“It’s for charity,” she mutters, staring back at me like I was mad.
“It’s archaic,” I retort after the waitress comes over, setting down our food and scurrying off.
“It’s relatively new actually,” she adds. “Only been around for about a decade.”
“Let me guess, you get dressed up, throw some money around, and go home feeling good about yourselves. For what, tossing some bus seat change to a cause?”
I wasn’t buying it.
“There’s more to it than that,” she defends, picking up her burger and shoving it into her mouth carelessly.
She opens her mouth to say something else, when her lip stalls, her chewing slowing to an alarming rate. Eyes growing as wide as the bun.
Taking another large bite, she does it again, giggling to herself. “Oh my god, this is the best burger I’ve ever had.”
I hand her a napkin, smiling at her glee. I knew she’d like it if she gave it a chance. The holes-in-the-walls always had the best food. You just had to know where to look.
“I’ll never doubt your judgment again.” She swallows, changing her mind. “Except when it comes to fashion. You still could use some help there.”
“I have great taste,” I defend, gobsmacked.
“With food, definitely,” she agrees. “You have my dream closet and yet I’ve only ever seen you in like three different pairs of jeans.”
Wadding up my straw wrapper, I flick it at her. She playfully swats it away, squealing. Tracking its movement, I watch as it flies across the room and rolls. The breeze from the front door opening, pushing it under a chair.
Following the footsteps up the person’s body, a sinking feeling sets in the farther they climb. My good mood spoiled as soon as I see those cerulean eyes watching me from the bar top counter. How had he known I was here?
Cole and I’s relationship is like a moth to a flame. He an annoying pest, and I the one who would make him burn.
He looks at me intently. Mumbling something to the waitress and throwing down several large bills leaving. The door dinging after his shadow.
The waitress looks at me through hooded eyes. Walking to the front door and pulling down the ‘help wanted’ sign. Her expression sad before throwing it away.
My heart sinking right along with it.
I didn’t know what was scarier. The fact that Cole knew me enough to know I was going to apply or that his threat in the school gym was made abundantly clear tonight.
Play by his rules or he’d continue to take, making sure I had nothing.
Dread filling my empty gut. I may have only known Cole for few months as children, but I knew he always followed through on his word.
Hailey’s back had been to him the entire time, having no idea any of this had happened.
Aimlessly spouting off again about her dress or something along those lines. I wasn’t sure, zoning out after a while. Quietly sizzling in my seat.
I needed to run.
My bedroom door is slammed open.
I really needed to invest in a lock.
The bluish lights reflecting from the TV bounce off Finn’s figure. Entering my room without an invite.
My head was a mess after dinner, so I came home, and turned on something mindless hoping to numb my overthinking.
It started to work until Finn showed, plucking my phone from my hands.
“That’s mine,” I demand, reaching back for it. Him holding it farther out of reach with his freakishly long monkey arms. Typing something over my head.