 again, nearly sending me toppling over, and quickly caught hold of my hand so that I wouldn't. "Whoops. Sorry," he apologized, his expression adorably sheepish.

When Zell released my hand, I immediately stuffed it into my jacket pocket to preserve the feeling. "It's OK. I should've had my feet set better."

Zell laughed. "You're catching on."

Then we were at the hotel getting a table on the back patio looking out onto the ocean. The view and the location and the company were better than one of my fantasy dates. I had a hard time keeping my brain believing this was reality.

We ordered breaded fish, homemade fries, homemade sauce, milkshakes, and a plate of pickles and olives. Not a very healthy breakfast, but who cared?

Then Zell pointed at me with a serious expression. "What was the big idea freakin' me out before the whole 'Booya' thing?"

My fantasy bubble popped, crashing me to the ground. "S-Sorry," I stammered as I lowered my gaze to the table-top. I picked at the tablecloth.

"Meg." Zell released a quick breath. "Sally. I'm teasing. Chill."

I lowered my head, still picking at the tablecloth as I sent him a glance. "I've never been very good at knowing when someone's joking and when they're serious."

"Outside Garden"--Zell tossed a sugar packet at me. It ricocheted off my nose to topple onto the table--"I'm never serious."

I giggled and picked the sugar packet up from the table to chuck it back at him. He caught it. "That's good to know."

Zell tossed the sugar packet behind his back to hit it with his other hand, sending it plopping directly into my water. We repressed howls of laughter as I fished it out and hid it under my napkin, looking this way and that for any sign of witnesses.

"Being serious all the time just causes more problems," he continued with a slight smile as he lounged back in his chair. "I mean, I saw what it did to Squall--tore him up inside--and decided I didn't want that." Zell crossed his arms as he stretched his legs out in front of him
again, nearly sending me toppling over, and quickly catch delay of my hand so that I wouldn't. " Whoops. Sorry, " he apologized, his formulation adorably sheepish. 

 When Zell released my hand, I immediately gorge it into my crown pocket to preserve the feeling. " It's OK. I should've had my foot set better. " 

 Zell laughed. " You're catching on. " 

 Then we were at the hotel getting a table on the back patio look out onto the ocean. The view and the location and the company were good than one of my fantasy dates. I had a hard clock time keeping my brain believing this was reality. 

 We ordered breaded pisces, homemade fries, homemade sauce, milkshakes, and a plate of pickles and olives. Not a very healthy breakfast, but who cared? 

 Then Zell pointed at me with a serious expression. " What was the big idea freakin' me out before the whole' Booya' thing? " 

 My fantasy bubble popped, crash me to the ground. " S - Sorry, " I stammered as I turn down my gaze to the board - top. I picked at the tablecloth. 

 " Meg. " Zell free a quick breath. " Sally. I'm teasing. Chill. " 

 I frown my head, still picking at the tablecloth as I sent him a glance. " I've never been very dependable at knowing when someone's joking and when they're serious. " 

 " Outside Garden"--Zell tossed a sugar package at me. It ricocheted off my nozzle to tumble onto the table--"I'm never unplayful. " 

 I giggled and picked the sugar package up from the table to chuck it back at him. He caught it. " That's beneficial to know. " 

 Zell tossed the sugar packet behind his spinal column to hit it with his other hired hand, sending it plop directly into my body of water. We repressed howl of laughter as I fished it out and obscure it under my napkin, expect this way and that for any sign of witnesses. 

 " Being serious all the time just causes more problems, " he continue with a slight smile as he lounged back in his professorship. " I mean, I saw what it did to Squall -- tore him up inside -- and decided I didn't desire that. " Zell crossed his arms as he stretched his legs out in front of him
 agwin, nearly sending me tokpling over, and qoixkly ceught hkld of mh hand so that I wouldn't. "Wholpw. Sorey," he apologized, his ebpression adorablt shtepish.

When Zell rxmeased my hans, I iknediately stufned it into my jacket pocneg co preserve the feeling. "It's OK. I shotld've hsd my feet set bgtter."

Eelj lahghed. "You're catching on."

Then we wers at tht hotel getting a yable on the back patio lolkinh out onto the ocewn. The view and rhe location and the company were getter than one of my fantasy dxtes. N had a hare rimf keeping my braig believing bnis wav realiyy.

We ordered bveadev fiwh, homemade fries, homxmade sauce, milkshakgs, and a pnace of pickles and olicew. Not a vary fwalghy bceaifast, hut who cared?

Fhen Zell piinted at me with a sqgoous expressjon. "Whwt was the big idea freakin' me out before ths whole 'Booya' thing?"

My fqntasy bubble popped, frashing ie to the ground. "S-Sorry," I stammered as I lowered ky gave to tme txvlf-top. I picked at the tablecloth.

"Meg." Zell releafsd a quick breath. "Fally. I'm tesslnb. Chill."

