Authentic Chinese food

[Heather Marie Barton]

A night in to town alone probably wasn't the smartest thing Heather had done, but insomnia had slowly crept its way back into her life. Her eyelids dropped, and a thick layer of eyeliner tried to conceal the bags underneath her eyes. Heather sighed, the tip of her brain reeling back to that phone call she had received earlier last week. Robert was in jail. How?! She demanded internally frusterated that it had happened. She always thought the 'drug lord' was very discrete. Even the pros get caught, she shrugged when she found out the news and simply tried to continue life.

She was on edge lately. Paranoid. Too afraid to ask anyone around school where she could find that magical herb. Sleep was out of reach. She wouldn't say she had an addiction to the plant, but it sure did wonders in bed. (*drum noise * lol ) She pulled her sleeveless penguin dress up as it began to slip below where her cleavage should have been. It was a gown she typically wore to bed, though it made its appearance tonight. Her knee high boots covered half the mismatching leggings underneath. One side orange, the other a bright blue. She had no one to impress that night so why bother.

It amazed her how busy the city kept, even at night. China town in particular was one of her favorite places to visit. The culture, and the lanterns lit up at night were really pretty. Shifting her weight under one leg as she stood in a line, for what she wasn't really quite sure. The lettering on the large sign above was entirely in Mandarin.

The sweet aroma coming from the shop tickled her nose, leaving her to imagine it was some sort of restaurant. Food wasn't particularly on her mind that night, it was authentic though. Her stomach growled with protest as she debated turning away. When was the last time she ate? She sighed, rumbling stomach finally giving in. She would spoil herself tonight, only later planning to vomit it in the morning.

[Kylar Fox]

www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=94620024

As soon as his aunt and uncle went to bed, Kye made a dash out his window like some kind of wild monkey in the jungles of South America. He had scaled the back fire exit so many times he could do it blindfolded and probably handcuffed. Over his shoulder, he had slung his hunter green messenger bag strapped closely to him because it carried everything he needed, like a little survival kit at his own disposal. It held a drawing book, his pens, a little circular tin that concealed his green little getaway, his glass pipe, a cigarette case that had five home-rolled smokes inside, his phone, a bottle o water, and a pair of gloves seeing as the month was still rather frigid. 

He hugged his jacket up against his neck as the breeze drifted through and adjusted his beanie down over his ears. Slowly but surely, Kye made his way to the bus stop. He would have taken his car, if it weren't so loud that it would wake up his guardians. He patiently waited for the bus to come so that he could make his way down to Chinatown because he'd skipped dinner and was really craving something he hadn't had in a while; chinese.

Stepped off the bus stairs, Kye walked another block and a half until he reached his destination. There were surprisingly a lot of people still out an about for a Thursday night. He shuffled his way through one couple and parted them because they looked too happy and too close in his mind and it made him a little sick. They were both a little surprised by this kid's actions when he didn't even apologize and just kept walking.

He walked another five minutes before he found a line for a little outdoor eatery that seemed to peek his interest and make his mouth water. Kye stepped in line behind a girl that looked around his age, probably a little older from what he could tell. She looked like one of the girls from his anime books or something. He'd seen her somewhere before, he knew it but couldn't put his finger on where.. maybe school? Maybe he had passed her on the street once and remembered her face from that. Either way, he was looked her over trying to figure out what the hell she was wearing and whether or not that he liked it. 

To anyone else, it probably looked like he was hardcore checking this girl out, but he wasn't. He was just curious about her. Never one to hold back from a potential conversation, even if he was a man of few words, Kye leaned forward a little bit. "Nice boots.." Leaning back, he looked straight ahead and tried to to smile. That probably made him seem like he was being a sarcastic asshole and now that he was thinking about it.. yeah, definitely sounded like a douche. "I'm serious though. They're rad."

[Heather Marie Barton]

She ignored the voice coming from behind her, assuming he was simply talking to someone else. Her eyes crept to the side of her head, trying to get a glance at Kylar without actually turning her head. A heart beat later she realized he was addressing her. Heather spun around, looking quite lost. He looked vaguely familiar, but it was a big city. It strained her brain to try and think of where she had seen him before, especially going on three sleepless nights.  He had a faint piney scent lingering about him, though it didn't click in her head what its source was.

She wasn't sure how to handle the compliment, not many appreciated her styles. Her boots weren't even the real deal. Some knock off she bought at a thrift shop and designed herself by glueing buckles and glitter on the heels. Though she stood two inches taller she still had to look up to him. As he glanced ahead she smirked, "Asshole." She remarked blunty. "I can pick up sarcasm, I'm not like three." She said then spun back around clicking her boots together indignantly. She crossed her arms and huffed a little debating on leaving the line.

What if there was a slight chance that he was being genuine? She frowned, arms still crossed as she thought of a way to apologize. "Hey, sorry. I'm just not used to..." She sighed losing her train of thought. "Sorry." She stated again turning back to him, eyes blinking apologetically. "I haven't gotten any sleep lately so I guess I'm a little cranky." She tried to play it off as a joke. A few pathetic giggles here and there.

[Kylar Fox]

Kye wasn't surprised when she called him an asshole. He knew what it was like to be the black sheep with peers. He always got "stoner" and "freak" as his names when he did something wrong or look at someone he shouldn't have in the hall. He let off a single huff as a laugh and rocked on his feet until she turned around to apologize."A compliment?" Kye asked, completing her sentence about not being used to receiving things. He brought his eyes to her with a coy smile, "I'm not used to giving them.."

