Chapter 027

[Apple]

The sticky smell of stale popcorn and spilled soda mixed with old pizza and teenagers seems to be universal in roller skating rinks regardless of species. If it weren't for the fact that a few of the faces were a little more furry and a few had a bit of a glow to them, I could anywhere in the world right now--even Pleasant Valley.

"This is what I wanted to show you," he opens the door to a private room overlooking the rink. It is dimly lit with colorful overhead holiday lights, strung in chains across the ceiling. On the table are several large pizzas, a few pitchers of different flavored soda, an oversized basket of fries, and a couple dozen hamburgers. "You aren't a vegetarian are you?"

Did he rent this room out just for us? This is almost like something a "normal" date might do, except that a normal date wouldn't order enough food to feed a football team.

He drops my hand and begins making himself a large plate. "This place has the best burgers in town. I've never found a