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Leah nodded knowingly.
"That's also how I decide what I actually like too." She told Violet, standing up and shouldering her coat farther up onto her shoulder. "Come on Vi, let's go." She said, grabbing Violet's wrist and leading her along the stores of the outside mall, occasionally pointing at the things inside display windows. Finally, once they got inside the new chocolate store, called Dilly's, Leah let go of violet's wrist.
"What'd you do that for?" Violet asked grabbing Leah's hand and holding it as she dragged her over to a glass container containing truffles, not letting go after reaching them. "Look at how cute they look. they're so small."
Leah smiled shyly.
"I know, they're also very tasty." She told Violet, "If you want, you could come over, my mom makes salted caramel truffles all the time. You can get them for free."
"Mmmm." Violet smiled. "I bet they are amazing." She said and pointed out a small plate containing chunks of carmald apple. "Want'a taste?"
Leah took a small sample of the slices of caramel apple from a platter above the glass counter displaying all the different truffles and bit into it.
"Mmm," she said, covering her mouth with her hand as she chewed. "this is good, the chocolate is mixed in with the caramel, that's why it's so dark."
"Really?" Violet asked as she grabbed one and ate it. "Woooh. that is good."
She said after finishing chewing.
"Is it just charmal and chocolate? It tastes like there is so much more." she said in surprise.
Leah conferred with the young woman behind the register for a few minutes.
"Yep," Leah said, turning back to Violet. "Just caramel and chocolate."
Violet smiled and shook her head. "It's insane how something so simple can taste so good."
She said grabbing hold of Leah's hand again and pulling her over to a glass case containing chocolate dipped strawberries shaped like little animals. She gave Leah's hand a squeeze and pointed out one that looked like a bear.
Leah gave a giggle of excitement.
"I want to buy some." She said, straightening up and looking around. "The sign says you get random ones, ten for three bucks, I think it's worth it."
Violet smiled.
"Of course it's worth it." She waved to the lady behind the counter. "I'll get some too and we can have an animal party." She said excitedly.
Leah bought two boxes of chocolate animals and she handed one to Violet and thanked the lady, before making her way to the door.
She pushed the door open, feeling the cold wind of the outside air rush against her face and she pulled her scarf up a little. "It's chilly." She told Violet. "Let's start heading back to my house before we freeze."
Violet shivered when Leah opened the door. She wrapped her arm around her and pulled her in close to try to keep warm. "Sounds good with me." Violet said rubbing Leah's arm in a side hug.
Leah smiled up at her and then led the way, turning down the small concrete walk that led to her small, brick two bedroom house she shared with her mom.
She pulled out her keys and unlocked the front door.
"Mom?" She called as she opened the door. "Guess she's not home."
She sat on the couch and began to strip her coat off.
"Make yourself at home." She told Violet.
Violet sat down on the couch next to Leah. She was not really sure what to do, even though she had practically lived here since they were small, she still felt like she was a stranger in this house.
"How's school going?" she asked not knowing what else to do. "Oh, god. I sound like a grandparent." she laughed softly.
Leah laughed lightly.
"I mean, school is school." She said, with a smile. "But it's okay."
Violet smiled again.
"That's nice." She said crossing her legs. "I have know idea what to say." she said honestly looking at Leah.
Leah smiled.
"How's your family?" She asked. "We could start with that, after all we've been friends for years, it shouldn't be that hard to have a conversation, or there's something wrong."
Violet shrugged.
"Family's fine I guess. I haven't talked to them in a while. so I wouldn't know." She smiled and shrugged again.
"And I don't think anything is wrong." she said with a hint of worry. "Is there something wrong?"
Leah shook her head.
"No," she said, laughing softly. "I'm just saying, if we've been friends for this long and we can't hold a conversation, that's kind of sad."
Violet let out a sigh of relief.
"Oh, good. You had me worried there for a sec." She chuckled. "You're right. that would be very sad"
Leah nodded, while smiling.
"So, how's school for you?" She asked. "Wait, are you going to school?"
She slapped a hand to her forehead. "I don't even know, I'm sorry, I never even asked."
Violet laughed.
"No, your fine. I'm not going to school. I went for the career path." She said with little jazz hands. "I'm apprenticing at the tattoo shop just off main street."
Leah clapped.
"Can you get me a discount?" She asked, seriously. "I want a jellfish tatto on my arm and I think you'd be the perfect person to do it."
"A jellyfish?" Violet asked in disbelief. "I mean, yes I can, but why would you want a jellyfish?"
"They're beautiful." Leah stated and smiled. "I want one done in black with the slightest hint of gold."
"True." Violet said thinking. "I guess I could do it, or at least i could try. Where are you thinking you want it?"
"On my upper forearm." Leah told her, pointing. "WIth a small amount of the end tentacle things below the inside of my elbow."
"I guess i could do that." Violet said slowly. Then she pulled a pen out of her pocket and held it up. "May I?" she asked motioning to Leah's arm. "Just a rough sketch is all."
Leah smiled.
"Sure." She said and stuck her arm out towards Violet.
Violet smiled and rolled up her sleeve. She clicked the pen and began to draw, the ink gliding smoothly across Leah's skin.
"Do you want anything in the background?" she asked after a while of drawing. She blew on the picture to help the ink dry faster.