Just Running Away to Relax

[Redeim]

Dali had one of his favorite Skillet songs blasting through his headphones as he set his backpack on a picnic table, opening it to reveal a half-finished costume. The smaller part of the backpack unveiled a small, (very) masculine (as he would insist) sewing kit. He set it up and began stitching together his newest costume, trying to ignore the frustrations from his mother earlier after insisting he should "get out more" and "do something more productive, like make friends."
He sneered, I don't need friends now... He thought to himself, focusing hard on the stitching pattern.

[Kelli-wa]

Zoey walked through the park that day, the same way that she always did. She had her earbuds in, but she couldn't help but notice the boy working on some sort of fabric at a picnic table. Her brows furrowed as she wondered what she was working on. It wasn't normally like her to just walk up to people and make conversation, but this seemed like a good plan today for some reason. She took one bud out and walked over to the table. "Uhm, what are you making?" she asked lightly.

[Redeim]

Dali continued bobbing his head to the music playing through his headphones, not hearing anyone but instead seeing out of the corner of his eye someone come up beside him. He slid one side of his ear, "Um... Hello." He replied, then as he hid the needle and thread embarrassingly added, "Did you say something?"

[Kelli-wa]

Zoey blushed lightly as he noticed her. Obviously he was going to answer her, but that wasn't the way she'd expected it, and now she didn't know if she should tell him what she was saying, or make something up. He might be offended... She sighed and decided just to ask him the question again, "I was just wondering what you were sewing..." she started and then picked up before he had a chance to answer with, "Just because I like to make clothes and I wanted to see what you were working on."

[Redeim]

Dali remained silent just long enough to make the atmosphere a little uncomfortable before finally replying, "Oh, it's just a shirt." He said simply, slight blush forming on his cheeks at being discovered. "I... I like making my own styles." He added, equally as quiet and shy.

[Kelli-wa]

Zoey sat down across from him, "Really? That's awesome. You have to be really creative to make your own clothes." She glanced at him, and nodded to what he was wearing, "Did you make that?" she asked as she put her elbow on the table and her chin in her hand. She was quite impressed that this boy could sew and even more that he was sewing by hand and not on a machine for clothes, especially.

[Redeim]

Dali nodded shyly, simply relieved she wasn't making fun of him like other people normally did. He looked to his shirt, "It's getting kind of old though... So the style's kinda old too." He admitted. Taking a deep breath, he smiled and extended a hand, "I'm Dali." He introduced himself.

[Kelli-wa]

Zoey smiled at him and shrugged, "I never would've known. I like it." She shrugged lightly. "I make some of my clothes, but mostly just dresses and halloween costumes..." She smiled lightly and looked up at him as he said his name, "I like that name... Where are you from?" she asked. "Oh, and I'm Zoey... You can call me Zo..."

[Redeim]

"I'm from Malaysia." Dali replied with a smile, "But I'm also half-Korean." He explained, relieved she was much more mature than a lot of his other peers who would not only tease him for liking to sew, but also tease him on his name (especially since most Americans tended to want to say "dolly" instead dah-lee). From now on, you'll introduce yourself to people before they hear it from someone else. He told himself confidently. He looked at his shirt again, "And thanks. I liked it when I first made it, but I have like... ADD for clothing." He said jokingly, a smile teasing his lips.