Elliot's stepdad used to remark all the time about his habit of interrupting people, and for a short while Elliot had been self-conscious about it. He didn't like that he might be cutting off someone's words when they might be important (or even if they weren't important), yet when a story or a comment popped into his head, it had to come out. It was one of those irrepressible urges he had. Thankfully, Rae never seemed to mind, or if she did, she never said anything. The insecure part of him was glad his friend never chastised him for telling a story.
"I tell you I have a tattoo and that's what you ask me about? My favorite animal?" He asked, not unkindly. It never ceased to amuse him the tiniest details she would pluck out of whatever he was saying and file it away in that mind of hers. "I think they're cool, yeah." Rae said she'd think about his suggestion, under the condition that he would hold her hand through it all, and he smirked. "I'm am excellent at hand-holding. Bedside manner, remember? It's kind of my job to be good at that. Or it was, anyway."
It was his turn to laugh again. "Fuzzy rocks would be terrible, but Sentient Being Rocks? Those might actually be kinda cool."
"Oh, I see, you're one of those people who can't stand wearing the same costume twice. In that case, it's good that I have you around to keep me from making that Halloween faux pas." His eyebrows rose, however, when she suggested they go with a medieval theme for next year. "Gold, bedazzled lute, I could settle with, but if you saw these legs of mine? Definitely not fit for tights."
It was cute seeing her acting so bashful. Cute and strange at the same time. Elliot was so accustomed to seeing her bold and fearless, it almost seemed like this shy attribute was part of her costume. "Guess I better avoid rain storms from now on. Wouldn't want to melt. It'd be like a bad imitation of the Wicked Witch of the West."
A few people did shake their heads and roll their eyes at the display, but at that moment Elliot didn't even notice them. He was caught up in the moment. Sounds that were the staple of any air guitar performance (and served to lessen the oddity of it, though not by much) escaped his mouth as he swayed, playing his imaginary guitar and grinning at his backup dancer. Rae looked so happy, and he was the one who had brought that big, genuine smile back to her face.
When Rae ceased her dance and her hands touched his, Elliot let them fall back to his sides, fully prepared to continue in the celebration and enjoy his Pop Rocks. But then, seemingly out of nowhere, her arms were around him and, though surprised at first, Elliot relaxed into the embrace.
"Who said I was humoring you? It's been years since I let my inner rock star out." His tone was softer, not quite holding as much humor as he'd intended. "You're welcome, though."