It Begins and Ends With Pizza

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

Dan

I step out from behind Phil, not believing what I'm seeing. Bits of excitement jolt through me as I stare into a pair of green eyes that have widen with, what, shock? Surprise?  Hold on... did she just say puffin? Confused, I let out a awkward laugh, thinking it was a joke of some sort. It wasn't. No one else laughs and I, in turn, just made myself look like a complete ass. Her eyes don't leave my face.  I look at Phil hoping he might be able to clarify what's going on or even the meaning behind the word, but he glances at me with the same confused expression.

Kalliopi

I walk out of the bathroom feeling ready enough to join the conversation, or lack thereof. Absolutely no pleasantries are being made. Puzzled, I look at Maddie just standing there, paralyzed.

That's when I see not only Phil but Dan. Oh no...no, no, no. I immediately rush to her side and begin damage control. 

Awkwardly positioning myself between Maddie and the guys. 

"Hey there, nice seeing you again. Both of you."

"It's you," Dan says, his eyes shifting between Maddie and me as he puts the pieces together in his mind.

"It's me,"

I hold up a finger to our neighbors, indicating that I needed a moment.

Dan begins to open his mouth, but I close the door before letting either one of them respond.

Pulling Maddie away from the door a bit I say, "Hey," and snap my fingers in front of her face. "Snap out of it. The band-aid has officially been ripped off and now we can move forward."

She breathes deeply. "Band-aid? Yes...right."

"Are you okay with this?" I ask. "They don't need both of us to talk to them. You can make yourself busy if you want."

"Well, this place could use a quick tidy," looking around with relief in her voice.

She begins to head to the TV area, picking up throw pillows and folding blankets as I return back to our neighbors.

"Sorry about that." I smile apologetically. "How can we help you?"

Phil clears his throat but I'm slightly distracted by Dan who is now, not so discreetly, scanning the area behind me. I'm pretty sure he finally spots what he's searching for because he tries to lean cooly against the door frame and misses, almost falling over. I muffle a laugh with my hand as he corrects himself and disappears out of view.

Phil completely unfazed by his friend's clumsiness speaks up. "Um, yes. I uh... I wanted to know if, you want to, but you don't have to..." His gaze is fixed behind me as well. "Is she okay?"

I turn and see Maddie tangled in console wires and crocheted blankets, I hear her mutter, "Damn wires, I swear this..." and she falls with a loud, THUMP!

"I'm fine," she yells a second later.

"She's fine," I say to Phil as his attention returns to me. "Right, where was I?"

"You were going to ask her to hang out, mate." Dan steps back next to his friend. 

I smile at how nervous Phil is. He doesn't need to be, but he doesn't know that.

"I would love to hang out sometime," I respond enthusiastically

Phil's face lights up. "Great!! Well, Dan and I were thinking of having a game night tonight if you and your friend..."