Him and him

Chapter 8

-Talon's PoV-

I looked at Penny, offering her my arm. She looked at me, scrutinising my looks I felt awfully nervous under her gaze.

Did she know? Would she call back-up? Maybe she hasn't noticed. Just act natural and don't screw this up Talon.

She linked her arm in mine subtly and I walked her to the entrace of the cinema. I gave the tickets over to get checked in and they let us through to our room. We found our seats in one of the rows further back, somewhat in the centre.

"So, what did you think about the last part?" I asked her and she looked at me. "The franchise." I clarified.

"It was...interesting. They killed off most of the charcters and didn't make it have a happy end. I kind of expect this to be them just basically fixing what they screwed up." She answered and I nodded in agreement.

"I couldn't have said it better. Though Marble has quite a history of subverting expectations." I shrugged and she smiled at me. "That they do." She admitted.

-After the movie-

"Are you crying?" She asked me sniffling. "No. Are you crying?" I diverted the attention to her.

"Maybe." She said, blowing her nose into a tissue. "Well, then I guess we have to o cheer orselves up." I decided, brushing the stray tears away.

"Oh, so now you're including yourself." She choked out a laugh. "Hey, I won't flat out admit it, but I have grown up with these characters." I replied.

"I know, and it's not even that the ending was really sad..." Penny trailed off. "It was just really bittersweet." I finished for her and she nodded as the light came back on.

We stood up and left the theatre. "Where to now?" I asked her and she looked at me.

"I thought you had a plan." She smirked at my, and boy, did I miss that smile. "I did, but that was before you were bawling your eyes out at a movie." I teased back.

"I did not!" She argued with a stunned expression, though she was smiling. "Fine, if it makes you sleep better at night." I shrugged with a grin.

"I cannot believe you." She huffed and I never felt more satisfied in my life. Which was probably saying something about me, and it certainly spelled out that I was miserable. "I know, I'm unbelievable." I ran a hand through my hair.

"Unbelievably handsome." I messed it back a second later. Can't blow my cover now. "A scholar, impeccable sense of humour, great sense of style." I counted out.

"Don't forget humble." She snickered and I shot her a dramatic look. "Of course, how could I forget? My greatest virtue!" I tapped myself on the forehead dramatically, like I'd just gotten a revelation.

I was awarded with a gigle, which made me grin even more.

"Come one, let's get some ice cream."

-Penny's PoV-

Tristan draped an arm around my shoulders as he led me towards an ice cream parlor, which was coincidentally my favourite. Surely, it wasn't that special, it was super popular in the city.

"Pick however many flavours you want." He gestured towards the choices and I raised a brow at him challengingly. "Okay, unless you want to make me blow all my money." He mumbled shaking his head.

"Two cones, three scoops each." He ordered and handed over the money. He got back the change and I felt awfully guilty about making him pay.

We got our order with the flavour we wanted. Two out of three matching. Mint Chocolate Chip and Raspberry Sorbet. Then I got Chocolate Peanut Butter and he got Pineapple. he sat down at one of the tables outside, in the shade of a parasol.

I took some cash out of my pocket and slid it across the table to him. "What is that?" Tristan asked and I looked at him. "I'm paying you back." I explained and he smiled, sliding the money back to me.

"Penny, I don't need you money." He thought it was over, but it was far from it. "Neither do I yours, or mine." I slid it back towards him

"Penny, I am not taking your money." He reiterated with a sigh. "Well, neither am I, Tristan. So, take it. You can keep it or give it to the poor, whatever you like." I crossed my armes and licked my ice cream.

"Geez, aren't you stubborn?" He rolled his eyes with a smile, taking the money. "Actually, I'm determined, thank you very much." I defended.

"You're welcome." He grinned with a look in his eyes that clearly said 'whatever makes you sleep better at night'. I wanted to groan, but I couldn't let him win.

"You-" I started, but found that I couldn't find anything to say. He propped his elbows on the table, eating his ice cream peacefully, while wearing that taunting smirk. "You're insufferable." I deflated into my chair.

"Well, this date keeps going from bad to worse, doesn't it?" he mused with a smile and I looked at him curiously. "First, you cry"-his smile widened-"now you can't stand me, maybe you should go for a walk to clear your head?" He suggested, before standing up andd looking at me expectantly.

"Yeah, maybe I should." I agreed, not quite comprehending, but also standing up. I found that he was taller than me, about the same height that Tal-nope, not going that way.

He just sometimes looked like a spitting image of him. the same shade of hair that could read kind of purple in some lighting. Slightly tanned skin and those deep chocolate brown eyes. I swear, he definitely could pass as a lookalike.

Though, Tristan wasn't like Talon. There! I said it. Talon, Talon, Talon Talon. He wasn't like him. He cared, he was genuinely funny, he was sincere, and most importantly, he was interested in me.

He smiled and started walking away. I stood in place, watching him. Was he really going to leave me to calm down on my own?

Then he turned back to me, ice cream still in his hand. "Are you coming?" He asked, tilting his head.

It was at this moment that I realised that he was tall, sweet and really handsome, and maybe just what I was looking for.