“Yeah, I guess so. I don’t really want to be here if I’m honest.” He told her. “My parents insisted I spend some ‘family time’ with them.” He gestured with his fingers as he spoke and rolled his eyes.

Jane nodded but remained silent.

Her silence only lasted a few moments before giggles racked her body. She nudged her new friend gently. “We’re how far from home and look…..” she pointed over to her left.

In front of them, the unmistakable golden arches of McDonalds shone down at them.

“Want to get a coffee?” Jane asked him.

“That would be nice.” The young man agreed and followed her lead, graciously stepping ahead of her to open the door.

-/-

“Hey sweetie, you ok?”

Maura turned and smiled at the women before her. Something in her tone told Maura that this woman was either a mother with a lot of children, or she worked with them.

“Hey.” Maura smiled warmly. In all honesty, she didn’t want to socialise until she’d found Jane and discovered why she’d disappeared on her.

“You’re looking a bit lost honey.” The woman continued.

“Yeah, I can’t find my partner….”

“Well honey, what’s he look like?” The woman jumped in before Maura had a chance to finish her sentence. “I bet he’s a handsome man to land a beauty like you!”

Maura rolled her eyes. No matter how many time she encountered the assumption that she was straight, it still irritated her. She understood that it was a common assumption and yet the very fact that it was made annoyed her.

“She is a slim, stunning brunette angel with fantastic boobs!” Maura told her plainly, she was not in the mood to be trifled with and her irritation got the better of her.

“Oh honey, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to assume.” The woman replied, her cheeks burning a fiery crimson as she spoke. “It’s just, well you look so normal!”

Maura raised an eyebrow carefully “Normal?” she asked. “There is nothing abnormal about homosexuality!” she continued, her voice adopting a low and gravelly timbre more associated with Jane than herself. “Did you know, homosexuality is found in over 400 species?” The other woman stared at her, her mouth hanging open. “Homophobia however, is only found in one!” She finished before spinning sharply on the ball of her foot and striding away.