THE MOMENT
"This'll do...," Quinn forced a smile when she stepped out of the portal. The business was relatively empty with only a few patrons sitting at the bar. She made her way to a booth along the outer wall and sat to wait. A lean, green-haired woman with a single red streak in walked out from behind the bar and stood at Quinn's table while drying her hands in her white apron.
"Welcome to the Dimensional Bar, I'm Mundo," the bartender smiled. "What can I get you?" she asked.
"Um," Quinn shook her head briefly. "..I just wanted somewhere to sit alone... is that okay?" she asked.
"Alone, huh?" Mundo turned and looked at the handful of drinkers. Then, she shook her head.
"Not okay," she said. Mundo slid into the booth across from Quinn. "If you really wanted to be alone, you would have landed somewhere you could be. Instead, I'm here," Mundo smiled and relaxed. She leaned back and nodded at Quinn.
"You feel like talking about what's on your mind?" Quinn glanced at the bar, then shook her head.
"You're busy," she said. "I'll be okay." Mundo shook her head; the motion revealed a single red streak of hair in the green. The woman lifted her hand and made a gesture at the bar. The patrons dissolved into white powder and disappeared.
"They're just NPCs so the place doesn't look empty. It makes anyone who finds this place more comfortable." Mundo did not make her offer again; but, she remained in the booth completely relaxed and patient with an idle grin on her face. Quinn waited in silence for more than a minute. Her eyes wandered around the bar until she found her courage. Then, she sat up straighter and met Mundo's eyes.
"The school year is almost over; and, I don't know how to make friends...," she said. "I'm going to a school for Unique Souls and there's only a week left of school," Quinn shook her head. "I don't have any friends."
"None?' Mundo couldn't the question. She was genuinely surprised.
"Nah," Mundo waved her hand and Quinn dismissively.
"Have you met everyone at school yet?" she asked.
"No," Quinn replied.
"There you go," Mundo said. "It's a big school and an even bigger AlterNet. Just because you haven't met them yet doesn't mean NO ONE will be your friend." Mundo noticed that her words were having little effect on Quinn's mood. But, luckily, a chef appeared in the window behind the bar.
"Order up," He dinged a small silver bell. It was a regular order that she'd forgotten about momentarily; but, she knew what it was as soon as it was ready.
"Nuts, I forgot...," Mundo shook her head as she slid out of the booth. She made her way to the bar, but kept her eyes on Quinn; the teenage girl looked confused.
"There's a standing food order every week. Usually, I have someone lined up to deliver by the time it's ready...," Mundo looked at Quinn for a moment, then grinned.
"You said you go to a school for Uniques, right? So, the Nexus Academy?" she asked. Quinn nodded. Mundo turned around and grabbed the sack of food the chef left there, then she turned back to Quinn.
"So of all the people you've met that aren't your friends..., do you know Turbo?" Mundo asked. Quinn shook her head rapidly as a slight flush rushed to her cheeks.
"No... he's too popular... and he hasn't even attended for most of the second semester.'
"Do me a favor," Mundo left the bar and set the sack of food on the table in front of her. "Deliver this to Turbo, please?" she asked. Quinn ran through a list of excuses but she quickly realized none of them were impossible obstacles. And, deep down, she did want to meet Turbo. It was pretty obvious that Mundo was handing her an opportunity to make a new friend. She already decided to go; but, she still voiced some hesitation as she stood from the booth.
"What if he doesn't want to be my friend either?" Quinn asked. Mundo grinned and patted Quinn on the back. "Turbo's friendly with everyone," she grinned. Then, she added a wink. "How do you think he got so popular?"