Ben smiled a wide grin as he walked over to the counter and paid the boy for the ice creams, handing one to Lora before taking a bag for the jawbreakers. "Thank you." He said politely to the boy behind the counter and held out the bag for Lora to place the jawbreakers in.

Putting them in the bag, Lorabelle smiled as she inspected the ice-cream. "So this is ice-cream... It doesn't look much like cream, nor does it look like ice. It's too soft and thin for that.. Why is it called ice-cream?" Lorabelle asked as she stuck her finger into the ice-cream, trying to analyze it completely before she dared try and eat it.

Finding it cold, Lorabelle laughed as she pulled her finger out and stuck it in her mouth to warm up. Tasting the strawberry ice-cream on her finger, Lorabelle's eyes closed, "Mmm... It's delicious!" Giggling, Lorabelle looked at the ice-cream and inquired, "How do you eat it?"

"You lick it." Ben said as he ushered Lora out of the shop before demonstrating how to eat the ice cream by sticking out his tongue and licking the soft strawberry creaminess from the cone. "Give it a try." He smiled encouragingly.

Trying it, Lorabelle squirmed with happiness. After taking a few more licks, Lorabelle finally looked up at Ben with a wide grin, "It is beyond description! Is this something one can get all of the time? Or is it seasonal? Is it difficult to make?"

"You can get this all the time." Ben assured Lora as he led her down the sidewalk towards his school. "It isn't difficult to make if you have a factory to make it in though I have heard of homemade ice cream too." Ben said as they walked, eagerly licking his ice cream cone as well.

"Factory? Is that the big buildings that blow terrible smoke into our skies and block out the stars at night?" Lorabelle said with a deep scowl. "This was made in that vile contraption? I want nothing to do with it." Lorabelle said matter-of-factly as she handed the cone to Ben. "What about those.. jawbreakers? Were those made in that wretched building as well?"

"Everything is made in factories." Ben said as he handed the cone back to Lora. "Along with the clothes you're wearing but you can't very well run about naked. Its simply the way things are done here." He shrugged.

"Do you understand what those vile things do to this planet? To the work we create? To my people? To the animals around you? Does no one think of anything or anyone but themselves and their own personal gain?" Lorabelle hissed angrily before stalking off down the street in frustration.

"Lora!" Ben called as he dropped the ice cream into the garbage can and followed after her. "Lora, don't do that." He urged as he gently put his hand on her arm. "There's strange people out at night and they could jurt you if you're by yourself." He said as he looked around them.

"Look, I know factories are bad for the planet but what other options do I have? I know its bad for the enviroment but it just isn't practical to expect the entire world to change overnight. Not that there aren't plenty of people trying to help keep the enviroment healthy." He explained.

"It's not fair.. They pollute and make the baby animals sick. They die, Ben, die. By utilizing the products these monstrosities create, you aid in their destruction. I hate it!" Lorabelle yelled angrily as she pulled on the clothes she was wearing, "And now you have me aiding it! I refuse to keep doing so!"

"Well what can I do?" Ben asked, thoroughly confused by her behavior. "What can I possiby do to make this situation better? I can't change everything, I can only help by recycle or using cloth bags at the grocery store which I do by the way." He urged. "Other then that there aren't many options available."

"I-I don't know," Lorabelle said helplessly as she plopped onto the bench and curled up into a ball, "I just don't know.. Just.. please assure me there are no factories near here... Promise me everything is safe here at the very least.."

"No, there aren't factories in this city." Ben said as he kneeled down beside her. "I promise." He added as he took one of her hands. "I'm sorry, tonight was supposed to be fun." He sighed.

"Ben, you haven't watched innocent creatures fill their lungs with smoke and smog while trying to find clean water to drink that was polluted with muck. You haven't watched small creatures get caught in their waste. You haven't watched them suffer until we finally aided them into a peaceful sleep so that they wouldn't suffer any longer," Lorabelle whispered softly, "It is not something one forgets. I hate what they do, and I can never forgive the humans who help them."

"I know how awful the effects can be." Ben said softly, still kneeling in front of Lora. "And I wish I could change these things but there's only so much I can do." He said as he gently cupped Lora's chin and brought her eyes to his. "Its takes millions to make a real change in how things are done but in the meantime I can only do my part and hope for the best." Ben added, trying to amend things with Lora.

"It's not fair," Lorabelle whispered as she wrapped her arms around Ben's neck, pulling him close as she let the tears welling up inside her fall from her eyes. "It's just not fair how stubborn and selfish you humans can be..."

"I know." Ben sighed as he sat onto the bench and returned Lora's hug by placing his chin on her shoulder and placing his hands around to her lower back. "But I promise I'm trying to be better. Not all humans are completely selfish." Ben promised.

"No, just the important people in the government and at the head of companies," Lorabelle whispered softly as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. "Why are humans so greedy? You were not always as such.."

"I don't know how we became so greedy." Ben said softly as he ran a hand through her blond hair in a poor attempt to soothe her. "I'm sorry you were forced to live with us. If I could I would change things but it isn't that easy of a problem." Ben added softly.

"Oh but it should be," Lorabelle said miserably with a sigh, "You humans have every advantage, possibility, and you have every resource at your disposal. But all you seem to do is misuse all of it, especially your resources. I just don't understand," Lorabelle whispered with a sigh as she rested her forehead on his neck. "I'm sorry I've become such a burden for you.. And I am sorry I have carried on like this. Please forgive me," Lorabelle inquired softly as she looked up at Ben, her face tear-stained and her eyes bright red.

"You're not a burden." Ben said with his brow furrowed in confusion. "And you don't need to ask for forgiveness. Believe it or not, Lora, I've become rather fond of having you around. Its alot less lonely." He confessed with a small laugh before straightening out his expression again. "I just don't like to see you sad." He added lamely.

Lorabelle smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck in a hug, "Thank you for worrying about me. I am very relieved to hear I'm not a burden to you. I very much like it here and would have to have to leave so soon after meeting you. However, I am afraid I will become sad often.. Especially when I think of how this world survives.."

Ben didn't say anything as he returned her hug and found himself liking her hugging him perhaps a bit more then he should. "Its sad, I agree." Ben said quickly though his cheeks didn't dare betray him with a blush, something he was very thankful for. "But maybe now you'd like to see the school? Its very beautiful, I think you'd like the large fountain in the center of campus." He added as he pulled himself out of the hug to stand up.

Lorabelle nodded as she wiped her cheeks. "Yes, please. I truly am sorry, Ben," Lorabelle added with a scarlet blush.

"There's nothing to be sorry for." Ben smiled as he took Lora's hand and helped her to stand. "Now let's try to find a way to get a smile back on your face." Ben teased lightly as he kept his hold on Lora's hand as he led her towards the campus grounds.