Flash was having a nice time with his milkshake, which he was downing pretty steadily until the expected brain-freeze caught up with him. As he nursed his sudden headache, he was oblivious to the bell-sound that signalled the arrival of someone new in the café. Though he heard the sound of someone's footsteps behind him, he paid no attention, that is until this new arrival suddenly parked herself on he opposite side of his booth.

"Ugh!"

It was a girl that, from the looks of it, was about his age, decked out in a dark green hoodie and having long purple hair that was tied into pigtails. She also appeared to be remarkably annoyed right now, though why, Flash couldn't even guess. But he didn't even get the chance to ask, as this mysterious stranger suddenly reached forward and, without a word, yanked what remained of his milkshake right out of his hand. As the boy stared at his now-empty hand, the girl slurped her new drink, and before long, Flash finally broke the silence between them.

"So...can I help you?"

She didn't look at him, instead scowling out of the window while she grumbled.

"One day...can't even go one day without bickering."

Her tone was one of clear irritation, the kind of way people usually talked when they'd had a bad time, and though still uncertain about having some unexpected company, Flash nevertheless spoke to her again.

"Rough day, eh? Some trouble with your friends?"

To that, the girl laughed, though it was dry and devoid of humour.

"Friends? I don't even know if I can call them that."

Here, she finally looked to him.

"Do you have any idea what it's like to have to put up with someone who just gets on your nerves day in and day out?"

Flash scratched the back of his head.

"Sometimes...but I usually get on pretty well with people."

The girl rolled her eyes.

"Well, lucky you."

She again slurped her drink, but Flash, seemingly unbothered by her abrasiveness, smiled, reaching out his hand.

"I'm Flash."

The girl looked to him with incredulity, looking from his hand to his face and then back again. A moment or two passed, but she soon sighed, reaching out and taking his hand to shake it, even though she clearly wasn't in the mood for his attempts to make nice.

"Aria."

It was obvious she'd only given her name out of the barest of courtesies, but even so, it was something, and Flash was appreciative of it.

"So, Aria, you live around here? I don't think I've seen you around."

Aria shrugged her shoulders.

"We come along this way every once in a while, but not often. We tend to stay on the move."

It was a statement that said nothing good about her home life, whatever it was, but Flash continued to maintain some semblance of friendliness as she spoke again to her.

"Well, welcome to town, for what it's worth."

His companion for the evening frowned at him.

"Look, buddy, I appreciate that you're trying to be all nice and cheer me up and stuff, but please, just let me be grumpy, will ya? I like my grumpiness. It's kind of my thing."

Flash chuckled.

"Hey, if I see someone looking down, I'm not gonna just leave things be. Not when I can help."

This time it was Aria's turn to laugh, though again it did not sound like she was in any way amused by this.

"Nice guys finish last, Flashy. Didn't anyone ever teach you that?"

Flash nodded.

"Sure...I just never believed it."

The girl snorted, then, to Flash's slight confusion, she hoisted herself up and out of her chair, walking alongside his side of the booth.

"Alright then, if you're really that Hell-bent on making me feel better, come on."

Flash raised an eyebrow.

"You...want me to come with you? Where?"

She looked out of the window.

"My...my friends and I passed a motel on the way here. We can probably shack up for the night there. So come on."

Aria began to walk out, but as soon as she reached the door, she paused, looking back. As she'd suspected, Flash was still there, sitting down, looking to her with a mix of both confusion and worry. Groaning, Aria walked right back to him.

"Okay, maybe I didn't make myself clear the first time. You. Me. Motel. Shack-up. Any of this getting to you?"

Flash nodded.

"Yes, I understood perfectly."

Aria put her hands on her hips.

"So, you do know what I'm getting at?"

Again, Flash nodded.

"Yeah...I just don't think it's a good idea."

Aria blinked slowly, looking to him like he'd just said the most ridiculous thing in the world.

"You...you know I'm talking about sex, right?"

The boy frowned.

"Oh, I got that much. But you and I have only just met. Don't you think that's a little...um...quick?"

Aria, sighing deeply, slowly walked back over to her side of the booth, sitting herself back down and giving Flash the biggest look of annoyance yet.

"Of all the guys I had to meet up with tonight, I had to land myself the chivalrous one!"

In spite of the mood, Flash gave a quick laugh.

"Look, I respect that you're comfortable with...well...that sort of thing. But if I'm being honest, I'd much rather prefer just..."

Aria raised an eyebrow.

"What...talking?"

Flash considered that.

"Well...yeah."

A moment of silence passed, and Aria eventually leaned back into her side of the booth, letting out a long and tired-sounding groan.

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuugh!"

Then, as she sat back up again, she began to study Flash for a time, looking him over.

"You know...most guys wouldn't have said no like that. You do realise that you probably just missed out on one Hell of a night, right?"

Flash smiled.

"Maybe...but I think that, if something like that does happen between us, it might be better if we actually know one another first. And, not to put too fine a point on it, but we know nothing about each other."

Aria gave another shrug.

"Does it matter? I'm good-looking, you're good looking, and we've both got nothing better to do, so..."

Leaning forward, Flash continued to smile.

"...What kind of music do you like?"

Aria blinked at him.

"...What?"

Flash gave a shrug of his own.

"A simple enough question. What sort of music do you like? Any songs? Instruments maybe?"

Realising that her companion was set on this, Aria sighed once more, leaning back slightly. After a while of showing more than a little reluctance, she gave a slightly softer look.

"...I like to sing."

Flash looked to her with renewed interest.

"Sounds neat. How are you at it?"

Aria smirked, reaching down and fiddling with the red pendant that hung from her neck.

"Oh, trust me, people pay attention when I do it."

"You enjoy it?" Flash asked again.

"Oh yeah, I definitely enjoy it," Aria responded.

She grimaced.

"Not as much as I used to, but yeah, I still like doing it."

Flash's smile resumed.

"I have a guitar myself. Never really felt I had the voice for singing."

Aria chuckled.

"You're a weird one, you know that?"

Flash laughed back.

"Hey, if I got you to laugh, I'd say a little weirdness is something I can tolerate."

The two shared the next laugh, and when it was over, Aria gave a slow nod to him.

"Okay...maybe talking isn't so bad...weirdo."

Flash gave a happy grin to that.

"That's the spirit...sort of."

Aria, as before smirked.

"Okay, I guess I can cope with a little niceness for one evening. I mean it's not like we're gonna meet each other again after this, right?"

Author's Note

For the record, this one takes place before Rainbow Rocks. And possibly before even the first EG film too.