Freaks

4(Continued)

They walk into the cafe hidden underneath a large building, on the square where mostly old people and stray cats are walking around. Inside are huge glass windows that shine down a mixed magenta color onto the black tiled floors. Far in the back is a serving bar, the whole room slightly crowded but not very noisy minus the music.

Malakai looks around the room as they take an empty booth by the window, "Do you see him?"

"Not yet," Harper answers, looking like he does. She takes up the menu that sits on the table as a card. She reads it over, examining the meals.

Malakai watches across from her hastily, "Tell me when you do."

She peers over the card slowly to his anxious face, "I will." She looks back at the card and reads it, "Twelve dollars!?" She spits out accidentally and lowers her voice, "For a cheeseburger?"

"Twelve?" Malakai repeats, taking up the menu.

"I don't remember the food being that high. Although, I've only ever bought their coffees."

His eyes grow wide at the rest of the paper and he sighs as they relax, "Eh. I'll just share with you."

"Well, I can pay for mine. Kind of why I brought my wallet anyways."

"Oh." He pauses and his face settles into disappointment, "You think I'm broke?"

Harper's mind seizes immediately, her expression turning remorseful, "No. No. Sorry. I don't mean it like that. I just thought—"

"No..." He shakes his head slowly, a strand of his hair falling out of its slickness, "It's understandable. You know...us...we come from that area."

Her chest sinks at his words, her breaths shortening, "No. Kai..."

His sorrowed eyes blink around the windows. Harper can't seem to predict her next words, her face is tilted down looking like she's about to hiccup. Not a single cell in her body can break her from this fear.

Then his eyes glance to her, and that unfortunate frown turns itself into a mischievous smirk, then a smile, and into laughter. Harper sits upright again, her brows turning, unable to decipher what he's laughing at.

His head hangs and looks back up, seeing her confused face, he slaps her forearm, "I'm joking!"

She laughs once hesitantly.

"Just messing with you, kid." He reaches for the butt of his jeans, "I'll pay if you go order."

It registers to Harper just how funny it is. The more she thinks about it. She finally smiles genuinely at his obnoxiousness, not because he scared her but because she got scared.

"I'm sorry Harper," He says as she takes the money, "I shouldn't have done that."

Maybe Luka was right. He's a good actor. At least he tricks her with a warm heart behind it.

"No, it's okay." She pauses momentarily, looking at the green bill in her hand, "What do you think of me?"

He doesn't act completely phased by her question, "What do I think of you?"

Harper looks up from the bill, "Yeah. Do you think I'm...stupid..or like...easy?" She pauses again, "Not that kind of easy. But..you know?"

"Easy?" He repeats.

She rolls up her eyes to think of a better word, "Weak. Am I weak?"

He frowns as he watches a spot on the table, "No. If you think from where you were before and where you are now...that's not a jump that lots of people like you make. I think..you're just a little fragile."