The quick way she pulled her hand away was not lost on Tobias and for a moment his hand just sat there, partly across the table, kind of like that odd man out. Awkwardly there, for all to see, it was not a good feeling. Slowly he retracted his hand back to his side of the table, his eyes cast down as he stared at his plate, seeming to be focusing on the pizza but truthfully he was chastising himself. It was not like they were friends, not really anyway, so he should not have thought it was okay to just reach out and touch her.<br/><br/>So wrapped up on his moment of self hate he did not really hear what she said, not fully anyway. â€œHmm....oh....umm 27â€ he said meeting her eyes, a somewhat strained smile given as he joked, â€œYeah, I am pretty much an old man now. At least I often feel like an old man,â€ he shrugged and took a sip of his drink. â€œHow old are you? If you don't mind my asking?â€ his tone going back to being friendly, though he had changed his posture a bit. Sitting back in his chair some. Keeping one hand occupied with his cup, while the other seemed to be content with playing with the glass spice shakers. Shifting them about with his fingers, in an absentminded fashion.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF40FF"><span style="font-weight: bold">She could see the strain, hear how the smile didn't really reach his tone and felt like an idiot. It was hard to fight that reaction, though, having been in the habit for so long. Pushing all of that aside, she instead focused on his words. Head tilting a bit, looking at him in slight surprise. Hearing that he was twenty-seven wasn't what she was expecting, having pegged him for younger. <span style="font-style: italic">Far from old,</span> she thought to herself. "I'm eighteen," Lily answered after a pause, tone a bit uncertain, but still holding at least a speck of conviction.</span></span><br/><br/>Tobias smirked, â€œYeah. I am oldâ€ he says chuckling to himself. â€œSo, you were very correct in stating that you were an adult. I do apologize for that earlier. I have a habit of equating age to size, using me as a basis of size reference. Though I should probably not do that, given that...wellâ€ he gestures at himself. There was a bit of a pause as he just sat there looking down at his crust, having eaten his slice though had yet to grab himself another. Likely it would just end up being boxed up and taken home, so that he could have it for dinner.<br/><br/>Glancing up at her he realized she would need something to eat later, maybe he could give her the pizza? Though where would she eat it? Speaking before he had a chance to really think, â€œSo, where do you live?â€ he stated rather bluntly, which had him stammering to sound less like a sexual predator, â€œUmmm....I mean....like after we get done lunch. Where would you be heading? I could walk you there to make sure you got there alright....NOT that I am like interested in following you home or something. I just don't think anyone should walk around in the city alone....â€ he sighed rubbing his face with his hands, then running them up through his hair.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF40FF"><span style="font-weight: bold">Lily's facade dropped a fraction as his question rendered. <span style="font-style: italic">Where am I heading?</span> she wondered, eyes glancing out of the window as she thought. As she hadn't had an actual plan when she left, being that the trip was spur of the moment...and as she had no money...It wasn't like she could really stay anywhere. She just had to keep moving. "I'm heading wherever the wind takes me," she answered cryptically. "No specific direction in mind...And don't worry, I hadn't thought you were interested in following me home," she added with a small grin. "If I had a set place to walk to...I'd have welcomed the company, so thank you just the same."</span></span><br/><br/>Tobias smiled, though her intentional dodging of the question had him concerned. Though she had a right to do as she wanted with her life. â€œWell, should the wind end up blowing you back in this direction...â€ he said as he took a napkin and a pen from the chest pocket of his jumper, he quickly jotted down his number. â€œGive me a call. We can have pizza together again, or maybe something else. As I can't really cook so I am usually eating outâ€ he chuckled and passed the napkin to her, taking care to retract his hand back to his side of the table.<br/><br/>Glancing at the still hotish pizza he, dished her out another slice, then another for himself as well. That left about 4 slices for later. That done he pushed back from the table and stood, â€œI'm going to go and get a box for this, because I am pretty certain we are not going to be finishing this all right nowâ€ he smiled and walked over to the counter to talk softly with Samuele for a bit while he paid for the lunch and got a box for the left over pizza.<br/><br/>â€œShe is molto bello, no?â€ Samuele said giving Tobias a teasing smile.<br/><br/>â€œYes, very beautiful. But she is just passing through town, plus I am a bit too old for herâ€ Tobias said as he fished out his wallet.<br/><br/>Samuele rolled his eyes as he rung them up, including his usual discount for veterans, even though Tobias always insisted that he did not. â€œToby, love, does not care about age. So, why should you?â€ he asked him taking the money and beginning to make change.<br/><br/>Tobias just sighed, â€œWhy do you always jump to it being love? I mean it could just be us being friends. It would be nice to have friends you knowâ€ Tobias shot back as he took his change and promptly put it in the tip jar. â€œI swear you Italians are only ever thinking about one thing!â€ he snapped, though there was just enough humor in his tone to let Samuele know he was just joking.<br/><br/>Samuele just chuckled, â€œTu sei solo geloso, che noi siamo i veri padroni d'amoreâ€ he rattled off at Tobias who only shook his head and headed back to the table.