Fireworks

2

I study myself in the bathroom mirror, smoothing down my hair again. I had no clue what to wear to whatever this hang-out was, but I dressed up a little bit. I'm wearing a fitted wrap top with billowy sleeves, and a pair of high-waisted jean shorts. I did my makeup for what feels like the first time in forever, though it wasn't much. Just some chapstick, mascara, brushed out my brows, and added a light pink eyeshadow that matches my top.

There's not much else I could do without sweating it all off in the Arizona summer heat as soon as I walk out the door. I let my blonde hair down naturally, and I actually look alright.

Am I overdoing this?  Gosh, has it really been that long since I've hung out with someone that I've forgotten the unspoken attire rules?

Before I head out, I tap on my mom's door and tell her I'm heading out. She just says some nonsense about "Be safe, don't make it too late."  On my way out I check the fridge. The plate of lasagna sits untouched on the second shelf.

I sigh but leave it there. I pull my car out and head towards Vinnies, a small diner near downtown that not many people go to. I've been once or twice, but never had anything aside from a salad. It's honestly kind of run down in there, but I was just glad to have a reason to be out of the house.

I get there in a few minutes, and I sit in the parking lot. It's 12:45. I didn't want to be late in case Isa showed up early, but now I feel kind of dumb. I'm just going to sit in the parking lot for 15 minutes. I play some soft classical music while I wait with my windows down, just staring at the flickering 'Open' sign displayed in the grimey window. There are only two other cars in the parking lot.

After ten minutes, a beat-up white truck speeds into the lot.

I watch it hesitantly, not moving from my seat.

It pulls into a spot crookedly and I can hear some kind of Latin music blaring from the radio through the truck's open windows. I feel my heart rate pick up when I see the driver. He's gorgeous. The arm that's hanging out of the window is covered in tattoos, though I can't make out what they are. He has thick dark curls and perfect skin. He's squinting against the sun that's reflecting off of the front window of Vinnie's and back into his face, and he roughly flips the visor down. He says something to the person in the passenger's seat, though I can't see who it is. The white truck sputters and a puff of black smoke comes out of the back, though it doesn't seem to bother him. He's listening intently to whatever the person next to him is saying.

He starts talking again but is cut off by the opening and closing of the passengers' side door. He rolls his eyes, and I feel myself blink in surprise when Isa walks around the front of the truck, flipping her long brown curls out of her face.

The driver leans farther out of the window and shouts, "I swear to God, if you don't call me and let me know, I'm picking you back up in twenty minutes. Harriet needs you-"

"Yeah, yeah, I'll let you know, tontito. Jesus," Isa shouts back over the loud music, rolling her eyes. She's wearing a pair of jean shorts like me and a racerback tank tucked in. Her shoes are covered in red dirt.

Suddenly she notices me and waves, her eyes lighting in recognition, all traces of annoyance gone.

I weakly wave back, though I can feel the driver of the truck looking over at me, which makes me extremely nervous. I swallow and grab my wallet and keys before exiting my car.

Isa grins widely and says, "Hadlee, it's been so long!"

To my surprise, she wraps me in a quick and fierce hug, which I barely have time to register before she's pulling me towards the entrance of Vinnies. "Let's go, I'm starving."