After a long, depressing day of work, littered with failed cases and dangerous places, it's good to have someplace to relax. Penny was terribly hungry and it might be assumed she'd prefer to eat at one of the trendier restaurants in the city, but alas... she's a social worker. Social workers can't afford to eat at uppity restaurants. In fact, most social workers can barely afford to eat at all.

Being a newcomer, Miss Lane is one of those employees who can barely afford their rent, much less eating. Ergo, she lives on (overpriced) coffee and pastries--not the healthiest lifestyle, but it keeps her going. Penny also justifies this eating lifestyle by adamantly declaring to any critics that she has a wealth of fruits and vegetables in her home refrigerator.

Today, Penny spent a great deal of time in one of the more troubled regions. After having a beer bottle thrown at the door when she knocked, and another one thrown when she carefully propped open the door, she was exhausted. And after having her foot go through a decrepit step in an old building and being shoved into a wall and cutting the sensitive skin above her eye on a rotting doorframe, she was fed up. This was it. No more house calls, no more check-up visits. At least that's what she'd like to think; she knew, however, just as well as the next person that she'd be back doing this rotten job the very next day. There was no rest for the weary.

A dark brown skirt fluttered to her ankles in layers of wrinkled cotton, a blue and green paisley scarf tied around her minute waist. A plain, faded heather grey t-shirt adorned her upper body, several brightly-colored necklaces making a stark contrast to the deadened hue of her shirt. The numerous bangles on her wrists clanked with each movement.

One small hand reached to tuck a piece of disheveled hair behind her ear, the pale gold speckled with particles of dust from the day's unfortunate occurrences. Penny stood in line with everybody else, arms folded across her chest, beat-up messenger bag slung over one shoulder. She sighed as her eyes scanned over the display case, choosing which unhealthy pastry she'd indulge in today.

((If I may...? :)))

There was one thing that always intrigued Joshua about a coffee shop. It was the fact that, no matter what time of the day it was, someone was there, buying coffee or a bagel or a pastry or a carton of orange juice. For someone, work was about to start, or it was break, or they just got off...

For Josh, work started in five short minutes. Lucky for him, his boss, Mr. Holstein, called him to stop by for coffee; Colton would pay him back after he was on duty, and Joshua did not need to worry about being late. Thank god, because Josh knew he would have been late otherwise, and while Colton would have let it slide without any warnings or threats, he was terrified of Ms. Colwyn, and even more terrified of how hard she might come down on him.

Joshua was standing behind Penny, dressed fairly nicely in his khakis and tee shirt. Khakis for his work uniform, and a tee shirt to avoid being humiliated in the typical Ace High employee vest and white, long sleeve, button up shirt. It just would not do for his attempt at a cool boy look.

The barrista behind the counter was working too slowly on the head customer's coffees. Josh heaved a small sigh, and glanced down at his feet, then back up to the back of the woman in front of him. He grinned.

She had a leaf in her hair.

Without really thinking about it, Joshua reached forward and pulled off the leaf. It didn't occur to him that she might enjoy personal space, or prefer not to have teens reaching up and yanking things from her hair. He looked over the leaf in his hand, smiling slightly before dropping it to the floor.

{{Of course! =)}}

Poor Penny.

She nearly jumped sky-high when the young boy plucked the leaf from her hair. After such a stressful day, her nerves were frazzled and any sort of surprise physical contact was likely to stir her from her otherwise stoic lounging. Miss Lane shook her head, turning around with a slight smile, hand reaching to brush partway through her hair.

"You'll have to excuse me for jumping, young sir--caught me off guard is all," She smiled more brightly, strikingly white teeth a stark contrast against pleasantly neutral lips. It looks like someone's spent quite a bit of money on preserving her 'pearly whites'; for as messy, unkempt, and dusty as her outfit might have been, her face was remarkably clean. Oh the joys of stopping at a park bathroom before entering a popular public cafe.

