What They Say (Mullette)

XIII

Hercules💕: Hey

LeBaguette🥖: hello, mom amour.

HamIam: mom?

LeBaguette: mon**** curse this stupid American phone!!!

Turtleboi🐢: lololol

LeBaguette🥖: all of you shush!

Hercules💕: lol Alex John and I were thinking we go on a double date Saturday at two, that ice cream place down the road from Alex's place?

LeBaguette🥖: works for me.

Hercules💕: yus

HamIam: cool

Turtleboi🐢: yay!

Lafayette put his phone down, his smile fading. He hadn't been very talkative since James had come over, and he'd found that he only smiled genuinely when he was talking to Hercules or Peggy. The two of them just helped him forget about the things swirling around in his head for a while.

Saturday came around, and Hercules showed up at Laf's door, blushing slightly. Lafayette had pulled on the hoodie he'd stolen from Hercules and he smiled brightly when he saw Hercules at the door. "Ready to go?" He asked, offering his arm to Laf. Lafayette hooked his arm around Herc's, nodding politely. "Then let's go."

The walk took about 20 minutes, and they saw Alex and John sitting at a booth in by the window. They waved before ordering their ice cream, a single scoop of mint chocolate chip for Herc, and a fudge sundae for Laf.

"Isn't it a little cold for ice cream?" Asked the woman at the counter. She was an older Italian woman, with round cheeks and dark eyes that sparkled mischievously. She struck Laf as oddly familiar, though he couldn't tell why.

"It's never too cold for ice cream," Hercules replied with a laugh.

"Fair point," the woman replied. Her voice sounded familiar too. She went back behind the counter to assist another customer. "Claudia, would you mind getting the family at table four some more napkins?" She called. Another woman rushed out from behind the counter with a refill for the napkin holder, handing one to a very frazzled and exhausted looking woman who was sitting with three young kids.

Hercules tapped on Lafayette's shoulder. "The lady at the counter!" He exclaimed.

"I know, she looks familiar, doesn't she?" Laf replied, narrowing his eyes at her. After a moment of staring, it suddenly dawned on him who she was. "The lady from the jewelry store!" He cried.

"Okay, I'm lost..." John stated. Alex nodded his agreement.

"When we went to the mall and that old lady bought us our rings!" Hercules started.

"It was that lady right there!" Laf finished excitedly, pointing to the woman who was currently politely telling a customer that they didn't have a certain flavour of ice cream.

"Miss, I'm sorry, but we just ran out of mint chocolate chip," she explained calmly, "but we have sixteen other flavours that I'm sure your daughter would love."

At that, the little girl who had been tugging on the woman's arm excitedly started to cry. "But it's my birthday..." She said dejectedly.

Hercules looked down at his untouched ice cream, his brows furrowed. He stood up, going over to the little girl. She hid behind her mom as he approached. Hercules kneeled down, smiling. "Hey, I heard it's your birthday today. How old are you?" He asked.