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"Your mixed grill. And your medium cooked steak." The mixed grill Mary ordered included sausages, steak, chicken, mushrooms, fried egg and some chips along the way. Joseph only had chips next to his steak.

"Enjoy your meal." Before walking away, leaving the two to be alone with their own food. Going into the chips, a bunch of fat fries right in her eyes. She loves going into the chips first before they get cold, even if it means the meat around her starts to lose its hot, tasty appeal. Joseph tends to go for the steak, before the taste goes away. Grabbing each of the chips, eating them one by one. All he could do was stare at her. Already three quarters of her chips, she turns her eyes back into him, noticing the look he's giving her.

"What?" He laughs. "I don't know, it's..." Having a hard time in saying the words coming out of his mouth.

"What!"

"It's the way you're eating those chips." The adrenaline rush of eating those chips, fading away.

"Oh come on, for real man." He laughs, bursting out as she moves herself forward, giving him a slap on his arm.

"Okay I'll stop but girl, you always eat those chips that way. Usually when you're excited or hungry."

"That's because I'm hungry!! And excited." Something she couldn't deny.

Both returning to their meals while continuing their conversation about each other. His family, what she's doing, how's everything going in her studies. Joseph is always considered the smartest one in her class. Better than Mary's, to the point she gives up and starts asking Joseph for assistance in parts of her education. Her mom is really helpful in her English subjects, her dad in Maths and Joseph, basically everything. Another reason why she loves to rely on him, her closest friend in the whole wide world.

"What are your plans for the summer holiday?" He asks.

Mary doesn't feel very sure. The only thing she has in her mind is to spend time with John and his group of friends for the meantime as they plan to go to a resort called Butlins. A bit of a small place for her but there's something she could do there.

"And that's about it."

"Really, your plans for the summer is to just go to Butlins with your friends..."

"Yeah, you got a problem with that." He tries to hold on to his laugh. Mary is usually to him the girl who tends to stay at home, only going out if her friends have plans.

"Nope... it's just that I'm always the one bringing you out of your house, your own personal space." Mary knows that's completely true.

"Yeah I know but I feel like I do need to go with them... just this once."

"Oh yeah, finally some time without relying on me." She gives him a playful, annoying groan.

She's only going to be with them for four days. Not that long. There isn't anything to do in this place.

Going into Joseph, he's going to Rome with his mother, mostly for a holiday but that date is after she comes back from her daytrip with John and the gang. He becomes unsure in bringing Mary with him, wanting her to be by herself, to have at least a week or so to not be with him all the time.

"And how come you're telling me this now?" She asks. Feeling a bit sad and suspicious over him just telling her about his summer plans. Becoming reluctant over what he has to say to her now.

"Mary, we've been hanging out all the time but even though my family are happy for you to be with us, I'm starting to become worried that because of me, you're not able to develop your... you know, independence. To meet new people, go around the city, hang out with other friends other than me. And thinking about it, when you told me you're going to spend an amazing time with John, I'm happy because this is the first time you're going to do things with them and even... explore yourself, understand who... you are." She can't believe it. She stops eating with only the steak and gammon left in her plate.