She could understand his paranoia. 

The internet has been flooded with videos of people falling out of amusement part contraptions as well has having other nightmare quality accidents. Even so, she was still itching to see the city from The Eye and get a good look at the place she could always call home. If James wanted to be a scaredy cat and wuss out, she'd drop the topic. No need to get into a debate about fear and anxiety, not at their age anyway. The banter with the date was annoying, she had hoped James would brush it off but of course he didn't, so she had to try kicking him under his seat since in her mind, a good date wouldn't need to declare themselves one. Either way, she was happy the topic could move onwards once again. James then made a comment about sauce for her hat which caused her to pause, confused for a moment.

"Oh! Ha...great thanks." She slouched her shoulders a bit.

She was sure a lot had changed but seeing it was a whole different story, not one she was certain she could handle. Change was hard but overall a good thing, or so she liked to think. "Gosh really? Sounds a bit too fancy, I reckon. Funny how the nanny state finally starts giving a rat's arse about education and rules and bloody appearances when we're out the door." She grumbled. "Kids today don't have ta work as hard as you an' I did, spoiled brats are now polluting online too." She mentioned with a shrug, thinking back to some of the players she had run into when she had the time to sit down and game for a few hours. James then brought up his cousin and Sasha knew exactly who he was talking about. It was pretty surprising to hear what she had gotten herself into. It wasn't something she thought Kendra could handle but despite being given a tricky hand, she was doing just fine it seemed.

Though the more he spoke, the more Sasha really did want to go pay the wild one a visit and catch up. Any excuse to travel was good on her. But James was already trying to muster up some kind of wacky defense as to why he couldn't go and catch up. What a wanker. She finished her food and glanced off, trying to think of a way to twist his arm into going, even for just a week. Of course Pokemon was a mighty good temptation, check out the many Pokemon Centers and theme parks they had but before she could finish plotting, James brought up that rock by their houses. Of course she remembered. How could she forget? "Mmm?" She glanced back to him as he then said they finally finished work and had destroyed it. More change. This news hit a bit harder than their school though. As much as it didn't surprise her, it was still disheartening. "It was bound to happen, I suppose." She considered with a heavy shrug.

Still, going to see her folks and looking around the new remodels, would be tough but she clearly couldn't put it off for much longer, not when she was a local girl once again. "It would have been nice to get part of it, ya know for some sentimental treasure." She said but it didn't matter anymore. They were adults, grown ups, having moved far beyond the life of kids who clung with crazy dreams. Having to grow up and face challenges and sometimes fall so hard on your arse, that it ached for days, was part of life. It was unavoidable unless you colored yourself a coward. "Any other shit news for me?" She grinned slightly. "Wanna tell me the Tooth Fairy is a lie or that the nation had sworn to protect Australia in its time of need?" Sasha teased him. Just then she got up and threw away their waste, James's too if he had any. 

When she came back, she patted their table with the palm of her hand. "Come on boyo, I'm not done with you yet." She chuckled.

With all the talk of change and people moving on or away, Sasha wanted to find something, anything, that had stayed the same, that could keep the past alive and not as dead as it appeared to be. "I know one place that surely hasn't changed, had somehow avoided the plague and remained as trusty and low key as I remember." Sasha declared and led James away from the noise behind them and down a long stretch of blocks. As they kept going, she wondered if James would remember the old internet cafe they'd sometimes frequent after school. With her still unpacking, she was sure that she'd rely on such places until she was settled. Their old club would come to this place a few times a year, have their own tournaments and what not. Sasha hoped it was still running and had forsaken any tacky makeover. As they took a right, she stopped and looked down at the dirty steps leading into the cafe. "Bingo." 

It looked the same as ever. It had a neon sign that said OPEN and of course it listed its hours but for regulars, it was open 24/7. And with gaming being a great escape these past few years, Sasha was happy to see the owner, Andy, was still bringing gamers a safe place to scamper off to. She pulled open the door and motioned for James to head inside first. The computers and decore had been restored but the walls and everything else, the foundation, had remained. "Brings back good ol' memories of kicking your ass." Sasha said as she turned and tapped on the counter and Andy came out from the back, tinkering with a remote. "Hey An, long time no see." Sasha greeted with a wave and nudged her head towards James. For now, she wanted to keep things light. Talking about the past and where it once stood, was depressing. There was no way in hell, she'd let her first time seeing James, become riddled with regret and other crap. Andy, with her dirty blond hair and hazel eyes, gave them a wave and then suddenly realized who they were.

"God, it's been too long, kids!"

"Please, we're hardly kids anymore." Sasha laughed lightly.

"You two, together as always I see..." Andy looked between them. It smelled like she still smoked but Sasha could tell the habit wasn't as bad as it was five years ago. 

"Oh yeah, James and I got married." Sasha joked, unable to help herself. "We have a few homes, one in New York, another in Italy. We're looking at property in Japan, that's why we've been so damn busy." She said and hooked her arm with James's. "Life is just so crazy that we thought we'd pop by and reminisce a bit before we head back to our flat. Real estate is practically robbery these days you know?"

"Oh I know." Andy nodded quickly as if thinking a bit more slowly than Sasha's tall tale. "I don't charge as much as some places do, they do anything to scam people who need to game." Truth be told, gaming addictions were becoming more and more of a thing and Sasha hoped Andy was doing her best to look out for her fellow gamers. "It was nice catching up." Andy said and held up her remote. "I need to get this bugger to work but you two are free to hang out here." She commented before she sat down at her front desk and went back to what she had been doing, using small tools and such.

Andy was a good woman, a little slow, but she was still one of the good guys. 

"Speaking of gaming...Christmas sales are bound to start popping up." Even if it wasn't for a few months. "I gotta get you a mega awesome present, so you better tell me what you like. I've got a few years to make up for." Sasha said. She loved buying things, wrapping them and what not. She liked being thoughtful and spoiling people and she was already planning on what sort of cool things she could get James for Christmas. "Tell me what you're into these days? Or should I just get you a dozen USBs filled with the finest porn?" She laughed.