Social Stumbles

[talkyourwayout]

It was easy for Louie to overthink things, sometimes, being the analytically-minded sharpie that he was. Like, he'd made this new friend, and Amy was nice, and cool! At first, it would've been easy to write her off as just cutesy and pink, but early on she'd shown a bit of cleverness-- And it had caught his attention. At first, he'd wondered if all that caught her attention was his stories of adventures with Scrooge, which she couldn't seem to get enough of, but even when he ran out of stories he was willing to tell a new friend-- Well, Amy still liked to hang out with him. So far, this had all been done at the bakery where she worked, during breaks or her off hours, or something on hours. But the other day, Amy had invited him on a nice picnic out in the park - her words - and therein lied the overthinking.

Sure, he'd said yet, but then he started wondering-- Was it a date? Or at least, did Amy want it to be a date? And if she did... Well how did he feel about that? Sure, Amy was friendly and smart and cute and surprisingly tough, but did he like her that way? The day of the date picnic had arrived and Louie had, in a fit of desperation, considered asking Huey's advice. But no, nuh-uh. Nerp! Huey would go nuts and he was nervous enough about this as it was.

Why was he so nervous? Did he like her? By the time Louie arrived at the spot by the park's pond Amy had mentioned, he was feeling almost panicked-- And Amy wasn't even there yet!

Comments

[talkyourwayout]

"No, it's fine." While the words came out pretty normal, he couldn't have looked more like a deer in headlights. He realized that after a moment, though, and blinked a few times before trying to play it off. "What did you pack?"

[pricklybloom]

“Well, I brought a lot of options.” She patted the lid of the picnic basket. “Bunch of sandwiches, some bread and dips, fruits, a couple of vegetable salads and pasta salads, and few other things to nibble on…and of course dessert.”

[talkyourwayout]

"Oh wow, you came really prepared," Louie murmured. He found that pretty admirable, but then he realized if someone else had done that he'd find it nerdy and tiring. Oh god, did he like her? The thought meant there was a moment of stammering before he lifted up his own packed item, a duffel bag that contained an old blanket Beakley had determined acceptable for grass stains, and thus, picnic use.

"I got the blanket," he said, his voice cracking a bit. He wanted to die.

[pricklybloom]

She beamed, giggling a little. “Well, I wanted to make sure I had all my bases covered. When I was making the food yesterday, I realized that I don’t actually know what you like to eat.” Then she winked. “Besides chocolate and Pep. Which, yes, I do have some cans, by the way.”

Which meant that the picnic basket was probably pretty heavy.

As he lifted up the duffel, she clapped her hands together. “Perfect! Let’s go find a spot so we can eat.”

[talkyourwayout]

"Oh, uh... That's okay," Louie assured her, and he totally didn't blush when she mentioned she'd remembered to bring some cans of Pep.

Shut up.

"Yeah! Um, I know there's a picnic shelter on the other side of the park, with tables and stuff, but we have the blanket, so... I figure we don't need that?" Besides, ew, that was all the way on the other side of the park.

[pricklybloom]

"Yeah, we can skip the tables, I think." She gestured towards more of the grassy areas on either side of the path they were on. "We can find a spot around here. Maybe somewhere a little shady."

[talkyourwayout]

"Shade definitely sounds good." He paused a moment, thinking, then added, "There's a big weeping willow tree my brother always tries to climb nearby, under there might be a good spot. Come on, I can show you."

[pricklybloom]

With a bright smile, Amy nodded. "That sounds perfect!" She took a moment to readjust the basket on her arm, then gestured the path in front of them. "Lead the way!"

[talkyourwayout]

As they headed off, the one thing Louie was sure was that he didn't want it to get quiet. No awkward silences today, thank you. He could usually stay comfortable, to some degree, if he could keep conversation flowing.

"So, how's your day going?"

[pricklybloom]

Amy couldn't help a soft giggle. To be honest, she wouldn't have minded silence, but she couldn't deny that his conversational attempt was kind of cute.