Tired eyes roamed over Joshua languidly, taking in his small stature and surprisingly large nose. Upon further examination of his hair and features, Penny could guess, and assume alone, that the boy was probably a Jewish lad of about senior-in-highschool age. When you spend your whole life examining other people and their lives, you get pretty good at deducing ideas about them. History, nationality, personality... sometimes you can just tell. You get better when you examine it for a living.

"Tell me, what was it? A leaf? Splinter of wood? Piece of dingy paper?" Penny laughed cheerfully and looked around the floor to search for object so meticulously plucked from her pale locks.

Now it was Josh's turn to jump. Not physically, no, but more... Mentally. Talking to a pretty girl was not easy for anyone to do, least of all little Joshua. He just couldn't do it without looking like an idiot.

"Uh, um... Eh... It... No problem! Uh... Sorry?" Josh met eye contact at the end of his sentence, the time prior to that was spent on avoiding her at all costs. It was the same with Ms. Colwyn. He'd blush and be frazzled whenever she said anything to him, especially when she called him "cute" and "sweet" and the likes. Colton said she was teasing him and not to let it bother him, but it did bother him. He could never take it in stride.

"It was... Um. There. A leaf..." Josh said, helpfully pointing out where the offending object was located on the floor. He was blushing slightly, trying to hide it by not looking at her, and, instead, decided to talk about the leaf.

"Um... It was in your hair and when... Um... Um when... I thought you wouldn't want it in your hair... Sorry."

Smooth, Josh. Real smooth.

So a leaf was the culprit.

Honestly, Penny had expected it to be something far worse, far more repulsive, far more... disturbing. A leaf was tame compared to some things she'd found tangled on her person. It made her shudder just to think about it. She snapped out of her unpleasant reverie and refocused on Joshua.

He was nervous. How cute.

"No, no, don't apologize. You're completely right--I wouldn't want a leaf in my hair. It would be dreadful to think someone would let me wander about on my merry way with a leaf stuck on my head; I'd surely look a fool," Penny smiled warmly and resisted the urge to reach out and ruffle the boy's hair. He wasn't /that/ much younger than her. Six or seven years, maybe.

Miss Lane has immediately noticed the flushing of his cheeks, but had chosen not to remark on it. That wouldn't be nice, and well, having just gotten off the job, she was still in the mood for niceties.

"You drink coffee? Somehow you don't fit the bill," Penny had always viewed coffee as a drug for those who didn't have enough time in the day, or didn't want to sleep because they were afraid of their dreams, or were just addicted... amongst other things. She fit any number of her dreampt-up reasons.

Joshua, however, didn't have a clear reason (in her mind) for drinking the delectable meth substitute.

With her thanks and mother-like praise, Josh clearly seemed a lot better. STood straighter, grinned a little, and nodded. "Well, that was my thinking..." And, most of all, his speech cleared drastically. It really seemed like the boy had received far too few compliments in his short life. Every little thanks and praise made him feel like he was on top of the world.

Well, momentarily. As soon as she questioned his coffee drinking, he balked. He was caught at a loss of words. Was he going to tell her he was too young for coffee, and really, the coffee was for his boss, and he was going to get hot chocolate, or did he want to look macho and order that second coffee?

"Uh... I... My boss sent me here for coffee, but... I... I hate coffee. I'm just going... Um. Hot chocolate, maybe." Josh stuttered, and shook his head, as if needing to clarify. "My boss pulled an all nighter last night... Er... He's trying to adopt his... His neice. His sister died a while back... Um. He needs coffee." Josh nodded.

It was funny to think that, when Josh met Colton, they both had those hot chocolates. Did you have to be 23 or something to enjoy coffee? Josh smiled awkwardly. Adults understood other adults. She'd understand why Colton wanted to drink coffee.

Had Penny known that her compliments made Joshua feel on top of the world, she surely would have showered him in far more. It would have made her feel wonderful just to know she helped someone, anyone... even if at the very least, a young boy standing behind her in line for coffee.

His reaction to her inquiry was a little unexpected and a slender brow raised ever-so-slightly; it quickly fell, however, when he replied with such stammering remarks. The effervescent beam returned to her face and Penny laughed brightly, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her head bowed down slightly with the apparent mirth.

