Survival Of The Fittest

Cecil blinked in surprise at the rather abrupt but not really unwelcome end to the conversation, but he supposes that's just how it is.

But he's even more surprised when Ned was actually interested in talking more about their probably only shared interest. Nonetheless, Cecil doesn't see why he would refuse, and it's been actually...pretty fun. He actually has a lot to say about the subject, and well, it'd be nice to have someone he could discuss it with.

And so with a smile that doesn't feel as scripted as usual, he took out his phone as well.

"Sure."

Muttering his number loudly enough for Ned to hear, he scans his contact list, and the fact that he has very a very limited circle of people to talk to slams into him in realization. In other news, he also belatedly realizes he hasn't been checking out how his parents have been doing in their line, and resolves to check it out after this.

After Cecil gave his number, Ned began to give his number in return. Add another friend to his contact list. Well, not so much friend, as someone that Ned would like to get to know better.

"Thanks," Ned said, "hope your siblings enjoy the movie. See ya around."

Ned motioned to Kurt to head over to the ticket stand. As they headed over, Ned turned around to give Cecil and his sibling one last wave goodbye.

"So," Kurt said to Ned, "Who was that anyway? One of your anime club friends? I was kinda in and out your conversation."

"Well, kind of," Ned responded, "But I wouldn't mind him being a regular friend."

Give it time, Cecil could rise in Ned's tier list of friends.

(Ned Jackson continued elsewhere...)

If it were last year, getting the number of someone who could potentially be his friend wasn't something Cecil would exactly care much about. He might've considered it as nothing more than a pleasant thought then simply dismiss it. Nice guy, now back to the present, or something like that. But he's been getting better at the socializing thing, and while he's still pretty awkward at some stuff or just plain clueless according to some people, he thought that progress has been steady.

He'd like to think that it was a good sign when instead of dismissive indifference, he felt a particularly small burst of only slight giddiness at the new number on his contacts. And maybe some uncertainty, too. Or more than a little of it.

With that, Cecil shook his head as if to dispel any potentially invasive thoughts that will ruin his experience in this place.

Speaking of, he'll have to check in with his parents who are still in line.

He pockets his phone and turns to the direction of his siblings.

((Cecil Salazar-Loveless continued to The Good in Everyone))