Putting herself out there was a scary thing, and it felt like a million years before Noah actually answered her. Charlotte thought that he looked a little shocked, perhaps not used to being sought out instead of being the one to do the seeking. Still, she was glad she asked, and a smile spread easily across her lips as he accepted her offer. In only the twenty minutes that they had been walking together, Charlotte had already decided that Noah was one of the most interesting people she had met in her young life. Perhaps that spoke volumes about the sheltered life she lead, but the decision was still big to her. 

The promise of real breakfast easily made Charlotte forget about feeling awkward for stepping out of her comfort zone, and she found herself nodding. “Where at?” she asked, stepping away from the door of the restaurant. “I love pancakes.” Her mother used to make them all the time on weekends when she had been growing up, and sometimes she liked to visit just to have breakfast with her parents. That was probably a little silly, juvenile, but Charlotte didn't think much of it. Her family was important to her.

Taking out her wrecked cell phone, Charlotte gingerly tapped the screen to life and found her text messages. She sent a quick one to one of the friends waiting inside, making up an excuse about car trouble, but adding she would go to the next brunch they planned. Boston was a big city, and Charlotte doubted she and Noah would run into them that day. “You think I'm weird?” she asked, laughing lightly as she stowed her phone without checking for a reply to her text.