page62 (1/2)

“Well, I’m not exactly over the moon about all the expectation” I reply “It’s too er I don’t like all eyes to be on me like this, I more a wallflower type”

“I find that hard to believe,” says Gabriel, in a quiet voice

I wonder at his re plans for lunch either I called Rita this anised to meet at a café down the street I’m curious to ask her about this Sorcerer Theodore character, since she sees on

“I’ll let Marcel know you can’t make it then,” Gabriel continues “But are you sure you can’t put your plans off until tomorrow? Marcel’s excited to make a start, and you kno busy he can be, who knohen he’ll next have the free time to do it”

That’s what I’ Rita It’s important so I can’t put it off” I tell him

“You’reRita?” Gabriel asks in surprise “I hadn’t realised you tere friends”

I shrug “We got talking when she dropped in the other day She’s actually quite nice underneath it all,” I plaster a sether you know”

Gabriel cocks an eyebrow “What’s that like, some kind of solidarity of the disenfranchised?”

I laugh “So like that”

Gabriel appears as though he wants to sayfriends with Rita isn’t so he wants to happen I’m almost certain Marcel wouldn’t like it if he knew Nobody wants two clever girls with no proper loyalty to anyone putting their heads together All sorts of ht up And that’s precisely why I plan to cultivate the relationship What can I say, I’ they can control norant I’d been dazed by all of the new truths But now that I’ve finally gottena lot less malleable

Rita’s sitting by theknocking back a shot of espresso when I get to the café Coffee and Mexican food, I always thought that was a strange combination The place is called “The Soood kicking

“Aye, Aye Captain,” she calls in a singsong voice when she seesa little hand salute, I sit down as she reued, if I wasn’t I probably wouldn’t have bothered showing up”

“You really kno to h I’ to understand it’s simply a common aspect of her personality I don’t think she can help it

“You’re welcorins

I shake my head and a waitress appears a second later to take our order I go for the quesadillas but decline on coets tacos and another double shot of espresso I think Icoffee, but some people just seem to love it