Neo had not expected to find Snot and Alice waiting outside his building with food in their hands like they had any right to appear there without warning.
Snot raised the paper bag again when Neo stopped near the entrance, as if the smell alone should count as explanation. Alice stood beside him in silence, straight-backed as always, though there was a faint stiffness to her posture that made it clear they had been waiting a while.
Neo exhaled through his nose. "I didn't expect you to show up at my place without warning again. You know that's bad manners, right?"
Alice reacted at once.
She lowered her head and gave him a small bow, serious enough that it almost looked painful. "Sorry."
Neo blinked once, then clicked his tongue.
"I was joking," he said. "Don't take it that hard, Alice. We're friends."
