by Jenni Linn
"You're not busy now," she points out. "But we can change that." I keep myself from sighing out loud. It's crazy how your feelings about someone can change and grow so rapidly, that the thought of doing anything with another girl disgusts me. This can't be normal. I need to somehow get her off my back, and not make it so obvious to Vance. He won't leave this alone.
"I need a drink. You want a drink?" I ask her in my lame attempt to get away.
She smiles. "Sure."
I turn away from her quickly and walk towards the keg, which passes the firepit where V is sitting... or was supposed to be sitting. I couldn't stop myself from looking around for her. Where the hell did she go? I grab a cup and fill it, chug it, and fill it up again. Taylor comes up next to me, doesn't say anything...just fills up her cup. She looks at me, a sneaky smile on her face.
"What?" I ask her.
She shakes her head. "Nothing."
"Why are you smiling at me like that?"
She takes a sip from her cup, then lowers it. "You break her heart, and I'll break your face."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"V," She points at my chest. "I'm not blind. I see how you look at her."
Shit. Fuck. I remain quiet and look beyond her. She takes my silence as an invitation to continue on.
"You like her. It's painfully obvious...to me anyway, I'm just awesome like that. You need to stop fucking around with other girls," She nods her head to the area behind me. "V has the biggest heart of anyone I know. It's fragile and it needs to be treated with gentle hands. So, like I said, you break it, I break your face."
I look at Taylor. "I know this, and that's the last thing I would ever want to do." It’s the truth.
"I know, cause you would have a shit storm on your ass--not from just me but-- from her brothers."
"Plus, I like my face."
She laughs, "Yeah, it's not a bad face.” I glance at the empty log.
"She's down by the lake." She turns and walks away leaving me standing at the keg. I don't even think twice, I leave the keg and head towards the lake.
McSwoony
I walk along the pebbled edge of the lake; away from all the noise and commotion, though it could still be heard. I stop and pick up a flat rock and flip it around in my hand before throwing it sideways. I can barely see it as it skips out. I take a deep breath. A slight fishy scent lingers; it’s nothing too intense, but somewhat relaxing. The yelling, music, and talking all behind me fades away. It is peaceful out here.
I find a large rock--large enough to sit on--and sit down. I hear footsteps behind me, along with the sound of crunching sand and rocks. I glance over my shoulder to see who is walking my way. His broad shoulders block out the fire, darkening his features, and create an orange glow around his body. I know it’s Chase. What the hell is he doing?
"What are you doing?" I ask when he gets closer.
"What are you doing?" he shoots back. I look out at the calm dark water. Neither of us say anything but I can feel his eyes on me.
"You hungry?"
I look at him, incredulously, "What?"
"You hungry? I'm hungry. Wanna go grab some food?"
"What about my brothers? And your girlfriend?"
He kicks his foot around the little pebbles, his hands in his front pockets, "Vance is occupied, and actually, I haven't seen Vaughn at all," He looks at me, his eyebrows furrowed, "I don't have a girlfriend." We were silent again as I pondered his invitation to go get food.
"I don't know."
"C'mon. It's just food, and I'll drop you off right after."
"Okay...Can we not tell Vance?" I ask standing up, dusting the dirt off my butt. Even standing I have to look up at him. He grimaces.
"I don't know if that's a smart idea."
"And telling him we're leaving to grab food is?"
He sighs, "I feel like if he finds out we lied to him, then we're hiding something from him." He makes a good point because we're not hiding anything.
"We're not lying..."
"Lying by omission is pretty much the same thing, especially to Vance."
I sigh, "I know, I just don't need him giving me shit. He won't be home until late if he even comes home. So if I'm home before him, which, I most likely will be, he'll never even know."
"Okay," He relents, "I'll let him know I'm leaving."
I nod. "Okay. I'll let Taylor know." He turns to walk, but I remain where I am. He must realize that I didn't move because he pauses and turns towards me. "You comin?" I look at him for a second, taking him all in. He just stares at me, waiting for my response. I have no idea what I'm getting into, but I remind myself it's just some food with a friend. "Yeah."
He doesn't move until I'm next to him, and we both make our way back to the group. We split off, him going over to Vance, and me heading to Taylor. She wags her eyebrows at me as I approach her, and I take the seat next to her. "What kinda trouble you two getting into down there?"
