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Was it bad that Jada was so out of it right now, thinking about one thing after another, that she almost followed Marlo into the dressing room before she caught herself? (She'd never look at this dressing room the same way again.)

Standing next to Elzo, she remained very meek as she let them guide her to the counter to get Marlo's clothing and her bags. "Let me get some of those," she started, but was cut off and gave a little squeaking noise as she found herself swept up into Elzo's arms.

She'd never been this high up off the ground. Not outside of a VEHICLE. OR WITHOUT BEING ON A HORSE. She shot Marlo a look of alarm over the elder Xanis' shoulder, and then they were running. Or the guys were. Literally running.

She hunched in Elzo's arms, letting herself relax. Thank goodness she was in pants, otherwise this would have been even more embarrassing than it already was. And oh; this was embarrassing. Oh, this was a strange feeling.

Outside, when Elzo finally set her down, she gulped in a few breaths of crowd-free air. A glance at the outdoor clock told her quickly what time it was, and her stomach gave a rumble in reply. She helped the boys shove some of the bags in there, not paying much attention to which went where.

The trunk closed, she slid into the cab after Elzo; she pressed her body closer to him to give Marlo room to maneuver into his seat. "Umm, I honestly don't care where I go right now." Honesty. "I am kind of hungry though." Her stomach rumbled an agreement; she didn't know how much of it was nervous hunger. "As for home, I'm afraid I board at Crystal." It was obvious she hadn't caught Elzo's refrence to how she could repay them. She leaned forward, telling the driver, "Just drive somewhere."

She turned to Marlo, reaching to rest her hand on his knee. "Marlo, I... Thank you. Thank both of you." Each brother received a gentle kiss on the cheek. "I just kind of... jumped on you, didn't I?" it was a wry smile. "But it's been an adventure, right?"

"I kind of regret not doing the same." her voice was a low murmur and she settled back against the seat, pulling her hair around so she wasn't sitting on it.

Marlo's hand was warm on hers; She smiled at him when he lifted her hand to his lips. "You have nothing to apologize for." she gave him a shy smile. "And you don't owe me anything." she pulled her hand away almost reluctantly from his and settled back to listen to the brothers.

"A taco cart?" Jada tilted her dark head, giving Elzo a curious look. "I've..." She'd never eaten someplace like that. "An old car lot?" Oh, this would be so interesting. She leaned forward, trying to see out the front windshield, to keep an eye where they were going. She was glad she was in jeans, it let her be a bit unladylike in the way she sat. Most of her skirts wouldn't allow for such an action.

It was probably much like being in the car with a child; they were going to a part of town she'd really only been to as a senshi, at night when it was dark. There was still some light for her to see.

But when they got to the taco stand, her face was priceless. The lighted little sombreros that lined the carts, the female staff member in a faux flamenco dress, and the fact she could smell the grease as soon as they stepped out of the cab all joined together to make her cover her mouth.

So was this what a 'dive' was like?

She leaned on Elzo's arm this time as she followed them to the 'Taco Cart.' So many options. None of which were fat free. And it rather made her feel the acid already just looking at the other people and their food. Her indecision and obvious loss when it came to placing an order ended up getting her a 'sampler,' which came with a taco, an enchilada, a burrito and refried beans and rice.

She insisted on paying for the meal and won. Joining them at the table (outdoors, and made of rickety wood that looked like it may have splinters,) she sat down gingerly across from them. "You promise this won't choke me?" she asked, giving the burrito a look that was clearly suspicious; still, she finally took a bite.

It was ******** delicious. She made a little noise, a whimper low in her throat, the sound guilty; she almost dropped the object in surprise. "Ohhh..." She took another bite, shifting in her seat. She'd had Mexican food before, certainly, but this... this thing swimming in its own grease and well-flavored juices... This delicious, cheap poison... Was this how poor people ate? It was...

She looked quite guilty when she looked up at the brothers, delicately dabbing at her mouth with one of the cheap paper napkins. "It's better than I thought it would be." she finally admitted, lamely.

Most of the meal was in silence for the boys. Jada couldn't stop making happy little noises as she munched. Jada loved food. She loved all things edible, in fact, and this sinful little treat that she could feel clogging her arteries was no exception.

Somehow the heiress managed to remember her manners and not inhale her food. By the time that Marlo and Elzo were done, she'd only finished about a fourth of her meal.

She looked guilty, set down the taco she'd just started to take a bite of. "I'm sorry, I'm slow." she pushed her plate away. "I really don't mind walking from here. I like to... I like to take walks at night. It's peaceful." Though her walks consisted of being incognito and smashing bad things. "Most of the time, anyways. But from here you boys probably need a taxi to get back to your house?"

She pushed her plate away from her, reaching for her purse.

One brother was saying they could wait, the other was tossing leftovers into a little styrofoam box as fast as he could shovel. She grinned at Marlo, shook her head. "It's fine." She reached out, trying to appropriate the box from Elzo. "Here, let me take care of that, please?"

She was a little embarrassed at the fact she had eaten so slowly. Her cheeks were flushed as she pushed the remnants of the enchilada and the rice and beans into the box. The taco she wrapped up in a napkin. A snack for the road, darn it.

She pushed to her feet, reached down to grab a few of the bags. "Are you sure about taking the bus?" she looked a little concerned. "Don't people get stabbed on buses this late at night?"

"O-Oh. Thank you." She gave them both a grateful nod and moved a little bit ahead of them, spinning around to watch them. Her purse swung behind her. Something started to fall out. Crap. She managed to get to the small pen before it actually exited the purse, shoving it back in; hopefully before either of the boys got a decent look at it. What was she talking about, of course they wouldn't have noticed something like that!

Marlo offered his arm and she took it with a smile, leaning on him again. "Hillworth?" she looked visibly surprised. She'd not met another gentleman that she knew of from that particular school. "I've heard some... interesting things about what goes on there."

One girl swore they ate babies. Vivian had sworn they were the best lovers.

Jada colored, visibly, ducking her head.

The discussion on ravaging, on top of what Vivian had said, turned Jada's face a bright red under the streetlamps. "Well, I'm sure that, umm..." she shook her head, choosing not to finish that train of thought from courtesy. And the fact her head may explode from so much blood running to her cheeks.

Still, it had been enjoyable. She grinned at them both. "I'll put your numbers in my cell." she promised, sliding the napkin into her back pocket. "And next time I decide to go shopping I'll make sure you know my itinerary. Noted that Marlo doesn't check his phone." she tskd mockingly, leaning in to give the shorted Xanis a kiss on the cheek.

The bags were dropped and she leaned down to grab the ones she thought were hers, not really paying attention. "I don't want you breaking curfew either. Oh, umm... Do you want to dinner with me again? Later this week?" She flushed when Elzo leaned in to kiss her on the cheek, biting her lip. "If I call to make plans?"

The Call me was enough of a response.

With a wave she slipped onto Crystal grounds, getting in the door. She thought she saw one of the two males slip out the gate. How sweet that they'd waited for her to get in the door!

It wasn't until she got to her bedroom, digging through her bags that she noticed one... other... problem.