The conversation between Luigi and Eden had been interrupted to Eden's delight. She was about to lose her temper with Luigi when a customer had walked in.

Eden was now attending to the customer under the watchful gaze of Luigi who was staring at her while leaning to the wall with his hands in his pocket.

Eden said to the customer with a smile "Have a safe trip home."

As the customer left. Luigi said "You are good at what you do. I give you that. How long have you been helping your father at this shop?"

Eden ignored him. She picked up a box from behind the counter and started unpacking it. She was going to stock one of the shelves that she had noticed could do with some top up of goods.

Luigi could not believe this girl said "Why do you ignore my questions? It is not polite you know."

Eden sighed. She looked up at him "I would have thought it is obvious to you by now. I have better things to do with my time than to answer your questions. I am not answering because I am hoping you give up asking me questions."

Luigi said "Bad idea. I do not advise you to use that strategy to stop me from asking you questions. I am telling you now, that it will not work in your favour. So just answer the question."

Eden shook her head. She unpacked the box and picked up a few packs of medicine. Eden sighed "You are so annoying. Ok. I tell you. I have been helping my father ever since I started high school. At the beginning it was just small things and mostly I was watching what he did. Now that I am older and I have customer service skills, I can do alot more."

Luigi said "I see. Where is your mother? Doesnt she come and help your father here?" Now that she was willing to answer his questions, he wanted to try to get into personal questions too. He was testing how far she could reveal about herself.

Eden said "No. She can't. She is a nurse. She has long shifts at the hospital."

Luigi said "So what do you want to do when you grow older? Do you want to become a chemist or nurse?"

Eden rolled her eyes and looked at him "What makes you think I ever want to become a chemist or nurse?"

Luigi said "I just assumed you may want to follow the career path of your family. I think you want to get into your family business of helping and curing the sick. Isn't that right."

Eden said "I do not know."

Luigi asked "What do you mean?"

Eden said "I actually don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I just want to get good grades at school so I can get into any college course I ever decide to choose. Are you done with your questions?"

Luigi said "Maybe."

Eden said" Good. Now I can do some work in peace." She then got on with finishing stacking shelves as she whispered "Finally. No disturbance and total quiet."

Luigi smiled as he observed her. He thought for a few seconds. Then he said "I asked you questions. Now it is your turn. Why don't you ask me some questions?"

Eden went back to the counter and picked up a pen "I do not have any questions for you Luigi."

Luigi said "Do you want to know what I want to be when I grow up?"

Eden started scribbling as she looked down. "Not really."

Luigi said "I tell you anyway. I want to follow in father's footsteps."

Eden said "Good for you." She stopped writing and started pouring herself a glass of water.

Luigi said "I just told you I want to have the same job as my father one day. Don't you want to ask me what my father does for a living?"

She said "I do not care what your father does for a living." She then started drinking water from her glass.

Luigi said "But I know what your father does. Don't you want to know what my father does?"

She put down her empty glass "Well. No. Why would I want to know anything about you. I could not care less where you come from, what your father does or who you want to be when you grow up."

Luigi said "Really? So you do not care if let's say... my father was a criminal? or if I wanted to be a criminal?"

She laughed. That surprised Luigi. For the first time he heard her laugh and it was so nice to hear. But he would have expected her to laugh at anything but the most serious and honest question he had thrown at her. This was not the time to joke around.

Suddenly a customer came in and interrupted them.

To Luigi's dismay the guy kept asking for more and more stuff to buy. He sighed and impatiently started pacing the shop. Finally he left.

The second he closed the door, he walked to the counter and said "I want you to answer the question that I asked before that guy walked in. It was a serious question."

Eden said "Luigi. I answered your question already... I do not care..."

Luigi said "I know that. You made it clear that you do not care about who I am, who my family is or anything to do with me... But I want you to answer the question. You just laughed. What was so funny about my question?"

Eden shrugged "I tried to picture you as a criminal. That is all."

Luigi said "And. What was so funny about that?"

Eden sighed "Oh my god. Do I have to explain everything to you... I tried to imagine you as a criminal. The pictures of the criminals I have seen in papers look nothing like you. I tried to picture you in a suit and looking mean. Well. You could totally become a criminal. I can see it. But... It looked hilarious to me because... if you become a criminal .... you would be the most handsome criminal ever.

Luigi almost choked "I am sorry. What?"

She then picked up a cloth and started wiping the surface of the glass counter. She spoke totally unaware of Luigi's high interest in her words "I can see you as a criminal or anything really. I think you are cocky and confident to do what you want and not listen to anyone telling you what to be... But I think you will be too handsome and athletic for a criminal. You can do something else. With a handsome face like yours and your athletic build you can definitely at least get a good acting job or get into some sports leagues. I don't know ... baseball, basketball, football... I don't even know what your grades are like but you seem like a real jock so scholarships will be thrown at you most likely. So here you go. College maybe on the table. So why on earth you become a criminal is beyond me. But like I said I do not care. Go ahead... By all means become a criminal."

Luigi did not even know which part of what she had said to bring up first and discuss. He said the first thing that came to his mind "Did you just call me handsome?" There was no playfulness in his voice. His mind was still registering everything she had just said.

Eden rolled her eyes and looked up at him "Boys... Is that all you heard in my entire conversation? Well yes... I called you handsome. Calling you handsome is not a compliment really. I was just stating a fact. You already must have seen your face in the mirror before. Your attitude is obviously no good. Fix that and I might call you a gentleman. Then that would be real a compliment worth receiving. But that is besides the point. Well, I could see you do anything you want to do. You are no push over. But becoming a criminal is just... I don't know ... Yes. You can be one... But why would you be a criminal when you have so many other options that would probably be handed to you. But by all means go and become a criminal. I tell you now. I could not care less."