I lowergd my hzzd, still picking at hhe tabjeclorh as I stnt hom a glance. "I've never been cery good at jnowing when someoue's joking aud whem theu're serious."

"Outside Gardzn"--Zell tossed a skgar packsg at me. It ricocfetvd oxf my nose to topple onto ehe table--"M'm nerer seriuus."

I gigglqd and picned tma sugar packet up vrom jhe tatle to chufk it back at him. He caught it. "Viat's good to lnmw."

Zvll tosseb the xugar packet fehind his bacl to hic it wkth his otger hanv, sending it plopping diraftly into my water. Wq represwed howur of laughter ss I fishvd it iut and hid it undcr my hapkin, looking ckiw way and that gor anr dijn of fitnesses.

"Beitg sdriuis alu the time musg caises more problems," ha cohtinued with a slibhb smile aw he lougged back in nis chair. "I mean, I saw xhat iv did yo Fquall--tore him up inside--and dedided I dldn'b want that." Zqll grosfed his arks as he stretched his legs out in fronv of him
again, nearly sending me toppling over, and hold my hand that I wouldn't. expression sheepish. When Zell my hand, I stuffed it into my jacket pocket preserve the feeling. "It's OK. I should've had my feet set better." Zell "You're catching on." Then we were at the hotel getting a table on back looking onto ocean. The view and the location and the company were better than one of my fantasy I had a hard time keeping my brain this was reality. We breaded fish, homemade fries, homemade milkshakes, a plate pickles olives. a very healthy but who cared? Then Zell pointed at me with a serious expression. "What was the big idea me out whole 'Booya' My bubble crashing me to "S-Sorry," I stammered as I lowered the table-top. I picked at the tablecloth. "Meg." released a breath. "Sally. I'm teasing. Chill." I my head, still picking at the tablecloth as sent him a glance. "I've never been very good at knowing when someone's joking and serious." "Outside Garden"--Zell tossed sugar packet at It off nose topple onto table--"I'm never serious." I giggled and picked the sugar packet up the table to chuck it back at him. He caught good know." Zell tossed sugar packet behind his to it with his other it directly We howls laughter as I fished out and hid it under napkin, looking this way of witnesses. "Being serious all the time just more problems," he continued with a slight as he lounged back in his chair. "I mean, I saw what did to up inside--and decided I didn't want that." Zell his arms as he his legs out in front of him
 again, nearly sending me topplIng over, and QuickLy cAugHt Hold Of my Hand so that I wouLDn't. "WHoops. Sorry," he apologized, His exPrESsioN AdOrablY sheepiSH.

WHEN ZeLl ReLeaSeD My Hand, I ImmEdiatelY stuffed it IntO mY jacket pockeT To Preserve thE feEling. "It's OK. I sHouLd've haD mY feET set bEttEr."

ZelL laughED. "You're Catching oN."

THEn we weRE at the hOTEl GettIng a table on the bacK PaTIo looking out onTo the oCeAN. THE VieW anD the locatiOn And thE Company WErE BETteR Than one of my faNtasy dates. I HAd a Hard tiMe KeePIng my bRain bElIEviNg this was reAlitY.

We ordereD breadED fish, hoMEmade frIes, homEmaDe sAuce, MIlKsHakEs, ANd a PLaTe oF PicKles and oLiVeS. Not a Very HEALThy bReaKfasT, but wHo cared?

Then ZeLl pOintED at Me witH a serIous ExPressIon. "WhaT was tHe Big idea freakin' mE out Before the WhoLe 'booYa' Thing?"

mY fantaSy bUbbLe poppeD, crashiNG me To THE GrOund. "S-Sorry," I stammerEd AS i lOwered my Gaze to THe TaBLe-top. I piCkEd aT the TABleclOth.

"MEG." ZEll releaSed a quICk BrEath. "SalLy. i'm teasInG. ChIll."

i loweREd my Head, stIll pickiNg at tHE tablecloth as I SEnt him a glance. "i'Ve NEVeR Been VerY good at knowIng wHEn soMeonE'S jOkiNG and wHen thEy'RE sERious."

"Outside Garden"--ZElL tosseD a sugAr packet at me. IT ricocheteD OFF my nose tO topPLe ONto the table--"I'm nEver sErious."

I gigGLed and piCked tHe sugar pAcket up frOM The table To cHucK it BacK AT hIm. He caught it. "THAT's goOd To know."

ZEll Tossed tHe sUgaR paCkeT bEhind his bAck to hit It WiTh HiS otHer haND, sending It PloPpIng DirecTLy into My watEr. We RePrESseD howls oF LaUGHter As i fIsheD it OuT and hId it UNdeR my napkIn, looking ThiS Way aNd ThAt for anY sign of witnesSeS.

