Stick it out

“I think I’ll stick around…” Ethan shrugs, not feeling inclined to leave.

Looking up from the menu, Ashley raises an eyebrow. “Why?”

Taking in a breath, mostly to stall for time to think, Ethan taps the table slightly. “It’s nice just being out I guess. Socializing…”

Ashley blinks slowly. “You think what we’re doing now is socializing?”

“Yeah?”

She scoffs lightly, placing the menu down on the table. “What we’re doing now is wasting both our time.”

“If you’re wasting your time, then why don’t you leave?” The question came to Ethan honestly.

Ashley’s face twitches, almost looking like she was going to smile, but squashed the reaction early. “I can afford to spend a few hours sitting here to appease my sister.”

Reading between her words, Ethan smirks. “So she’ll be mad if you leave early.”

A reply nearly on her lips, Ashley presses her mouth shut, opting just to shrug. After another moment of silence, Ashley returns her attention to the menu. “Have you reconnected with anybody else besides my sister?” She doesn't look up, her tone flat but casual. “I know most of your friends have long since moved on.”

Ethan thinks before he speaks.

“Well, Layla Clark, my neighbor.” Ethan shrugs. “She got Charlie to do my lawn.{if One Drink =true} We had a drink the other night…{endif}{if Two Drinks =true} We had a drink or two the other night…{endif}”.

{if One Drink =true}“Hm?” she glances up slightly. “You had a drink with her? She’s twice your age. And didn't you say you weren't much of a drinker?”{if Two Drinks =true}“Hm?” she glances up slightly. “You had a drink with her? She’s twice your age. And didn't you say you weren't much of a drinker?”

Ethan considers her words. “Isn't it normal to have a drink with your neighbors?”

Ashley looks back down at the menu, unconvinced.{endif}{endif}

{if Alex Kiss =true}“I’ve had a few run-ins with Alex Evers.”

Ashley’s eyebrows raise slightly. “Hm. Were you two friends?”

Sighing, Ethan doesn't know how to answer that question. {if Alex Kiss 2 =true}“Towards my last summer here…” he searched for the right way to say it. “We connected.”

“Huh… Interesting.” {endif}{endif}