"That's a good boy; stay away from the evils of coffee. It's dreadfully addicting," She smiled and took another step towards the busy barista and crew. The woman at the register looked terribly flustered and inwardly Miss Lane sighed... loudly. This was going to take a very long time--and time is of the essence, is it not? Then again, she hadn't really anywhere to be and hadn't really anything to do.

As Joshua nodded, Penny nodded.

Of course she understood. She wouldn't be surprised if there was an equal amount of caffeine as blood in her veins.

"Adopt his niece? That's lovely. What line of work are you two in? If you don't mind sharing, of course," Adopting his niece, how splendid. Hell, Penny might even know the case.

Joshua blushed more deeply at her laugh. She had a nice laugh, a friendly laugh, and she had a pretty smile. He avoided her eyes, and, hopefully, her attention by staring off into the crepuscular gloom of the evening. It was getting late, and Colton was probably wondering what was taking so long. Maybe he should call his boss...

"Move it, buster." Some big ape of a man behind Josh shoved him forward, nearly knocking the unexpecting teen into Penny. Joshua looked humilated, and meekly apolgized to the man, before muttering something like, 'Yea, I see what you mean' to Penny.

It seemed that compliments and taking interest in the over-small teen brightened his mood and upped his confidence. "Oh, well... I work over at the Ace High casino, and my boss... Well, he's not the real boss. He's the entertainment department's manager. I'm his assistent," Joshua boasted. But with this fickle kid, confidence seemed fleeting. "Er. Well... Um. I... I don't mind running errands for him, you see..." And back to avoiding her glance.

But, wait. That was rude. "Uh. So, what do you do?" Joshua asked quietly, glancing up at her again. Talk about an out of place kid.

A 'normal', everyday sort of person would not necessarily have understood the fact that Joshua kept averting his eyes to something else. Luckily for him, Penny wasn't your usual sort of gal and therefore wasn't offended and didn't find him rude. She smiled again when she further noted the increasing blush on his cheeks. How very adorable.

Penny was shocked out of her thinking and observation when the rather large, bulky man shoved into Joshua. She immediately reached out to catch him, arms looping under his to give her some sort of way of supporting him if necessary... after all, Penny wasn't particularly strong or buff. More in the way of slim and delicate.

When it seemed like nothing was going to happen, Penny smiled and unwrapped her arms from his. "Caffeine breeds beasts." She chuckled and brushed off her tattered skirt idly. Lord knows she needed some new clothes, and even though worn and full of tiny tears and holes, the clothes were somehow charming. They had character, just like her.

She was a character.

As Joshua spoke again, Penny smiled and nodded her head, "Oh how neat and interesting. He was a very smart man to choose someone as sharp and loyal as you. I probably would have given up on this line by now if I were you," She grinned at took yet another step closer to the cashier. Only a good few more people to go before them.

"What do I do, what do I do..." She bit her lip slightly whilst her eyes were lit up with some sort of oddly-placed mirth. "I'm a social worker of sorts. I volunteer at an organization down the street and in return they give me a place to stay. I work a few odd jobs here and there to scrounge up some money too. Nothing as exciting as working at a casino." Penny laughed and glanced out the window.

What fine weather to look forward to.

As Penny caught the off balance Joshua, his mind went blank. Physical contact from a pretty girl in the coffee shop, good lord. His mind couldn't think of anything to say after she set him upright.

"Um... Yea. Th-Th-Thanks?" Joshua was beet red now, and his face probably felt like an iron. He bowed his head. Maybe she wouldn't notice?

She went on, complimenting him, and, while it made him feel special, made him feel headstrong and pumped full of positive energy, it also made his blush deepen. Crimson, you could say. "He is smart..." Josh muttered from his shrunken stature.

Give up on the line? Well, sure! Why not! He could just tell Colton he never got his call. Could lie and say he never got the message. He'd be able to leave the line and not have to face the girl in front of him ever again. That was the other interesting thing about coffee shops. The people you met in there were like aliens. You'd come in, and you'd never see the same person twice. Joshua could bank on that knowledge and run for it now.

