[Plot] Pawn Scars

[Leo Eskandari]

"The bracelet? My face is bloody and my cheap hoodie is torn up. I'm not exactly in a condition to ask a stranger to sell me back somethin'."

[Ainsley Green]

"Let's get you back to the school so we can get your nose looked at."

[Leo Eskandari]

"It's fine. Not broken or anything," he said, touching his nose without wincing. Of course, he could just be being macho.

[Ainsley Green]

"Still... I can steal a bracelet when you're not bleeding, love." Ainsley replied, for the first time giving Leo a nickname that didn't imply them as friends.

[Leo Eskandari]

"I'm not even blee-"

His heart skipped a beat when the last word of Ainsley's statement registered.

"Did you just call me 'love?' Is that like how some British guys call all girls that, or...?"

[Ainsley Green]

Ainsley paused for a moment, not exactly certain why this was an issue.

" You want me to go back to calling you mate?"

[Leo Eskandari]

"No!" he said emphatically. "I just... does that mean... anything?"

[Ainsley Green]

Ainsley sighed in amusement and rolled his eyes, smiling.

[Leo Eskandari]

"What?" he asked, suddenly feeling very awkward and embarrassed.

[Ainsley Green]

"Yes, it means something."

[Leo Eskandari]

His face lit up happily.

"Then let's go home."