Page 18 of Fire Dancing For Icey Dragons

She laughs. "Maybe. But it'll be worth it."

"When you win?"

"That's the hope," she responds. "So, what are you going to have?"

"Ribs," I respond. "I'm just trying to decide between the sweet BBQ and fiery pepper."

"Fiery pepper, always," she responds. "Though I'll be having mine on chicken. I love ribs, but I'll pay for it if I eat them, and during competition season, that's extra tough."

"Didn't you eat marshmallows yesterday?"

"Yes. But that was an exception," she responds. "Now after we've competed, that's a whole other matter. Then I'll order ribs."

"I'll make sure to bring you back here then," I say without thinking.

"I'd like that." She flashes me a genuine smile.

My heart squeezes in response. There's something about her that seems to connect with me, and I find myself wanting to spend more time with her. Which I suppose is what we're doing here. I never thought I'd feel this way about a cheerleader. Then again, I've never really known one well enough before so I shouldn't jump to conclusions.

"Do you want to share some chips?" she asks. "I love them, but I can't eat a whole portion to myself, not with how much chicken they bring."

"Sure, but only if we can also get a plate of corn on the cob."

"Oh, good choice. I always forget that I love it."

"I only remember when I come to places like this and can ignore the fact it's smothered in an unhealthy amount of butter."

Zara laughs. "Well, it is a date. We're supposed to be having a good time."

"I am." I smile at her.

The waiter appears to take our order and bring over some water for the table, but leaves us in peace quickly enough.

"So, do you have any end-of-the-year competitions for the Fire Tumblers?" she asks.

"No, but we've got a couple of performances left."

"Maybe I could come see one again," Zara says. "I enjoyed watching you at the food festival."

"I noticed. Though that makes a lot more sense now that I know you're a performer yourself."

"Perhaps. But there was something about the way you moved that kept drawing my attention to you," she admits.

"Maybe you were just sensing the dragon within me."

"I guess." She picks up her water and takes a sip. "I've never noticed myself doing that before though. I'm not sure I'm very good at being able to tell what kind of supernatural the people around me are unless I already know. It's easier to pick up on the tells then."

"Mmm, true. Or maybe it's just that we don't pay enough attention to people when we don't know what they are. I'm sure there's lots of stuff we do that makes it obvious we're dragons even if we don't think about it."

"I'm always disappointed if my tea goes cold."

"It should be piping hot," I agree. "Though aren't you an ice dragon? Shouldn't you like things cold?"

"You'd think. But the only thing that's really different is my fire. I like heat as much as the next dragon." She shuffles abit closer on the bench seat, and I change how I'm sitting to accommodate her.

As far as I know, neither of us thought about the seating in this place before agreeing to come here on our date, but it's a good place for us wanting to sit closer together, and I like that.

"So, other than cheerleading and planning to be a coach, what else do you do?" I ask her.

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