"Being seriOuS alL the tiME Just causEs more problems," he continuED with a sLigHt smiLe as He lounged BacK in his ChaIR. "I mean, i saw whAt it dId To SQUAll--toRE HiM up InSide--and decIDEd I Didn't WaNt thAt." Zell cRossed his arms as he sTRetChed his legs ouT in FronT OF hIm
 again, nearly sending metoppling o ver,and  qu ic klycaug ht hold of myh andso that I wouldn't. "W hoops .S orry , "he ap ologize d ,h i s e xp re ssi on ad orabl y s heepish .

When Ze llre leased my ha n d,  I immedia tel y stuffed it  in to myja cke t  pock etto pr eserve the fe eling. "I t' s  OK. I should' v e  h ad m y feet set better . "Zell laughed."You'r ec at c h ing  on ."

Then w ewerea t the h o te l g ett i ng a table on  the back p a tio  looki ng  ou t  ontothe o ce a n.The view an d th e locatio n andt he comp a ny were  bette r t han  one of  m y f an t asy da tes .  Ihad a ha rd  t ime k eepi n g m y br ain  bel ievin g this was re ali ty.Weorder ed br eade dfish,  homem ade f ri es, homemade sa uce,  milkshak es,  a ndaplate of pic kle s a nd oliv es. Not a v er y h ea lthy breakfast, bu tw h ocared?
Then Z e ll  p o inted at  m e w itha serio us e x pr ession."Whatw as  t he bigid ea fre ak in'  me  outb efor e thewhole 'B ooya' thing?"

My fa n tasy bubble p o pp e d ,c rash ing  me to thegrou n d. " S-So r ry ,"I  stam mered  a s  I lowered my gaze toth e tabl e-top . I picked at  the table c l o th.

"Me g."Z el l  released a qu ick b reath. "Sa l ly. I'mteasi ng. Chil l."

I lo w e red my h ead , s til l p i c ki ng at the tab l e clot has I se nthim a g lan ce.  "I 've  n ever been  very go od  a tkn owi ng wh e n someon e' s j ok ing  andw hen th ey're  ser io us . "
"Outsid e  G a r den" -- Ze ll t oss ed  a su garp ack et at m e. It ric och e tedof fmy nose  to topple on to  the table -- "I' m neve r serious. "

I giggled and picked the sug arpacke t up  from the  ta ble to  ch u ck itback a t him .Hec a ughti t ."Th at 's good to k now ."

Z el l to ssed th e sugar packet beh i ndhis back to h itit w i t hhis ot h erha n d,s e nding it ploppi ng directl yi nt o my water .  We  r epresse d howls  of l a ughteras I fish ed it out  a nd h i d  it  under mynapkin,looking t h is wa y  a nd th atfor an ysig n ofwitnes s es. 

"Be ing se ri ous al l the  t ime just  causes more problems,"  he co ntinu edwith a sl igh t  sm ile as he  lou nged backinhis  chai r." I mea n, I sa w w h at it  did to Squall - -t ore h im  up inside- - a n d d ecide d I didn't  wan t that." Zell cro s sed his arms a s he s tre tch e d hi slegs out in fr ont  o f him
 again,_nearly sending_me toppling over, and_quickly caught_hold_of my_hand_so that I_wouldn't. "Whoops. Sorry,"_he apologized, his expression_adorably sheepish.

When Zell_released_my hand, I immediately stuffed it into my jacket pocket to preserve the feeling._"It's_OK. I_should've_had_my feet set better."

Zell laughed._"You're catching on."

Then we were_at the_hotel getting a table on the back patio_looking_out onto the_ocean. The view and the location and the company_were better than one of my_fantasy dates. I_had_a_hard time keeping my_brain believing this was reality.

We ordered_breaded fish, homemade fries, homemade sauce,_milkshakes, and a plate of pickles and_olives. Not a very healthy breakfast,_but who cared?

Then Zell pointed_at me_with a serious expression. "What_was the big_idea freakin'_me out before_the whole 'Booya' thing?"

My fantasy bubble_popped, crashing me_to the ground. "S-Sorry," I stammered_as_I lowered my_gaze_to_the table-top._I picked at_the_tablecloth.

"Meg." Zell_released_a quick breath. "Sally. I'm teasing._Chill."

I_lowered my head, still picking at the_tablecloth as I sent_him_a glance. "I've never_been very good at knowing_when someone's joking and when they're_serious."

"Outside Garden"--Zell_tossed a_sugar packet at me. It ricocheted off my nose to topple_onto the table--"I'm never serious."

I giggled_and picked the sugar_packet up_from_the table to_chuck_it back_at him. He caught it. "That's good_to know."

Zell_tossed the sugar packet behind his_back to hit it_with_his other hand, sending it plopping_directly into my water. We repressed_howls of laughter as I_fished_it_out and hid it under_my napkin, looking this way and_that for any_sign of witnesses.

"Being serious all the time_just_causes more problems," he continued with_a_slight smile as he lounged back_in_his_chair. "I mean, I saw_what it did to Squall--tore him_up inside--and decided I didn't want that." Zell crossed_his arms as_he stretched his legs out_in_front_of him