"Hey, Pandora..." Abel started. She turned around and gave him a dirty look. "What?" she asked, irritated. Abel chewed on his lip and looked at her. "Thanks for coming to my show. I saw you, the other day." he smiled a little. Pandora blinked. "I-- I have no idea what you're talking about." she said quickly and turned back to her locker. Abel rocked on his heels. "You don't have to pretend, you know." he said quietly. Pandora paused but didn't look at him, exhaling quietly. "You don't know what you're talking about." she said sharply. He shrugged. "Sure I do. I have to pretend I don't like you sometimes so Marcy doesn't tease me." he said. Pandora rolled her eyes. "That's not what I mean." she scowled. "A lie is a lie." Abel said with another shrug. This kid never gives up, does he? Pandora thought to herself.
~
When Pandora went back to her locker after class, she noticed someone had tried-- and succeeded-- at breaking into it. She always left the dial at 11... she twisted open the locker and found a small stuffed panda bear in her locker, sitting on top of her books with a goofy-looking grin on its face, the same kind Abel made when he was about to do something stupid. She smirked a little and read the tag on the ribbon around its neck. "Happy Birthday, Panda. Now, I expect to take you up on that offer for dinner. Or a trip in the TARDIS. whichever you prefer. ~ajw"