him. If he bought this for her, she'd probably think he was an overzealous, clingy freak.
But she would also love it. Of that he was sure. And it would be worth it just to see the look on her face when she held those tiny little pieces in her hand. Another reason to look forward to the end of finals.
A salesman in a maroon sweater vest with a bad comb-over practically tiptoed up to Sam. He placed his hands together and smiled. "Can I help you, sir?" he asked.
"I'd like the travel set," Sam said quickly.
"A beautiful choice," the man said so automatically, it was clear he recited those words about twenty times a day.
Still, Sam grinned as he reached for his wallet. It was a beautiful choice. For a beautiful girl.
THREESOME
WHEN GAIA TURNED ONTO PERRY Street on Tuesday night and smelled the smell again, she immediately turned around and started back up Hudson. Her taste buds had already been massacred once this week, and she was too smart to make that mistake twice. Her stomach wanted food tonight, not bark and slop. George was just going to have to suffer without her.
Now came the good part. Deciding among the many fine grease-slinging restaurants of New York City. If there was any pleasure in Gaia's life, most of it came from sampling every fried food and sugar-coated anything on the Lower West Side. She hadn't run out of dives yet, but as soon as she did, she was going to branch out into other neighborhoods. Gaia hadn't seen Mary since she'd missed the party last night, so she'd yet to make good on her promise to help distract her friend. And the hunt for bad-for-you food was always distracting.
She would have called and told her to come down, but Mary had sent her a message this morning saying she was knee-deep in "family stuff" and would call when she could. She'd also included a cryptic p.s. saying that they needed to talk.
Gaia could guess what Mary wanted to talk about. The party had, admittedly, been relatively clean, but as far as "good" and "fun" went, there was no question it was a complete failure. Mary would be chomping at the bit to break the whole thing down into a play-by-play in which she'd find a way to make fun of every single person that was there. As far as "family stuff" went, Gaia already knew that probably meant "getting Mary clean" stuff like family counseling. Ick. Mary had described her program as being a cross between group therapy and Chinese water torture. When the poor girl finally came up for air, at least the party would be something for her and Gaia to laugh about.
Gaia gripped the strap on her messenger bag as she took the wind in the face. She ducked her head and watched the ground as she walked. Another of the many good things about winter. No one felt the need to make eye contact.
As she walked, Gaia passed by some of her standard favorites. Mama Buddha, where they sold the best wonton soup she'd found thus far. Franco's Gyro, where she knew better than to ask what was actually in the pitas. Before she knew it, she was headed up Sixth Avenue. When she passed by the colorful windows of Urban Outfitters, Gaia realized where her stomach was leading her.
Gray's Papaya. Home of the fifty-cent hot dog. Gaia had at least three dollars in her pocket. It was time to feast.
She mentally congratulated her belly on its choice as she swung open the door to the garishly lit eatery. But the congratulations ended when Gaia saw who was seated at the counter in front of the window along the right-hand wall. Charlie Who Didn't Give Up That Easily and Sideburns Tim.
Her stomach grumbled angrily as she turned to leave.
But it was too late.
"Gaia the Brave!"
"Buy you a hot dog?" Charlie asked gleefully. "I swear I won't consider it a date."
Gaia slowly faced them and rolled her eyes.
"Come on," Sideburns Tim said, holding up his orange paper cup. "We'll even throw in a drink."
Quickly Gaia weighed her options. Free hot dogs and annoying company or twigs and slop and even more annoying
But she would also love it. Of that he was sure. And it would be worth it just to see the look on her face when she held those tiny little pieces in her hand. Another reason to look forward to the end of finals.
A salesman in a maroon sweater vest with a bad comb-over practically tiptoed up to Sam. He placed his hands together and smiled. "Can I help you, sir?" he asked.
"I'd like the travel set," Sam said quickly.
"A beautiful choice," the man said so automatically, it was clear he recited those words about twenty times a day.
Still, Sam grinned as he reached for his wallet. It was a beautiful choice. For a beautiful girl.
THREESOME
WHEN GAIA TURNED ONTO PERRY Street on Tuesday night and smelled the smell again, she immediately turned around and started back up Hudson. Her taste buds had already been massacred once this week, and she was too smart to make that mistake twice. Her stomach wanted food tonight, not bark and slop. George was just going to have to suffer without her.
Now came the good part. Deciding among the many fine grease-slinging restaurants of New York City. If there was any pleasure in Gaia's life, most of it came from sampling every fried food and sugar-coated anything on the Lower West Side. She hadn't run out of dives yet, but as soon as she did, she was going to branch out into other neighborhoods. Gaia hadn't seen Mary since she'd missed the party last night, so she'd yet to make good on her promise to help distract her friend. And the hunt for bad-for-you food was always distracting.
She would have called and told her to come down, but Mary had sent her a message this morning saying she was knee-deep in "family stuff" and would call when she could. She'd also included a cryptic p.s. saying that they needed to talk.
Gaia could guess what Mary wanted to talk about. The party had, admittedly, been relatively clean, but as far as "good" and "fun" went, there was no question it was a complete failure. Mary would be chomping at the bit to break the whole thing down into a play-by-play in which she'd find a way to make fun of every single person that was there. As far as "family stuff" went, Gaia already knew that probably meant "getting Mary clean" stuff like family counseling. Ick. Mary had described her program as being a cross between group therapy and Chinese water torture. When the poor girl finally came up for air, at least the party would be something for her and Gaia to laugh about.
Gaia gripped the strap on her messenger bag as she took the wind in the face. She ducked her head and watched the ground as she walked. Another of the many good things about winter. No one felt the need to make eye contact.
As she walked, Gaia passed by some of her standard favorites. Mama Buddha, where they sold the best wonton soup she'd found thus far. Franco's Gyro, where she knew better than to ask what was actually in the pitas. Before she knew it, she was headed up Sixth Avenue. When she passed by the colorful windows of Urban Outfitters, Gaia realized where her stomach was leading her.
Gray's Papaya. Home of the fifty-cent hot dog. Gaia had at least three dollars in her pocket. It was time to feast.
She mentally congratulated her belly on its choice as she swung open the door to the garishly lit eatery. But the congratulations ended when Gaia saw who was seated at the counter in front of the window along the right-hand wall. Charlie Who Didn't Give Up That Easily and Sideburns Tim.
Her stomach grumbled angrily as she turned to leave.
But it was too late.
"Gaia the Brave!"
"Buy you a hot dog?" Charlie asked gleefully. "I swear I won't consider it a date."
Gaia slowly faced them and rolled her eyes.
"Come on," Sideburns Tim said, holding up his orange paper cup. "We'll even throw in a drink."
Quickly Gaia weighed her options. Free hot dogs and annoying company or twigs and slop and even more annoying
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