Un-Safe Haven

Now the girl spoke, and though she seemed confident and like she felt superior Pon didn't feel nearly as threatened by her than he did by Alexis. So he looked her straight in the eye when she asked what grade Pon was in, and Pon answered with a clear voice unlike when he spoke to Alexis with a slightly low, muttery tone. He still had that same suspicion and slight sharpness to his voice, but that never went away, really.
"Remedial. I didn't go to school before."
Pon had lost his parents before they had enrolled him into school, and they had barely had time to teach Pon to read and write a bit. And along the years Pon had just polished those skills a bit. He didn't know anything else, so learning math and history and other such subjects was strange and Pon wondered why he needed to know all that. He was also well on his way learning that academics weren't his thing.

This back and forth between Alexis and Riva was weird, and somehow entertaining, to watch. Pon didn't comment on Alexis getting pulled out, though he did stay on his toes in case the guy decided to lose it and suddenly start attacking Riva. Since he seemed like the impulsive, violent type. And Pon did jump just a bit in his seat, when Alexis threw a jam packet at Riva. Thankfully it didn't escalate from there.

Alexis didn't curse again, and Pon wondered that for a guy who said he didn't care if he cursed or not he was being awfully nice towards Pon. Not cursing in front of him and all. And that made Pon kinda feel like laughing, though he didn't. He didn't want to make Alexis and Riva think he was actually enjoying himself or something. But if you looked closely there was just the smallest hint of a smile on Pon's face for a moment. Though Alexis and Riva probably didn't notice, since they were horsing around.

When the food came Pon barely spared the waitress any glances and basically yanked his food from her hands when she was handing it to them. And Pon, like a starving street dog, began eating his food at a fast pace. Though when he got to the egg Pon slowed down, and really savoured the taste. In the streets he so rarely got to eat cooked eggs. Pon usually had eaten them raw, or just partially cooked over a small fire.

Where as Pon was a starving dog the other two were more like wary predators, guarding their food as much as eating it. Pon noticed that, and made sure to stay strictly in his own corner of the table. He didn't want his hand bitten off because he reached too far out to pick up the salt.

Riva's question got Pon almost choking on some eggs, and he took a long sip of cocoa while Alexis teased Riva about a crush or something. Which Pon didn't pay any mind to. He set his now almost empty glass down and looked between Riva and Alexis.
"Alexis pays for the food."
And that was enough of an answer for Pon. Thus far Riva had pretty much been Alexis' sidekick, and though she was less threatening and Pon did feel slightly more comfortable with her because they were close in age Alexis was the superior pick. Though Pon wasn't especially fond of either of them.
"Don't have a crush on me."
Pon said at Riva just in case, he would hate for her to get a wrong idea of any kind, that would be a pain.

Pon couldn't help but give Alexis a bit of a condescending look when he lifted his fists in victory, was that kind of thing really something to be so happy about? Seriously, he was the one losing money. Though Pon didn't complain, the food was good, and now he didn't have to steal anything more. There was always the chance of getting caught when doing that after all.

"I could've handled it."
Pon said, his mouth bit full so his voice was even more mumbly. It was true that Pon had looked like he was in trouble, but that had been because his brain was rattled. Or at least that was what he was telling himself. He could've saved himself, easily. Alexis and Riva had just seen him in a bad situation, that's all.

The rest of the day? Pon stopped eating for a sec to look from Alexis to Riva, and then back on his almost empty plate.
"Don't know."
Was all he said, Pon never really dared to plan ahead. On the street the circumstances could change at a moment's notice so it was always better to not be tied down by plans.

Now it was Pon's turn to grumble a bit in annoyance, when Riva teased him about the situation they had found him in.
"I was momentarily disoriented."
Pon said with slight edge to his voice, as he sent a small glare at Riva. Though he did glance at Alexis right after, expecting him to either tell Pon to shut his mouth or straight up attack him to being even a little threatening towards Riva. After all, Pon didn't know exactly how protective Alexis was of this girl.

Swimming? That seemed like a weird thing to do so early in the morning. But who was Pon to judge, he had been shoplifting in the farmer's market.
"I can't swim."
That was an answer enough to their question, what use would Pon be if he went along when he couldn't even swim.