"If you're looking for people that hang around. Then you're definitely looking in the wrong places. Back where I live you have people hanging around...But only to cause trouble." She stated. "I wouldn't look for people that are hanging around. Meeting them will most likely get you killed." It was depressing, but it was the truth. Gun and knife crime had increased in the area. She was helping them.

"And, if I had it my way and the cafe was open. I'd work Sunday's to. But, as it happens, I can't. So, on Sunday's I go to the library and read." She told him.

Adrian blinked. How... grim. "I will remember that, I think. And tell Ileana." He tilted his head to the side, nodding in thanks as the waitress placed three plates full of little snack foods in the center of the table and a little stack of individual plates. "I'm curious, though, Ryleigh, why do you work so much? Don't you ever go to parties and... I don't know... meet handsome and interesting boys who would take you out to lunch and buy you tapas?" He grinned at her from across the table and took a bit of roast pork in pita bread and popped it into his mouth. "I think you're younger than I am, but you most certainly work more than I do. Any particular reason why?"

Ryleigh tried to hold in a groan as the conversation turned towards her. It was going to happen eventually so she might as well tell part of the truth.

"I'd just rather be working then sat at home. I don't go parties. Never been to one and sometimes the sound of them aren't too appealing. I mean alcohol, I don't drink so I'd just sit there bored or trying to stop some drunk guy from getting into my pants for a bit of 'nail and bail' action. She told him.

She slowly picked up something that she didn't completely recognise and tried it. It turned out to be quite nice and so picked up something else. "And you are the first guy to take me out to lunch in my whole 17 years of existance." She added before popping the next bit into her mouth.

Adrian's eyebrows scrunched together. He didn't understand all of the words she used, but he understood what she was saying. It didn't make sense to him. "You are a very strange girl, Ryleigh," he chuckled, still a bit confused. "All girls like parties. You know. Dressing up, finding dates or going alone. Knowing that they could have any boy they wanted. You can't discount all parties if you've never even been to one. You have to give it a chance. Give having fun a chance, you see?"

He took a small sip of his water then, surveying her over the rim of his glass. She was a very pretty girl, this was true. She had a nice body, what bit of it he could see, and a cute smile, when she decided to grace her with it. There wasn't a reason for this to be her first experience on a social call. Well... except... Adrian leaned forward then, placing his elbows on the table. He would have gotten a nasty look for that back at home.

"As for the rest... bueno, chica I don't think I'm being too forward, but you did not really want to come to lunch with Ileana and I. I would think that any boy would be a bit intimidated to ask you out. You don't seem to like anyone... But then, what do I know, I suppose. I just met you today..." He trailed off uncomfortably. He hoped she wouldn't be offended.

He didn't understand. It wasn't the party scene that bothered her, it was the alcohol. Her father been the alcoholic that he was, made her realise that she didn't want to be around the stuff. Also, with her only friend been Candice, who had known Ryleigh for a while and knew that she didn't like the party scenes, never invited her now.

"I don't like parties or dressing up to make a guy instantly think he can take me to bed. Plus, I'm only 17, legal drinking age here is 18 so it doesn't really matter. Technically I'm too young to go to parties and drink.

Ryleigh looked towards Adrian listening to what he said and not sure how to take it. She thought she was friendly enough in the cafe and no one had brought it up about her appearing intimidating to the customers. "Maybe, it's because your friend was scarily friendly and I've never experienced that before in my years of working there. It could have been shock. Normally, I take the order, take the money, and serve the items. To suddenly be asked out to lunch by two complete strangers, is a little weird." She told him.

Adrian couldn't help but laugh at that. "Oh, well, that may be another one of those cultural differences, yeah? In our city, at least, it was not uncommon to make an aquaintance and then to exchange information. That is how you get to know people, make friends. I hope that we do not get into trouble, sending pretty cafe girls into shock, though," he laughed again. He took a bit more food and thought the situation over. "All right, you do not like parties, or at least those types of parties... What do you like then? Other than your job and your library. Have you any hobbies?" He suddenly felt his face heating slightly, but he forged onward, hoping she would not notice his light blush in the dim bar.

"Por ejemplo, I have tricked myself into thinking that I am a painter. It is for that that I wish to study at the university. My mama, she thinks that if I am so interested, then I should become a collector and entrepeneur of art," he shook his head and gave Ryleigh an exasperated look that said plainly 'you know parents...'

Ryleigh didn't notice Adrian's blush as she sat there, trying some of the foods before looking back at him. "Well, I like to draw a little as well, and sing. But I don't get much of a chance to so I don't do it often. Other than that I like the library and working. It takes up all my time really." She explained.

"Sounds interesting..." Ryleigh continued after hearing what Adrian wanted to do. "I don't really know my parents too much though." She told him. "My mom died a few years ago and my dad, he spends his time..." She contemplated telling Adrian the truth, but then changed her mind. "...Well he's occupied with other things these days." She explained.

"Maybe one day later in life I'll be attending the university, but I know it won't be for a while yet."

