Elysia walked, well paced really, back and forth outside the corner store run by the Riviera family ran. The corner store that Rory worked at, the corner store that she was currently procrastinating going inside of. ‘I’m just asking her to go bowling. Its just going out with friends. We’re friends right?’ Elysia paced back and forth, ringing her hands in front of herself. ‘Or am I just an annoying regular who acts like I know her more then I do? Does she secretly hate me and is only treating me nice because she’s working?’
    “Elysia?” Rory’s voice cut through her internal monologue and she turned to look at the android who was holding a bulging trash bag, tilting her head to the side. “Is everything…okay?”
    “Um, yeah. How long have you been standing there?” Elysia said with a half chuckle, reaching up to rub at the back of her neck.
    “Not long but I could see you from the store.” Rory jerked her thumb over her shoulder to where, yes, she could see the counter of the corner store from where she stood. "I wanted to check on you. You seemed…” She tilted her head to the side, pursing her lips. “Upset.”
    “I’m not upset!” Elysia said, just a little too forcefully. “I’m not. Just…worked myself up a little.”
    “I’m gonna throw this out and then maybe we can talk?” Rory flashed her a smile, lips tilting up in that way that made Elysia's heart skip a beat.
    “Yeah. Sure. Sounds grand.” Elysia watched as Rory moved to toss the trash in the dumpster, swallowing the panic that was building in the pit of her stomach. ‘We’re just talking. Two friends talking. Thats all.’ She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. ‘So why am I so fucking nervous?’
    “Alright! All done! Why do you look like you’re going to throw up?”
    ‘Deep breaths. This is Rory. Theres not a mean bone in her body. Well, there’s not a bone in her body.’ Elysia wanted to laugh at the unintentional joke but swallowed it back down. “I’m just nervous.”
    “Why?” Rory said with a tilt of her head, brows furrowing in a way that was down right adorable.
    “Can we go inside? I think I want a snack.”
    “Oh sure. Same as always?” Rory asked as she held up the door allowing her to enter the shop.
    “Yeah sure.” Elysia stepped inside looking around the mostly empty corner store. At this time of the night, it was bound to be a ghost town in this part of the city and it did help to ease her anxiety. She went and grabbed them placing them on the counter waiting for Rory to ring them up but when she didn’t she furrowed her brows. “Are you going to ring them up?”
    “Consider it on the house for one of our most loyal customers.” Rory said with a smile and Elysia found herself relaxing into it. “So, what’s eating at ya?”
    “Nothing big just…” Elysia swallowed licking her lips. “Me and my friends were going to go bowling tomorrow. Would you like to come?”
    “Me?”
    “Is there anyone else here?” Elysia said, looking around the empty store. “Yes you. I want you to come hang out with me, and my friends.”
    “Oh, uh,” Rory stuttered out, reaching up to rub the back of her neck. “I’ll have to think about it.”
    “So that’s a no.” Elyisa couldn’t help the way her face fell and the disappointment settled in her stomach.
    “I didn't say no.”
    “You basically did. You’re gonna ‘think’ on it and then let me down gently by saying you have to work.”
    “I really don't work that much.” Rory said with what could be described as a cringe. “Do I?”
    “You’re working every time I’m here, so yeah. Kinda.” Elysia said with a shrug. ‘And thats the whole reason I even come here.’
    “Okay. I’ll come.” Rory wrinkled her nose in a way that was downright adorable.“Just to prove you you wrong.”
    “Oooh. Gonna be petty about it, huh?”
    “Petty?” Rory furrowed her brows, tilting her head to the side as she hummed. “If you say so.”
    Elysia opened her mouth to question what  Rory had meant before deciding better. “So I’ll pick you up tomorrow 5pm sharp so you can’t back out. Got it?”
    “Got it.” Rory gave a half salute and Elysia couldn’t help but chuckle. “See you tomorrow?”
    “Yeah. Tomorrow.” Elysia smile pulling at her lips as she grabbed her items, heading toward the door and out into the slight chill of the night. She walked down the street, away from the rougher part of town toward the area where the University was located, a skip in her step.