"Well," Cyril began, looking a little more irked at Cody's rambling than before. "What about that boy? Zane, was it?" Cyril smiled slightly when Cody visibly tensed. "I assume you two are getting along well?"
Cody felt a cold sweat come over him, echoes of that evening's fight ringing loud and raucous in his head. Cody didn't know what had come over him--Zane was only trying to help, and he'd... well, he was just thankful that neither of them had gotten cut on the plate that Cody had dropped (thrown? Now he couldn't remember) and even then Zane had tried to stop him from leaving on his walk, tried to talk to him--Cody felt hot tears well in his eyes, but he hurriedly blinked them away to speak--
And suddenly, there was a woman blocking his line of sight towards Cyril. "E-eh?" he asked softly in response to her question, eyes watery but expression startled. He craned his neck to glance at Cyril, who's hostility seemed to be carefully curtained behind a mask of placid calmness towards the newcomer.
"Miss, please don't misunderstand. Cody here is an old friend of mine--we were just catching up," Cyril murmured, then tensed suddenly, his eyes darting every which way. What was that... strange feeling... was someone
else watching him, too? He tried to shrug it off, and continued with his previous composure. "He does seem jittery tonight, doesn't he?" He dropped his voice low. "Usually when that happens, I try to pretend nothing is wrong. It helps him quite a bit..."
Cody's throat was tight, anxiety creeping up into his chest. In a small fit of panic, he grabbed the woman's sleeve, trying to convey 'he's lying' with his eyes. "U-um," he managed to squeak out. "I just--r-really need to know
where this place is. A-an address would be amazing..." He needed to tell Zane. Then apologize, later. Then help clean up the kitchen floor. Then... maybe... start looking into therapy, like Zane had suggested awhile back. Dahlia... it was a pretty name, and her demeanor relaxed Cody somewhat. Even so, Cyril's piercing gaze was locked on him, now, before the little beast atop her head distracted Cyril with a growl.
[Claiming Day 9!]