Adrian tilted his head one side and then another, considering this new information. Already plans were forming in his head, plans of how he could make Ryleigh smile so often. It had become a game of sorts, one that he may have to employ Ileana in to win. He said nothing of this to Ryleigh, though. He had noticed in the shop that she quickly became annoyed when her friend had imposed fun upon her. Instead, he smiled innocently and let the subject slip away.

"Why delay? It is a wonderful place, from what I have seen so far. Why not enroll now?" he asked lightly.

Ryleigh shook her head. "I don't have the time or the money at the moment. Other things take my priority at the moment unfortunately. Maybe next year or something." She told him quietly. Ryleigh spent a lot of time wishing she could just get up and go to university, but she couldn't. It was way too much money for her for a start and her father wouldn't be able to look after himself if she disappeared.

Ryleigh was the one that fed him and paid the bills. Without her, nothing would be done and he'd mostly die in a drunken stupor. Sighing she looked at Adrian. "It's great that you want to go though. Make something of yourself." She told him.

Adrian smiled. "I hope so," he murmured. "I would hate to be the only one in my family who didn't..." He regarded Ryleigh for a second and then looked away shyly, and then looked down at the plates of quickly disappearing food. "Almost all of my family has made-- I believe that the expression is "big names"-- for themselves. Both of my parents and then I have two older brothers. All of them are perfectly prosperous at whatever they do. I am both the baby and the 'gamble' in the family. They will all be waiting to see what I do with this British education." He snorted.

"Do something good with it. And do something you want to do, not because of what others have done, or what people want you to do, do it because it's what you want." She told him. She meant it to. Ryleigh wasn't going to go to college. She had her father to look after and this job. It was all she would ever do. And that would be that.

She quietly finished off some of the food before looking back at Adrian, knowing she must be making things difficult and awkward for him. "So, apart from drawing and art, what else do you like to do?" She asked him, casually. That was always a good place to start.

((Ah, it seems like we're fizzling! Wat do we do??))

Adrian shrugged and laughed. "Oh, not much. I'm not very interesting. I like reading and music the same as any teenager. I don't know, I spend a lot of my time chasing after Ileana. She's a dancer, you know. For some reason, they attract more trouble than you would expect," he laughed. He shrugged. "I friend of mine tried to get me into photography once, since it is just another form of art, but I was very bad at it. I still like looking at his work though. I think he may be famous..." Adrian smiled then, using his handsome features to their fullest advantages. "And, of course, taking pretty girls out to lunch," he said with a wink.

"Actually, I meant to mention this earlier, we are having a small gathering at our new appartment," Also called a party, he thought sneakily. "Perhaps, you would like to come, yes? I mean, we have not known each other very long, but we will be in public," he added with a chuckle. "Is that also unacceptable here?"

(I'm not sure, but the party seems like a good way to stop it from fizzling. I'll make sure she attends.))

"It's not that its unacceptable, just for girls, they have to be wary..." She started. Finally, she nodded and decided to just give things a go. "When is this gathering?" She asked, hoping that it wouldn't be while she was busy. Adrian definitely seemed to be enjoying her company and he seemed like a nice guy. And though Ryleigh wouldn't admit it, she was enjoying his company and enjoying the fact that she was talking to someone new for once, and not just Candice.

Ryleigh didn't even think of the fact that a small gathering was another word for party. She totally forgot that he could have been disguising it, knowing that she didn't like parties, which is what he was doing, but the thought hadn't crossed her mind.

Adrian smiled angelically, thinking quickly. "Oh, Saturday evening. Isn't that lucky? You will not have to work on Sunday! It must be fate, Ryleigh, that it has been scheduled on such a perfect night!" He arranged his features into a very stern and serious look then. "It is very bad to go against fate, you know. Very unlucky. I suggest that you come, just in case."

He reached under the table for a small brown messenger bag and pulled out a small tablet of paper and a pen. He scribbled quickly on it and then handed it across the table to her. "Here you are. That is my appartment building and my number. Call me once you get there and I can escort you like a proper gentleman," he laughed. "What do you think?"

Ryleigh was a little worried because she had only just met the guy in front of her. She wondered what would happen if this was a trap and he wasn't the nice guy he was playing out to be. Could her life get worse though? And it would give her a night away from her father, she thought. She looked at the address once more and then at the phone number.

"Erm... Yea, I'll come for a bit, I guess." She finally told him. "What time would you want me to arrive around? I wouldn't want to start out too early or late." She told him, knowing she'd have to look up on a map where his apartment was because she didn't have the internet at home and she would have to walk because she wouldn't be able to afford a taxi or bus because of her father.

Adrian grinned triumphantly. He would have to talk Ileana into throwing together a quick party for Saturday, but then, she would think he was giving her a treat. He quickly damped down his expression though. Ryleigh would suspect. "Oh, people will probably begin to arrive around nine or ten... but feel free." She looked a bit hesitant, but Adrian was determined to show her a good time. Suddenly, the watch on his wrist caught his eyes and he frowned. Her lunch hour was up... "It's been an hour already..." he sighed.