Penny started talking about her job, but Josh wasn't listening. He was plotting his escape. Right after she finished, he flipped up his cell phone, and answered the fake call. "Oh, right now? What about coffee...?" He paused a minute, then nodded. "Ok... Sure. Bye." Joshua hit the off button and slid his phone back into his pocket.

"I've got to go,” he said, nodding a bit. Before she could answer, he spun around as fast as he could towards the door.

But tonight wasn't his night.

As he tried to exit, he ran right into a tall blonde man in a suit. Colton caught Joshua and laughed slightly. "Where are you going in such a hurry...?" Josh looked like he wanted to die. Every ounce of colour that had been in his face drained away, until he was left looking like death. "I thought you hadn't got my message." Colton shoved Josh forward, and sighed.

"Well, talk about a night for lines. You still want your hot chocolate?" Colton stood in the back of the line, and Josh hid behind him. Maybe Penny wouldn't notice that he was still here.

Hah. Fat chance.

"Oh you're welcome," She smiled and reached out to ruffle his hair lightly, fingers separating some of the locks between her slim fingers. It didn't occur to her until afterwards that perhaps Joshua might have found this demeaning or like she was treating him as a child. A small frown came to her mouth when his head fell downwards. Eeks, just what had she done to him?

Penny retracted her hand and offered up a most petite smile. "I'm sure he sees the same intelligence in you." There. That should make up for her age-inappropriate action. The boy wasn't ten or didn't watch Ninja Turtles... that age was appropriate for ruffling hair. Ugh. She inwardly gave herself quite a hard time and even shook her head slightly.

Try as she might, she just couldn't seem to make eye contact with him and that made her feel worse--now he couldn't even look her in the eye? Such dramatics for a little bit of innocent playing. Somehow the cell phone call didn't surprise--with the apparent humiliation deeply reddening his cheeks and his downcast eyes, well, Penny had a feeling he just didn't want to stand by her anymore.

"Oh, alright, bye," She stated as he briskly turned to go and promptly moved towards the door. Penny sighed and began to turn back around when out of the corner of her eye she saw a man catch Joshua. Another one? It seems like everyone wanted to pick on the poor boy today. Perhaps she could make it up to him by kindly asking the man to leave him be?

But then Joshua disappeared behind him... it appeared it had already been worked out. Penny turned around and tapped her foot and allowed a few moments to pass. Finally, she reached the cashier's desk and ordered a large cappucino--looks like someone wanted the caffeine rush. With a smile she nodded, retrieved a few bills from her bag, and maneuevered towards the waiting area.

Consequently, that area was right by Colton and Josh. Hmmn.

Penny smiled and nodded in Josh's directions. "I'm glad you didn't have to run off. Everyone deserves a little cheer in the way of a hot drink this time of year." Perhaps a bit odd to say, but Penny wasn't exactly... not odd. She was quirky and eccentric and liked it that way. She also liked that man's suit--it was quite nice and well-tailored.

Eyes browsed her own accoutrement and a few chuckles fell from her mouth. She looked like a ragamuffin compared to a good majority of the rest of the patrons. A cute ragamuffin, but a ragamuffin nonetheless.

It wasn't age inappropriate. Poor Joshua... He was very much a ten year old at heart. He was trying to slip into shoes much too large for him, and he wasn't doing very well. He probably did watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Penny ruffled his hair, and she reminded him of every other girl in the world. They all saw him as little brother/cousin cute. No one actually crushed over him--why was he hoping that some girl he met in a coffee shop, who was probably six or seven years older than him, would think of him as any different than the girls his own age at school was a lost cause. Again, poor Josh.

Josh hid himself nearly completely behind Colton, who seemed a little confused by his actions. "Josh, what are you doing...?" Josh didn't respond. Colton sighed lightly and waited for the blonde girl at the front to finish ordering her cappuccino. After she finished, some big construction worker stepped up and gruffly ordered something that the frightened little cashier had to ask for three or four times. Someone knew on the job. Colton sighed.

