Izumi was still looking down, even as she spoke about Dylan. I didn't want to sink her mood further so I steered the conversation away from Dylan. "You know, about what you said earlier. I want to know more about your life, so it would be great to hear you speak more." Her head moved and she went from looking at her feet to looking at my face, but she looked a little confused. I thought I sounded demanding and she must have misunderstood.

" I mean only if you want to. Not that you need to listen to me. I just wanted you to know that I'm interested in you- I mean your life, in your life." The hole I dug myself was getting deeper and I needed to start climbing. I cover my face with my hands and turn around. With a heavy sigh I try again, "I hope you get what I'm trying to say, please don't take it the wrong way, I want you to feel like you have someone here other than your family. It's easy to feel lonely, even in a town as full as this one." I didn't know if I managed to climb high enough with those words, but I hope to god she doesn't hate me.

After a few seconds, I feel a hand on my shoulder and see Izumi standing next to me. Of course she says something unexpected. " So you're the overthinking type, that's cute. It's surprising ." I had no words. She pulled me out of that hole all by herself, with one statement. I just smiled in relief at her and we continued walking. 

When we entered our street Izumi spoke again, "Hey Mason?" I looked at her and she gave me a genuine smile. I was confused. "Thanks, I hope neither of us will feel lonely from here on", she said and I returned her smile. This girl was going to make me hug her on impulse, I've never met anyone who said so little but meant so much.

We stopped in front of our two houses. It felt like we were gone for ages but it was just half an hour. "I appreciate you letting me walk with you, I know I bugged you more than the average human today. I hope I'll grow on you." Oh wow, was I being playful? What was happening?! Dylan would not be able to recognise me if he saw me today. "You weren't that bad, it's always nice to have company and you're way better than the dude I met earlier."

"Ah, you mean Kevin? You don't think he's charming and attractive?" I raised my brow at her. "Gods no, definitely not my cup of tea", she faked a puking face and I laughed, she was hilarious when she opened up. "Urh well I gotta go inside, dad's waiting for these", she held up the grocery bag, "thanks for walking me and for the company". Before I could say anything a car pulled up right behind their driveway, it was chief Jerry.

He got out of the car, walked over to us and greeted with an 'evening' . "Evening chief." "Hey uncle Jerry, how was work?", Izumi asked. "Nothing interesting happened, same old papers to sign and forms to fill in", the chief was answering Izumi but his eyes were on me and I knew why. I must've looked like a predator who went after his prey, which sounds more like a Kevin thing to do so I'm a little insulted. With my luck this won't be pretty.

I should learn to keep my mind quiet because guess who is joining our meeting, Izumi's dad. I saw him standing in the door way and it looked like he was approaching us. 

He walked up to Izumi first. "I was getting worried zoom-zoom, I was just about to go looking for you." He kissed her forehead, I envied their relationship but not to a point where it was bitter. "Don't worry dad, I got Mason here outside and luckily, he needed to go to the store too so he kept me company", I don't think she realises the amount of trouble I am in. "Oh did he now?", her dad looked at me and I extended my hand "Evening sir, we erh met earlier today at the diner, my name's Mason."

Her dad took my hand, not gently, might I addd. "Right, Mason. We should thank him then for taking care of our little girl. Right Jerry?", Izumi looked at her dad confused and so did the chief. "Why don't you join us for dinner?". I looked to Izumi for some sort of permission, I wanted to stay in her good books. She just shrugged in a 'why not?' type of way.

"Dinner would be great, thank you sir", I didn't know how the night would go but I was hoping that at the end my neighbors would love me. "Is it okay if I was up first, I just came from work before we walked to the store", I'm pretty sure I smelled. "Sure, I'll go prepare dinner. We'll see you in an hour?" "Should be enough time, yeah".

They walked into the house and I ran in to the house. I'm kinda nervous, I've never actually wanted people to like me. It's been one heck of a day. I jump into the shower and plan an outfit in my head. 

Should I bake something? 

...