The midday sun was filtering faintly through the narrow streets of Blithe Hollow as Ken, Norman, and Martin continued their walk toward the center of town. The mystique of their early meeting still hung in the air: the hazy shadows, the subtle vibration that filled Ken's every step with a tingle and excitement.
Norman was thinking about the details of the book and the strange events when someone approached from afar with determined steps. Ken didn't notice her at first, but Norman recognized the voice immediately.
"Oh, Norman, it's lunchtime!" a deep-seductive, sarcastic voice said as a confident figure with a bright smile emerged from the corner of the street.
It was Courtney Babcock. The 22-year-old, Norman's older sister, had once had a reputation as a snobbish cheerleader, but over the years she had learned that behind the sarcasm was always a helpful and experienced person. Courtney was still wearing her signature tight pink gym gear, which showed off her slim figure and belly, and there was always a hint of seductive mischief in her smile.
Ken almost froze at the sight. He couldn't take his eyes off Courtney. Her eyes, her smile, her confidence—every little detail gently captured his attention.
"Hi," Courtney said, in her usual sarcastic tone, giving Ken a quick wink. "Courtney Babcock. Looks like you're not local."
Ken swallowed hard, trying to compose himself.
"I… Ken…" he stammered, his heart racing.
"Yeah… I'm new here."
Norman watched from the background, a half-smile on his face, knowing his sister always had a special way of making new people feel special.
Courtney took a step closer, as if expecting Norman's timid invitation:
"Well... if this is really the new guy, we'll see how well he can keep up with the rhythm," she said sarcastically, but her voice vibrated with a flirtatious attention to Ken.
Norman, who had always been sensitive to social situations, quickly intervened: "Hey, if you think about it, Ken and Martin could join us for lunch," he said, trying to defuse the tension. "Today, our mother cooked our favorite food..."
Ken almost forgot to breathe. Courtney secretly responded to Norman's offer with a quick thanks. And also she playful wink to Ken, which made Ken even more blushing.
Ken felt attracted to her and pointlessly embarrassed.
Martin Hale, who had been listening in the background, had a sudden idea and tried to lighten the mood with comic relief. He walked up to them and pretended to fight with the street lamp post:
"Watch out! The lamp is coming!" he shouted, pushing a bent lamp post, which of course didn't move anything, but made Ken and Norman laugh at the same time, and Courtney turned her head away, laughing, secretly looking at the man with approval.
Ken was a little confused, but the laughter brought relief to his heart. Still, his attention always returned to Courtney. Some subtle but powerful attraction began to form in the boy that he couldn't quite interpret.
"So… this new town… is pretty calm, isn't it?" Ken tried, trying to start a conversation and secretly gauge Courtney's reaction.
"Calm?" Courtney replied, raising her eyebrows and giving him a half smile. "Well… if the town were just that calm for everyone, I would have moved away a long time ago. But now you're here, Ken… look, things work a little differently here.~
Norman stepped closer, warning Ken for a moment:
"Courtney can be… sarcastic sometimes, but she means well. Just… don't be scared of her, Ken."
Ken just nodded, but his heart rate quickened, and his whole body felt a surge of excitement.
Courtney's every move, her speech, her attention… all caught his attention, and he felt as if the world was spinning a little slower around them.
Martin continued to play with the objects on the street in the background, scratching his head, and only said, "I really don't know why I feel like this lunch is going to be a prelude to some big adventure."
Courtney watched Ken's reaction, and with a quick wink, she indicated that she was secretly amused by his confusion.
Ken gasped, trying to compose himself, but each glance she gave him was like another wave of pain to his heart.
Norman smiled contentedly: everything was going according to plan, and the man he had just met was slowly settling into the strange yet warm family atmosphere that the Babcock's (Norman & Courtney) offered.
And so, as the shadows of the city continued to move in the background, the invitation to lunch became not just a meal, but the beginning of something much more intimate and personal between Ken and Courtney.