Some Badgers like Snakes

Elle

He reached out slowly for the cookies, he had a sheepish smile that made me glad I'd offered them to him.
"I love cookies, and my mom makes the best!" I told him, taking an extra-chocolatey chocolate chip cookie from the container.
"I'm sure they're very good." he said politely, taking a bite.
"Damn! These are amazing!" He responded quickly through a mouthful of cookie, his eyes bulging in disbelief.
We both laughed.
"Pardon me, I shouldn't have spoken with my mouth full," he paused "or used such inappropriate language." He added looking at the ground, sounding slightly ashamed.
"Don't be silly, I don't mind." I assured him.
Again the smallest smile crossed his face. I hadn't known him long, but I liked seeing him smile.
"Seriously, you don't have to be so formal around me. It's easier for me to fit in if you aren't." I joked. He chuckled and let his shoulders drop slightly. It wasn't much but it was a start, I thought with satisfaction.
"Alright then. So Elle, tell me about yourself." He smirked slyly.
I launched into a series of dramatic stories, telling him all about my mom and my old school. He laughed when I told him about my bizarre teachers. He nearly fell out of his seat when I told him about the time that I put a frog on Ms.Wellers chair in the second grade.
"The old bat deserved it!" I promised over his howls of laughter. "She used to make me take out my pigtails every morning because I was not a pig, I was a little girl. I thought she looked like a toad so I found her a friend!" I joined in on the laughter.
"Sounds like a real monster." He said stifling his chuckles as best he could.
I smiled "She really was."
"I can't believe your mother let you go to a muggle school." He said seriously, he couldn't seem to believe it. "I was home schooled by tutors until today. My father always says that muggles are not to be mingled with." He said kind of sadly.
That stung. Did he not know? I guess I hadn't exactly said it. I decided to keep my mouth shut for now.
"Not my mum." I said simply and changed the topic.
"So home schooling, that must have been fun." I said mimicking the polite tone he used when talking.
He chuckled, "Not really."
I listened as he told me all about his tutors and life back home. His earlier comment still stuck in my brain like it had been burned into the very tissue.
"Anything from the trolley dears?" A sweet old voice came, breaking into my thoughts.
Jacob's spirit completely changed. Instead of the witty, charming kid I'd begun to know, he became the proper young man who I'd met. I tried not to let the change effect me.
"Yes ma'm, I'll have some Bernie Botts , cauldron cakes, and a chocolate frog." He said politely handing over a small stack of golden coins.
"Oh sorry, Elle, would you like anything? My treat." He asked, looking over at me with a kind smile.
"Oh uh.." I began looking at the mountain of sweets, overwhelmed at all the foreign options.
"I recommend the chocolate frogs, or cauldron cakes." He said, coming to my rescue.
"Thanks I'll try a cake please." I smiled at the trolley woman.
I thanked Jacob and bit into the cauldron shaped sweet. The rich chocolatey flavour filled my mouth and the powdery outside layer coated my tongue. I relished the sweet taste.
"Good huh?" Jacob snickered, taking in my expression.
"Very." I grinned.
"So, tell me more about yourself."