"No, we're just having dinner."

You glance back at Alex and try to interpret her face on what she is trying to communicate with her eyes.

"No, we're just having dinner," you answer. "We're just friends."

"Oh," Laura frowns but then cheers up. "So then you don't mind if I join you?"

"I..." Alex tries to protest but her friend has already left to go back to her table.

"I'm sorry," you apologize.

"It's okay, I should have said something," Alex sighs as Laura comes back with her plate.

"Have you guys ordered yet?" the brunette asks, sitting down between you and Alex.

"No, we just sat down when you said hi," Alex replies.

"Oh, so I hope you don't mind if I eat?" the brunette asks. "I don't want my food to get cold."

Alex rolls her eyes out of Laura's eye sight. "Go ahead, Craig and I are just going to catch up."

Alex and you had hoped to get to know more about each other but under the guise of being her "old friend from out of town" it would be odd for the two of you to ask more intimate questions.

"Are you ready to order?" a cute Chinese waitress asks.

You look at Alex and she shakes her head. "Sorry, we just sat down and haven't had a chance to look at the menu," you reply.

"Okay, I'll come back in a minute and get you some water," the waitress smiles.

"You want to try my chicken balls?" Laura asks with her mouth full as Alex and you look over the menu.

"No thanks," Alex politely smiles and looks back down at her menu, partially as an excuse to ignore the brunette.

Laura looks at you, offering a chicken ball on her fork. You shake your head.

"Are you ready to order now?" the waitress asks.

"How about we share dishes?" Alex asks you.

"Sure," you smile.

"How about General Tso's chicken, shrimp fried rice, and...?" Alex suggests.

"Sweet and sour pork," you add.

"That's it?" the waitress asks.

"Yeah, for now," you answer and hand her the menus.

"So, how did the two of you meet?" Laura giggles after the waitress leaves.