He stood around the general area where the money was found, looking around to see if he could find anyone who looked like they may have. However, he didn't ask anyone; he knew good and well that everyone that he would ask will say yes, simply because of the amount of money.
She highlighted a few names, and brushed her hair out of her face. She would have tied it back, but she was too absorbed in the process for that. The most she could do was occasionally pop a french fry in her mouth, and that was mainly because she hadn't eaten since lunch yesterday.
He glanced around, and caught the face of the women that gave Emma, who was with the neighbors with Jaiden, the shark. He made his way over, becoming acutely aware of how much of a bum he looked like. He made it to the table, tapping her shoulder lightly and asking. "Excuse me, miss, did you drop any money yesterday?"
Manon jumped, startled, and turned her head to look at the man from yesterday. Oh, the money. Right. "No, I do not believe so. Why do you ask?" Her hand twitched in a tell as she lied, but that was the only indication that she was lying.
"Well, I found this wad of, like, 300 bucks and I've been trying to find whoever dropped it." He pulled it out, all folded neatly and stuck together with a few paperclips. "300 in cash is a lot to just drop, ya know?"
She shrugged. "You should keep it. It is highly unlikely that the owner is here again, today." Her hand twitched again, and now she was tapping her highlighter quickly as she looked up at him.
He glanced down at the highlighter, then back up to her, rubbing his unshaven chin. "Alright, I guess." He walked back to the same spot, looking around again with a frown on his face.
Manon sighed, and pulled her earbud out to call out to him. "Just keep the money, I did not need it. Call it a gift, or whatever you will."
He walked back over, holding it out. "I can't take this, man, I haven't done nothing to deserve it. I should be the one paying you, in all reality."
"You absolutely should not." She replied, waving away the money. "I am in the process of making three times that at this very moment. If you are worried about not deserving it, just pay forward the…what do you call it? Karma?"
His jaw locked as soon as she said "three times that," feeling it was an insult directed towards him in a side-manner. He shook his head, walking towards the exit main exit of the mall with his hands in his pocket and his head hanging. I really am poor, he thought. So poor that strangers are going out of there way to just drop money. How am I supposed to take care of those two?
Manon glanced down at her stuff before standing, easily catching up to him, even in her heels. She stepped in front of him, blocking his path. "I request your company for lunch, at least. I did not mean to offend you, I was simply attempting to do something nice." Something about this man was intriguing to her, and her honesty showed clearly in her eyes.
He sighed. "I'm sorry, miss. I've been very stressed out for a while. I've had to raise those two for 4 years now when Mom and Dad. Dropped out of college, so I'm up o my neck in debt."
She stuck her hand out, an odd look passing over her face. "My name is Manon, please come sit? Tell me about them."
He shook her hand, smiling slightly. "I'm Eli. And yeah, I got some time." He sat down across from her on the table. "Well, what do you want to know about them?"
"Absolutely anything you are willing to tell." She replied, moving to clear off the table. It was quite frankly a mess.
"Well, Emma is 6, she's the one you gave the shark to. She'll be starting school next year, which will be wonderful for me." He smiled slightly as he spoke of his sister.
"Emma." Manon repeated, a slightly uncharacteristic smile on her face. "I like her."
"Just a little bundle of energy, ain't she. Such a sweet kid. Jaiden's only three, but is already starting to put together full sentences and things like that." His smile took a sad twinge. "Mom and Dad would've loved talking to her."
"I am sure they would be extremely proud of all three of you." Her voice was soft, and she reached across the table to take one of his hands.
"I hope so." He gripped her hand lightly. "This last week or so has been hard. Stress mounting, ya know?" He looked up at her for a moment, then shook his head. "Nah, you look like you have your shi-…things together."
"That has taken quite the amount of time and work to perfect." She stated, gesturing with her free hand to the files she had shoved off to the side. "And is mostly an illusion. You sound like you need a break."
"I can't take one. If I do, I'll start falling behind on bills, and I can't afford to do that."
Manon thought for a second. "Would you…allow me to help? I have become somewhat attached to you-your family, oddly enough. I blame that shark."
He chuckled slightly. "She named him Bruce. like from Nemo?" He avoided answering the question on purpose.
"Nemo? That is the movie about the small orange fish, yes?" She didn't miss the subject change, but figured it was best to leave it.
"Yeah, they met up with sharks on the way. Bruce was one of them." He took note that she still hadn't let go if his hand, a little confused.
She looked down at her hand, still holding his, and let go quickly, a slight flush coloring her cheeks. "I have yet to see the movie. Is it good?"
Eli smiled. "I like it, but I'm a little childish."
"Some of the most brilliant people I have met were called childish once." His smile is nice.