20- Don't play with your food , but making faces is allowed . Torin blinks at me . I've worked out that means I've thrown him somehow . What I don't know is if he's blinking because he thinks I'm crazy for asking him to eat with me , OR because I'm crazy for thinking that he would eat with me . He seems completely perplexed . " You want me to have dinner with you ? " Torin asks . Maybe he didn't hear me properly ? " Yeah . Well actually first I just wanted to apologise for hitting you earlier . You kind of startled me and it was a total accident , promise . I meant to apologise earlier but you ran off and you haven't been in the bar tonight . " There , I finally apologised. Go me . " I thought you might have been expressing your feelings about me keeping your phone from you . " Torin comments dryly . I roll my eyes . " I still think you're being a little dramatic about keeping it from me . I mean how hard is it to check a text message ? BUT you did save my life and that earns you a ton of brownie points , so you're entitled to be a little bit annoying , I'll just deduct from your total score . " I wink at him so he knows I'm joking . " Ah , so your patience with this situation does have a limit . You've been very ... Cooperative . " He comments . I shrug . " Right now I'm okay with this , but you have to know it isn't a permanent solution . Still , that isn't a discussion for right now . I need to eat and get back to work so Laura can have a break . Are you gonna come eat or not ? " I say lightly , trying to sound inviting . This guy is in serious need of a friend , and if he happens to decide to let me go well that would be a bonus . " You don't have to bribe me , I'm not angry . " Torin answers . Huh ? How is this a bribe ? " Dude , I'm not trying to bribe you . I just thought it would be nice to have some company while I eat . If you don't want to , I can take yours back to the kitchen . " I offer . I'm starting to think this guy isn't scary , just really awkward . Actually , not awkward , he's so used to everyone rejecting and avoiding him that he can't imagine anyone actually WANTS to spend time with him . That is completely unacceptable . " Actually , I take it back . Come hang out with me . It's dinner time , right now . " I demand . 29 ل 111 O 1/4 100 % Lesson 20- Don't play with your food , but making faces is allowed . To my absolute shock , Torin actually smiles . Well look at that , he doesn't look scary right now at all . I beam back at him and he quickly hides the expression , like he didn't mean to do it . I think my new goal might be to see if I can make him laugh because that smile was gorgeous . Finally , Torin comes back inside and he takes the tray of food from me which I appreciate because I honestly don't know how I lasted so long without dropping it . He leads the way to the only door in the hallway that I haven't checked out yet . It leads to a small and cluttered office . The place is clean but there's barely space to sit , much less put down the tray of food . Torin doesn't let that stop him . He moves the tray to one hand and using his free hand he shoves papers and books to one side of the desk , not bothering that a few papers fall to the floor . I can't help but laugh . Torin puts the tray on the cleared space t and looks at me curiously . " I just find it funny that the front of the bar and the kitchen are so tidy and organised and then back here is so chaotic . " I explain . Torin's face is blank but I see a hint of pink on his ears . Is he embarrassed ? " Laura manages the bar , Kyle takes care of the kitchen . I take care of everything back here . " He says as a way of explanation while pulling out a chair for me . I sit and watch as he clears a bunch of papers off of the second one . He's definitely given me the seat he usually sits in , it's clearly the better chair . More comfortable too . ble too . " I've stolen your seat . " I observe and he shrugs . He still seems kind of embarrassed . Dinner is good and while we eat , I attempt conversation . " So what have you been up to tonight ? I haven't seen you in the bar . " I comment . " I put your bed together . " He answers . " Ooh , thanks ! I thought that might be what that box was . Was it difficult ? Assembling furniture is usually difficult , especially by yourself . " I add , more to try to keep the conversation flowing than anything else . I get that he's a quiet person , and that's fine . But I'm also convinced that he avoids talking because he thinks people don't want to listen . I want to make it clear that I WANT to talk to him , and I want to hear what he has to say . I figure I should be extra encouraging , at least until he gets used to me . " It's easier if you can lift all the pieces alone . " He tells me and I laugh again . 29 2/4 11:19 Fri , Aug 29 Lesson 20- Don't play with your food , but making faces is allowed . " You're probably right . " I agree . 100 % 1 " Hey , if you're finished with that , are you going to come back to the bar ? I might even be able to make you an actual real drink this time . I can't promise it'll be any good though . " I warn him . Torin pauses and considers . " Do you mind ? You're already stuck here . It doesn't mean you have to ... I don't know . You work for me , you live in my bar . I'm keeping you here . I don't understand why you're talking to me to be honest . You don't have to talk to me or pretend to like me . It won't change how you're treated here . " Torin says this with a completely serious tone and expression . I can tell he really means it . This just confirms my decision to befriend him . He really isn't as scary as he looks . Or maybe he is , but just because someone is a little scary , it doesn't mean they're bad . " That , is exactly why I'm choosing to be nice . " We don't really talk much more after that . Torin looks thoughtful and I figure he probably needs a minute to contemplate the idea that I might legitimately want to be his friend . When we finish eating I excuse myself . " I should get back to work , Laura is probably hungry ? grab the dishes but Torin waves me away . I say as I get to my feet . I go to " I'll get that . Go take care of Laura . I'll ... I'll come for that drink in a minute . " He promises . " Great ! " I say cheerfully and I head back to the bar . I relieve Laura and get back to work right away . It's starting to get late but the place is still busy . I guess that happens when half your customers are nocturnal . Jackson must have left already , but I guess I'll see him again . He seems like a regular , plus he said I would find out how he knows I'm living here tomorrow . in the A few minutes later , Torin wanders in and takes his place at the end of the bar . He doesn't look all that happy to be here though . People give him nervous looks and no one speaks to him , but other than that they basically ignore him . I guess that's his usual spot . They might be scared of him , but they keep coming here . That's the part I don't quite understand . Maybe it's BECAUSE everyone is scared of him . He's the scariest thing here so they don't have to worry about each other because no one is going to cause any real trouble here . As long as they don't step out of line I guess they imagine that he will leave them alone . It's just a shame they all think they need to leave him alone too . 29 29