Hello friend

"Oh, it is." He smiled back at Robin and looked around the café too. "I sometimes come here, but not often, y'know?"

"I don't really like the New Rome."I shrugged and turned my gaze down on the table. "There's too many people, too much noise. I don't like people"

"Oh," Jerome raised his eyebrows. "So, I guess you don't like me, then." He smirked, looking down at the table too. His gaze slowly turned up, however, and studied his face. "What do you think about, uh, the Circus Maximus? I like it."

"N-no, you're o-okay!"I rushed to correct him. Great, you messed up again. Accepting my defeat with a sigh, I pondered his next question. "Uh, I've never been there, actually. I don't even know what it is, to be honest"

The Jamaican son of Apollo just shook his head, putting a hand up with a smile on his face. "No, no, you're good. Don't apologize I was just messing with you." Jerome smirked, then looked down at the table. "It's here in New Rome along with the Coliseum."

"Oh"I mumbled and gave him a shy smile."I know where it is but i haven't been anywhere near it. Like I said, I don't really like New Rome"I reminded him and started nervously tapping on the table the beat to Another One Bites The Dust. "So, Human Boombox. What kind of music to you even like? Or are you one of those 'I'll listen to everything'" guys?"

"Well, I like the song that you're currently tapping the beat too." Jerome chuckled. "I like R&B, islander music, anything with a good beat to it. What about you, Robin?"

"Well, I don't know enough to label the different genres"I shrugged, stopping the tapping as it started to make me even more nervous than before. "I like some Queen, some Imagine Dragons, some Bon Jovi, some Halestorm... I like many songs, I don't really like artists."

"That makes sense. You don't seem to like humans period which is why you don't talk to anyone." Jerome shrugged. "I can understand that, wanting to be distant."

"I don't want to be distant!"I exclaimed in a frustrated tone as my napkin suddenly caught fire. "Dammit"I mumbled and quickly muttered the spell to extinguish the flames. "Sorry about that. It's not that I want to be distant, I just don't like humans because they're not predictable and I hate unpredictable stuff"

"Oh, okay, okay. I didn't know." Jerome put his hands up defensively and chuckled. "But I get what you're saying to say."

I huffed and crossed my arms across my chest. "Fine, alright, you get it. Of course you do, mister Sunshine-And-Rainbows, you obviously do"

"I'm not Mister Sunshine-And-Rainbows." Jerome shrugged his shoulders. "Honestly, I'm not that happy all the time. I'm just optimistic about certain things." He took a large gulp of his iced coffee and sighed contently.

"Sure, whatever you say, pal"I chuckled and ran a hand through my hair nervously, as I completely ran out of something to say. Great, just when things started to get interesting with mister Pretty Boy.

Jerome nodded his head and continued to eat his panini. It was actually really good. He would have to come back here again at some point. The son of Apollo turned his attention back to Robin and gave him a smile. "So, uh, since you don't like people, have you decided that you're just going to stay single and friendless all your life?"

"I-I'm not f-friendless!"I exclaimed, a flustered blush rising from my neck to my face. "For you information, I have many many friends! Just because I don't like them doesn't mean people don't like me! People adore me, alright?! I have friends!"I huffed and crossed my arms, fighting the appearance of a slight pout.

The Jamaican demigod couldn't help himself, but to laugh at Robin. "Wait, are you...pouting? I think you are." Jerome chuckled, biting his lip. "Okay, okay, you have friends. I believe you. Many, many friends."

"I am not!"I exclaimed, my voice cracking in a whine. Wonderful, torture complete, Earth, you may now open up and swallow my whole miserable existence. Instinctively clearing my throat, I sat up straighter in an attempt to look more menacing. "Of course I do, many many friends, like you said"

"...Of course." Jerome chuckled and turned his head to look out the window, seeing another one of his friends, he waved. He watched him walk passed before turning his attention back to Robin. "Hm?"

With a scowl apparently permanently imprinted on my face, I observed Jerome as he interacted with who I assumed to be one of his numerous friends. I was lost in thought, which is why I was so startled when I heard him address me again. "What? Yeah, sure, whatever you say"I mumbled. Wait, what did I just agree to? "What was the question again?"

Jerome knitted his eyebrows at what Robin's response. He obviously wasn't paying attention. "I...didn't say anything, but we should do this again -- talk I mean. Hang or something."

"R-really?"I stuttered, completely taken aback by this sudden change of events. "Um, sure. I.... I'd really like that"I replied, surprised at my own honesty. Looks like getting to know people isn't all that bad, after all. Or maybe just getting to know Jerome. Meh, who cares?

Jerome smiled widely at his response. "Great. I like hanging out with you, Robin. You mellow me out a bit." He laughed a bit before reaching down to tie his shoes.

I blushed slightly and raised an eyebrow in question. "I mellow you out? That's the best pick-up line you thought to use? Geez, if that's the best you can do, you need serious help, my friend!"

Jerome blushed too. "What? No, no! That wasn't a pick-up line I was being serious." Gods, this made him chuckle. "It wasn't a pick-up line, I swear...unless you want it to be?"