This girl didn't seem so much cranky as she did protective over herself which might have been what seemed to have been drawing him in. He stuck out his hand for a peace shake, "I'm Kylar.. Er.. uhm, Kye for short." He never ever ever used his full first name unless he absolutely had to.. like if he was in trouble or something. He didn't want to say that she looked familiar, because, well, how creepy would that be? It was New York after all..

"Ah, you're a girl.. it's like... in your genes or something to be the Grinch." Kye rocked on his heels once more and waived his hand next to his face, "Kidding.. kinda." He was really hoping that his bluntness and quirky awkwardness wasn't fending her off because she seemed like a genuinely interesting person and that was so hard to find nowadays, especially at their school. It was filled with whores and fancy fucking rich kids and adorable little people with their adorable little lives and all of their glorious perfection.

Kye hoped that she wasn't one of them. "You don't go to Somerset, do you? I think I've seen you around before.." Welp, there went the question that he didn't want to ask but blurted out anyways. He stopped himself from rambling though, which was probably the best for both of them because that could get awkwardly annoying.. So, he just shut up as the line moved forward.

[Heather Marie Barton]

She shrugged, "Thanks, I guess." Her voice was quiet, and she decided to leave the details of how the shoes were made out of their conversation. She eyed him up and down and cautiously stuck out her hand. He looked like the type of guy that would snap in a few years. Bat shit crazy without warning. Her frail handshake lasted less then a second, peeling away quickly as soon as their skin touched.  "I like.. your.." She paused searching him. "Beanie." Even though it was just a hat, she was being genuine. Something she would be too afraid to wear herself, fear of her hair being sucked into the head piece.

"Heather, Barton." She muttered formally introducing her full name. Honestly, he was kind of irritating her. Only because she didn't know him, and she wasn't all the way there. Otherwise the joke would have been hilarious. She rarely got along with other girls, just because of the fact most actually were bitchy 'grinches.' She matched his coy smile, proud of herself for keeping her calm.

She looked down again her boots, then back up to meet his plain eyes. "Yah, I'm a senior there." His question verified where she had seen him before. She had a feeling he was a few grades younger, as she couldn't recall any classes together? It didn't really matter did it, he had nothing to offer her. Except weed. But she didn't know that.

The line was moving steadily and she still had no idea what she wanted to order. So when the little asian dude behind the counter waved a sample on a stick at her, then yelled something, she stepped backwards bumping into Kylar. "Uh.. I've no idea what he just said." She laughed, eyes wide with fright. "What.. is good here?" She asked, blushing as she kept the line waiting behind them.

[Kylar Fox]

"Barton.. like.. Charlie Bartlett minus the Charlie and Bartlett." He said, not really asking a question but definitely amusing himself with his own personal dry humor. She probably wouldn't get it, but he'd decided that was what he was going to call her from that point on, even if she didn't like it and assuming that they say each other again after this night. Seeing as she confirmed that she was indeed a student at Somer, he guessed they'd bump into each other from time to time. "Ah, yeah, that's where I've seen you." Kye said, waving his index finger before crossing his arms and shifting his weight onto one foot. "I'm a sophomore." He said with a head bob.

He stepped back, trying to get his foot out from underneath of hers and his hands instinctively went up to guard his body from the sudden intruder. Kye couldn't help but laugh at her reaction to the man behind the counter. "I think he was asking you if you wanted to try that dead cat on a stick." He said inbetween chuckles. "Get the lo mien. And I say that because that's what I'm getting." He said, placing his order. He paid and waited near the pickup window as he looked around to the other stands. Compared to them, this one was awful and looked like the slum of the area. This wasn't even his favorite place to get food!

It should just be burned to the ground. Kye looked around before running his hand over the side of his neck. He started to dig around in his bag until he reached the cigarette tin and pulled it and a lighter out. Inside of it were his smokes, but there were two on the far right that were different than the others. He pulled one of them out and flicked the flame to the end. Kye wasn't ashamed to pull out a joint and smoke in public, he really just didn't give a shit what anyone thought. He wasn't scared about getting into trouble either but around here, there weren't many cops hanging around so his worries were nothing.

He took in a long drag and adjusted his beanie just before his food was ready. Never in his life had something so simple looked so appetizing. "Hey, thanks, man." He said to the person that pushed it through the window. He'd momentarily forgotten that Heather was still there, but he was really enjoying his own festivities to say much of anything. Still, he waited until her order was up before he moved to a table and took a seat.

[Heather Marie Barton]

"S..Sorry." She stuttered feeling his hands press against her back. She re-balanced herself and smirked at his response. At least he could appreciate a good independent film. She had never personally made that connection with her name before, and her brow raised as she struggled to put two and two together... There really wasn't a connection.

Shaking her head in response to the asain cook's offering, she followed Kylar's advice and ordered the lo mein with chicken. Heather rolled her eyes as Kylar fumbled for a cigarette. She really did hate smokers! Just as she was about to protest him smoking in a public area, her mouth clamped shut when he exhaled blowing smoke in her direction. The sweet second hand smoke teased her nose. That was no ordinary cigarette!

Paying for her meal, and picking up her tray she followed after him. Inviting herself to his table, she scootched in next to him. She wasn't a shy person in the least, their close contact didn't seem to phase her. People often would complain at her lack of a personal bubble. She had his name, and that was enough for her.

Without saying a word she began to eat her meal. "Where'd you get that?" She whispered after a mouthful, twirling her fork around the noodles. Her eyes were wide and puppy-like, and a small smile was forming on her lips. She was genuinely curious, and this could be the solution to all her night problems. She didn't mean to look desperate, though the way she was hunched over it was pretty obvious.