"So, Josh, guess what?" Colton glanced down at Joshua. Josh didn't answer. "We have the night off." Still, no answer. "And, I have the rest of the week off. I need some help with something, though. You think you'd be willing to help?" The boy nodded slightly. He glanced up to Colton, his face returning to a normal colour, just as Penny stepped beside them.

As she addressed him, his cheeks went fuchsia once again, and he hid himself behind Colton. Colt frowned, and looked up to Penny. And grinned. Hah! He knew what was going on. "Josh, it's impolite to not address someone who's talking to you." Joshua didn't move. Colton laughed and turned towards Penny. "Sorry about him. He doesn't do well with girls." And neither did Colton, but at least he could try and hold a conversation, instead of hiding behind someone.

The cashier finally moved to the next person in line. Just that one lady and her two kids, and then it was Josh's turn. And he wanted hot chocolate so bad. Anything that would be an excuse for him to leave. And why was Colton being so mean and talking to her and trying to get him to show himself? Couldn't he see that Josh wanted nothing to do with Penny?

When the lady and her kids moved from the counter, Josh darted forward. "CanIhaveahotchocolateandacoffeepleasethanks." The cashier blinked. Josh took a deep breath and tried again. "Can I have a hot chocolate and a regular coffee please?" The girl nodded dumbly, and looked down to the register. She searched out the buttons for both drinks, and then glanced back up to Joshua. Before she could ask, Colton handed her a few bills and smiled. "I'll get yours for ya, Josh."

And now they moved to the waiting area. Josh didn't want to face her. He didn't want her to see him. Maybe if he pretended he wasn't there, he'd disappear.

Poor Josh didn't have a choice. "This--" Colton said, pulling Josh out in front of him. "--is Josh, in case he forgot to introduce himself." Josh stayed fuchsia, but meekly responded. "Hi..." Colton patted him on the shoulder, and let him go back into hiding. Josh kept behind Colton, staring up at the barrista, his eyes pleading for faster service.

Colton kept smiling. Ah, what fun it was, going to the coffee shop.

Penny's not a real girl...

...not in the sense that she's all gussied up with lots of make-up and walked around on a cell phone, legs barely covered by an inappropriate miniskirt. Oh no, Penny was more of a plain Jane, in a sense, comfortable in simpleton clothes and no make-up.

You should call her a girl, though, if you wanted, because she had the right soft features and delicate body--along with feminine eyes and silky hair.

Penny was in-tune enough with her surroundings to see that Josh was uncomfortable. She smiled at him and then turned to adding just a smidge of cream and sugar to her coffee--it had more caffeine if you drank it black. And she needs all the caffeine she can get. Duh.

At Colton's speaking, Penny turned her head over her shoulder, smiling whilst putting the lid back on her coffee. "It's okay. I don't do too well with girls either; catty things we are," She hissed and made a slight clawing motion with her hand, then giggled.

Yeah, can you say dork?

The ordering of drinks didn't take long and before she knew it, Colton was speaking to her again. Not that she minded... human conversation/contact was always a pleasant thing. "Oh, I don't remember. I'm so forgetful. Hi Josh," Miss Lane smiled brightly and waved, hand winking in a petite wave.

She nodded and looked around, clasping the cup between two hands.

Oh yeah, /her/ name.

"Forgive me, I forget my manners. I'm Penny," She smiled and nodded her head, then leaned in towards the pair, "-but that's not short for Penelope." Ugh, she hated when people called her 'Penelope' in an attempt to be more formal.

Penny was Penny who was just... Penny.

While Josh was a high schooler with a thing for thin, leggy girls in short skirts and v-neck shirts, even he could see that Penny was a pretty girl. It didn't take the clothes and the make-up and the gift of gab to make girls pretty. It took the soft features and the delicate form and the silky locks of hair to make a girl pretty.

But it took more. Now, here was a girl who had given Josh some attention and some compliments and some moments of her time. Here was a girl who had a good heart. As cliché as it seems, for Josh, it was always true. Personality made the girls all the prettier. 'Course, that was because if they were sweet and charming and caring, they would talk to a kid like him, with his big nose and stuttered speech. Personality was the only thing that ever got him close to girls.

