The Heart Beats in its Cage (A Strokes fan fiction)

Crazy Motherfucker

"So, you excited for our little adventure?" Julian said as we were walking through the school's parking lot to get to Nick's car.

All I could do was smile at him. Why is he doing this? He's never really paid attention to me before this. I mean, the most we've ever spoken to each other have only been a few sentences. At special dinners over at Heather and Nick's house, or just random times. 

We approached the car and got in. Shit, what a beautiful car. I can't believe Nick trusts Julian this much. He opened the door for me then ran around and got into the driver's seat. 

"Buckle up Lu!" Julian said, as he pressed play on the console. A loud punk rock song began playing, but I didn't recognize it. "Who is this?" I asked curiously. 

"This, my dear, is one of the coolest motherfuckers to come out of the New York punk scene. It's Johnny Thundersssss! The song is called Born to Lose, it's by The Heartbreakers." He said, while bobbing his head up and down to the music. 

"I really like it", I said smiling at him.

We pulled up into the burger joint's parking lot and Julian clapped his hands and rubbed them together and exclaimed, "Hell yeah! I'm craving a huuuuuge ol fatso burger. I'm starving. That cafeteria shit is a joke."

"Is the food really that bad?" I asked him.

"Man, that shit sucks. I remember one time I ate one of the sloppy Joes... oof. I shit fire for days! But Nick and I are lucky, they let juniors and seniors go out anywhere for lunch so this is probably gonna be my diet for the whole school year. Let's go!" He said excitedly.

We went into the diner and sat down. It was really cute. It looked like it was right out of an Archie's comic from the 1950's. It had baby pink walls, pink tables, and teal colored booths and stools. The walls were decked out in pictures of iconic people from the 50's, like Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and Elvis Presley. There was a colorful jukebox playing "Good Golly Miss Molly" over at one end of the dining room. It was playing loud enough for everyone to enjoy, but not so loud that we couldn't hear people talking. I can't believe I've never been here before.

Jules grabbed a couple of menus from the entrance and led the way. We sat down at a booth near one of the big windows. Whilst looking through my menu, I glanced up behind my menu to look at him. He had already put his menu down and was looking around, moving his head to the groove of the music playing, and tapped his fingers on the table. 

I looked around to see what he was looking at. A few older men were sitting at the diner counter drinking coffee and reading newspapers. A few other booths around the dining room were occupied by couples with their babies, and senior couples eating breakfast. 

My eyes went back to him. He exhaled and looked over at me. We locked eyes for a split second before mine returned back to my menu to study it. I heard him say a gentle "hm" sound under his breath.

A blonde waitress around her late twenties came up to our table. "Good morning! What can I get for you kids? Oh, Julian! Hi! Aren't you supposed to be at school kid?"

"Shhh Bertha. Someone might hear you." Julian said with a finger up to his mouth to shush her, and took a quick look around. "But yes, I am. I just got hungry is all. I want you to meet one of my good friends Bertha. This is Lucy, Lucy this is Bertha."

I shook her hand. She seemed really nice, but turned to Julian with a disappointed look on her face. "Jules, kid, I'm not gonna rat you out to your mom. THIS TIME. But I better not see you ditching school all the time! I will tell your momma on you."

"Relax Bertha. I'll be a saint this year. I'll get all A's and stay in school." He said, as he gave her a thumbs up and a fake squinty smile.

"Hm. Alright then. What can I get for you guys?" She asked us. She was chewing bubblegum and holding her notepad and pen in her hands ready to take our orders.