I would not inflict that punishment even on my worst enemy. [ He gives a small smile, more of a quick upturn of his lips than anything. Over the years, teenagers had been harder to understand; here, in this city of endless possibilities, it was even harder. He was glad that he was no longer going to attend high school again. ]

What is it? [ He'll take him up on his experiment. He points a finger at the waitress behind the counter, busy with a customer, as he crosses his arms on the table. ] She thinks something's off about me as well. She's trying to play it off in her mind that I'm just trying to decide what drink to try.