Such a pretty bird

[Lucy Grant]

"There you are!" A voice called from the other room. "Breakfast is getting cold! Eat! Eat! Get out here!" Lucy called. "Hurry! Microwaves ruin food! Or give you cancer! Or is that faulty heaters? I can never remember..."

[Chloe Grant]

"On my way." Chloe replied Maybe he's already eating breakfast.

[Lucy Grant]

Lucy sat there with a plate full of eggs and bacon, her feet kicking under the table as usual, though something seemed off about the setting. She followed Chloe with her eyes in uncharacteristic silence as she came out of the room.

[Chloe Grant]

"Yes, I did." Chloe said "And I'd do it again."

[Lucy Grant]

Lucy cocked her head to the side in confusion. "Did what that you'd do again?"

[Chloe Grant]

"Nothing." Chloe said "Never mind."

[Lucy Grant]

Lucy started eating her eggs again, frowning. "Y'know... if you're going to have people stay over who'll make breakfast in the morning, that's good, but... y'think he can make pancakes?"

[Chloe Grant]

"I have no idea." Chloe said "I'll ask him the next time I-what do you mean, he made breakfast?"

[Lucy Grant]

"I mean he made breakfast. You don't think I'd make something that didn't have any sugar, did you?" And that, on reflection, would be what was a little off about the breakfast scene.

[Chloe Grant]

"I thought maybe you were branching out." Chloe said "Um, anyway, when did he leave?"

[Lucy Grant]

"Not too long ago. He said something about... Ummmm... Oh, bugger, I wasn't paying attention. Here, he left this," she said, holding out a folded piece of paper for Chloe.

[Derek Scott]

Chloe,

I would've loved to wait until you woke up, but I had to get back to change to be at work at eleven, and you looked too cute sleeping for me to wake up. So if it upsets you, I'm sorry, and I'll remember that for next time.

So good morning! I've got to work, like I said, but if you want to do something later, give me a call or stop by after seven.

[Chloe Grant]

"Ok, now I'm confused." Chloe said.

[Lucy Grant]

"'Bout what?" Lucy said, putting her chin in her hand and staring at her big sister intently. "Why he made eggs instead of pancakes? Because that's really confusing me a lot too," she added reasonably.

[Chloe Grant]

"No, I mean why he made breakfast at all." Chloe said "I thought that he'd just, that this was just a friendly kind of thing, but him making breakfast, that is rather thoughtful for someone who isn't a, who is just a friend to do. Isn't it?"

[Lucy Grant]

Lucy gave Chloe a 'huh?' look. "That what was a friendly thing? He's your friend, so that means he's friendly, right? I mean, I guess he could have made french toast and that would have been REALLY thoughtful, but, I mean, he's a nurse or something and they're all supposed to make people eat and stuff and what did you think was a friendly thing?"

[Chloe Grant]

"Well, what we did when he slept over. Or before we slept really."

[Lucy Grant]

"What was that? Did you work out? That's what he does all the time, right? Well, that and get pissed, but he didn't look hung over, so that probably isn't it..."

[Chloe Grant]

"It was the other thing." Chloe mumbled, blushing.

[Lucy Grant]

"Oh, working out? Because I thought oh my god, you shagged Derek," Lucy said, the lights clicking on in mid sentence, making her giggle halfway through.

[Chloe Grant]

"Yes, I did." Chloe said, almost daring Lucy to say something about it.

[Lucy Grant]

"Bugger, why're you so defensive? Was it that bad?"

[Chloe Grant]

"Because you might think it was something like, well, like Jessie would do." Chloe said "And maybe it is, but I do not care."

[Lucy Grant]

"It takes more than getting laid to be like Jessie, doesn't it? I mean, he's actually someone you LIKE, right, and not some bloke you met at the bar, right?"

[Chloe Grant]

"Well, yes." Chloe said "But he's a friend, and I don't think he wants to be more than that."

[Lucy Grant]

"Eh, just teach him to make pancakes. I don't think you're like Jessie unless you have a bunch of blokes. Or a girl."

[Chloe Grant]

"No, I don't think I'll have any girls over." Chloe said "I don't fancy them."

[Lucy Grant]

"Oh, good, then we still only have one Jessie," Lucy chirped. "Do you think that eggs would be good with maple syrup?"

[Chloe Grant]

"No I do not."

[Lucy Grant]

"Bugger. Oh well. So it wasn't that bad, then?"

[Chloe Grant]

"Quite the opposite." Chloe said.

[Lucy Grant]

Lucy giggled, giving Chloe a slightly jealous look. "Is this what happens when I go camping?" she teased.

[Chloe Grant]

"I was lonely." Chloe said, a bit defensively

[Lucy Grant]

"And then you weren't!" Lucy said brightly. "I'm glad it worked out, then!" Apparently, anything being wrong with Lucy shagging someone was beyond Lucy's thought process.