Tina bonded hard and fast with my friends at Sous Vide and they all exchanged phone numbers and social media handles. I will admit I felt a little jealous that she fell in with my friends so quickly, but I was the one who built her up to them, and them to her. They just proved to each other that all my gushing wasn't hyperbole. I felt a little jealous knowing that Tina and my girlies could now connect directly without me as an intermediary. My head knew I was being foolishly insecure, but my heart still twinged at the thought that they could all hook up and do things without me being involved at all.

My head finally won the argument, knowing that when my friends did want to do things, I was often hobbled by at least one of my jobs. If Tina went to a movie or the beach or whatever with my group, at least I would get a detailed rundown of what I missed while I was working. Thinking of it that way made me feel a little less jealous. She would be my eyes & ears when I couldn't be there.

Of course Tina's schedule was at least as hectic as mine. She was still going to classes, so her two part time jobs ate more into what little time she had than mine ever did.

I made the mistake of dropping in on her at Nostalgia Nook. Twice.

The first time was in Chloe mode. I was met with contempt from the hipster chicks who instantly dismissed me like a Mary Kay rep at a Goth Fair. The hipster dudes were far worse, all sidling up to 'the mundane chick' and offering all sorts of unsought advice on how I had the potential to 'become cool' with serious effort and the intense attention of a 'personal mentor'. I tried to talk to Tina, but was constantly interrupted and 'corrected' by the hipster a-holes. Though I could see it on her face, Tina couldn't say anything.... these were her customers.... even if they mostly loitered and got into arcane arguments with each other over some minutia or other. I was immediately reminded of the time I went in Chloe mode into a comic book store I'd frequented often – and invisibly – as Tom. It was not a pleasant experience and I vowed never to make that mistake again.

Yet I did.

I don't know why I thought a 'niche boutique' like Nostalgia Nook would be any different than a comic book store.

So the next time I visited Tina, I made the extra effort to do so as Tom.

That didn't go any better. Just a different kind of bad, as all these territorial hipsters kept passively aggressively challenging my 'hipster cred' in a misguided effort to protect their turf. At least I had no problem with the hipster women. They just instantly dismissed me. Something I was quite used to as Tom. But at least there were no evil stares as Tom was deemed utterly inconsequential.

After those two miserable attempts, I stuck to visiting Tina at the coffee shop.

In my frequent visits to Cool Beans, I had a few more encounters with Dave & Andi.

I don't know if he was just being polite, but Dave mentioned how impressed he was with Plague Diaries, once Zoe outed Tina as a “secretive cult artist”. He asked what I was working on, so I dutifully pulled my surface from its bag and showed them. Dave's interest seemed polite, but Andi seemed really intrigued.

“She's a real fan.” Dave told me in a stage whisper. Andi just blushed and tried to kill him with her glare. Dave was oblivious. “When I mentioned it after I found out, she went online and stayed up way too late.” he grinned.

Andi just shrugged and smiled awkwardly.

“Yeah. Tina weaves an intricate tapestry.” I smiled. Andi just stared at me disapprovingly.

“That she does.” Dave agreed. “Still, your images give it.....” he turned to Andi, seemingly at a loss for words. She just narrowed her eyes and gave him a 'you know this' look. He seemed to remember. “Oh, yeah.... a whole added dimension.” He turned to Andi for confirmation and she nodded ever so subtly. I got the feeling she had a lot to say, and it was Dave's job to figure it out and say it. Something told me they were both old hands at this.

Dave again excused himself to retreat to his office and 'grab some homework', leaving me alone again with Andi. I had quickly learned not to try engaging her in conversation and usually just pulled out my tablet and surfed or scribbled. But this time I had a notion I had to test.

“So what do you do at UMC?” I signed.

Andi startled. She cocked her head and I thought 'perhaps I played this wrong'. Then she signed back. “Emergency Room.”

My eyes went wide and she couldn't help but read the awe on my face “That must be intense.”

She nodded. “Why are you signing? I'm NOT deaf.” She signed.

I shrugged. “But you sign.”

“So do YOU.”

She had me there. I just shrugged & grinned.

“Why?” she signed.

I shrugged again. “It was an elective at school.” I said while signing at the same time. “I thought maybe if the whole starving artist thing didn't work out, I could find work as one of those people in the little circle on TV, signing during political speeches and public events.” I grinned.

Andi smiled. “Good to have a backup plan.” she signed. “But after seeing your work, I don't think you'll need it.”

I gave a polite head bow and smile. “So if you're not deaf......” I left it hanging there until she nodded in acknowledgment. “Why do YOU sign?”

She paused a moment, formulating her response. “Same as you mostly. It's a second language. And it can be useful at the hospital.” she signed.

I nodded. “I can imagine. A good skill to have.” I smiled.

She returned my smile and nodded. I was trying to find a polite way to inquire why she could hear but never spoke, when Dave lumbered up to the table.

“Sorry to hold you up, but we'll get you to work on time.” He grabbed Andi's elbow and nearly swept her from her seat. She smiled apologetically and waved as Dave was already out the door.

As I turned my gaze from Andi & Dave at the door, I noticed a presence in my peripheral vision.

“Not deaf.” Zoe grinned. “Still, good guess. I didn't know you knew ASL.” she quirked an eyebrow.

Finally, a chance to give her a taste of her own medicine. “There's a lot about me you don't know.” I tried to deliver in Zoe's own deadpan. Zoe just snorted.

“Yeah. Right.” she laughed and walked back toward the counter, but over her shoulder she taunted “you're still no closer to figuring it out!”

“I'll just ask Tina.” I smiled.

Zoe scoffed. “Good luck with that. She's no closer than you.”

'Maybe I should just ask her dad' I thought to myself snarkily. Then quickly thought about something else. Even as a joke to myself I didn't want to go there.