returning {to the past} -crystal

[~echo~]

Anita bit her lip, struggling to keep it all in. "I'm sure you will someday," she replied quietly.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex shrugged an then looked up as their food arrived. When the waitress walked away, he said, "Someday, perhaps."

[~echo~]

Anita watched him, her eyes saddening as she took a bite of her sandwich.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex took a bite and chewed slowly. "I don't know how long I'll be here," he said after he swallowed. "Probably have to go home after everything with Carlos is sorted out."

[~echo~]

Anita chewed quietly for a moment. "Have you found anything out about him? His activities?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex sighed. "He definitely got involved in a gang, despite my best efforts. He hasn't visited ma for months; been living with these buddies of his from the gang. I just don't know what to do. He's too bull-headed for me to talk any sense into him."

[~echo~]

"Sounds like someone I know," she said slyly, smiling.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex gave her a flat look. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he said.

[~echo~]

"When we were in high school, you were as stubborn as an ox," Anita said, frowning at him, searching his eyes for some remembering.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex's lips curled into a barely-there smile. "Nope. Don't remember that. You must be thinking of someone else."

[~echo~]

Anita studied him for a moment longer, then rolled her eyes in a most Anita-like fashion. She continued to eat in silence.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex smiled for real and then took another bite. "Anyway," he said. "It's just that I don't know if there's anything I can do. Carlos doesn't care what I think, and he keeps throwing the fact that I was in the gang in my face."

[~echo~]

"Then throw in his face that you also quit," replied Anita calmly. "If you need backup, I can certainly help you."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex gave her a wry smile. "Hell, maybe he'd be more likely to listen to you. You do have a way of beating the Fuenteses into submission."

[~echo~]

Anita gave a little smile at that. "Perhaps. Well, of course, I meant that I could help with lawyer skills- you know, debating. Arguing. Pointing out flaws in an argument. It's what I do."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex brightened up a little. "Do you think you could help me get him arrested?" He knew a little about law, but certainly not as much as her. Not that she probably dealt in criminal law.

[~echo~]

Anita frowned. "Well.... it's not really what I was suggesting. But," she added quickly, "if that's what you want me to do, I'll help you."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex smiled and shook his head. "I'm kidding." Wow, it really must have been a long time. She was taking his sarcasm way too seriously. "I don't want him thrown in jail. But, yeah, it would be great if you'd come reason with him. Or try."

[~echo~]

"Oh," she said feeling somewhat stupid. "Right. Of course I can help you reason with him."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex finished off the rest of his meal in silence. When he was done, he dug his wallet out of his pocket and pulled out some cash.