Luigi asked curiously "Why do you not care about what I become? Being a criminal is the worst thing anyone can become."

Eden said "That is what you think Luigi."

Luigi said "What do you mean? Don't you hate criminals?"

Eden said "I hate no one... except the politicians."

Luigi was seeing Eden in a different light. He could always read people but this girl was something else. She was so honest and she had surprising views that he did not expect.

Luigi voiced his thoughts "I did not expect to hear you say that? So you hate politicians? Why?"

Eden shrugged "Why not? They make empty promises. But they never deliver once they get elected. At least criminals make no promises of an Utopia to anyone. I would trust criminals more than the politicians any day." She then looked through the phone book at the counter "Are you done with your questions? I actually need to make a few phone calls to some customers. May I? Or you have more burning questions to fire at me? May I call these people or you are not done?"

Luigi shook his head "One last question."

Eden sighed "Make it quick."

Luigi said "Why don't you care about anything about me? I know so much about you but you keep refusing to take the chance to ask me questions about me, my family or what I am into?"

Eden said "Why would you be a topic of interest to me?" She picked up the phone "I do not ask people questions unless they want to volunteer to tell me. Get some clue from the phrase "personal questions" Luigi. Personal questions are personal... otherwise we would call it public questions. Wouldn't we? But honestly I would rather no one tells me about themselves. I want to make my own mind up based on people's actions that I observe. I don't think that who some one is, where they are from, or what they do for a living or what their family does for a living defines them... I think what defines a person is what they make of what they have and the choices they make in life." She then started dialling a number. "I have to work Luigi. I hope you are done with your questions. I have no idea why you ask these questions. I do not care. But I want to work. That's all that I care about right this minute."

While Eden was on the phone, Luigi was thinking over her words. He did not know Eden well but she seemed like a rational and smart girl. She was the most honest girl he had ever met.

Once Eden finished her phone calls she took a deep breath and then looked up at Luigi "You are still here. Option two is still available. Leave and come back later Luigi. I do not know when my brother will be back."

Luigi said "I am happy with option one. I would rather wait. Thanks for offering." He then said playfully. "You can't get rid of me that easily Eden."

Eden said "Hm. So you say I can't get rid of you easily... This means that.. You are saying I can actually get rid of you? Great to know. Tell me what it would take to get rid of you? What do I need to do to make you leave?"

Luigi gave her a smile as he started walking towards her"What are you willing to give Eden... for me to leave right now?"

Eden said "Anything pretty much..."

Luigi said "Am I such bad company?"

Eden said "Yes."

Luigi stood opposite her as only the counter separated them. He chuckled and put his hand on his heart and said jokingly "Oh. You hurt my feelings by saying that Eden. You said you will do anything to make me leave. Are you sure you can keep your word?"

Eden said "Absolutely. Yes."

Luigi said "All right. I will tell you what you need to do to make me leave this instant. Do this and I will walk out that door."

Eden said "All right."

Luigi leaned closer towards her and said "Go out with me."

Eden froze for a second. Then she took a step back and said "What?"

Luigi said "Go out with me on a date. If you say yes, I will leave you in peace tonight."

Eden shook her head "No way. I will not go out with you. Never." She then turned around and picked up her clipboard as her heart was beating fast. She had no idea why. Was she afraid? shocked? excited? She did not know why she was finding it hard to even think in that moment. So she did the only thing she could. She tried to make herself busy to forget he was in the room.

Luigi said "Why not?"

Eden sighed and started making notes on the medication on display as she took a few seconds to compose herself avoiding eye contact with him. Was her cheeks heating up? She wasn't sure. Suddenly she felt hot. She could not explain why.

Luigi asked again "Answer me. Why not? Why wouldn't you go out with me."

Eden closed her eyes and then opened her eyes a few seconds later and said "Because you are not my type."

Luigi said "Who is your type?"

Eden said quickly "Not you."

Luigi said "I am serious. Who is your type?"

Eden said "I am pretty sure it is not you. I do not date jocks."

Luigi said "Are you sure?"

Eden said "Yes. I am pretty certain." She carried on scribbling quickly."

Luigi asked "How can you be so sure? You have not dated any jocks in your life. Have you?

Eden said "No. I have never dated anyone before and I would certainly not go out with a jock on my first ever date in life. I would never go out with you." She was hoping he would give up asking any more questions on this topic. She felt strange. Why was she even discussing this with him. He was persistent. That was it. He did not give up. Eden normally admired that quality in people. She liked people who did not give up and insisted on their goals until they achieved them. Maybe that was why she tolerated his cockiness and endless number of questions.

Luigi suddenly felt so much joy from hearing this. She had never dated anyone before. That made his heart jump. He smiled brightly "Come on. I am not so bad as company. If you won't date me then I am not going anywhere. If you want me to leave you are going to have to make me.... You did say you are willing to do anything to make me leave... What happened to that?"

She sighed "I said that. Didn't I? I guess I was wrong to think that I would be willing to do anything to get rid of you." She made her way to the opposite side of the room.

Luigi's said "You are afraid."

Those words stopped Eden in her tracks. Eden stopped walking and turned around sharply "What did you just say?"

Luigi said "I said you are afraid."

Eden said "I am not afraid of anything and I am certainly not afraid of you."

Luigi said "You are afraid that you will like me if you go out on a date with me. Admit it."

Eden said "You are unbelievable. Someone needs to knock out your ego. I would like to see that one day someone brings your sky-high ego down to earth."

Luigi said "You could be the one to do it. I challenge you to try it. Go out with me on a date and try to knock out my ego. Are you afraid of this challenge? Or are you willing to take me on Miss Carter?"