"Ooh," Ethan breathed exasperatedly, "I was devastated," He joked about the shorts. The girl had a good sense of humor, much like he did. Eventually, the conversation turned into a serious path. Yeah, at least he was paying his way, but through what? His mother was noting that he should at least go to a trade school or try some business classes at the community college. He was thinking in opening a construction company, yeah, that's what he was planning, but would he ever do it?

"Yeah," He agrees with the kids' selfishness in living off their parents. His father would have kicked him out of the house if Ethan didn't find a suitable full time job. Many things were running through Ethan's head, and when she mentioned stopping at a cash machine, he missed it. "Hm?" He backtracked, shook his head and smiled. "No, I don't mind," He didn't really know what she needed cash for. He wasn't going to let her pay for her own food anyway.

Ivy smiled at him and then took a detour and headed towards the cash machine, card in hand. She watched as one guy walked away, flicking through a wad of noted and took up her turn, withdrawing out two tenners, which she stook into her purse. "Done." She smiled again and set off, still walking alongside Ethan.

Her thoughts drifted around for a while, not minding the silence between them. She was used to them, especially as she had to live with her stepfather. Eventually, she dragged her thoughts away from that, not wanting her modd to decline. "So.. Is there another girl I should know about that might kick my ass if she see's us together?" Ivy chuckled softly, the question innocent enough, however, there was still a part of her that wanted to know for other reasons; Not that she'd admit that of course.

Ethan hung around while she worked at the cash machine, he watched her, and every so often would look around idly. His hands were in his jean pockets, and no one would have guessed he was wearing his clothes a second day, a sort of a right after party morning, save for his messy hair, that might get people suspicious, he was always stylish and neat. "Alriight," He beamed down at her when she was done, heading off towards the direction of the diner/restaurant thing. It was sunny outside, the sunlight mirroring off the many cars parked at the mall.

There was a brief moment of comfortable silence until Ivy spoke, taking him by surprise with a question like that. "Well," He lifted his arm to rest on the back of his neck, while the other stayed in his pocket. He'd then drop that arm and continue, "Not really, no. There's some clingy girls who I'm trying to get rid of, really, but no girlfriend, no," He admits, at least he told her the truth, instead of using that one line he used with every girl almost, 'No, baby, you're the only one for me.' Ethan grinned, somehow taking that question in interpretation that she was interested in him.

Ivy watched him, her own hand hooked into the belt thread of her jeans. "Trying to get rid of?" She felt her head tilt to one side slightly, questioning his answer. "Sounds... murderous." She laughed again, still thinking about what he'd said. It fit with the rumours, but behind all that, Ivy found herself wanting to get to know the boy behind them. But that'd depend on if he'd let her in or not. People often blocked themselves away and truth be told, she wasn't the best at breaking them down so to say. Unless, she got to know them very well.

Ivy giggled as he spoke again, before nudging him slightly in the arm. "Aww, honey." She replied, still chuckling to herself. At least he had a sense of humour, something, which seemed hard to come across these days. It was refreshing, especially seeing as they'd both failed their exam, but could still have a laugh.

Ethan blinks, wondering how it must have sounded in her position to hear something like that. "Do I look like a murderer to you?" He grinned, bumping her with his elbow. He knew, that she knew about the rumors surrounding him. Hell, he's heard those before, half of them true. Only half? Well, maybe more than half. He was an open person really, when he played his playboy self, but otherwise, only his mother knows what goes on in his head and heart, for that matter. But lately, he's been avoiding his parents.

"You know, I'm thinkin' about this weekend, you doing anything then?" He actually was trying harder than with any other girl. Honestly, lately the girls offered to go out themselves, rather than he had to. Either way, this meant he's determined.

"Would you be offended if I said yes?" She laughed as he bumped her with his elbow. This was actually turning out to be more fun than she'd expected. Ivy glanced at him, wondering if the rumours were true? He seemed like a genuinely nice guy, unless it was just the act he put on to lure girls into bed. Well, hell, it wasn't going to wash with her. With a small smile, she kept in step beside him as they neared closer to the restaurant.

Ivy looked at him properly then, one eyebrow raised. "Hmm... I'm taking my brother to the carnival on saturday. You could come with us, if you like?" She grinned again, assuming he'd probably try and edge his way out of that one. Her trap was set, if he declined, Ivy would suspect his playboy ways even more, especially if he suggested something with just the two of them on sunday.

"Serious?" He laughs in amusement. Did he honestly look like a murderer? Or right, he's a mess this morning. "It's my hair, isn't it?" He jokes, stopping at the road to wait for cars to pass, and once they did, they'd continued walking again, now entering the restaurant parking lot.

