What If?

Chapter 13

Rue and I arrived at the lobby just in time. The two of them were sitting on the couch and saw us as soon as we arrived.

"You're just in time. Looking great ladies!" Josh winked.

"Of course we are. So, shall we go? I'm starving." Rue said, smiling. "And look at our dearest Stella, so girly and pretty."

"Wow Ella. You look great." Chase complimented me.

"Thanks! This was all Rue's idea though, and believe it or not, she wouldn't let me leave the room if I won't wear such thing. This happens only once in a blue moon, so yeah." I smiled and looked down, feeling shy.

"You should wear stuff like that more often Stella. It looks good on you." Josh smiled at me.

"Don't worry. I'll be the one in charge of Stella's makeover. You just wait." Rue smiled proudly.

"Thanks Rue!" I smiled.

"So now we have the same shoes?" Chase asked me. I looked at our matching colored Chuck Taylor's.

"Hmm, well this was unexpected. Do you want me to change?" I asked.

"No, it's okay." Chase smiled.

"Couple shoes be like..." Josh said.

"Nice joke Josh. Ha, ha and ha." I punched him in the arm playfully.

"You're just jealous Josh because we don't have matching shoes." Chase said.

"You bet I am boo. You could've at least told me!" Josh pouted.

"I'm sorry. Next time I will boo. So, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Chase smiled.

"Where do we eat?" I asked.

"Some place 3 blocks away from the university, it's a diner. I forgot the name though, but the food there is very mouthwatering." Josh said.

"People here are aging too fast. Psshh. The name of the place is The Alley, Stella." Rue said.

"It sounds nice. Okay, let's go then."

× × × × ×

The Alley - it was a 15-20 minute walk from the university. The place looks nice but not that small though. There's a parking lot and a few parked empty cabs. The place smells like cigarette because some of the taxi drivers and students are smoking outside.

"So, here we are. Welcome to The Alley, Stella." Chase said.

"The place looks nice. Oh, and they have a parking lot." I smiled.

"But the smell stinks outside. Let's go inside." Rue said.

Inside The Alley, is a set up of a diner, only it is wider than an ordinary one. The chairs were all covered with red leather and there are highchairs lining up the counter area. There's a door at the end which people are coming in and out of. Every time someone comes out, I could hear the sounds of rattling bowling pins and the cheers of the crowd.

"So, I guess you're wondering why this place is called The Alley?" Josh asked.

"Hmm, from what I could hear from the other side, it has a bowling alley." I smiled at him.

"Good one." He smiled back.

We sat on the corner part of the diner. They have comfy diner chairs, red colored and the place is fully air-conditioned. I sat on the window side; Chase sat beside me while Rue and Josh sat together in front of us. The cook came to our table and greeted us. He had a big belly, curly hair wrapped in a hairnet and dark skin. He was kinda short yet he looked very friendly.