Suzy poked at her food, moving it around the brightly colored plate. It was her favorite, but she merely stared at it, too lost in her own thoughts to take a bite. She hadn't realized she'd become so distracted until a clinking of glass roused her from her thoughts.
Her friend chuckled as he watched her startle, taking a sip of his drink. "I've never known Mountain Dew to scare you, dearest," he said, his soft words nearly lost in the atmosphere of the busy Mexican restaurant. He sat the glass down on the table once more, but his gaze remained fix on her, and only her. "What's the matter?"
She gave him a sheepish smile, dropping her gaze back to her fork. "Nothing," she said, prodding at her food once more. She lifted the fork to her mouth, taking a bite for the first time in several minutes.
"Don't lie to me, missy!" her protective friend demanded, though his tone was more concerned than angry. She looked up at him, knowing that he knew her all to well to let the matter slip by. He was one of the few people she knew who picked up on the smallest of details; there would be no fooling him with rubbish excuses. He would not take 'oh, nothing,' or 'I'm just tired.'
She sighed. He would be jealous when she told him - but then again, he always was. He didn't understand why she loved Richard so, and never would. He'd questioned her about it time and time again, but supported her, even if he didn't necessarily like the relationship.
"My heart is half a world away," she said, simply, looking back down at her plate.
