Figuring Out Foster

Chapter 17

Soon after we all finished eating, Michael got called into work unexpectedly and had to drive us all back to school, where we left our cars. Foster and I got out of the car first, but Jess lingered in the passenger seat. Once she said goodbye to Michael she hopped out with a smile on her face and closed the passenger door.

Michael left with one last 50-watt smile in our direction. Jess said goodbye to Foster and I, teasing about leaving us all alone now, then walked to her own car. Before leaving the parking lot she waved one more time and then drove away.

As soon as Jess's car was out of view, Foster smirked at me, "Mike and Jess are sure getting close." I nodded in agreement, remembering how back at the diner Michael kept making Jess laugh.

"Okay, admit it, I'm the best person ever for hooking it up." I smiled up at him.

Foster shook his head down at me in feigned disappointment. "They seem to be doing all the work," he pointed out simply and then walked to the passenger side of my car.

"Oh, come on. I got them to talk... I have to be somewhat responsible."

"I can image your toast at their wedding already." Foster joked before as I walked closer then paused in front of him leaning on one hip.

"Do you wonder how Mike feels about her?" I asked mostly to myself. Foster looked out into the parking lot when he heard my question.

"Maggie, I've got other things I need to worry about than that." He stated. And yeah, he was right, he was so right. There was a lot of things he had to worry about. It was easier for me to get sidetracked by them and their relationship, than it was for him.

Foster was probably right about me; that I like to focus on other people's problems instead of my own.

My dad did tell me a little bit about my mom. About how she was stubborn and was always the person the help others out. Knowing only that much made me so happy, but my dad has yet to say anything more about her. I didn't want to push him either, so I'd let him take his time in telling me. Whenever he was ready, that is.

I glanced around the parking lot and noticed right away that my car was the only one left in the lot. Everyone, even teachers must have left school. "Sorry you're right. What are we going to do about Vincent?" I asked Foster, looking around us in the empty lot. It was kind of creepy. I unconsciously wondered if Vincent was going to pop out of nowhere.

Much like he did the other day. Stepping out of the car, I hadn't even seen him in it until he was already standing by the opened car door.

"We? I'm going to avoid him like you told me to. There's no reason for me to go look for him, especially if you're around."

"So you're saying that if I wasn't around, you would fight him." I looked up at Foster suspiciously.

He smirked at my reaction, "No, I'd just rather run if you're with me. It lessens the chances of you getting hurt."

"What if I fall down from running? I would get hurt then." I challenged his logic for no other reason than to banter with him. I have no idea what I am even saying, because if we ever did see Vincent again I would want both of us to run, instead of not running due the fact Foster will now think I might fall down.

"I wouldn't let you fall down." Foster stated simply going with the flow, and then he held his hand out to me. I moved my hand to place it in his but when I get close pulled his hand back. I looked up at him, to find him trying to hold back a smirk that was forming, "I was asking for your keys not your hand."

I immediately flushed thinking that Foster had wanted to hold my hand. I tried to hide my embarrassment, by practically shoving my head into my bag, looking for my keys. Finding my keys, I held them in my hand and glanced up at him. The uncontrollable smirk on his face increased in size as he saw the redness increase on my cheeks.