To Miguel's surprise, she stayed at his house without incident and the next day came.

He was still awake from the previous day but he decided to leave his room so he knew when they'd get ready. He looked around until he saw her in the kitchen.

"Just helping yourself to someone else's food, huh?"

"I'm pretty sure I bought most of this stuff."

"Yeah, with my money."

"...Let's just say it's a fifty-fifty split of effort."

She looked at him before returning to the fridge.

"How do you have so much money yet can't afford pyjamas?"

Tibaut looked at his white t-shirt and grey sweatpants.

"What's so wrong with them? They're comfortable and they get the job done. Why do I need a whole extra set of clothes to sleep in?"

"I wish you listened to yourself sometimes."

She also wasn't wearing any pajamas but he decided not to bring it up. Enough though he didn't wear pajamas he couldn't imagine wearing denim jeans in his sleep.

She took out a bunch of eggs and vegetables.

"Anyway, when are you going to drag me around with you?"

"Hmm." She pulled out her phone and looked at the time. "It should open in the next hour."

She turned the heat on and liberally added butter to the pan.

("I swear it's a miracle she can stay that size.")

She cracked open some eggs and added the mostly frozen vegetables into the pan, which upset Miguel slightly.

"(Enjoy a cold veggie omelet.) I guess I'll shower."

"Oh yeah, you don't mind if I borrow your soap?"

"I use a bottle of the liquid stuff so it doesn't really matter to me."

They continued having their meaningless conversations until finally getting ready and leaving.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Miguel was wearing a black oversized T-shirt with some black jeans while Louise wore a black leather jacket with a white shirt and the jeans he had seen her in earlier.

"Just black?"

"Shut up, they don't get dirty easily."

"That's kind of a frugal way to think Miguel, why don't you enjoy life and wear the colours you want?"

She wrapped her arm around his neck as they walked to their destination. He didn't ask where they were going but knowing her it had to be somewhere ridiculous. It looked like she was walking to the bus stop so it probably wouldn't take too long to reach.

"Just cause I have money doesn't mean I'll just spend it on random shit I don't need. Besides black's an alright colour."

"Even in the summer?"

He couldn't lie that a sweat had broken out on him but he wasn't sure if it was due to the clothing or just plain inactivity. Now that he thought about it, he couldn't remember the last time he had left his house, let alone with another person. As his mind started overthinking the scenario more and more he couldn't help but feel on edge.

("Wait, isn't this sorta like a date? I mean she said it wasn't like that but this is to cheer her up right? Isn't she saying I make her happy? I'm not making this up am I?")

"...iguel. MIGUEL!"

Her loud voice broke him out of his trance and he blushed as he looked at her face.

"We're having a conversation, you know? Do you know how crazy I look talking to myself while walking next to you?"

Her face held only annoyance for ignoring him. He looked her in the face for a few more moments before responding.

"Sorry, but what do you expect out of someone who sleeps during daytime hours? You'd be lucky if I'm still awake by the time we reach where you're going."

"Unless you like being dragged against asphalt I'd recommend staying awake."

He looked at her face more before returning to thought.

("What the hell am I thinking? We're friends, of course, she wants to hang out with me. I'm probably the only one that has free time since I don't have to work.")

"Is there something on my face?" She asked.

"Just thinking about what I should write on your face."

She smiled. "So you did notice!"

Miguel was annoyed at her response but he couldn't deny how cute her face was as she said this.

They continued walking until they reached their destination.

"Really?"

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"No, it's just that…"

"Just what? Speak up already."

"This is shockingly normal."

"What do you mean shockingly normal!?" She asked, sounding insulted.

"Don't act like you don't know. You're the type of person who'd go to an amusement park as soon as it opens on a weekday. Honestly, I'm surprised you didn't book a private tour at the brewery that makes that beer you drink all the time."

She began stuttering before regaining her voice.

"Excuse me, since when have I done anything like that?"

"You literally booked a flight across the country just because that Japanese restaurant you went to had a better-reviewed location there."

"... that was only once. Besides, we both enjoyed it, so it was worth it."

Tibaut looked at the location in front of them.

"Well, I suppose going somewhere normal isn't so bad."

She playfully punched his shoulder.

"Stop acting like this out of the norm for me!"

Before them was…a mall. It was a mall that had been in the area as long as he could recall and he was honestly surprised it was still here with the so-called extinction of them happening across the country.

"Anyways let's go inside. If all we do is stand out here the guards might think we're terrorists or something."

"Fine by me, I could use some A/C."

There was no A/C in the mall.