Erin and Sam had become much closer the last few days, Erin was happy about that, since... Well, actually, she was her first female friend (actually, her first close female friend). Erin didn't usually hang out with women, but because Sam was Andrew's sister, she decided to be friends with her.

|||||||||

- Oi, oi, wait. - Eliah said. - Why are you only talking about Samantha? Why are you telling us all this? Is it even relevant? When are we gonna reach the part you told us at the beginning?

I ignored him. The girl was enjoying the story. Actually, I was telling it for her too, and that's why I told it with everything and these parts.

|||||||||

They arrived at the place. It was located in the middle of the block, it was a small establishment, it had a large glass window and a door next to it. Outside there were two small tables, each with two chairs and an umbrella.

- Ok, let's go in. - said Erin.

- Ok.

Once inside they saw that it was a cozy place, with peach-colored walls and wood trim. The lights were yellow so the place, because of the warm lighting, gave a feeling of tranquility. Inside there were also some wooden tables, painted black and covered with white tablecloths with red square patterns and wooden chairs around the tables. There was a middle-aged gentleman sipping coffee.

They both went to one of the tables and took a seat. At that moment, a young lady arrived to serve them. She had short blonde hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion.

(Nicole's drawing for you-know-what.)- Hi, Nicole! - said Erin to the lady.

- Hi, Erin! - exclaimed the lady, smiling. - And who is your friend?

- This is Samantha. - replied Erin.

- ...Nice to meet you. - said Sam, shyly.

- Nice to meet you too. - Nicole... Her full name was Nicole Thompson, btw.

After that small conversation, they ordered a slice of milk cake, a sandwich, a latte and pizza rolls (all this was ordered by Erin...) and a slice of chocolate cake, covered in chocolate and filled with chocolate (this was ordered by Sam). Nicole walked out.

- H-hey. - Sam said. - Are you really going to eat all that?

- Yeah, of course I am. - replied Erin. - Why?

- No reason...

- Oh, okay. I'll treat you to some. - Erin said.

- Thank you...

After a while she brought the orders.

- So... - Sam asked, a little nervous. - Why is this place so empty?

- Well, we tend to have more customers at night. That's why. - Nicole replied.

- I see... But... - Sam was still nervous. - I'm sorry, I think asking like that was rude.

- Not at all. - Nicole said.

- So... Nicole, would you like to stay and chat with us for a while? - Erin asked Nicole, how redundant. - Until a client comes in.

- I'd love to. - she replied.

- So... what are we going to talk about? - Sam asked.

- About anything. - said Nicole.

- Yeah. - said Erin as well.

- Samantha... Do I think so or are you a little shy? - asked Nicole.

- I thought you noticed it when you talked to her, but okay. - said Erin. - The thing is... You're shy too!

"Really?" Sam, surprised. Erin kept talking:

- Whenever you're with...

- Hey, cut it out! - Nicole demanded. Sam was watching. - Stop it!

- I won't! - Erin replied.

"That... Sounded very childish I think..." Sam thought, though... Yes, it sounded more childish than it should have.

- You've liked Andrew for several years, and yet you didn't confess to him until now! - Erin said.

Nicole and Andrew were friends at school, but... They didn't interact much, because Andrew wasn't much of a talker, especially not with people of the opposite gender. He only hung out with Mat, James and Erin, and with the latter he could talk normally, without fear, because... You know why. Nicole didn't hang out with Mat very much, because... Well, you'll find out.

Oh, and another thing. Nicole was a very social girl, and had a lot of friends (mostly at school).

Back to the above. Elsewhere (it was in Andrew's room)... Andrew had just sneezed.

- Hey, are you okay? - Mat asked him. He was making figures with his PSI creations. He seemed to be practicing.

- Yes... - Andrew replied. Behind him was a shadow looming.

- You didn't catch a cold, did you?

- Of course not, I don't think so.

Back to the snack bar.

- ...What? - Samantha exclaimed in surprise.

- I'm telling you, I'm serious! - said Erin to Sam.

- Hey! - complained Nicole. - Shut up!

The gentleman, who was still there, looked at them funny.

- I'm sorry... - apologized Nicole.

.

..

...

They continued talking after the gentleman left.

- Really? - Nicole said. - Andrew is your brother?

- Well... Yes. - Samantha replied.

- Yes, but... - said Erin, almost at the same time as Sam. - Don't you see her?

- What do you mean? - Nicole asked in surprise.

- Andrew has red hair and so does she. They are the only redheads in this town, plus they look alike. - replied Erin.

- Right! Hmmm... - said Nicole. - Well, I knew she had a sister, but... I didn't expect her to be like that, she's so cute! And so... So, can I ask you a question?

- Yeah. - Sam answered.

- Do you have a boyfriend?

Sam heard that, but she was quiet for a few seconds until, for some reason, she blushed and, looking down, she said:

- No...

- See? - said Erin, and hugged her. - She's so innocent and so pure, she doesn't care about those things!

- Actually... - said Sam, nervous and a little blushing.

- Actually what? - asked Erin, although she sounded a little aggressive.

- I... - Sam told them, but...

- Awesome! - Nicole said excitedly, interrupting Sam and clapping her hands. - You're starting to act more feminine! A little bit, at least.

