Xaviers!

"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.

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

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

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

"You know....like...

...Regular people. With regular lives."

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

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

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 shook her head, frustrated.

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

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

"Try me."

"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 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.

"Yes, I...Yes.

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

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.