"Not too bad. I had to get up a bit early because I had a boxercising class this morning, and then the rest of the time was getting ready for this." She patted the picnic basket. "So I say it's been pretty productive so far."

[talkyourwayout]

Louie snorts, shaking his head. "I don't see how that's not too bad. I mean, I know you like to keep busy, but an early morning? For exercise? Hard pass."

Still, his dismissal is said very playfully, with a smirk. They're different, but they get along, and that's not that different from his connection to just about everyone else in his life.

[pricklybloom]

With another laugh, Amy gives him a wink. "Hey, a girl's gotta watch her figure, right?" she says with a little sway of her hips. "Especially when you work at a bakery."

[talkyourwayout]

"Really, that's your reason?" Louie snickers, shaking his head. "I could see doing it so you can keep yourself safe, but come on, you look fine."

[pricklybloom]

She giggles, and there's a faint blush that spreads across her cheeks. "Aw thanks! That's sweet. And honestly, it's for self-defense too." She grins. "It can be both, y'know?"

[talkyourwayout]

"Okay, I guess that's fair," he says, decidedly ignoring that she just called him sweet. Fortunately, reaching the old and gnarled willow tree helps with that. "Here we are."

[pricklybloom]

Amy's expression brightens as she stares up at the tree, then glancing around the area. "Wow! I didn't even know this tree was here."

[talkyourwayout]

Louie looked over with a grin. "Yeah? Well, then, you're welcome," he snickered. "It's pretty perfect for this, right?"

[pricklybloom]

"Definitely perfect!" Amy walked around the tree a little, casing the area for the perfect spot. Eventually she seemed to find a worthy enough area, and placed the basket down before motioning to Louie.

"Here, this is the right spot. Can I have the blanket?"

[talkyourwayout]

"Sure." Louie tossed the blanket to Amy with an amused smile. It was kind of endearing, watching her find just the right spot. Normally that kind of particularness is annoying to Louie, but he's not going to think about that at all, not now.

"You know, it's been a long time since I've been on a picnic."

[pricklybloom]

Catching the blanket, Amy then unfolds it and spreads it out, smoothing the cloth down over the ground.

"Really? You've been missing out then." Picking up the basket again, she tucks her legs underneath her and to the side as she sits down, patting the spot next to her for Louie to sit beside her. "When was the last time?"

[talkyourwayout]

"It was a Junior Woodchuck thing, so I guess I was eight," Louie says with a shrug-- And a hint of a blush, being invited to sit down next to Amy. But still, he does take the spot. "I didn't stick with the Woodchucks very long. Not my thing."

[pricklybloom]

"Ah, Junior Woodchucks..." Amy nods as she opens the picnic basket and begins to pull out dishes and containers of food. "I was in it for a little while too, but it wasn't really for me either. I did learn a few things before I left though."

[talkyourwayout]

"Really, you learned things?" Louie asks with a snicker. "Because all I learned was that I didn't want to be Junior Woodchuck."

[pricklybloom]

Amy laughs as well. "Yeah, I get what you mean. But yeah, I picked up a few things here and there." She shrugs, handing Louie a wrapped up sandwich. "But you mentioned one of your brothers is a Woodchuck?"

[talkyourwayout]

Louie took the sandwich with a little smile, even as he rolled his eyes. That was just the reflex when he thought about Huey and his Woodchuck nerd stuff. "Yeah, my oldest brother, Huey. He's really into it, never goes anywhere without the Guidebook."

[pricklybloom]

Taking one of the containers of salad, Amy scoops some of it into a paper bowl for herself. "Wow, that's some dedication. He must always be prepared for anything then, huh?"

[talkyourwayout]

Louie snickered. "Yeah, I guess. He tries to be, but he overthinks things a lot."

[pricklybloom]

Amy gives a sympathetic hum as she passes Louie a can of soda before starting on her food. "Ah, I see. Is he the type to get stuck in his own head? Overthinking all the possible outcomes until he gets stuck with indecision?"