Bender - Battle Of The Nexus

Extended Families

John, Alex, and Lila strolled towards Eastons', the casual chatter of the bustling street forming a backdrop.

John turned to Lila, offering a sincere nod. "Hey, thanks for the advice back there. I'm giving this energy stuff a shot."

Lila awkwardly replied, "Um, yeah, sure. I'm, uh, glad I could help."

Alex, observing her timid demeanor, chimed in, "You know, Lila, you've got to loosen up a bit. We're not as intense as you might think."

Lila nodded in response.

As John, Alex, and Lila entered Eastons', the delightful aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the warm atmosphere welcomed them. Mr. Easton, the amiable owner of the cafe, spotted them and waved them over to an available table.

"John, Alex! Good to see you again," Mr. Easton greeted with a welcoming smile. "And who's this?"

John gestured toward Lila. "Mr. Easton, this is Lila. She's a friend, and we thought we'd introduce her to the wonders of Eastons'."

Mr. Easton extended a friendly hand to Lila. "Ah, a new face! Welcome to Eastons', Lila. I hope you find something you like on our menu."

Lila, still a bit shy, managed a small smile. "Thank you, Mr. Easton."

As John, Alex, and Lila settled into their seats, they noticed Anne sitting at a corner table, engrossed in a book. John nudged Alex, nodding towards Anne.

"Looks like Anne beat us here," John remarked.

Alex grinned. "Well, let's not keep her waiting." They gathered their things and approached Anne's table.

"Hey, Anne! Mind if we join you?" Alex called out.

Anne looked up from her book, surprised but welcoming. "Oh, hey! Not at all. Pull up a chair."

As John and Anne headed to the counter to place the order, Alex found himself sitting across from Lila. She seemed a bit nervous, fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve.

"So, Lila, right? What's your deal? You seem a bit... shy," Alex said, trying to break the ice.

Lila looked up, her eyes meeting Alex's for a moment before she glanced away. "Yeah, I guess I'm not great with new people."

Alex leaned back in his chair, studying her. "No worries. We're all friends here. You know, you should loosen up a bit. We're just having a good time."

Lila offered a small smile. "I'll try. It's just... I'm not used to this."

"Well, get used to it! We're a fun bunch," Alex said, grinning. "So, what's your story, Lila? What brings you to this exciting world of benders and cafes?"

Alex chuckled. "As for me, I'm here for the thrill of bending, the excitement of training, and, of course, the occasional drama like today's showdown. It's like being in an action movie every day."

Lila's gaze remained fixed on the table, but she seemed a bit more at ease with Alex's casual demeanor. "I'm just... trying to learn. I've always been fascinated by bending, and Chris thought it would be good for me."

"Ah, Chris. Good ol' strict teacher," Alex said, nodding. "But hey, it's not just about the bending. We're also here to enjoy life. Have you been to one of these meet-ups before?"

Lila shook her head. "No, this is my first time. I usually keep to myself, and the others are Unit 3 aren't really keen to go out either..."

"Well, you picked an interesting day to join," Alex remarked. "But hey, we're all friends here. You'll get used to the chaos."