After I unpacked my bags, putting clothes into my designated drawers, I went back upstairs. Danny was sitting at the kitchen island, talking with Katie Bell as she washed dishes. As I took a step up onto the wood floor, Danny looked over to me.
“Hey P-Kim!” He let out a chuckle. I smiled and approached him. He patted the bar stool next to him, inviting me to sit next to him.
“How are you doing, P-Kim, honey?” Katie Bell cooed, scrubbing a dish as I sat down next to Danny.
“I’m feeling a bit hungry, to be honest,”
“Well we’ve got a fridge and pantry packed to the brim with stuff to choose from,” Danny motioned to the fridge and the food closet next to it. Katie gasped and twirled around to face me.
“Or you could go the many restaurants that all around Strange!” Katie giggled and put down the dish she was still holding. “That’s the great thing about this community: It came with restaurants! So they’ve been taken over by some of our inhabitants! You could go look around and take your pick!” I let a smile form across my face. I did like the idea of going to a restaurant.
“I’ll go and look around,” I decided. Danny let out a chuckle.
“I suggest checking out Perry’s place; it’s got some of the best food I’ve ever had! It’s got a handmade sign with the name: Perry’s Barbeque!” I nodded in understanding. Danny motioned toward the door. “Go, P-Kim! Go explore!”
I giggled. “Thank you Danny,” He grinned and I headed for the door.
I stepped into the quaint restaurant, closing the door behind me. The place had a few patrons, sitting at green square tables. There were a few people sitting alone, as well as a couple of families, it looked like, enjoying their meals. A brown counter with horizontal rectangular layered stones covering the front stood blocked off a small kitchen area from being reached by anyone other than staff. A fit looking man stood behind the counter, one arm holding him up, looking over at the people eating.
I cautiously stepped up to the counter. The man quickly turned his attention to me.
“Well, I havn’t seen you ‘round here, have I?” The man chuckled as I finished my approach.
I smiled to him. “Yeah, I just moved in,”
“Well, ain’t that great! We can always use some new friendly faces,” He dramatically leaned over the counter with his hand shielding his mouth, and got right up next to me ear.
“Opposed to the jerks we have here a’ready,” His whisper was harsh but goofy and I couldn’t help but giggle as he went back to his original position.
“So, what’s your name, lil’ lady?”
I sighed, prepared for a weird look or something similar to something I have already gotten.
“My name’s P-Kim,”
He just grinned.
“It’s nice to meet’cha P-Kim, what can I get’cha?”
Why can’t everyone react like that?
I looked up to the signs above my head. I had no clue what to pick. There was steak, pork, meatballs, meatloaf, veggies, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, salads, sandwiches, and so much other good looking stuff!
“To be honest, I have no clue,”
The man grinned. “Well, let’see here,” He leaned across the counter and looked up to the signs I was just reading. He mumbled something to himself as he read them over. He looked back to me and let out a laugh, before pushing himself off the counter.
“Well, if I were to suggest anythang, I would go with the seasoned sirloin with mushroom gravy! It’s a customer favorite! But when y’ add the house sauteed veggies and garlic peeled taters,” he kissed his fingers and made an audible kiss sound. “Magnifique!”
I giggled and he moved himself over to the computer that a guess was the register.
“What can I get’cha then, Miss P-Kim?”
My happiness faded as I realized.
I have no money.
I sighed and looked back to the man who looked ecstatic to be there helping me.
“I’m sorry sir, I can’t pay.”
The man let out another laugh. “Well, I knew that! You just moved here! You weren’t expected to have money!” My brow furrowed as he continued.
“Perry’s gives anyone new t’ Strange one free meal, since they can’t buy food with no money!”
“But isn’t there something against that?” I felt the need to ask.
The man let out another laugh. “Who cares if there’s somethin’ against it! I’m the owner of this joint! My name’s on the sign an’ I can do what I damn well please! So will ya be havin’ somethin’ er not?!”
I nodded quickly, holding back giggles. “I’ll have what you suggested before,”
Perry grinned. “Thank you! Be back in a bit, missy!” He whipped around and ran through the doorway that I inferred led to the kitchen, yelling my order as he did.
I giggled and let out a sigh. I looked to the people enjoying their meals. They really didn’t seem to notice the commotion that Perry had caused over me; only one person was looking over at me.
