<span style="font-style: italic">Star Wars? Droids and…curtains?</span><br/><br/>Whatever joke he’d tried didn’t land with her. The confusion was clearly etched into her features—what little he could see of them, anyway—as she stared at him, brows pulled together, eyes squinting as she sought the explanation for his words, only to look away as though watching the meaning zoom by without another thought. His laugh was met with a subtle shake of her head, only to be followed up with a spike in discomfort. Her body visibly tensed as he talked about the area of the city she’d chosen as her hiding spot.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">How was I supposed to know that this area was bad?!</span>came an irate thought, her heart beginning to pick up pace. Not only was she in a bad part of the city, she had no contacts, no money, no food, no shelter, no nothing. She probably looked like a victim waiting to be picked for slaughter, when that was the opposite. If anything, she was the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing, and any attempt on her would only end badly for the poor soul who’d chosen to make for what appeared to be an easy mark. Another shake of her head as she pushed the idea that she was in a bad area, and she was pushing more into the wall as he held out his phone for her to take, not even sure what to do with it.<br/><br/>“I…Um…Th-The thing is I…”<span style="font-style: italic">He’s going to think you’re mentally deficient,</span>Lily thought with a mental slap.<span style="font-style: italic">Get your thoughts together and try again.</span>Letting out a breath, she started anew, her voice a little louder as it pushed through the woolen scarf. “I’m not running from parents, nor do I have anyone I need to call.”<span style="font-style: italic">Better.</span>“I’m just a bit…lost is all. I’m…traveling and didn’t really have a clear idea of where I was going.”<span style="font-style: italic">Not a lie…just bending the truth a bit.</span>“I had a panic attack and this was the first place I found to gather my thoughts…” Her voice tapered off as a gloved hand rubbed at the back of her neck. “…As odd as that may sound, since I’m surrounded by trash.”<br/><br/>Still not taking the phone, she grimaced. “If you could just point me in…a direction? I’m not picky; I’m going wherever the wind blows me, I’d be grateful. At least tell me where I am? I got lost in the storm and I’m not really sure what city I’m in currently, let alone what direction I should head next.”<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Good recovery! You only sound like a partial lunatic.</span>