Colton laughed at Penny's cat imitation while Josh kept himself hidden. "Guess that makes three of us." Josh nodded. Three people in a coffee shop, against girls and their laughter and cute smiles and pretty eyes and... And all they stood for.

Well, no. Two people who supposedly hated girls, and one that just hated never being able to get a girl.

"Hi..." Josh repeated, still behind Colton. Colton glanced over his shoulder, one eyebrow raised. "Josh... Stop being three. She doesn't bite." He wasn't smiling, which meant he wasn't joking. Josh nodded quickly, and stepped out beside Colton. He was still pink and kept his eyes downcast.

"Hi Penny," he repeated, for the third time, after she introduced herself.

"Better," Colton whispered to Josh, smiling again. He reached for his coffee and Josh's hot cocoa as they came up and handed Josh his drink.

They both stood silently for a moment, Colton holding his coffee as a sort of hand-warmer, Josh trying to busy himself by sipping his scalding cocoa.

And as cliché as it might have been, Penny was a good girl with a big heart, charming and sweet, more than willing to go out of her way to help someone with any problem they may be having. Josh's problem was self-confidence; Penny could tell that almost immediately. He didn't believe in himself and /that's/ why he stuttered, why he wasn't good with girls.

In actuality, Penny didn't hate girls, she just didn't fit in. She could never master the seductive sway of her hips or the art of eyeliner--every time she put it on, she looked like some character out of 'The Crow.' What she lacked in girlish talent, however, she made up for in outward personality. Penny had an abundance of personality and then some.

"Girls are petty and a waste of your time. At least the ones at your age," She tossed a smile at Josh, even though he was still somewhat covered by Colton. "One day, if you're lucky, you might find a girl who's grown up enough to look past her own nose. Though that nose will surely be caked in powder, concealer, and any other ungodly methods of cover-up. Beauty is a lie," Penny winked then took another sip of her cappuccino, glancing at the two over the lid of her disposable cup.

Penny was about to reply to Josh's greeting when Colton urged him to repeat it. She nodded and smiled, "Hello... and he's right, I don't bite. Unless of course that's your thing," She teased before continuing, "It's been my pleasure to meet you, Josh--never have I had such pleasant coffee-line company." Her two hands were clasped around the cup, fingers lifting (just barely) off every once in awhile, then falling back, to create a quiet drumming pattern.

"So, Josh told me you work at the casino. That must be an interesting job," Came the bumbling fumble for conversation. There they were, the three of them, standing at a coffee pick-up counter, looking like a bunch of lost lambs.

It didn't take a brain surgeon to figure out the Josh had an utter lack of self confidence. What it took was a person like Penny, who was willing to recognize, acknowledge, and understand that Josh couldn't talk easily. So few people went so far as to try and understand why Josh was so peculiar. Josh liked people who tried. People like Penny and Colton, and perhaps his mother...

Colton nodded firmly to her comment, but didn't interject his own thoughts. Everybody in high school was a waste of time. Colton had been the kid that liked homework more than human contact, preferred the fantasy characters in books to the fantastical, over-dramatisized humans, and loved his mother more than any other girl out there. That was why he didn't speak up on the subject. He had been a loser and he knew it.

One day this, one day that... Josh had heard the "one day" speech so many time that he had to utter a soft sigh when Penny spilled out her own version. The thing was, what if one day never came? What if he died young, or didn’t die till he was 99 years old, but that "one day" never came? According to Josh, there was no "one day." There was today, there was yesterday, but there was no "one day."

Josh smiled weakly at her comment about biting. If she was trying to be funny, he'd try and be supportive. Still. Why anyone would want to be bitten was beyond Josh. "You're welcome..." he muttered, the steam of his cocoa helping to hide the colour of his cheeks.

Colton nodded. "Yea... Not too exciting, though... Lots of papers..." He shrugged his shoulders. It was always a disappointment to him and to everyone else when they learned that working in a casino really wasn't very much fun. Colton did have the best job there, though. Aside from the papers, Colton found himself someone's ideal job. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show...