He was staring at me.
He hadn’t touched his food, other than just playing with it with his fork as he watched me. I looked in his eyes; they were an auburn color. He blinked slowly.
I smiled to him and looked back to the menu above my head. I felt a cold drop of sweat roll down my back. I didn’t like being watched.
“Here’s your lunch, Miss P-Kim!” I jumped with the sound of Perry’s voice, it scaring me out of my focus. He let out a laugh and handed me the large plate. I took hold of it and let the smells waft in my nose. It was the most delicious thing I’ve smelled!
“Remember, this is free! I hope you come back when you have some hours to spend!” Perry grinned.
I giggled. “Thank you Perry!”
“My pleasure, lil’ lady!” He then raced back into the kitchen.
I turned my back to the counter and looked around for an empty seat.
One seat was open at a small table. The guy sat there, staring at me.
My heart started to race. Should I ask if I could sit with him.
I don’t think I had a choice, since there was no other seat.
I sighed and took shaky steps over to the table.
The guy continued staring as I walked up.
“Can I- umm… sit with you?” I forced myself to look him in the eyes, even with my stomach reacting to the anxiety.
The man’s face remained stoic as he blinked.
“Why?”
This was a horrible idea.
I quickly glanced around the space once again, then back to him.
“There's no other spots… plus,” I smiled nervously. “You look like you could use some company.”
The guy sat still.
“Fine,”
I let out a breath I was holding and placed my plate down in the spot as I sat down.
“So… What's your name?” I felt the need to ask. The man across from me glanced at me for his food, then sighed.
“Harrison,”
I smiled. “It's nice to meet you Harrison! My name is-”
“P-Kim,” Him saying my name caught me off guard.
I stammered with words, trying to figure out how to respond.
“Perry said it pretty loud, I'm pretty sure everyone here knows your name now.” He let out a chuckle. “It is a cool name though.”
I let out a shaky breath. “Th-thanks,”
Harrison looked back to his food. He had meatloaf with ketchup instead of gravy and cut up vegetables. I looked to him with concern.
“Are you gonna eat?”
Harrison looked back to me.
“I normally get lunch here, it's a routine. But today, I'm not hungry.”
I nodded slightly, then looked to my own food. The scents of the meat and garlic made my mouth water. I grabbed my silverware that was set in the spot I sat and cut into the meat. I took a bite.
My eyes widened and Harrison let out a chuckle.
“It's good, isn’t it?” I nodded intently and took another bite. I gulped it down and wiped my mouth with the napkin on my side of the table. I looked back to Harrison.
“Umm…” I wanted to ask something, anything to learn a bit about him. “What's your… mutation?” I still feel weird saying that word.
Harrison sighed.
“I have control over cold temperatures and ice itself.”
He raised up his hand and my eyes widened.
Harrison started to blow air onto his hand. Ice flurries and chilled air traveled from his mouth and touched his skin. Ice crystals formed where the air touched. He turned his wrist so that the chill could touch every inch of his hand. He encased his hand in ice.
I blinked a few times to try and bring me back from amazement. Harrison noticed my agape mouth and smirked. His hand started to shake. The ice shattered as his fingers collapsed into a fist, sending ice flying in all different directions.
Harrison looked to me with the same smirk. I let out a slight laugh as my opened mouth formed a smile. Harrison's smirk fell suddenly.
“I'm sorry,”
My brow furrowed as I felt a slight pain on my cheek. I touched the area with my fingers, then looked to them.
A small amount of blood stained my fingers. The ice must have cut my cheek when it all shattered. I grabbed my napkin and wiped the cut quickly.
“It's okay, just a flesh wound!”
Harrison chuckled. “Tis but a scratch.”
I giggled. Harrison cleared his throat.
“So what's yours?”
I took another bite. “What?”
“Your mutation,”
I swallowed my bite and looked back to Harrison.
“I… have hypnotic singing.”
Harrison sniffed and looked back to his food. He took hold of his fork and took a small bite and swallowed.
“That's pretty cool,”
I smiled.
“Not as cool as yours,”
Harrison looked up suddenly. “Was that a pun?”
I realized what I said and let out a laugh.
“I guess so, yeah!”
Harrison smiled briefly before looking back to his food. I let a grin form across my face.
I made him smile.