I laugh. "Nothing. I'm gonna head out."
"And how are you getting home?" she asks with a smirk.
"Chase."
"Ooh la la," she sings.
"You're crazy." I laugh. I don't know why I'm not spilling that he's not just taking me home..that we're also going to grab some food. I don't need her to make something out of nothing. Right? Because it is nothing. I look up to see Chase and Vance smacking hands. Shannon is at his side and their gestures suggest Chase is telling Vance he's heading out. I watch as she says something to him, grabbing his arm. He says something and I watch her smile drop, her confidence deflate, and she watches as he walks away.
"I'll text you tomorrow," I tell Taylor and make my way to Chase, who's now reaching the dirt road that connects to the Field.
"You better!" I hear her yell back. I take my phone out and text Vance, telling him I'm hitching a ride with Chase, explaining that I want to get an early start on my car in the morning. I jog up to Chase.
"Ready?" he asks as I come up next to him.
"Yep." We walk in the dark, the sounds of the nightlife surrounding us. I don’t quite remember where we all parked, until the headlights of his car flash and light up the road, making it a little easier to navigate. My nerves begin to get the best of me as I pull open his passenger door and slide onto the cool leather seats. We both buckle up, and I place my shaky hands between my thighs. I arrived thinking nothing would happen between us, and I’m leaving with conflicting thoughts.
“Cold? He asks, reaching towards his dash, turning on the heat. I smile weakly. I didn’t even notice my arms covered in goosebumps-- I’m too wrapped up in my thoughts. “Thanks.” The little bit of heat pumps from the vents help.
"Where to?"
"Hmm?" I hum looking out the window, watching him maneuver the car.
"It's been a while, what's open? Is Chrissy's Diner still open all night?"
"Yep."
"Perfect."
He exits the dirt road, pulling onto the main paved street. What are we doing? What am I doing? I want this...but am I setting myself up for disappointment? My mind is so occupied with my thoughts that I must miss what Chase has said because he nudges me, pulling me from said thoughts. "What?" I ask turning towards him. His handsome face is illuminated by his dash. He laughs, quickly glancing at me and then back at the road. "You're eerily quiet over there, what are you thinking about?"
I'm not about to tell him what I was really thinking about. "Soup or Pie?" I blurt out.
"What?"
"What to order...soup or pie."
"Do they still serve the best shoofly pie?"
"Uh...Yeah!"
"Damn, I've missed Chrissy's shoofly pie!"
"Oh, man. I don't think I could go a year without her pies." Because Chrissy makes the best pie I've ever had, but you'll never hear me say that in front of my mom, even if they go way back.
I see him shrug. "It's not like I could get pies in care packages."
"Yeah, I guess not. Oh! Her French onio
n soup is killer!" I tell him.
"Hmm, that sounds good too."
"See my dilemma?" I ask smiling at our stupid conversation, the nerves easing away.
"Yeah, first world problems," he jokes.
"Yeah, Yeah."
"We'll order both," he says simply.
"Hmm…yeah, that sounds perfect!" The diner isn't far from town, so it's not long until Chase pulls into the parking lot of Chrissy's.
"Wow, it looks so different!" he says looking out the windshield at the remodeled diner.
"Yeah, it was closed for a couple of weeks and redone..as you can see. Neat, right?" Chrissy's looks like an old fashion diner straight out of the fifties. It's shiny, with mirror-like siding. The name, ‘Chrissy's Diner’, is brightly displayed in red fluorescent lights high above the front doors.
"Yeah, wow."
"Let's go! Maybe Chrissy is still here!" I say and jump out of the car, closing the door, and rounding the front. Chase follows behind me as we walk up the steps and into the foyer of the diner, then opening the next set of doors. A young girl is at the register, and looks up at us, a wide smile forming. "Hey guys, how many?"
"Just two," Chase says from behind me. She grabs two menus and comes out from behind the counter. "Okay, follow me please." We follow her as she leads us past the pie and dessert case. I can’t help but take a peek at the yummy goodness inside. She then stops in front of a small booth, placing the menus on the table. "Your waitress will be right with you. Enjoy!" she says and leaves us.
