Angel merely regarded Cotton’s reply with a blatant sneer. Even if he was telling her the truth, she had no reason to trust him anyway. Though he did know the right things to say. It was quite obvious he wasn’t as stupid—or perhaps careless—as Knox or his friend.

“What he’s getting himself into?” she repeated sarcastically. “We were just talking! What was I going to do, flirt him to death? Jeez.”

He had helped himself to a seat and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. All of a sudden, he flashed her what she could only assume was a rare smile as he dropped a somewhat flirtatious remark. Angel only stared back at him with a frown, resting her cheek on her fist. She had gotten used to his normally dismal demeanor, so this was actually quite an uncomfortable change for her. She didn’t know which side of him she preferred over the other.

He held out a cigarette to her, though she hesitated a second before holding up her hand to politely decline it.

“Sorry kid,” she said. “Only one a day for me. Can’t get myself addicted to those.” For a brief, terrible moment, the image of Hayden in his hospital bed came to mind. Without an outward change in expression, she quickly shooed the thought away and reminded herself that she needed to remain focused.

“Although I have no such limit on booze.” She figured it’d be too much of an effort to get up and grab her vodka bottle on the other table. “And if I assume you’re going to be a gentleman, you’ll have to buy me it.”

She winked at him.

“And if you think [i]that’s[/i] being manipulative,” she added, “then you’ve seen nothing yet.”
-------
The girl’s smooth reply was enough to clear Knox’s hazy mind of any doubts that may have previously surfaced about her. After that, she introduced herself as Amy and held out her hand to Knox to shake. He reached out and gave it a firm shake as he smiled at her, perhaps a little too widely.

“Nice to meet you Amy,” Knox replied, still beaming at his wonderful luck. It actually felt nice to go out and meet new girls like this. Under normal circumstances, he would try to “get some” from one of the girls in his own gang, but it was much easier with strangers who didn’t know you personally, or who weren’t even acquainted with you. Knox believed one of the hottest girls in the Lost Ones was Desarae, but… She had that strong tomboyish disposition that sometimes did a good job at eclipsing her good looks.

Knox leaned forward onto the bar next to Amy, and for a few seconds he looked down at his arms. Then he turned to her and asked, “So if you usually don’t venture down this way, I’m guessing you’ll need someone to protect you, huh? Since your date’s nowhere to be seen and all.”

Trying to be somewhat discreet, Knox flexed the arm that was closest to Amy, though it wasn’t much. The farthest extent of a workout they had ever seen was maybe having to pull himself up on a ledge after an undershot jump. He noticed the blatant mediocrity for himself, but he just broke into another fit of laughter.