returning {to the past} -crystal

[~echo~]

Anita smiled at Carlos and then Alex. "Okay. Are you going to eat, too?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

(I'm seriously struggling coming up with Mexican foods lol. Other than the boring obvious ones)

[~echo~]

(What about chalupas? Or taquitos. I love those things.)

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

(Ohhh, chalupas.)

"I'm getting the chalupas," Carlos told her. "Alex here usually can't decide, so he gets the gigantic sampler."

"Hey, it's all good," Alex said defensively.

"And eats it all," Carlos added.

[~echo~]

Anita laughed for a moment. "I'm sure that'll be impressive."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex shot her a grin. "Feel free to have some. You've got to at least try the taquitos."

[~echo~]

"Thanks," she replied with a grin.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex gestured the waitress--who had been watching them curiously--over. He ordered a water for himself and his sampler, then looked at Anita.

[~echo~]

She ordered and then looked at Carlos.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Carlos ordered his chalupas and gave the waitress a charming smile. She actually blushed before hurrying off to give the cook their orders. Alex gave his brother an amused look. "Don't you have a girlfriend?"

Carlos shrugged. "Not right now."

[~echo~]

Anita chuckled and looked down at the table.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

While Anita was looking down, Alex glanced in her direction and his smile faded. Yeah, so much for the girl he was in love with in high school. He was still in love with her. Seeing her again after all this time had stirred up old feelings and memories, things he thought he'd buried. Apparently he hadn't done a very good job.

[~echo~]

Anita felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She took it out and looked at the screen. It was Derek. She scoffed a little under her breath and put it away.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex tried to get a glimpse of the screen, but the phone was angled toward Anita and she put it away before he could read the caller ID. He gave her a curious look, but decided not to push if she didn't want to say anything.

[~echo~]

Anita looked at Alex. Perhaps some shame showed in her eyes, because she quickly looked away.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex held back a sigh and forced his eyes away. Silence hung in the air until their food came, neither brother wanting to say anything. It got awkward really quickly.

[~echo~]

Anita thanked the waitress and looked down at her food. "This looks amazing."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"It is," Alex told her, but he couldn't quite put the same excitement behind his voice as before. He should never had invited her to do this... he should have run in the other direction as soon as he saw her that day. He should have known he'd never be able to walk away from her. He picked up his fork and started on his plate, which indeed was a shit-ton of food.

[~echo~]

Anita heard his tone and guilt washed over her. She quickly started eating, though, to help distract her.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

It was strange, being back in the neighborhood and eating a meal with Anita and Carlos. He hadn't gotten along with his brother in a long time, and maybe things were still tense, but they were a hell of a lot better than they were yesterday. Despite whatever conflict he was feeling about Anita, he felt... good. Relieved.