Trinity followed, stumbling a little as she was partially dragged across the store. She didn’t mind, of course, because she both made a new friend and was about to get a new book about her favorite subject ever. This was a double win.
Althea crouched down, pulling the book from the shelf it was hidden on and handing it to Trinity. This is what you're looking for. It's $7. Anything else you were looking for?
She took the book in her hands and examined the cover. She nodded to resemble a yes, this is it. She smiled a thank you back up to her.
Althea grinned slightly at Trinity's happiness. I'm glad I could help. You ready to check out and go on our she hesitated, not quite sure what her outing with Trinity should be called. Was it a date? A meetup? A chat session? coffee date. That sounded right.
Trinity nodded once she read the message. She couldn’t contain her happy grin, especially as she turned to walk towards the checkout counter. Her blonde hair bounced in time with her excited steps.
Althea's grin only grew as she followed Trinity to the counter, slightly flushed with excitement. She grabbed the book she'd found so interesting earlier on the way over, deciding to buy it.
Trinity set the book down on the counter.
The cashier said something to her, when when she tapped her ear, he shut his mouth and awkwardly nodded, unsure what to do in this situation. Was he supposed to write down the total? Or…
Althea stepped up so she was beside Trinity, tapping her on the shoulder and signing the number seven to- hopefully- communicate that it was $7.
Trinity nodded, giving the man the money after digging it out of her pocket. She offered a friendly smile to the man after he finalized the transaction, put the book in the bag and gave it to her.
Althea bought her book once Trinity finished at the counter, unable to stop a content smile from crossing her face. Off to the coffee shop?
Trinity nodded, holding her book close to her chest, Ready! she used her other hand to write, I’ll take my own car
Althea let out a huff. I walked here, she wrote, lips twisted in dissatisfaction. I don't have a car for you to follow.
Trinity leaned against the wall while she waited for Althea to finish writing. When she did, she craned her neck to read the note and write back You can ride with me. she offered upon reading Althea’s dilemma, I have a spacious car.
Althea pursed her lips at the thought but decided to suck it up. Trinity had been nothing but kind, there was really nothing to worry about. She gave a sedate nod. That will work.
Trinity smiled, putting her pen away to head towards the doors. She pushed them open, but stepped out of the way halfway out the threshold to let Althea through as she held the door.
Althea smiled involuntarily at the gesture and stepped through the door. A light blush dusted her cheeks as she wrote. Where did you park your car?
Trinity walked to her car, which was located midway through the parking lot. She pointed at it as a way of saying right here! She pulled her keys out of her pocket to unlock the front door manually; the electric door controls must not be working anymore.
Althea waited for her to unlock the doors and stepped into the shotgun seat. The car wasn't full of trash or body parts or anything, which was encouraging, but she still sat stiffly, unable to let herself relax in a strange car. Thank you for the ride.
Trinity nodded excitedly in reply as she ignited the engine. In place of her hearing, she learned how to, in a way, feel the car as it ignited, changed gears or otherwise. She learned how to rely on her peripheral vision in regards to other cars. Driving was more difficult being deaf, but she made it work because it was all she’d ever known.
Althea winced when the car rumbled to life, biting her lip to keep still. To conceal the fact that she was afraid. Trinity was a surprisingly good driver, which comforted her a little more than it normally would've.
Trinity leaned forward in her seat and squinted to find the coffee shop in the midst of the other shops in the strip mall. “Which one?” She spoke, a sentence easy enough to articulate what she wanted to say, albeit still sounding like a lisp.
"Koya's Cafe," Althea replied, realizing that Trinity had no way to know what she was saying. She wrote the name down in her notebook, adding some directions. Take the next left and you'll see it about four buildings down on the right.
Trinity read the note in broken glances as she kept her eyes mostly on the road. She took a turn onto the road with four buildings, scanning the shop name for Koya’s. As she pulled backwards into a parking space, she noted that she’d never been here before; it was an interesting new place to enjoy with an interesting new person
Althea winced when she realized Trinity would have to look away from the road to read the note and had to bury her nails in her hands to stop herself from flinching every time she took her eyes off the road. By the time they had parked, her breath was coming quick and shallow and her hands shook as she opened the door to step outside. Ever been here before?
Trinity shook her head and signed first time. She shut the car door, manually locking it with the key. She stuffed her hands, along with her key ring, in her pockets and strolled towards the shop door.