This almost feels normal, just sitting around at some out of the ordinary place, chatting with a waitress and people-watching. Or rather, it's what he thinks normal might feel like; this sort of thing rarely happens at home without the inevitable thrown punch or horrified look. No matter how many people think he's cute, someone always has a sister or a boyfriend who looks at him and recoils.

It's sort of annoying to find a respite in other dimensions.

"New by a few days," he says, watching Rachel work. It's interesting - certainly different than bussing tables, anyway. "You seem pretty at home."