whatever.’‘

Zinnia paused for a moment, but still she nodded her head and kept that smile on her face. It was definitely a nice conversation, something better than what she had to deal with every day at work at the comic book store or even during her streams online; but she continued on prodding questions at the man in front of her. “But for real, you’re not into the tonics or soda at all? Not even diet coke? Shit, that’s pretty wicked”, she continued on, in awe. “What do you like to drink then?”

“La Croix is shit.” He’d been busy flipping through some 50¢ back issues, but Jude couldn’t just overhear something like that and not give his unsolicited two cents. “It’s the same overhyped shit that Vitamin Water stuff was years ago.”

Zinnia perked up from her conversation to turn towards the voice, closing her eyes for a minute and nodding her head towards his direction. She remembered it, but only because everyone in her middle school was carrying around those bottles and hitting each other with them when they were done. “Did you get into the Vitamin Water craze? I mean, everyone I knew and their mother had them stocked in their fridge.”

Even just a few years back, the possibilities of finding Taylor in a comic book store were near zero. Now… it was not much different. He hadn’t gone there for his own sake but his cousin Oscar, who kept complaining that he had nothing readable in his new apartment. ( Apparently, any books with the reading level above that of a high schooler did not count as such. ) So by virtue, Taylor found himself flicking through a comic now, not in the slightest interested in reading it but set on buying a bulk of them regardless. It must’ve been visible by either his stance that he was not truly interested rather than looming around, he guessed, as the store clerk piped up out of nowhere and into, otherwise, complete silence.   “ I wouldn’t know. I don’t drink La Croix or sparkling water in general. “, he admitted his inability to add to the discourse, his voice light and soft as it was usually with strangers and eyes looking for the water that might’ve sparked the clerk to speak up but finding their way back to her’s quite quickly. He’d gladly give her the attention over the overly boldly colored magazines in his hands. 

Brown eyes set forth towards the direction of the voice, and a soft smile appeared on her lips when she saw who the voice came from. He was tall, extremely handsome, and really looked like he didn’t belong in a comic book store (of course most of the patrons were either 13 year old boys or men in their early 50s who have been collecting comic books since they were 13 year old boys). Zinnia’s words were mostly to herself, something to keep up with the droll and the mundane of being behind the counter at a comic book store, but she didn’t mind the chance of actually talking to someone about something she was passionate about. “For real”, she asked of him, her accent indicating that she was not from the Pacific Northwest; but that only being the frank reminder that she was not from this area. “I mean, it’s not bad. You get used to the taste and it’s not like you’re gonna be addicted to the sugar that’s in it because there’s no fucking sugar in it at all”, she continued on, but stopped when she saw the books that were in his hands. “How far along are you in those series anyway”, she perked up, continuing the small talk in need to fill the silence in the store--and to secretly divulge her whims in seeking more of his time.