Ah, full-time sister, he understood quite well, it was rather sweet really. "Uhm, sure, that sounds like fun," Wasn't he supposed to invite her somewhere this weekend instead of her him. Well, it didn't matter, it did sound like fun, unlike what he was planning to offer her, which was another dinner, laame. Once they reached the entrance, he held out the door for her, then slipped after her, the both of them taking a seat at a booth.

"Hmm, yeah.. Definately the hair." She laughed, enjoying the light feeling she was getting from having fun. "No.. I'm only kidding, you don't really look like a murderer." Ivy was about to add something else, but thought better of it. To much to soon, sprung to mind.

Ivy's head snapped up when he accepted. Now that she hadn't expected.. At all. "I, er... Oh. Ok, sounds good." She smiled again, still a little shell-shocked. There was no way she'd expected him to accept, infact quite the opposite. She'd expected him to turn around and run as far away as possible at the mention of an outing with her younger brother.
Ahh hell. That was another thing she hadn't thought through. Would her younger sibling mind if she brought a friend along? Hopefully not.

Ivy looked around as they entered the eating place, noting that it wasn't very busy. Perfect, she liked to get away from the bustle of people on her break.

Lifted his hands onto his head, smoothing down his messy blond hair, "Awe, come on, I didn't even wake up in my own bed this morning," He stated, only after realizing the mistake he did. For some reason, he's been honest with her so far, and it just came out without much thought. He decided to pay attention to her later words, "I always thought I looked more like a clown," He flashed her a goofy smile, his brows dancing over his eyes in a quirky manner.

Her reaction, though, to his acceptance to join her on Saturday was rather unwelcome, or well, even if she did say it sounds good, it sounded like she wasn't expecting him to say yes and now has gotten herself stuck with him. "You sure?" He inquired, "You don't sound too excited, I mean, I can find something else to do on Saturday, it's fine," He shrugged his shoulders, just then the waitress appeared at their table, handing them menus and introducing herself as Amy.

Ivy's brows raised as her mentioned that he hadn't woken up in his own bed. "So whose bed did you wake up in?" She asked innocently, her green eyes glittering with curiosity. Of course, she already had an idea. Probably some randomg girl he'd picked up the night before, however, she wanted her thoughts confirmed on the matter rather than sitting there and asking 'what if'?
She chuckled then and leant fowards on her hands. "Ok.. A murderous clown then." She teased, a smile still playing on her face.

Ivy hadn't expected the reaction she got from Ethan, about saturday. She glanced up at him, her brows furrowed. But then she remembered her reaction had been a little hesitant and he probably took it the wrong way. "Yeah, course." She was interupted mid-flow by 'Amy' who handed them menus. Ivy muttered a thanks and watched as she slinked off again. "I'm looking forward to it, I just didn't expect you to accept." She said honestly. "If I didn't want you to come, I wouldn't have asked silly." She grinned before scanning her menu for something good to eat.

Ethan didn't feel it was necessary to tell her who's bed or with whom he had woken up with, it didn't matter, he wasn't the least bit interested in her compared to how he was interested in Ivy. First and foremost, he didn't meet Ivy at a party, and she didn't drunkenly offer a fun night of sex, only to expect him to stay in the morning. No, instead she offered to go to a carnival with her little brother. If that didn't scream innocent, then he didn't know what would.

"Well, then Saturday I'll win you something at those... games," He waved his hand around awkwardly, unsure of what to call the games at the carnival. One thing he was regretting though now, is the fact that it will be very hard to do so. He was never good at those games, and neither was his father, but if his mother stayed with him and his weak aim, then Ivy won't think worse of him if he can't aim at the damn bottles.

Ivy noticed that he avoided her question, which provided her with the answer she had been looking for. But despite her thoughts, she still felt weirdly drawn to him, maybe something, which might prove to be wrong. However, ignoring the doubts that niggled at her mind, she couldn't help but laugh as he mentioned wiining something for her. "Really? I'm crap at those things... Never won anything from them in my life." She grinned at him, having remembered that she'd made a similar promise to her brother. It looked like, it might be a joint effort to win a soft toy.

Ivy scanned over the menu again, before placing it on the table once she'd decided on what to eat. It was nice in this place and the smell of food was getting to her, so she couldn't help but be thankful when the waitress tottered over on heels that didn't look at all steady. "Hey there, I'm Georgia, I'm here to take your order today?" Ivy just looked at her for a second; She'd never been able to figure out why waitresses always introduced themselves. It was something, she never did during work hours, not feeling the need to let strangers know her name. "Um, could I have the pancake breakfast special?" She asked, watching as the girl scribbled something down on her notepad. "Any drinks?"
"Just one tea please." Ivy watched as the girl turned to Ethan next, her smile growing noticably warmer.

