Boring.

                “So where are we going now? These sea lions are freaking me out.” She squints.

                “They’re not even looking at you.” I tell her after I take a look at them. They’re actually not even looking this way.

                “Yeah, but…they’re big…and they move,” I send her my best ‘are you kidding me?’ look. “I don’t know, just pick something.” She backtracks.

                “Okay, how about…” I pull out the map, or whatever you want to call it, of the Aquarium  and find exactly what we should see next. “…The octopus.” I suggest.

                “The giant one?” She asks, sending me a disapproving look.

                “Yep, that one,” I give her a tight lipped smile.

                “But it’s huge.” She scrunches her face. What a wuss.

                “That would be the point of the whole exhibit Ash.” I tell her. Why would someone want to see a regular sized octopus?

                “What if it breaks the glass?” Um, what?

                “What are you talking about?” I ask.

                “When we passed it earlier, I saw it sticking on the glass.” She replies. I didn’t even see the octopus, what the hell is she talking about?

                “We passed it?” I ask disappointed.

                “Yeah,”

                “And you didn’t tell me?” I smack her lightly across the arm.

                “I’m…sorry.” She tries to soothe the hopefully stinging spot I just connected my palm with.

                “You suck.”

                “Ugh, I know that already!” What a drama queen. Sometimes I wonder to myself how I can take her out in public.

                “But I still love you.” And that’s why. I do love her.

                “Yeah, whatever.”

                “Now, let’s go see this octopus.” I put the map back into my pocket and lead Ashley and I into the right direction.

Problem is, I’m not very good at following directions. I hope I don’t get us lost; I want to be there in time before this place closes.

                “Only if we go see the sharks next,” She stops me as she waits for my answer.

                “Deal.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We made it in time, thank god. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I didn’t see it. Seriously that was pretty much the whole reason why I wanted to go there. Oh yeah, and we saw the sharks too.

It’s about lunch time now so, yeah here we are at the Hard Rock Café.

Ashley doesn’t look to happy.

                “That’s all you’re eating?” I ask pointing at the seven mozzarella sticks on her plate.

                “Yeah.”

                “That’s just an appetizer Ash.” She’s worrying me a little right now, but I think I know why she’s acting a little weird.

I’m just surprised it hasn’t happened sooner.

                “I’m not that hungry.” She shrugs.

                “Is this about yesterday?” I ask, hoping I didn’t step over any boundaries.

                “No.”  One word answer. Great, just what I was looking for.

Sense the sarcasm.

                “Can I ask you a question?” I ask in a lower voice, watching her face the whole time. Her eyes haven’t even looked up from her food.

                “No.”

                “Why are you even giving her money?” I ignore her request, and just come out with it. It’s a question that I’ve been wanting to ask ever since we left the house yesterday.

                “Spencer, please can we…can we not?” There she goes; sounding broken again.

                “Ash, you have to—“

                “I’ll tell you okay?” Her eyes meet mine for the first time since we’ve been served. “Soon, I promise.”

                “Soon?” I ask hopeful.

                “Soon,” There’s a smile forming on her lips, which I’m more than happy to see. “Now let me enjoy these Mozzarella sticks.”

Now that she mentions them again, they look really good.

                “Can I ha—“

                “No.” She swats my hand away.

I lean back in my seat and cross my arms across my chest, sending her an evil glare. “Fine.”

                “Joking, you know you don’t even have to ask.” She pushes her plate towards me.

There’s the Ashley I like seeing.