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At that, Alex blushed.
"Y-yeah... well, she couldn't see how 'wonderful' I was for like, four years. I got into drugs and stuff," which he said very quickly, feeling ashamed of at least that part of his life. "But I quit. Finally, they got divorced. That was about six months ago, but they're still fighting over who gets what, who owes what."

Though he was twenty, Alex still felt the sting of it all. He could deal with his own problems, to be sure. He had done so by making the decision to come to Grove. But this all had to be shoved out into the open so Danni could see who he was, or at least what he had been.
"My dad, he was the one who made me shape up. He's like my hero, you know? Let me come here and everything..."

The waitress came over to ask for their drinks, which thankfully gave Alex a bit of time to regroup his thoughts. Once that was out of the way, he turned his eyes back to Danni.
"But whatever, right? What about you? You gotta be a bit more normal than me."

"London, eh? Guess that makes me a Yankee or something." He laughed at that, but it was a warm laugh. "And I was just about to say something about your accent. It's nice. You're... nice."

And she was. She didn't make him cynical, or cold. He could just... be. What was it about her?
"Seriously, back at the shop, that skirt comment? I was ready to lose it. And then you go saying that you like the eyeliner."

"Hey hey!" Alex so wanted to poke her, tickle her, or just hug her for making him laugh again. When was the last time he had found himself smiling and laughing so much, one that hadn't required a substance?
"Man-skirts are called kilts, and I do not have one bit of Irish in me, thank you very much."

The waitress came back for their orders, though Alex hadn't even really looked at what he wanted. He could just rattle off some generic dish, something like a cheeseburger with fries.
"Get whatever you want," he told Danni. "My treat, remember?"

"Oh, the beautiful women," he said, gesturing to her with that sparkle in his eye. It seemed they were heading back towards that playful conversation, which he didn't mind at all. Not after it was confirmed that they were at least friends now.
"The way the school's isolated from everything else. I told you I came from the city, right? So this is a nice change. Quiet. Something my life never really was."

Though judging from the bustle of the restaurant, he was second-guessing himself.
"What about you? Well-to-do family, and you came here out of all the choices open to you?"

"Ah."
While her parents had sent her away, he had sent himself away. They were opposites in that respect, but he could sense they were the same in others.
"Well, I can't see why they'd want to send you away. You've made things better for me so far, and it's only been, what, an hour or so? Can't imagine what you must do for your friends, let alone family."

Alex nodded sagely. "Just being there is enough. Must be nice..." In his heart, Alex asked himself the question, would he fit into that group of people? Could he be like that for them, if they'd give him that chance? Friends... he needed them so badly.
Why not take the chance?

"Think they'd like me? I mean, from what you can tell." Their food arrived, and right from the smell, his stomach growled. He hadn't eaten since he left home a day ago out of nervousness.

"Hey, anyone who can put up with me's just fine. Just looking for a place to go, you know?"
Though he wasn't so sure if he'd be as comfortable or open with the others. Alex knew he was pale, and technically wore makeup, and seemed kind of holier-than-thou to some... but he'd be willing to start over, like his dad wanted him to.
Alex ate in silence for a bit, content with just watching Danni and listening to whatever she had to say.

He looked at the dessert menu when he was done, just for fun... and saw a beautiful sundae looking back at him.
"Hey," he said, hooking his thumb at it. "You wanna split?"