“Ugh.” As Alex approached the theatre he had a growing feeling of dread in his stomach. Why had he said yes to this ‘date’?

It was because he felt sorry for her, for having been found out. He had abused himself plenty for it later. After all, why should he feel sorry for her? She was the one who had been trying to fool everyone all along. Sooner or later, it was bound to blow up in her face.

It was just that he wasn’t sure he believed that anymore. And he was getting pissed off at everyone at school for listening to Teresa, as if her words were absolute truth. Sure, he himself had been convinced since the beginning that Artie was a fake, but he had kept it to himself. He hadn’t spread lies around the school, unlike Teresa. Even he knew that what Teresa was saying wasn’t true. Or at least, he was pretty sure. For all he knew, maybe secretly, Artie was a gold digging, free loving, slutty, hippie stoner.

He didn’t know what to think anymore, when it came to Artie.

“Alex!”

He flinched instinctively. He wasn’t even in the theatre yet! He looked up to see Artie perched on a railing above him, grinning and waving. “Hi.” He called nervously. She was going to fall and break her neck if she kept that up.

“Am I late?” He asked as he walked up the stairs to meet her. He relaxed a little when she hopped down off the railing and back onto solid ground.

“Nope.” Artie answered, still smiling. She really looked like a hippie, in her own clothes today. It was kind of hard for anyone to look folk-y in the Kipling Academy uniform, but now that Alex saw Artie in all her granola style glory (he had been too drunk at the party to notice) he realized she really was a hippie.

“Let’s get this over with shall we?” Alex suggested and they went inside.

The ‘date’ was strange – not much like a date at all. Artie didn’t expect Alex to pay for her ticket, and she never tried to hold his hand during the movie. She never even flirted with him. Alex, in his experiences with girls, was used to flirting and he had been prepared for Artie’s pitiful attempts, but not this. He wondered if Artie was even interested in him the way Elise seemed to think she was.

After the movie they went outside, where Artie turned her face to the sun like a flower and laughed.

“Did you like the movie?” She asked, turning to him. Alex had to squint as he was blinded by the sun reflecting off her hair.

“Yeah. It wasn’t bad.” He admitted.

Artie nodded and for a minute they stood in awkward silence. “Well...” Alex said, “I walked here, so there’s no one coming to pick me up.”

“Ok.” Artie said. Alex started to walk down the stairs away from her, but he stopped when she called. “Ah... Alex.”

Alex turned to look up at her. “What?”

Artie looked lost for a second, but quickly recovered and smiled. “Thanks for coming with me today. It made me happy.”

Alex nodded. Artie stared at him for a minute, looking like she wanted to say something more, but she was quiet. Alex thought she looked strangely sad, that bright little girl standing in the sunshine.

He sighed inwardly. It seemed he hadn’t grown up immune to his parents’ influence; deep down he was really a big softie. “Do you want to get something to eat?” He asked.

Artie grinned widely and nodded, running down the stairs after him. They started to walk to a nearby diner and as Alex looked down at the cheery blonde haired girl chatting away happily beside him he felt oddly cheerful himself. Not that he was falling for Artie, but maybe she wasn’t as horrible as he had first thought. Maybe it was because she was an outsider now too, or maybe she was just wearing him down – Alex figured it didn’t really matter either way. He was starting to like the girl.

At the diner they ordered a big plate of fries to share and milkshakes. “I’m glad you like me enough to share a plate with me.” Artie said, pouring vinegar onto a little side plate that had been under an empty coffee cup.

“In Japan, sharing a hot pot basically means you’ve become friends.” Alex said, immediately kicking himself. Why would he even tell her something like that? He really shouldn't be so nice to her; she might get the wrong idea.

But what would be the wrong idea, now?

“Someday I’d like to visit Japan.” Artie said, dipping her fries in the saucer of vinegar. “How about you Alex? Do you like to travel?”

Alex shrugged. “I guess so. I’m always happy to go to Japan.”

“Anywhere else?” She asked. “Have you been to other countries?”

Artie had a way of asking questions that made her seem very interested – as if every stupid question she asked was very important. It made it hard for Alex not to answer honestly. “I’ve been to New York to visit my mom’s family, but that’s about it.” He answered.

“Oh. That’s still more than me.” Artie said, laughing. “I’d never even been outside of Honeyvale until now. But I always wanted to travel – there are so many things to see in the world.”

“Oh yeah?” Alex asked. “Where would you like to go? Top five.”

Artie spent a moment thinking then, coming up with her top five places to see. “Antarctica.” She said, surprising Alex with her first choice already. “And Cambodia, to see Angkor Wat. I would love to hike the Inca Trail and go see Machu Picchu. And Africa. I’d like to see the plains in Africa, though it doesn’t really matter which country it’s in. I mean... does that sound stupid?” She asked, making a face at herself.

Alex shrugged. He didn’t really care.

Artie finished her list. “And Japan.”

Alex wasn’t sure how to follow that, so he just nodded and ate his fries.

“Your turn.” Artie said.

“I haven’t ever thought about it...” Alex replied truthfully.

“Oh.” Artie blew bubbles into her milkshake. Alex couldn't decide if it was gross or not. He just couldn't decide with Artie.