Dinner for Two

[Katarina Karkov]

"I just assumed that people like you would have cooked for yourself... I guess I've made a fool of myself yet again," she sighed.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jez's brow furrowed further. "People like... all gays can cook?" She tried to put two and two together.

[Katarina Karkov]

"What? No! Not like that! Not like that at all!" Katarina protested.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"Sorry! Sorry, I'm just trying to figure out what you mean by people like me. Americans?"

[Katarina Karkov]

"You know....like...

...Regular people. With regular lives."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jez was quiet for a moment. But just a moment. And then she burst into laughter.

[Katarina Karkov]

"What?" Katarina said, hands on hips. "What is it?"

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jezabelle shook her head and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Sorry, it's just... I don't think a single person on this campus would ever call themselves normal. You have no idea how not-normal I really am."

[Katarina Karkov]

Katarina shook her head, frustrated.

"No, it is you who do not understand," she frowned.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jezabelle rested her chin on her hands and looked at Katarina over the table.

"Try me."

[Katarina Karkov]

"I..." she said, biting her lower lip.

"I think..."

"..I think we had...better call it a night," she finally said, sagging her shoulders.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jezabelle thought about apologizing, but really that might just compound the problem. It was best not to force things.

"Maybe you're right. Still, I had a lovely evening. Thanks for showing me a bit of your culture." The girl got up out of her chair and set it back in place.

[Katarina Karkov]

"Yes, I...Yes.

Just....go," she sagged, defeated.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jez's smile faded slowly. Had her laughter really upset Kat that much? She didn't want things to end on a low note. She was going to have a bit to think about that night. With an awkward little wave she turned to let herself out.