BOND

11.

You came crashing in just like I knew you would

No more emptiness 

Dot to dot, the feelings that never existed 

I'm overdosing over emotions, I know you know this

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Joey huffed for the billionth time and Elena whipped her head around to glare at him.

"You could try helping me and not getting frustrated so easily."

He stared incredulously at her and then at the cashier, "I tried helping you for the first ten minutes!"

She gave him a whatever look and turned her attention back to the overhead menu above the excited cashier.

The café was deserted except for the scrawny boy waiting for customers. When they had entered his eyes had nearly popped out of his head. He'd rushed around the counter and fallen almost thrice in the way. After greeting them with a great stuttering welcome he'd introduced himself as Hank and begged them to take whatever they wanted and that it would be on the house.

Joey had ordered a coffee and the best sandwich they had. The coffee had come and gone and Elena was still figuring out what she wanted. He flopped his hands exasperatedly, "It's not even that big of a menu! What are you trying to find?"

Elena ignored him but finally looked at Hank. She smiled at him and his face lost its color marginally.

"A milkshake, fries and a pepperoni pizza," she looked at Joey, "You want anything else?"

He shook her head and she said to Hank, "Make it a large pizza."

He gave her an all teeth smile and headed behind the door blended into the wall.

Elena sat down and sank into her seat until only her head and neck were visible to Joey.

"I'm so tired," she drawled.

He got up and moved his chair adjacent to hers. He took hold of both her legs from the ankles and propped them on his knees. She watched him silently as he carefully slipped off her shoes and socks and started rubbing her feet slowly.

"Jesus," he looked at her. "What do you play on? Steel? Your feet are hard as bricks."

She scrunched her nose and sat up straighter, letting him get a better grip on her legs. "I play too much."

He kneaded her ankle and said, "You shouldn't."

Elena gave him a duh look, "I know I shouldn't. But I like playing! It just...it-"

He finished her sentence, "Sets you free."

"Yeah," she replied and he looked up at her.

Hank returned with two plates balanced on his hands and Elena pulled back her legs and crossed them on her chair. She waited until Joey had washed his hands and come back before they started on their meal.

She chewed on the fries while watching him cutting the sandwich in two pieces with utmost care.

Joey pushed the plate to the middle of their table and picked up the smaller piece for himself.

"What'd you do that for?" Elena asked, picking up her piece and biting onto it. She let out a satisfactory moan and yelled, "This is bloody brilliant Hank!" She took another bite and said, "I'm gonna adopt you some day, I swear."