Mixed Messages ~ {d.w}

➵Thirty Four

"Did... Did you just call me shrimp?" I blink, surprised to hear that name. Is that even a nickname people use? The helmet is in my hands but I'm too preoccupied to put it on.

He chuckles, "yeah. You're small," he says, matter-of-factly. He gestures his head, "Hurry up. Or I'll be callin' ya slow poke too!" he jokes, rolling his eyes at me. He's already got his helmet on with the engine started. Guess they call him Red Hood for a reason.

I shake my head with a glare. But I'm smiling too. "Keep talkin' like that, softie. I dare ya," I challenge, putting on the stuffy helmet. I make myself comfortable behind Jason, wrapping my small arms around his waist.

"I told you not to talk about that!" he frowns, revving up the engine before he starts speeding his way down the driveway. We're soon on the streets, getting onto the highway. The wind blows my hair back, brushes all in my sweater. It felt so exciting. I'd been in these kinds of situations before but never like this. Never voluntarily. We continue on for a few more minutes before I hear Jason shouting. "Where do you wanna go?!"

Through the noise of the other cars and the wind blowing on me, I could barely hear him. He weaves through more cars, earning annoyed honks. It was funny. It almost made me giggle. "ICE CREAM!?" I shout back. I wasn't sure if he was asking where I wanted to go or if I wanted a banana snow. Whatever that is.

"OKAY!"

I think he got the message. Again, too much noise. If anything, I hope he wasn't taking me to banana snow. That sounds weird and gross. Jason drives off the highway and into a part of town. It looks cool. It wasn't that late out, thus there were more people walking along the streets. I saw an ice cream parlor and immediately knew we were going there. I was very excited. I was almost squeaking like a fangirl when he pulls into the parking lot.

"Yesssss!" I pry that helmet off my head and run into the parlor. I toss the helmet behind me, hearing it thud on the ground. I ignored it however and burst through those glass doors. A bell dings all cutesy. I haven't been to an ice cream parlor in forever. Maks always said it was too dangerous, poisonous and would end up blowing my cover.

As I'm checking out all the different flavors, I hear the door chime again. In walks Jason looking all tough. "Yeesh, kid. Didn't think you'd be this excited to get ice cream," he comments, plopping himself into to a nearby table. He casually sets the two helmets there and leans back. "Whatcha getting?"

I hum along, looking at the chocolate flavors. "I haven't been here in like forever! Once when I was a kid but it wasn't for me and I didn't end up getting anything. I used to be into vanilla but now I'm considering strawberry or mint chocolate...." I ponder, taking this as seriously as a murder case. What? Ice cream is important to me. This could change the course of my life. If I choose strawberry, I could get married, have kids, be free and have fun. Or mint chocolate. I could get divorced, get shot, lose my arm, break my face!

Jason bursts out chuckling. "I can hear what you're thinking. Just choose whichever flavor. Or just get both," he says, grinning as he stares at me. There was something different about this grin though. LIke it wasn't a normal Jason grin. Like, not a 'I'm better than you' grin. It looked, geniune. Sweet almost.