Ethan had no idea what was going on in her mind, he was pretty darn sure that she didn't know the rumors circling him. She didn't need to, hell, she would give him the boot if she knew. But those were just rumors right? A man can change so easily though, if he is found in company of a suitable girl. And so far, Ethan had a feeling that she suits him, what he doesn't know is the fact the he may become vulnerable. "I guess, we can be crap at it together," Ethan grinned, leaning in.

When the waitress clicked over to stand at their table, Ethan lifted his gaze at her for just a brief second, before those eyes jumped back on Ivy, clearly, a behavior unlike of him. If it were any other girl he was having lunch with, he would have flirted with the waitress named Georgia like there was no tomorrow. When Ivy spoke her order, the waitress turned to Ethan, who glanced over the menu again, and ordered Buffalo fajitas, handing the menu back to Georgia, all the while his gaze on Ivy. "Sprite," Ethan answered before Georgia could ask for his drink order. With that, she scampered off with a few reassuring words that it will be right up.

Ivy laughed, the image of them trying and failing, to win one of them silly toys was quite comical. She sighed then and leant forwards on her hands as the Ethan answered the waitress. She was actually quite suprised at his briskness towards her, half expecting him to give her that charming smile she was slowly beginning to get used to.

Ivy watched as the girl named Georgia twitched away from their table, noticing that Ethan hadn't taken his gaze away from her. She tilted her head to one side slightly, looking back at him and trying to decide what to say. Slowly, she moved back again, leaning on the chair. "What're you thinking about?" She asked, a small smile breaking across her face. It wasn't something she usually asked people, because reading their faces was usually enough, however, the expression on the boy's face infront of her gave nothing away.

Jesse felt irritated at the lack of anything interesting to do around the mall and that too many people were walking around him, making him more and more comfortable by the second with fear of them daring to touch him. He received a few weird glares from some and they just made it worse. He sighed in annoyance as he stumbled into the center of it all which had a big circular fountain as a landmark.

'Circle,' he thought with a smile. It was one of his favorite shapes and it was comforting for him to have it in the middle of all this havoc of people. He decided to sit on it with his back hunched and his arms resting on his thighs and his goofy hazel orbs scanning the masses of walking people warily. He shifted to look at his wrist watch twice, realizing that he still has an hour before his father would be forced to leave for work and he could go back home for television.

Beth decided that it was pointless to stand around in this almost lifeless cafe. Truthfully all she was doing was pondering her failures, which wasn't healthy. She turns to the door and aimlessly walks around the mall. She was suppose to being more with her life right now but she decided to delay her personal hell. Instead, she'll endure boredom alone at the mall. She mingled into the congested crowd and walks aimlessly around. There was so much on her mind; after all she had a a lot to think about! Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she assumed it was either Ben or her Aunt. Personally, she didn't wish to talk to anyone.

She stared at the fountain that loomed in front of her and sighed. She withdrew a penny from her pocket and turned her back to the fountain. She breath a wish to the penny and then tossed it behind her. She didn't reopen her eyes till she heard the loud plunk of a penny into water. "If only wished came true," She mumbled to herself. She shrugged and stayed staring at the falling water. What a strange world.

Beth watched as a kid withdrew her penny, which made her a little angry, and dry it off. Then he stood and waltz over to her, dropping the penny into her hand. "You did it wrong. Do it again," he demanded to her. His voice was quiet and she almost had to strain her neck to hear him....almost.

"How do I make a wish incorrectly?" She placed a hand on her hip, "Well, I'd love for you to show or tell me how to do this correctly." She made air quotation marks around correctly, and resisted the urge to scowl. Her phone buzzed she ignored being, as she was, so irritated with this kid. Who was he to tell her how to wish?

Jesse stared at him like he's done nothing wrong. He probably did, he thought, from the look the girl was giving him. But he couldn't help it. And nor was he allowed to tell strangers about that, less alone talk to them. There was a greater impulsion to him at the moment than keeping his mouth shut and staying away from the vaguely familiar girl.

"Like this," he answered sternly, out of habit. He turned around to face the fountain, gently laid the coin over his thumb and pointing finger, adjacent to both, with the president's face looking at the sky. With one swift flick, he tossed the coin into the water and smiled proudly at the perfect arch and the face it landed on. "You have to follow through," he explained, though he was mostly talking to himself than her, to justify his cause. With that, he turned around and started walking away with a small smile on his face.

"Well," she said calling after him, "I appreciate the lesson but I have to say that I can't flick coins for crap. So, is it alright with you if I do it my way?" She then realized how rude she sounded, and bite her lip in frustration. She walked after him and sighed, "Hey, I'm sorry. I was being a little rude and well yeah...." She turns then embarrassed. She shouldn't have done that she had enough frustration right now. So, she turned on her heels and began walking away. She shook her head at herself like she was some idiot and heat rushed to her cheeks. "God, why do you make me such a clutz?" She sighed again.......