The Smiling Mannequin

Christopher's Innocence

After a long time of getting Christopher un-frozen. . .

"So Christopher, what do you do?" Al asked. Christopher looked at him a tad sweaty. No one here can find out his duties. "I don't really work yet, but I do take care of children often." Christopher replied taking a drink. "A sitter?" "Not exactly, but take it that way if you want."
Lady sits down text to Al eating some cheese wrapped around ham. "You guys aren't gonna swim?" She asked. The guys shook their heads. "If you want to I can go with you sweetheart." Al said flirtingly. Christopher and Peter just started talking to eachother to avoid whatever. Lady blushed then replied "Oh um no that's fine!" Al smirked then grabbed some drinks for them.

The next morning . . .

Christopher, Peter, Al and Lady were asleep on the couch-on a huge hangover. Peter yawns, waking himself up but his eyes closed. "Damnit." He groaned, shooting his hand up to his head. "Shut up.." Al mumbled, half awake. He squinted his eyes at Peter, but his hang kept him from seeing well.

A few hours later, all four of them were awake and decided to go out for breakfast. They ordered their food and sat down. Lady yawned, still a little tired. "You can rest a little if you want." Al said to her. "Oh no, I'm fine." Lady replied tiredly. Christopher somehow got a hold of a crayon and was drawing on one of the napkins. Peter watched him smiling.

Peter thinks for a moment, slowly realizing he's starting to have a small crush. "Shit, I can't like him. Fathers gonna go crazy on me."

Al looked at Peter and Peter looked at him back. After a little stare, Al raised his eyebrows at him and Peter went pink. "Jerk." He said. "What? You do, don't you?" Al said back. Christopher looked at Lady as her foot was kicking him. She looked back at him and giggled. "Quit it!" Christopher said confused. They all became quiet. But for Al and Peter, they looked like they were communicating through their heads. "Knock it off you two." Christopher said bothered. Peter turned away from Al as Al turned to Lady.

After a few minutes, their food was served. Christopher got pancakes and eggs, Peter got a steak, Al got a crepé and Lady wanted to share with Al since she wasent as hungry and was very hungover. Lady also got a cup of coffee to cheer herself up. "You take the first bite, love." Al said to Lady. "Oh, thank you." Lady replied smiley as she sipped her coffee. She took a piece of the crepé and ate it. Her face brightened up and it was visible. Very, visible. "Its delicious." Lady said to Al. He smiled and took a bite aswell. He looked at Christopher and Peter, who were playing with the creamers and building houses with them.

"Love? Do you think I could order another cup of coffee please?" Lady asked, tapping Al's shoulder. "Of course my love." He replied happily ringing the little bell on the side. A different waiter then came up to their table. "Hello there, I'm sorry your waiter has left their shift. Anything I can assist you with?" A woman said. She was wearing a mask and looked so pale. "Oh alright. And uhm I'd like to order one coffee please, with more creamer." Al told her. The woman nodded and walked off to get the coffee. "My, she looks sick." Lady whispered. "I feel bad." Al replied. A few mintues later, the woman came back with the coffee. "Here's your coffee sir." She put it on the table with more creamers and a small note. As she walked off, Al turned to Lady holding the note. "Ooo, is she hitting on you?" Peter asked. "I don't know, maybe? But let's not assume--she seems like a nice woman." Al replied opening the note. He read it then put it into Lady's empty cup. "What is it love?" Lady asked worryingly. "She heard us talking about her." He said to her ear. "Oh no...did she take the offensively? What did she say?" Lady said sadly. She didn't like making others sad so she was visibly worried. "I'm not sure love. All she said was -You're right. I'm sick. So I'm saving up money for my medicine.- So I don't know if she got offended." He said holding her hand. "Can we just eat, normally?" Christopher stepped in the conversation. They all nodded and ate.

After they ate, they payed and left a tip. "Christopher, may I speak to you? Privately?" Al asked Christopher. Christopher looked at him skeptical, then nodded. Al pulled him aside and took a deep breath. "I hope I don't offend you, or I'm not assuming, but I don't believe you." Al told him. "Don't believe..what?" Christopher asked confused. "I asked you if you had a job, or what do you do. You said you don't work yet but you take care of kids often." Before Christopher could speak again, Al cut him off. "I know you have a job. And not a big deal right? But I'm thinking it's not a regular job." Christopher froze. He broke out into a cold sweat, staring at Al. Shit. He's gonna find out. He IS finding out. I can't tell him. I just can't..

But I don't wanna lie to him. I don't wanna lie to anyone....I can't..damn....

"Christopher?. Am, am I right?" Al asked quietly.

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