nyc prep continued

"My schedule is free," she replied. "What about you? Still grounded?"

She smiled, it felt like things were going back to the way they were. "Then just to keep it fair I'll pick the game next time."

"sadly, "he sighed, "according to my dad I'm grounded till the day I move out." His father was over reacting he felt but that was his prerogative

"Alright. I guess that sounds fair," Jarid agreed.

Brooklynn frowned. "That doesn't seem like any fun. Does that mean you have to go home now?"

She wanted to play now, to prove that she could beet him but she didn't want to seem overeager or desprate. "Good, maybe we could try some new games."

"That might level the field a little," he agreed. "Any games in mind? We could go look for some, if you want."

"yeah that's what it means." He looked at his feet, "im really...angry..I don't know if that's the right word," he looked up at her, "im just frustrated that he's recreating this way. I got pinched at a party. I wasn't getting drunk or high or anything." He took in a deep breath holding it for a minute then let it out slowly, "i was just out with...an amazing person and he should be happy for me...right?"

"I'm sure he's just worried about you," she replied. "But, in my biased opinion, yes, he should be happy."

"you are pretty amazing. You know that right?" He asked looking her directly in the eyes

"There's a difference between knowing it and hearing someone else say it," she replied. "And you are very amazing yourself," she added with a grin.

He wanted to kiss her again but the combination of him being shy and it being in s public place made that desire fairly impossible to fulfill, "thanks." He had been complimented all his life but never really on his personality more on his academics.

She smiled and, a little embarrassed, leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "Lloyd is probably waiting outside for you."

His heart skipped at the kiss and he could feel the blood fill his cheeks, "yeah...probably." he took her hand and bending into a bow kissed the back of it, "i guess ill see you tomorrow beautiful."

Her cheeks heated up and she hid the smile. "Okay, that sounds wonderful," she agreed.

Paige smiled, ”yeah. Looking for some sounds like a good idea."

"Alright, uhm, I'm pretty sure there's a shop around here somewhere... I think it's only like a block away." Jarid ran a hand through his hair. "That sound good?"

"Yep, that's fine." Paige pulled her coat back on and stood up

Jarid pulled on his own coat and they walked out of the coffee shop. While it felt more normal, he was still sure he'd messed it up somehow

Paige didn't say anything as they walked. When they got to the store she instantly recognized it, she'd been there a many times with David. She walked in and focessed on the games. She wasn't going to start crying again

"So what kind of game were you thinking?" Jarid asked.

Paige shrugged. "Halo's fun." She said. "If you like that."

"Yeah," Jarid nodded. "Sounds good." He picked the game off the shelf. "Is everything okay?" He asked.

Paige looked around the store then back at him. "I used to come here all time with my brother." She forced a smile, "its just been a while since I was here."

"I didn't know you have a brother," Jarid remarked. But then she didn't really talk about her family.

"He's a few years older than me, I don't see him very much," she said. He didn't need to know details.

Jarid nodded. College did that, he heard. "Should we get anything else?" he asked, gesturing around the store.

Paige looked at the other games quickly. "I think that's it for now, we can always come back."

"Yeah," he agreed. Once he'd paid for the game, they walked out of the store. "Now what?"

"We can try the game out, if your not busy," she suggested.

"Sounds great to me," he nodded with a grin. "I take it you're not busy then?"

"Nope, my dad's gone for the week so I don't have any plans," she said with a smile

Braden founded up all the ingredients he needed to make amazing gourmet mac and cheese. He couldn't help but smile in his way to her apartment. Ringing the doorbell he stood there grinning.

"Okay, cool," Jarid smiled. Playing video games with her all day would definitely make things go back to normal, he was sure of it.

Jaimie opened the door and let him in. "Hey," she grinned. "Come on in."

He leaned in giving her a short kiss then stepped in, "hey to you too." He headed straight fir the kitchen, "how was your day?"

"I just need to take my back pack home and feed my cat first." She said.

"Alright," Jarid agreed. "You wanna just meet me? Or I could come with? Then go to my place?"

"Since the last time I saw you?" Jaimie smiled. "It's been good."

"You can come," she said. She had cleaned the day before so at least it would look nice, as long as her cat hadn't broken anything.

"Good." he said with a smile as he got dinner under way. the mac and cheese was made with three different kinds of hard cheese as well Velveeta. it was made with half and half instead of milk. it was like a mac and cheese explosion of amazingness.

ooc: I feel like something should happen. any ideas?

"Okay," Jarid smiled. "Sounds good."

Ooc: you know I love when things happen. But at the moment I have been bled dry of ideas.

"Smells good," Jaimie observed. Sasha was also enjoying the smells, having remembered the amazing his cooking tasted.

"I only live a few blocks away so we can walk if you want," she said. She hadn't driven to school so she'd planned on walking home anyway.