Quoted By:
You're not exactly keen on sharing with Jake what you plan on doing to-err, <span class="mu-i">WITH</span> Pepper once you get a little privacy, so you go for a more family friendly answer to his question:
You uh, well you plan on taking her out first, you reply in a measured tone! No need to rush things, right? You wanna get to know her better!
"Really?" Asks Pepper's brother as he stares holes into your eyes!
<span class="mu-i">Really</span>, you repeat! You've learned a lot about Pepper tonight: her home life, what she's good at, what she fears and values, the color of her underwear-
"WHAT!?"
You said her <span class="mu-i">COMBAT BONUSES</span>, you reply with a placating gesture! And while she seems like a principled, caring girl, you wanna get to know her the old-fashioned way! Pick her up... take her to dinner and a movie... that kind of thing! Only then will you have a good answer for him!
Jake weighs your words for a moment before letting out a sigh of relief. "... It's... refreshing to hear that, Crash. Apologies for the interrogation--to be completely honest with you these last few years have left me... <span class="mu-i">lacking</span>... socially."
No kidding, you remark. So what's he going to do now, exactly?
The question hits Jake like a truck. "I'm... not sure, to be honest. I've put so much effort into getting noticed by Mi-" Realizing what he's about to say, the redhead deftly segues into a coughing fit! "... Sorry. Allergies. It's just... I've spent four years trying to be someone for, well... <span class="mu-i">someone</span>, and now I feel..." Trailing off again, Jake glances ceilingward for an answer and finds none.
"Adrift. Does that make sense?"
Yea, you nod, you've been doing the pizza thing for a while now--and you're starting to realize it's been more of a distraction from school and family than anything else! You... you don't even know if you wanna do <span class="mu-i">PIZZA</span> for the rest of your life! Heck, If someone asked you what you planned on doing five years from now or even a <span class="mu-i">year</span>, well...
You shake off the approaching feeling with a <span class="mu-s">COOL GUY SHRUG!</span>
You know what? You'll figure it out. And Jake will too, you add with a supportive smile!
"I wish I had your confidence. And I wish we had been introduced in different circumstances." Jake replies as half of a grin forms on his face. "You're a good man, Crash. I hope that wherever the future leads us, it will do so kindly."
>CONTD.
