Letters to the Star Whisperer

-6-

They crossed the somewhat busy road. Aspen grabbed his hand and pulled him along. It wasn't a big deal to grab his hand. She seemed like a mother guiding her young child more than anything else. Though, he was a good six years older. When they crossed the street, they entered a small building. It was quite busy.

Aspen seemed to know what she was doing. She grabbed a basket, and in a blink of an eye, had tomatoes, a coconut, and a bag of potatoes and carrots. She was telling him about the place and how the family has owned it for years and years and blah blah blah. Ethan could care less. It probably wasn't true, and it was some big company like his father's that had owned it.

"You should pick out something for lunch."

"I don't have money on me, someone took my wallet," he said as a matter of fact. It was hard to not try her like Tom. He was so used to him, so apply to boss him and everyone around. So many people could be bought easily, but yet he hasn't even offered her a cent.

"I'll pay for you, it's no problem."

Ethan was used to paying for someone else. 400 plus people at that too. Ethan had no idea what was it that he could eat from a place like that. He didn't want to buy something too expensive. Though, if it was the other way around, would the girl care about the price? Would she be like everyone else? Pick the steak inside of ordering from the dollar menu.

"I have no idea what to eat here," he said.

"Veggie Sticks," Aspen said, handing him a bag. "They're healthy and tasty." She swigged her arm in an upbeat way. "It's a good snack. I always eat them."

Ethan took the bag and studied it. "It looks gross."

He handed it back, but instead of putting it back on the shelve, Aspen put it in her basket. "You'll try them."

"No," Ethan moaned. "I won't eat them."

"Just try a few. I'll eat them anyway."

Ethan shrugged again. He seemed like a fifteen-year-old instead of thirty years old. Shrugging, instead of actually giving responses that could carry on the conversation. He did sound like an impossible man to get along with, yet she wasn't scared. .. yet.

"You know, you shouldn't be scared to try new things. You may get addicted to this stuff. It's good for you anyways. A lot better than other things. What is your favorite food anyways? I know you don't like pineapple pizza. You should try that out too, by the way. I really enjoy it. I eat it every week. It's a bad habit, I know, and I am addicted to it. I have tried-"

"Oh my God," Ethan said, grabbing his face. He regretted wanting to spend the day with her. Sure she was nice, and sweet, and hasn't said one mean thing to him, but she was getting annoying. "Don't you ever stop talking?"

Aspen tightens her lips fast, and looked down to the ground. Her shoulders tensed up, like a cat on guard. "I'm sorry," she said in a near whisper. It was so soft, so quiet, that it was hard to stay annoyed with her any longer. "I just, well.. .. I'm just not used to. .. I won't talk anymore."

Ethan groaned, wiping his face with his still dirty hands. It was the first time he realized he hadn't washed his hands since before his party. He really liked talking to this girl, but he was just such a cranky morning person, he was ruining it. It was him, he told himself. This girl has been so helpful to you, don't mess it up. Stop being the asshole you are.

She was kind, and all he did was complain about it. He was used to suck-ups, telling him whatever they thought he wanted to hear. Aspen, on the other hand, had said whatever first came to her mind. It was the first time he could tell she didn't want a cent from him, that even if he were the most unfortunate man in the world, she wouldn't have treated him any different.

He tried to make it better. "Ugh, no sorry. That's not what I meant. I mean, you do talk a lot, but you should talk. I'm just an ass, it's not you, really."

She had a questionable look on her face. "What?"

"Sorry," Ethan said, shaking his head. "It's not what I meant. I like you talking. I just never met someone who talks so much!"

"My brother used to say that too," Aspen said, near whisper, smiling at her shoes. She seemed to get lost in memory until she pulled herself out.

"I'm really sorry. You've been really nice to me, and I should be nicer. I am thankful for your help today."

"I can take you home now if you want."

"No!" he quickly said. "I mean, it's just, I am having fun. I just, I have never meant someone like you. And you're so nice. I just, I. .. ugh, sorry. I'm just an asshole, I really am, and I'm trying not to be. I really trying not to be, but it's just in my nature. I don't think you really talk so much, just, I don't know."

She ended up smiling. "Well, if I talk less, you complain less."

He was caught off guard. "I don't complain."

"Yes, you do. You just now complained! You can't really deny that, can you?"

Ethan twisted his lips. "I don't complain."

She groaned and shook her head. "Oh yeah? Since I met you this morning, you have been nothing but cranky," she stated, then started to mock him. "Oh, my name is Ethan, and I have no idea where I am. I had alcohol. What is chicken fried latté? That sounds gross! I hate trying new things. Gross, veggie sticks? Are you trying to kill me with a healthy snack? You're so weird."

The way she had mocked his voice was in such a deep low, harsh voice, it sounded ludicrous and childish, and yet, adorable. Ethan started laughing at her, and it was a hard laugh. It was the first time in a while that he had felt something hard in his belly and exited out his mouth. It felt so good. He felt so happy. He had never had anyone mock him like that before, and yet he felt like he could listen to her mock him all day.

"What? What's so funny?" she said in her normal innocent voice.

"You, it's just," he was still laughing pretty hard. "You're just funny."

She raised an eyebrow but ended up laughing a bit herself. "Well, I'm glad someone around here thinks I'm funny."