"Oh, and I'm Colton..." Josh shot him a look. One of those, 'Hah. See? You forgot too, you big, mean, hypocrit' looks. Colton didn't offer a hand, as they both seemed to have their hands full, but he did nod his head in a very informal and shortened kind of bow.

A bunch of lost lambs. Lost lambs with coffee.

It's a fair assumption that Penny lacked a lot of self-confidence as well. If she did, she wouldn't be working a trashy job; she'd have the confidence to go out and get a /real/ job, or at least strive towards a promotion... but it was easier just to be Penny, the low-level social worker, with no goals and no asirations. She couldn't let herself down if she never had anything to build up to.

Everyone's a loser in highschool. Penny hadn't been a loser, per se, but rather that sweet, smart girl that didn't go out on too many dates, but had her fair share of social activity. It was normal high school interaction, though not /too/ much about Penny's childhood had been 'normal.' When you grow up in a household of grass-smoking, peace-loving flower children, it's hard to have what would be seen as a strictly average suburban, or normal, childhood.

Penny caught the quiet sigh emitted by Josh and inwardly chided herself. Good Lord, was she that much of an old grandma? Besides, she was one to talk. When had her 'one day' come? Like, never.

So Josh didn't get her teasing innuendo. Neither did Colton.

Jeez, weren't males supposed to be... more vulgar? These two were like fish out of water in the male race. She didn't even get a hint of a true smile.

"Ohh, papers are a terrible hassle. It's almost enough to make me quit my job and I'm sure I haven't nearly as many papers as you," Penny chuckled and took another sip of the rather large cappucino. Ahh, she could feel the caffeine flooding her veins. Nothing like giving the heart a nice jump start. Caffeine was better than defibrillators, that's for sure... nothin' got her heart pumping faster.

Then again, it was probably unhealthy the amount of coffee she drank. Bah, oh well.

Penny offered up another bright smile at Colton's slight bow and formal introduction. "Hello Colton, a pleasure," She nodded her own head and soon perked up, the noddings dying off in a gradual process.

Lost sheep with coffee. Where's Little Bo Peep when you need her?

"Did y'all maybe want to... sit down or something?" Oh, bold Penny, bold.

Colton was the black sheep. He was the only one out of the three of them who looked forward to "one day." For him, it was all he had. The past was ugly, today wasn't looking much better, but one day? At least one day would be better than the other days.

Josh did not consider himself a loser. He was too cool to be a loser. He tried to hard. His fashion sense was perfect. He was slick when it came to jokin' around with his guy friends. Quite honestly, the only time he wasn't cool was when people like Penny had to be sweet and considerate and make him blush and stammer like a child. That wasn't cool. Lucky for Josh, his friends weren't there to see this. Had they been her, he wouldn't have been cool anymore.

Poor kid was striving for cool. Cool everything. Cool clothes, cool car, cool friends, cool girls... He just got hung up on the last one.

If Penny wanted vulgar, she should have started talking to the construction worker, who had been staring at the three of them for a few minutes now from the table where he sat. He looked pretty vulgar. But Colton and Josh? It was quite likely that her saying "balls" would have them both go scarlet and laugh nervously, before rushing out the door.

When Penny talked about her papers, Josh looked up at Colton, his blush mostly gone. "She's a social worker," he informed him, nodding slightly before busying himself with his cocoa.

"You're a social worker? Oh, no... You have way more papers than I have... What kind of social work?" Now there was a conversation Colton could talk on. Work. Work was easy. It was painless. Everyone had work, so it was a safe topic. Kinda like the weather, only more personal.

Josh and Colton nodded in unison. Sure, sit down. Sounds great. Josh followed Colton as he saught out an unoccupied table for three. Colton sat down first, Josh quickly taking the spot next to Colton. He didn't want to get stuck alone or get stuck next to Penny in one of the two chairs across from Colton and Josh.

Colton continued holding his cup, not sipping a single drop from it. Steam continued to pour off the top of the drink. Josh kept taking small sips from his drink. Neither of them said a word.

They really were sheep.