The Door on a Beach [EDITING]

Chapter 19: Curious

Lilo

It had taken longer than usual for her to rack up the nerve to ask for supper. They ate all the time in their kitchen, this shouldn't be any different but for some reason it was. Nothing felt like enough, especially after having been to that monster restaurant, nothing would compare. She was suddenly regretful of having done what she did for if she hadn't may that's where they would be going instead of the outside restaurant where David juggled fire as an easy second job. 

Their hands felt awkward at their sides, at least Lilo's did and she couldn't say the same for Boo. Still, her hands curled restlessly letting Lilo know she was right the first time. Their speech was limited as well, not having gotten along as well before as they did now and not wanting to say the wrong thing she kept silent. Pointed out views but Boo only smiled and nodded as if she had seen them before and didn't want to be impolite. She tried to share memories of different hills and fields they walked by but she would always trail off, not quite knowing whether she was listening. Not quite caring because it wasn't the time to be sharing those little details. 

David felt like an embarrassment, being there preforming but Boo found delight in it so it would have been rude to have asked him to leave. She paid almost more attention to him, laughing harder than she had ever seen when the roof lit aflame and he ducked his head in fury. His walk of shame off the stage is what cued Boo's laughter to die down and upon the water being splashed, she finally calmed down and was ready to order an ice tea. 

Lilo had wine, both because she could drink now and Nani had always let her so the waitresses just knew it wasn't an issue to be asked about. It was just something that was. Lilo watched as Boo sipped her ice tea, after having refused any form of alcohol she felt bad for the drink in her hand. Still, it was too late to change her mind. 

They talked about their worlds but not themselves, something that annoyed Lilo only in the slightest because she wanted to know more about her. On the other hand, what did she care. She wanted access to the world, this girl was still just an asset to that. An asset she happened to kiss and go out to dinner with and talk awkwardly around...

Lilo shared everything she knew about the aliens, not caring because everyone knew about aliens but no one knew about monsters in closets. Except for children she supposed but those where the only people that knew any truths about the world. 

Then, out of nowhere. "What's your favorite colour?" Causing Lilo to blink, taken back. 

She sipped her drink. "I don't know." Because really, what did it matter? Wasn't there a line somewhere that they weren't suppose to cross, no personal questions. Wasn't this veering to close, to far to the line. 

"Pink." Boo answered for her. "And I bet yours is red." She drank from her own cup, as if it were a sip of pride. 

Thinking for a moment, Lilo found herself agreeing with the girl. "Yeah... I suppose it is. Red, I mean."

A girl wearing jean shorts and a coconut bikini came to the table, interrupting whatever that question had sparked between them "Do you two want anything to eat?" She asked, pen poised over notepad ready to write down whatever foods they chose to eat that night. She was smiling, ready to serve, not realizing she had just ruined so much. 

Waving her hand nonchalantly, Lilo answered her. "The usual." Making the girl laugh and walk away. 

Boo cocked her head. "What's the usual?" She asked. 

A laugh escaped Lilo's lips, involuntarily as she clamped it shut right away. "Nachos, chocolate cake, and a few mismatched foods." The ones she didn't feel like naming right then because she already felt slimy from having to say the first two foods on the list. 

"Fun." Boo looked genuinely excited for the meal. "I'm sorry, by the way."

Once again, Lilo was taken aback. "For what?"

"Not bringing you with me, for leaving, even Celia chided me for it."

Lilo tried to remember who Celia was but was drawing a blank besides the obvious connection of it being a girl's name and she had only met one female monster, it felt like the obvious choice but she wasn't going to voice her thoughts now. "Okay." Was all she said, leaning forward over the table where Boo met her halfway. She felt her counterpart smile beneath the kiss, making her smile as well. 

Boo pulled back watching her and Lilo watched her watch her. As if they were in some sort of Olympic event. "Your curious." She stated plainly. 

It seemed as though everything that came out of her mouth surprised Lilo, like she could never tell what she was going to say or respond with. "About what?"

She only shrugged. "You, your curious." and she left it that, not caring to elaborate in the least. 

Not knowing how to respond Lilo countered with, "Your startling." as if they were equal observations. 

"Startling? The bubonic plague was starling." She answered. "Anything can be startling if you're expecting something different."

Then the food was on their table, the conversation was dropped as Boo realized Lilo had forgotten to mention that half of a cherry pie was a part of the usual.