Excerpt: Penguin Like Symptoms

Joshua plopped down in the other seat and grinned at her as she put her arms behind her head and just relaxed for a bit. This place couldn’t have been any better if it were made of pure gold. They just sat there for a bit and soaked up the peace and quiet.
“This place is pure awesome,” Joshua said
Sarah laughed, “That’s one way to put it I suppose.”
He grinned and lounged a bit before sitting back up.
“Let’s go check out the main building and find us some food,” he said
She nodded and got up, heading back out of the garden with him. She looked around as they headed back to the main building, laughing at him after a moment as he did something completely stupid and tripped over nothing but air. He stumbled forward, flailing his arms about before he regained his balance and eyed her for laughing at him. She just grinned and he rolled his eyes before he grinned too.
“Yeah I know, I’m a klutz,” he said
“Of course you are Joshua,” She said
He stuck his tongue out at her as they continued on walking into the courtyard of the main building. That’s when they finally saw someone that wasn’t a person who worked there. There was a girl with black hair in a long braid that went down to her waist. She was sitting in the center of the courtyard with a book and a silver haired cat. She was wearing a grey top that looked like a long coat. It was sliced up the sleeves along the top of her arms, and stitched together in a few random places. And it was cut open at her stomach as it angled back to the part in back that went well past her waist when she was standing. Under it she wore shorts that were so dark blue they almost looked black with long black boots up to her knees.
She also had fingerless black gloves on that were only visible when she turned a page of the book in her lap. She heard footsteps and looked up, so Sarah and Joshua got to see her almost silvery looking eyes, and the dark blue headband she had across her forehead. She couldn’t have been more then sixteen really by the look of her. The cat, that really was silver rather than grey sat by her and watched them with its orange eyes.
Sarah smiled politely at her and waved lightly not wanting to bother her too much. The girl waved back just as politely then went back to reading. At least that meant that they weren’t completely alone in the place. A fact that they were shown again when someone bumped into Sarah in passing. There was a muttered ‘excuse me’ as the person continued to walk. She had black hair as well only her hair was down and went to her waist. She was wearing something that looked like it was made out of black leather. But neither Sarah nor Joshua had gotten a very good look at it, since she had kept moving and had gone into her room.
“Well then,” Joshua said quietly
Sarah shrugged it off and headed up to the main desk to ask about where they could get some food. The lady behind the counter looked up and smiled at them in greeting upon their arrival in front of her.
“How can I help you?” The lady asked
“Is there any place to get something to eat?” Sarah asked
“There is a common dining room just down the hall to the left,” The lady said
Sarah nodded and took Joshua down there to see about food. There were a few of the hotel staff in there and upon Sarah and Joshua’s entering, asking them if they were ready for a meal. When Sarah and Joshua confirmed they were motioned over to a table and informed it would be out shortly. Sarah and Joshua weren’t very picky about what they ate, which was good; because that meant they’d pretty much eat whatever was brought to them.
Luckily they absolutely loved Chinese food which was what they were brought. Sarah was given chicken and broccoli over vegetable fried rice while Joshua got pepper steak and onions over vegetable lo-mien. Joshua grinned at Sarah and dug in with the chopsticks. Sarah ate a little bit slower with her chopsticks, after all she didn’t want to get anything on the beautiful dress she’d been given. They ate quietly for the most part even after their waters had been refilled a few times.
“So what shall we do after dinner?” Joshua asked
“Wanna walk down to the town and go ahead and get the little trinkets for lily and Jeff?” She asked
He nodded and finished up his food. She finished shortly after him and their plates were whisked away to be cleaned. She got up after finishing her water and waited for Joshua to get up. He was having troubles because his foot had fallen asleep so he had to hobble over to the door making her snicker a bit.
“Oh shush,” he said
“Walk much Joshua?” she said
“Har har,” He said eyeing her