Disclamer: Not me.

Friends

Rab speared the hunk of cheese on the tip of his knife, and stared at it for a few seconds before popping it into his mouth and chewing. As he leisurely chewed the cheese, he looked out the window. Outside, Goblin bucked frantically as a brown and blond blur clung desperately to the back. Rab watched the dilemma with interest as Johnny was finally unseated. Rab couldn't see Johnny's face as he dragged himself out of the muck, but Rab was quite sure it was one of shock. Goblin probably hadn't unseated Johnny in weeks.

Rab's mouth quirked in a smile, and he returned to his bread, ripping off a piece and chewing it meditatively, thinking back to a few weeks ago, when Johnny was out delivering papers and he had been eating lunch just like now. The bell above the door tinkled as the door opened, and Cilla stepped into the shop. Rab had not known much about Cilla except what Johnny had told him, and that was not much. But judging by the way Johnny stumbled over his words and couldn't think of how to describe her, he probably had some feelings.

Rab did not say anything to Cilla as she entered, just nodded a hello. She nodded back, twisting her fingers as she glanced around the shop, which was visibly empty. Cilla almost sagged with relief, but caught herself under Rab's watchful eyes.

Cilla approached the table and pulled out the chair, the scraping of the wooden legs against the flagstones painfully loud. Rab was the first to speak. "What may I help you with?" He asked a little formally.

"Do you want the truth?" Cilla didn't offer another option.

"Preferably," Rab commented dryly.

Cilla remained quiet for another minute. Rab did not rush her, just stared at her, leisurely eating bread and cheese.

"Johnny seems to like me."

"That's pretty well observed."

Cilla blushed. "I want to know if it's true."

Ah. Rab saw where this was going. "I will happily make him jealous." He gave her a half bow for his chair, flourishing his knife. Cilla looked extremely happy, and now, mischievous.

"I can't thank you enough," Cilla told him, taking off her bonnet and hanging it on her chair.

Rab smiled. "What else are friends for?"

"Which friends?"

"Good question. Next question."