[Kitsumi]

Jack snorted. "Of course you would remember. You're the one who turned me in!"

"Hey, she was going to make all of us spend recess inside sitting at our desks if someone didn't fess up!" Callie exclaimed. "I was doing it for the whole class, really. It's not like I made you draw the picture."

[Kitsumi]

"Oh of course not, you only dared me to do it, in front of the whole class," Jack shot back. "How was I supposed to say no to a dare, Cal! I would have looked like a chicken!"

The two stared at each other intensely for a moment. Then, at the same time, they both started laughing.

[Kitsumi]

"I still remember how red Mrs. Hanson's face turned when she saw it," Callie managed to gasp the words in between peals of laughter. "She was so... so angry! I thought she was going to murder someone!"

"Oh trust me, she nearly did," Jack said. "I was about to die of a heart attack I was so scared!"

[Kitsumi]

Eventually the laughter died down, and the two were able to begin eating once more. The silence between the two of them felt comfortable, familiar. After spending so many years as friends, it was almost impossible for them to feel awkward in front of each other. They just knew each other too well.

[Kitsumi]

"I missed this," Callie said finally, once she had just about finished her eggs. When Jack gave her a quizzical look, she tried to explain. "Just spending time with people that I like being around," she said. "I haven't been able to do that for a long time, you know?"

[Kitsumi]

Jack looked around. "Wait, is there somebody that you like hiding in the room? I thought it was just me and you."

The woman rolled her eyes. "Oh, you think you're so funny, don't you?" she said. "Keep talking, and see how funny it is when you're back to paying the entire rent on your own."

[Kitsumi]

"Oh, my apologies, your highness," Jack said, giving a mock bow. "I forgot that I am but a lowly servant, who is not allowed to poke fun at her majesty the queen of the castle."

Dropping her fork beside her plate, Callie lifted an eyebrow. "Careful, slave, or I'll have you flogged."

[Kitsumi]

The witty banter continued back and forth throughout the rest of breakfast. It took far longer for the two of them to finish their meal, considering the fact that they kept having to pause in order to speak. Once they were both finally finished, Callie pushed back her chair and stood.

[Kitsumi]

At the same time as Callie reached for her plate, Jack lunged for it. He reached it first, piling it on top of his own plate and then placing their forks on top. With his free hand, he grabbed both of their cups and headed towards the sink to rinse them out.

[Kitsumi]

"I could have taken care of my own dishes, you know," Callie said. Although she was happy to not have to do the small chore, she also didn't like feeling as if she was being waited on. "If I'm going to live here with you, you need to treat me like a roommate, and let me do my fair share."

[Kitsumi]

Jack shrugged as he wiped his wet hands off on the dishcloth hanging from the stove. "We can figure out how to distribute chores later, once you've settled in," he said. "For now, just relax. I've been doing everything by myself for a while now, so I'm used to it. It's no biggie."

[Kitsumi]

"Yeah, but now you've got someone else making a mess in your place... er, our place, I guess?" This was still very new to Callie. She had lived with her ex, but he had always made sure that she knew that it was his apartment, and that he was doing her a favor by letting her live there.

[Kitsumi]

"Okay, okay," Jack finally conceded. "We can have the chore talk now, if you want. Or maybe right after you finish unpacking? I want you to be able to get your room set up the way you like it." On second thought, he added, "Oh, and if you have any decorations or anything you want to put up, feel free. I want you to make this place feel like home to you."

[Kitsumi]

"I guess I can start unpacking first," Callie decided. "But I'm going to need to get a bookshelf before I get into the boxes of books, and a dresser, and maybe a few other storage containers."

Jack snapped his fingers together. "Let's go furniture shopping!" he said. "There's a nice little shop with used furniture sold pretty cheap."

[Kitsumi]

Immediately Callie perked up. “That sounds fun!” she said. "I don't have too much money to spend, but depending on how cheap stuff is at that store, I may be able to get everything I need."

The man smiled and nodded. "Perfect, we finally get to go shopping together again!"