<div style="text-align: justify;">Alannah wasn't sure she'd ever met someone who had had eye contact with her for that long, and frankly, it made her both slightly uneasy and girlishly thrilled. Uneasy, because <span style="font-style: italic">prolonged eye contact</span>; thrilled, because <span style="font-style: italic">gorgeous hazel eyes.</span> There was a strange sense of community with this one. The wild notion of asking him if he was a merman was dismissed harshly and immediately. <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #4080FF">Nonsense, Aly,</span></span> she told herself sternly. <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #4080FF">He's attractive, not supernatural.</span></span> Still, she got the distinct feeling that he wouldn't laugh at her if she asked him if he at least believed in mermaids. Not that she could discuss supposedly mythical beings in public without getting weird looks, anyway.<br/><br/>His face lit up with excitement, and Alannah didn't bother to try to hide her wide smile. Even though she was a happy person, it was even easier to talk to Dimitri than the usual chit-chat she had with a customer. Almost like they'd known each other for years and not minutes. <span style="color: #4080FF">"I could take ya up to Winthrop, if ya like. Somewhat secluded, somewhat clean. It'll take about foddy-five minutes to get there with the Blue Line. 'course, we'll also have to take a bus and walk a fair bit, but I don't think it'll be no trouble with ya long legs."</span> Though it was hard to estimate since they were both sitting down, Alannah was sure he was at least a good 4 inches taller than her.<br/><br/>She glanced at the large, old fashioned clock hanging on the end wall again. The arms were close to 12 and 2. Close enough that Alannah got up, stretched, yawned, and proclaimed: <span style="color: #4080FF">"Lemme get my coat. Oh, and don't forget to pay up in the bah."</span> She tapped the check with an apologetic expression. However nice he was, she couldn't afford to let people go without paying, much less pay for them.<br/><br/>She went into the back room, past the bar, where Daniel stood, and had evidently been standing watching them for a while. <span style="color: #FFFF80">"Off on a date, are we?"</span> He asked through the open door, with a complete disregard for keeping it down and an expression that was altogether too innocent to Alannah's liking. <span style="color: #4080FF">"Nonna ya business, Dan,"</span> she replied as she took down her dark green jacket from its peg. It was far too hot to be wearing it now, but it was necessary in the morning. Besides, her everything was in the pockets - money, phone, keys, gum, a pretty sea shell she found once. <span style="color: #FFFF80">"Take care, Aly,"</span> Daniel muttered her as he gave her a quick hug goodbye. She rolled her eyes in response. <span style="color: #4080FF">"I'm a big girl. Don't worry."</span><br/><br/>She returned outside, her jacket folded over her arms, which were in turn linked beneath it. <span style="color: #4080FF">"Ready for take off?"</span> She asked Dimitri jokingly.</div>