David cocked a brow and stared across the table and the now pink faced Ziggy. What was he talking about? He never met Lizzie until this night, and yet she knew who he was? "I don't recall ever seeing her in town or at the school. How on Earth could she know who I am?"

Ziggy's flush deepened. "I've uh. I've talked about you before. All good stuff of course." His leg started bouncing and he sighed. "I need a ciggy." He muttered before looking up at David. "You want me to smoke it inside or outside?"

David smirked and nodded a bit, slightly flattered by the boy's obvious admiration of him, but also trying to remain on the cautious side. He didn't want him to get the wrong idea, but also didn't want to crush the poor things spirits completely. He knew all too well about feelings that were reciprocated. When Ziggy mentioned needing a cigarette, David chuckled and stood up slowly, moving to a small table by the kitchen door and retrieving an ashtray. He placed it down upon the table, moving a few of the dishes to the side and taking his own pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. Before he lit one, however, he glanced over at Ziggy. "If you ever utter a word about the fact that I smoke I will fail you." he said jokingly, placing the cigarette in his mouth and flicking his Zippo against his leg.

Ziggy swallowed. Fuck, even with a cigarette in his mouth the man was attractive. He nodded and pulled his own back out of his back pocket, neatly pulling a cigarette and his lighter from the carton. "Why on earth would I tell on you?" Ziggy placed the cigarette between his lips and crossed his eyes slightly when he flicked his lighter and moved to light his cigarette, so that he could ensure that it was properly lit. "You know that I smoked in the school building, and outside on the grounds and you haven't told anyone yet. I'd say I owe you one."

David nodded lazily, pulling the cigarette from his mouth and snickering slightly. "True." he said, flicking the now burnt end of his cigarette into the ashtray. He licked his lips a bit, as they were feeling a bit dry and took another swig of the glass of milk on the table. "Person, I just don't think that smoking is something serious enough to merit a trip to the main office. It's not as if we can really stop you. We are not parental figures and we can't follow you home every day to make sure you're not lighting up. If you chose to poison your own bodies, it's really none of my concern. Though I will never promote it or encourage you lot to take it up."

Zig nodded and took a long drag from the cigarette. He let the smoke fill his lungs for a few seconds before he spoke. "'Sides, if we're eighteen I don't see why it should matter. It isn't illegal at that rate, and as long as it's not in the school building I don't see what the fuss is about." He watched David carefully. "Also, why aren't you more open about the fact you smoke? It's not like they can fire you for smoking on your lunch break, can they?"

David shook his head, taking a long drag from his cigarette and inhaling deeply before he spoke. "Well, no. Not necessarily. But it's not very becoming of a teacher to reek of smoke. It's merely a way of me keeping up my reputation. I've worked very hard at it and wouldn't want it tarnished over such a simple thing as the occasional cigarette. Besides, I've only recently started up again. I quit sometime in the early 90s, but lately I've just been a little stressed out."

Ziggy nodded and chewed on his lip absently. "Yeah I can get that. I started up at thirteen I think. I was sneaking them out of my gran's purse, but then dad scared her away and I had to get a fake ID to get them at all." Ziggy shrugged. "They're like a security blanket for me now." He shrugged and asked his cigarette in the ashtray before bringing it back to his lips.

David nodded and smiled. "Why is it that when ever you speak to a regular smoker they always started young? I started at fourteen myself, but if you were ask someone that only smokes occasionally the didn't start out until they were of age to do so." He chuckled a bit and held up the cigarette in front of his face. "It's almost as if our minds are more easily addicted to these wonderful little things at a younger age."

Ziggy chuckled and nodded. "I suppose so." He took another long drag and asked his cigarette again. "Though I suppose addictive personalities do run in the family. Dad's personal poison is alcohol, mine is cigarettes." He shrugged. "I find it interesting I suppose, if not sad."

David simply smoked in silence for a few moments, his mind racing now with thought about how horrid this boy's life must have been and how thankful he was that he was now getting an innocent young girl out of it. "I suppose that could be a true statement. Though, I must admit, I don't have much experience with addicts, so I could not tell you."

Ziggy hummed and nodded. "Yeah well, be glad you haven't." He shrugged and asked the cigarette again before leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes. He half felt as though he was dreaming, like he would wake up in a few minutes and be attacked by his father for burning dinner again. He didn't quite know what to do with himself and all of this peace.

David finished off his cigarette and put in out in the ashtray. He also finished off his glass of milk, before he stood and began to clear the table. "You can head back to your room." he said, glancing at Ziggy momentarily before taking a rather large amount of dishes in his hands. "I've got this."

Ziggy cocked a brow. "You sure about that? I don't mind helping out with the dishes, especially since you're letting me and Lizzie stay here." Ziggy finished his cigarette and stood as he asked it. "Really, it's no trouble at all. I promise."

David nodded and began walking towards the kitchen. "Only if it's no trouble. It could be nice having some help around here." He rounded the corner to the kitchen, moving directly to the sink and placing the dishes carefully into the porcelain pit. He turned on the water and began to adjust the temperature, taking up the sponge and squeezing a bit of dish soap onto it.