[h3][color=39b54a]Michael[/color][/h3]
Michael rolled his eyes as she started ranting about accents and tea.  Even though he tried his best not to, he couldn’t help but smile for a second because the whole thing was ridiculous and it was almost like coming home (not that she’d ever find that out).  Especially when one imagined her rounding up American’s to take them before the Queen for sentencing in the tea-mines if one ignored the fact that tea comes from leaves.

She hadn’t changed at all.  The grace was part of a giant rouse to charm the public as she led them to get lost miles from home while searching for Leprechaun gold (he’d [i]told[/i] her they all lived in Ireland but she’d insisted they could travel on rainbow bridges, even though that was [i]Norse[/i] mythology and that’s why their gold was there).

Except, behind the irritation at being insulted and that Americans didn’t turn English while in her presence, the was Elizabeth was acting sent warning bells ringing in the back of his mind.  She’d always been the first person to extend a hand of friendship to, well, anyone, but this girl had closed herself off to Kiddo.

And, yes, the freshman’s laugh had sent chills buzzing down his spine and the fact he’d made his own hands bleed was alarming, but so was this whole situation (all Merlin’s fault and he still suspected Ellie had something to do with it).  And from what he’d heard, migraines were right awful things.

But he put all of his experience in pushing worries and fear and irritation away and sighed theatrically.  [color=00a651]“Why would I ever do that if I can’t get chat up?  I suppose I’ll have to make an exception for you.  I guess I’ll find out if tea is all it’s cracked up to be.”[/color]

And Michael tucked into his meal.  He didn’t eat half as fast as he normally would—not in front of the lovely Maribeth, because Kiddo (as a teenage boy) would know the art of inhaling one’s food and Ellie had known him before he knew how to eat like a human being so she could honestly deal with it, but he’d be civil for Maribeth.

He kept mostly quiet after that, biting back snide comments to Ellie because they were in polite company and that would probably devolve into barely discernible Brit-speak as they deteriorated into their child-selves.  

[color=39b54a]“So, Maribeth, are you a junior as well or did they just give you the short stick off roommates for no particular reason?  Surely someone as lovely as you doesn’t deserve that.”[/color]

Michael knew he’d catch it later for the blatant flirting, but he’d had enough for stress today and she really [i]was[/i] lovely and everyone needed to know things like that because he’d noticed people didn’t notice it themselves.  He just hoped he didn’t scare the poor thing away by being too forward.

So, both in fear of retribution and of frightening the girl, he stayed quiet the rest of the meal and did his best not to look like he wanted to bolt and get to the theater about twenty minutes ago.  She’d always been better at deciphering Merlin’s rambling than he ever could be.  He wasn’t a slouch in the brains department, but she could probably recite chemical formulas without half-trying by now.

When he finished his meal, he stood up and smiled at both Kiddo and Maribeth.  [color=39b54a]“It was awesome meeting you both.  Kiddo, I hope you don’t mind if we do our exploring later?  I have an appointment with nostalgia.  I’ll make it up to you somehow.   Good luck with that migraine of yours.  And Maribeth, I hope I have the pleasure of spending more time with you.”[/color]  He looked at Elizabeth, [color=39b54a]“I’ll see you in a bit, yeah?”[/color]

He left, putting his tray away.  When he was out of sight, he went directly to the theater.  Unsure of how long he’d have to wait, he went inside and kind of lost himself for a bit. Not looking around, like he honestly should have, he took off his shoes and immediately took to the stage.  He didn’t dance, not really—he hadn’t warmed up and he’d just eaten and a million other reasons—but he got a feel for the wood beneath his feet.  And if he pointed his toes and spun a few times, who cared?

Satisfied that he could learn here, he sat at the edge of the state and waited.  He probably should have waited outside, but she knew him well enough to know that he loved the outdoors but he was at home on a stage.

When he finally saw her come in, he stage-sighed, [color=39b54a]“When the hell did you start coming here?  No wonder that old bag told me to come there—anyone with any sense would know you’d cause all sorts of trouble.”[/color]  But he grinned widely, finally letting himself show exactly how glad he was a friendly face was here.