Elise Don started going to the front desk to pay the bill, the clerk squinting, scanning each item over the machine one by one.
James held their things and followed closely behind, "Elise Don, you're not being fair, are you? We've told you all our secrets, but you never told us about your situation. Do you think that's appropriate?"
"Not appropriate," Tom laughed in response.
"We treat you as a friend, and you treat us like fools, is that appropriate?"
"Not appropriate."
"So, do you want to talk about it?"
"Yes."
"..."
Their back-and-forth banter made the clerk repeatedly raise their eyebrows, wondering what the relationship among the three was.
Elise Don felt a bit overwhelmed by it.
Once she had finished paying, James dropped the exact change, pulling Tom along as they headed out.
Shadowing her like persistent specters, Elise Don was completely exhausted, laughing and crying as she admitted, "Alright, alright, I confess!"
