Chapter 67: [67] So Much for Normal
Xavier and Aurora stepped out of Café Leblanc into the evening air. The temperature had dropped while they were inside, and Xavier could see his breath forming small clouds in front of him. The dull throbbing in his head had subsided somewhat, though it still lingered at the edges of his awareness.
"You know," Aurora said, falling into step beside him, "I think I needed that."
"Same here," Xavier said, adjusting the takeout bag in his hand. "Though I’m not sure I’d call that ramen normal. It was exceptional."
Aurora laughed. "Fair point. I’m definitely going back there. My mouth is still on fire, but in the best possible way."
They walked in comfortable silence for a block, passing under the glow of crystal-powered streetlights that cast everything in a soft blue tint. Xavier noticed how the light caught in Aurora’s crimson hair, making it look almost like it was smoldering.
"So," she said finally, "you planning to ignore me again next week?"
Xavier glanced at her. "I wasn’t ignoring you specifically. I was—"
"I gathered." She bumped her shoulder against his arm playfully. "But now that we’ve broken bread together—or slurped noodles, whatever—you don’t get to pretend I don’t exist anymore."
"Of course not," Xavier said.
As they approached their apartment building, Xavier’s headache continued to recede. The pain that had felt like a vice grip around his temples was now just a faint pressure, barely noticeable.
Aurora stopped abruptly outside the building entrance. "Phone," she demanded, holding out her hand.