It felt like we got there too fast; I kept my pockets guarded. She was going for my cell soon--I didn't have much information on it, but I read about how cops could track ya if they knew stuff like that. In reality, they probably couldn't, but...
I glanced back at her as she walked in the door, and Destiny ran forward, breaking my stress when she exclaimed, "I call first!" she laughed, zipping past me, and making me feel stupid for feeling awkward around the rest of them. They seemed like the people they said they were...I just had to watch for Liu.
Zero seemed to catch my eye for a minute, looking me over suspiciously. I nodded to him, lifting a hand out of my pocket to make a peace sign, out of habit.
Suddenly, two large eyes met mine, and I stepped back quickly; trying to ensure that I didn't do anything I'd regret out of reflex. I hadn't hit a girl in my life, and I'd be damned if I did accidentally.
"Hey, Jack! D'you wanna sing with me next? It'll be fun!" Liu was too close to my face, and it was getting to my head. I stepped back more, trying not to get more defensive.
I took in a deep breath: just tell the truth, Jack..."I...don't sing." I looked at the floor for a minute before continuing, "My voice sounds too...girlish when I sing." If there was anything I hated, it was sounding girlish.
Liu's eyes lit up, and at that moment, I knew she was going for the kill. Whatever she wanted to know, she was going to try to ask, and I had to be a man and accept it. "Oh." she drawled out the word with false nonchalance, "And you don't like that because you're a boy, right? No guy likes having a girly voice...Amiright?" She grinned at me, searching my eyes.
Me?
My mouth was open, and my eyes were wide. I bet I looked like a fist of some sort. "Did you...just want to know my gender? Nothing else?"
Liu looked like a child who'd been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. That wasn't the response she'd expected, I guessed, "Uh...yeah...I...Yeah." She looked a bit weary that I'd yell, or strike her, but she stood her ground; her eyes never wavering from mine
And, at that moment I even surprised myself.
I laughed.
I laughed like I hadn't laughed in a lifetime. Maybe because I hadn't. "You..." I managed between chortles, "Only wanted to know if I was a girl or boy? Goddess..." I wiped a tear from my eye as I calmed down, "You could've asked, you know." I grinned, my mood lightened. And I thought this girl was a cop?! "I'm a guy, thanks." What? I wasn't going to tell her otherwise--what did it matter if I lied a little?
She looked a little shocked, honestly. I didn't get it: did I look like I couldn't laugh? Or smile, or whatever?
(Honestly, I thought I looked like that. It not really a question why I'd never had many friends)
I felt myself grin a little bit more, suddenly realizing how scared I was that this might be the end of my life out of jail. I would have probably hugged someone, but I had enough cool to just reach out my hand, "So, how about we introduce each other for real this time? I'm Jack: a boy who isn't in high school, doesn't drive a car, doesn't have parents, and works in a graveyard. That's all you asked, right?" At that moment, I doubt it would have mattered if I was talking to the chief of police him/herself--I would've been just as amiable. It felt good to not be in trouble!
She still looked a little stunned--I was acting entirely different, after all--but she quickly recovered and grabbed my hand, shaking it and grinning, "Haha, and I'm Liu, but you can call me Lulu!"
I smiled politely and nodded, calming myself down. Don't get used to chatting, Jack. Babbling gets you killed. "Well, you should go sing, even if I can't accompany you." I nodded to Destiny, who looked like she was having the time of her life. "Go on. I'll be sitting over here."
As she trounced off, I found myself near the brown-haired girl. Charlie, I think?
She was talking to a waitress, "No, I think we're fine." she smiled nervously. Charlie looked about my age, but much...
I felt a little surprised at myself when the word that came to mind was 'faker'. It's rude, I told myself, to think of ladies that way. Nonetheless, she had an...odd look in her eye. Not that I could judge, though. "Hey." I flashed her a peace sign, smiling a little. "What's a pretty girl like you playing a game like this?" I never pictured the 'liars' of Rabbit Doubt to be so...civil-looking.
S
he smiled that hesitant smile again, "O-oh...You know...I read about it, and it seemed...fun." she laughed a little, "And it is."
I nodded, looking around at everyone. "You don't say..." Dunno if 'fun' was the word. Entertaining, maybe, but too morbid to be 'fun'.
...Unless you hung rabbits for fun. I looked at the girl. She looked to sweet to hang little hares, but it din't hurt to ask, "Have you ever had a rabbit?" I blurted out before I could think better of it.
The girl looked startled by the sudden question, "U-um...Yes...I had one once. It's dead now, though...Her name was Haru."
I nodded; dead, huh? "Did you kill it?" I felt like a dick asking, but it was curiosity! "Hang it, specifically?" If she hated me after this, she hated me, I suppose.
--
Continue??
JACK IS SO TACTFUL <3 I swear, he isn't a bad guy...girl...thing.
Well, does that count as winning, or losing, Poochy? XD
Also, sorry for the rabbit torment. Also for giving Charlie a past with a rabbit. If she didn't/din't want to have one...I'M SO SORRY! D:
