Chapter 140 - Coffee Talk (1/2)

Laz went inside after Vivi to get changed. Although he wasn't thinking this was a real date, despite what he said, he didn't want to just show up looking like he normally did. After picking out something to wear, which going from a jeans and tee shirt to a nicer pair of jeans and a tee shirt, he headed out. Since the coffee place was pretty close, he decided to walk. It didn't take long before Laz got there and sat down to wait. Looking outside the windows at the passing traffic, Laz couldn't help feeling a bit reflective. With everything that has been happening to him, he only now really stopped to think about how different his life was when compared with others. Parents driving their kids somewhere, couples walking down the road, arms locked. Various little things that make up the population of a small town.

'This is what normal looks like... sometimes I miss it. But other times, I can't help but think how boring it is too. It's safe, but safe just makes people lax. Even when the world is changing bit by bit, everyone just tries to keep going with life like it's normal. Still, what other options is there?'

Waiting for a while and people watching caused the time to go by rather quickly. Soon, Laz noticed Leona walk past the window towards the door. Laz suddenly became dumbfounded when he saw her. Despite having seen her with nothing on, Laz couldn't help but be stunned by how she looked in what she chose to wear. Maybe it was because of being spoiled by Kat's crazy lack of clothing fetish, but Laz actually felt that a girl who dressed up for a guy looks far sexier than just being naked for a guy. In Leona's case, she wore white dress shirt with several buttons unbuttoned, a red plaid skirt, and knee high black leather boots along with her hair down. This shocking change from what she normally wore around him caused Laz to momentarily go blank. She looked stunning.

As she noticed him and walked over, she quickly saw the look on his face which caused her to blush. It had been a while since Leona had dressed up for a guy so seeing his reaction made her a bit hesitant.

”Do I look weird?” she asked in a quiet voice.

”You look radiant,” Laz responded without thinking, causing Leona to blush a bit more. As she sat down across from him, she suddenly didn't know where to start. Luckily, the waitress came over and took their order before leaving to fill it. The interruption caused them to both have a minute to compose themselves, despite being silent.

After a minute or two of awkward silence, they both started laughing while looking at each other.

”Alright. You asked me out cause you have something on your mind. Feel free to ask and I will answer if I can.” Although Dee and Reggie might not understand why she wanted to try to go out with Laz, Laz figured it out pretty quickly. He seemed to not only know too much but he also was helping them without asking for anything. Ever hear the phrase there is nothing more expensive than something given freely? That was pretty much what Leona felt and she didn't like that feeling.

”Who are you?”

”Ah, well, my driver's license says my name is Lazlo Dean, but I don't think that's what your talking about?” Laz tried making a joke but Leona didn't seem to find it funny.

”I mean, who are you really? How do you know all of this stuff? How to fight, how to use our abilities better than we do? And why is it when I google your name, nothing comes up?”

”Oh? You tried that?”

”Yes. Actually I first checked the sex offender registry but you weren't there either...”

”Ouch.”

”Do you blame me?”

”Not one bit.”

Laz didn't respond for a bit causing Leona to just sit there and wait. The coffee they ordered soon came and caused another interruption, but still Laz sat there quietly. In truth, he was thinking about how much he should tell her. Obviously telling her everything was out, but just a few things to satisfy her were needed.

”Well, my real name isn't Lazlo Dean, it's actually Lazarus Crowe. Obviously it's still Laz for short though,” Laz finally revealed to her.

”Lazarus Crowe... why does that name seem... Wait. The Lazarus Crowe who's being sought out after having disappeared when his grandfather was arrested?”

”Oh? So now he was arrested huh? Fucking assholes...”

”He wasn't?”

”Well, I suppose he was taken away by authorities. But not for the reasons I'm guessing they are giving.” Laz didn't explain more. Even he wasn't too sure what all that was about so it didn't make sense to try to explain it.

”But wait... when he... er you... disappeared, you were only 14 right?”

”Yes.”

”So, that means your...”

”16 now.”

”WHAT?” Leona's voice got loud, startling the other guests.

”Easy there. What's the problem?”

”I thought you were like... 22 or something. At least 21 though.”

”I look mature for my age.”

”But that means your the same age as my brother.”

”Yep.”

”That's... but that...” Leona couldn't collect her thoughts at first. She wanted to know more about him, but she didn't think it would be this kind of thing. She couldn't help but think about the night exercise he made her do and also about how he looked naked. She couldn't connect his body to that of a 16 year old.

”Are you sure you're really 16? I mean... that looked a little too big for someone still going through puberty...” Leona finally asked.