We both slide into the booth across from each other and don't bother looking at the menu because we already know what we're getting. I look around the diner and take in the late-night customers spread out. The waitress comes to our table and says, "Look at you two. You guys are the cutest couple I've ever set my eyes on."
I look up at the waitress, totally dumbfounded, and I hear Chase laughing which causes me to look at him. I know my eyes are bugging out of my sockets. He tells the waitress, "Thanks."
"No problem, doll. What can I get you cutie pies to drink?" Chase nods at me, referring me to go first. "Uh, a Coke is fine."
"Sure thing, sweetheart, and for you?" She looks to Chase, and I take in her features. Her blonde hair is proofed out and built up with lots of hair spray. It reminds me of a picture I once saw of my mom before I was born. If I had to guess her age, I'd say somewhere in her late forties, early fifties. She's pretty even with the crow’s feet that crinkle when she smiles. It just tells me she's smiled a lot in her lifetime. It's a pretty smile, a mouth that showcases her perfect white teeth. She's wearing a cute pink top with her name sewed above her breast, something you'd see in a fifties diner. Beverly. She looks like a Beverly. I've always wondered if my name fits me. Do I look like a Veronica? A black modest skirt with an apron tied around her wide hips completes her uniform. It's been a while since I've been to Chrissy's. Beverly is someone I don't recognize, so she must be fairly new.
"I'll be right back with your drinks," she says and twirls on her feet towards the kitchen.
I look at Chase. "She thought we were a couple!"
He smiles wide, forcing me to look at his mouth, but I quickly avert my eyes. "Yeah, I was here."
"We're not a couple," I point out, stupidly.
"That, I'm also aware of."
"Why would she think we're a couple?" I ask, again, stupidly.
"I don't know. Maybe because we're a guy and a girl, out late, together?"
"Yeah, maybe."
"But we are the cutest couple she's ever set her eyes on," He says, making his voice high and feminine like hers. It makes me laugh. Beverly is back with our drinks, placing them in front of us, and taking her pad out of her apron. "Are you two love birds ready to order?" she asks.
"Two French onion soups, please," Chase simply tells her.
"Oh my goodness, you two are too much! Sure thing!" She writes down our order. "Is that all?" I cover my mouth to stifle my laughter.
"Yes, Ma'am." Chase scoops our menus up, handing them to her, his beautiful smile on full display. She takes them from him and starts fanning herself with them. "Oh sugar, I can see why she likes you. Whoo Honey, that smile would swoon any lady, especially this old lady."
Chase laughs. "You can't be a day over thirty."
"Oh, I need to walk away. You're trouble." She points at Chase and laughs. "Let me go put in your order."
She walks away, and I give Chase an incredulous look. "Oh my gosh!" I whisper-shout at him. She's halfway to the kitchen when we hear her shout, "Chrissy, we have a young ‘McSwoony’ out here!" I look at Chase, but I see some commotion towards the end of the bar. Chrissy comes from the swinging door connecting to the kitchen. She speaks to Beverly, looks our way, and her face breaks into a huge smile. Chrissy is all country Dutch--her family goes back generations in this town. Chrissy is also blonde, but bottled-blonde, as her roots are a bit darker than the rest. The front of her hair is teased, somewhat like Beverly's, but the rest is pulled back into a low pony. She has a square-shaped face, with big blue eyes, and a sprinkle of freckles on the bridge of her slender nose. My mother and Chrissy grew up together, graduated together, and have remained friends throughout the years. Therefore, she's been around my whole childhood and Chase's.
"Well what do we have here?" she asks as she approaches our booth. I slide out and go into her open arms.
"Hey, Chrissy."
"Hello, my beautiful girl." She squeezes me. "And who do we have here?" She releases me from her embrace and looks at Chase. "Well, I'll be! Chase Daniels!" Chase slips out of the booth while I slide back into my side of the booth and watch them.
"Hi Chrissy!" he says while returning her hug. He moves back, but she grabs his face. "It's sure good to see you back boy!"
"Thank you, ma’am."
"Oh please! Don't ma'am me!" she spits out releasing his face, and he sits back down chuckling. "I didn't know you were back!"