- What? Nah, I don't care. - said Erin. - And so... You what?

- ...Actually, I do like someone... - she said shyly and very nervous.

- Really? -interrogated Erin.

- Tell us, tell us more! - said Nicole, excited I'm not sure why.

- Mmm... I don't want to. - Sam, still shy.

- Why? - Nicole questioned, she sounded a little disappointed and seemed to be overreacting too.

- She's shy, I told you. - said Erin to Nicole. - But... I want to know too.

- Ok, I'll tell you... I'm not going to mention his name, but... I think I'm going to mention the things I like about him. But... Keep in mind that I only like him a little bit, it’s very superficial and... That's...

- I understand. - said Nicole.

- Never mind, tell us about it! - shouted Erin.

- You're really excited. - said Nicole. - I thought you only liked sports, music and stuff...

- Shut up!

- W-well... He's tall.

- "Tall!" They both thought.

- Also, ummm... He's kind to pets... Well, to animals in general. Oh, and also with people.

"Kind!" They both thought again.

- And... His smile... Awww... I like it.

"...Smile?" they both thought.

- And... I'm starting to feel weird.

- Keep going. - Erin replied.

- Ok.

"It's not James, so it's... It can't be." Erin thought.

- Also... Mmm... See this necklace? - Sam said, and showed the necklace with a wooden heart.

- We see it. - Nicole said. - D-don't tell me that...

- He gave it to me. - Sam replied, seeming to remember something that made her happy. - He gave it to me... He gave it to me a long time ago and... I've kept it since that day.

- Oh. - Nicole said, a little surprised. - I see.

- It was the first gift I ever received from someone... That's why I keep it with... Very fondly. - Sam said. "I think that's why I like it too... Although... I don't really know."

Erin was there when that happened, but she doesn't remember it.

- Awww... - Nicole.

- Well... He's a little, no... He's competitive.

"At least with Erin." She thought.

- ...

"Competitive... Mmm..." Nicole thought.

"REALLY? NO WAY!" thought Erin.

- I'm speechless. - Nicole said. - Who would have thought a kid like you could fall in love?

- I'm not a kid... - Sam replied. "Why is she treating me as if she knew me for years...?"

- And she's taller than us. - said Erin too, although... It's not like it is noticeable with Nicole, but meh.

- I know, but... Look at her face! Awww... - Nicole said... Huh?

- And well... Well... It's Mat, right? - said Erin.

Back to the other place. Mat sneezed.

- Bless you... A-are you okay? - asked Andrew.

- I think I may have caught it... - Mat replied.

- Yeah, but... I’m not sick.

- Then...

He turned to look at nothing.

- It was you, wasn't it?

- Do I look like I could catch a cold? - a voice replied.

- Yes.

Andrew laughed after hearing that almost instantaneous response.

- You idiot.

Back to the cafeteria, again.

- H-how did you...? Right... You've known him longer and longer than me... I just got embarrassed... - Sam said, and she was very nervous and embarrassed... Which is redundant to say, but whatever.

- You shouldn't be like that, it's okay. Falling in love is a normal thing, isn't it, Erin?

- ...Huh? Ah, yes, yes it is!

- But... Why on earth did you fall in love with Mat? - Nicole said. - That's... I don't know how to say it...

- ?

- I know Mat and... Well... He's always doing everything, and he seems to want to get along with literally everyone, which is not good. At least that's the way I see it.

- So do I... - Sam.

- And not only that, it's too childish.

- Yeah, it's...

- Plus, it's kind of weird.

- That's, uh... - Sam.

- Mat's not weird! - Erin demanded. Sam was startled because she exclaimed that out of nowhere.

- Ah! ...Right, you are just like him. - Nicole said.

- What's that? - Erin.

- Well, Sam, I'm not judging you.

- ... - Sam.

- Well... So, Erin, now it's your turn! - Nicole told her.

- I don't like anyone. - she said it like it was nothing.

- Come on! There must be...

- No one. - Erin replied, almost interrupting her, no... Actually, she interrupted her.

- Erin! - shouted Sam, looking a little angry. - You made me say all that even though it's a simple liking! You must be... No... You're obliged to tell us too! You even made Nicole feel ashamed that she hadn't confessed to my brother after several years and you were the one who brought that subject up out of the blue!

- That's true! Wait, what? - Nicole said, surprised and a little bit angry, she continued: - You’re actually good at complaining!

|||||||

- ? - Eliah. He was uncomfortable.

|||||||

- R-really? I'm sorry...

- But I really don't like anyone, not one bit. - said Erin.

- I see. - said Nicole.

- I-I understand. - said Sam.

After that conversation they calmed down a bit and started talking about various other things (Nicole mentioned her younger sisters), until another customer arrived an hour later. When he arrived, Sam and Erin left. Erin walked Sam home (Mat had gone home moments ago), but on the way she got several things on her mind as she chatted with her.

"So she likes Mat, huh?"

After arriving at her house, she said goodbye to her and went to her own.

...This was a strange experience for Sam, as she said something important to someone she had just met. She regretted it later, but... What was done was done.

Oh, and her sisters looked like this, sort of...

Their names were Reina and Emily.