"Yeah, just got back last week.”
She smiles wide, pure pride. "This meal is on me. Don't you dare think of paying for it!"
Chase starts to say something, but she cuts him off, "No. It's the least I can do for a soldier fighting for our country." She looks at me, "How's your mama baby doll?" Clearly ending that.
"She's good."
Beverly is walking our way with two steaming bowls. Yummy, gooey cheese drips onto the plate they're sitting on. Chrissy moves out of her way, so she can set them down, "They're hot, be careful," Beverly warns us.
"Bev, this is Vivian's daughter, Veronica!" Chrissy says to her, "And this fine young man is Chase. Lacey and Richard Daniels’ son. He just returned from the service. Their check is on me!"
"Oh my goodness! Look at you!" She says to me, but I don't recall ever meeting her, other than just tonight. "You were a little thing the last time I saw you, I just moved back. Your mama, Chrissy, and I were the three amigos back in the day."
"Ohh boy!" I say. I'm sure they wreaked havoc.
She swats her hand. "We were perfectly behaved young ladies!"
"I'm sure."
They both laugh. "Alright, we’ll let you eat in some peace," Chrissy says, "Make sure you two come see me before you leave!"
"Will do," Chase tells her. I dig my spoon into the melted cheesy goodness, the steam rising, and I blow on the food. Chase is groaning across from me, "This"—he points at his bowl—"is so good!"
"I told you!" I say to him and take another bite. SO. GOOD! We're both silent as we enjoy our soup.
"Man, it feels so good to be here," Chase says.
"Home?" I ask and take another bite.
"Yeah, home. Here, at Chrissy's. Somewhere familiar."
"You're brave," I tell him. He is. He is the bravest person I know. He smirks. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." We both finish up our soups and push the bowls to the end of the table. "You have room for some pie?" he asks.
"Hell yeah...but not a whole slice, maybe we can share?" I suggest.
>
"Sure."
Beverly comes over and takes the empty bowls, "You two thinkin' about having some dessert?"
"Yeah, a slice of shoofly!" Chase tells her.
"Sure thing, honey!"
She walks away.
"You may have a cougar on your hands," I tell him. He bursts out laughing which in turn makes me laugh. "Oh man, V. You are too much!"
"What's so funny?"
"A cougar? Seriously?"
"Yeah. I hear some young guys are into that type of thing…and she's a pretty older lady."
"Yeah, maybe some, but definitely not this guy. "
"Poor Beverly. Don't break her heart ‘McSwoony’," I emphasize on her nickname for him. He sighs dramatically. "Don't even! ‘McSwoony’? What the hell?"
I laugh, "What? I think it's fitting. Swooning one woman at a time," I say it like a newspaper article headline.
"Oh jeez. I do not swoon anyone."
I arch my eyebrows as I take a sip of my soda. Chase's eyes quickly glance at my mouth, then, just as quickly, his eyes shift away. His posture becomes stiff as he adjusts himself. I use my straw to swish around my soda, "Soooo ‘McSwoony.’" I can't stop the smile from forming, and I hear him groan.
"You're not going to let that drop, are you?"
"Hell no!"
"Greeaattt!"
Beverly places the overly large slice of molasses goodness in between us including new forks. She winks at me and returns to the kitchen. We both grab a fork. "Go ahead," he says to me. "No, No. You haven't had her pie in a year, you can have the first bite." He smiles and forks a big piece, and I watch him as he puts it in his mouth. His eyes close, and he moans. Well, I felt all the way down to my core. Holy...mother Mary.
"It's better than I remember."
"You totally had a foodgasm," I tell him.
He chuckles. "Yeah, I guess I did." He gestures to me to take a piece, so I do. We continue to go back and forth until the slice is completely gone. I finish my soda and rub my belly as I lean back in the booth. "I'm about to fall into a food coma."
"Well we can't have that, let's get you home."
"Thank you for taking me for food. I had a good time just hanging with you." It was simple, fun, and seemed so natural. We've never hung out like this before, it’s always been with my brothers; never deliberately alone together. I really enjoyed myself, and I can't help but want to do this again. He throws a twenty down on the table. "Me too. We'll have to do it again." He says to me as we both slide out from the booth.