Almost

2.

I hated the fact that he was sitting with us and damn it had been just a few seconds
since he arrived and I started to get annoyed. Well, as you now might have guessed he is none other than an old friend to me. Yes, we hadn't heard anything from each other for a long time after our so called fight, which had now turned us into frenemies. Getting furious just because of his presence was pretty bad though.

I shot a glare at Clare and she told him in a low voice, "Give us a sec." Then she pulled
me out of my place and tried to convey me that I needed to keep calm and hear what
he was going to say.

What was he going to say? He never had anything and I used to blabber when we were together. I told her that I will just leave if it's gets any more off limits and she agreed. I hated him, like literally hated him for what he had done. Well maybe it wasn't his fault. Oh wait, I'm not going to blame myself.

I came and sat down at the table whilst fighting with my subconscious, again. Then he started, "We need to talk."

So yeah you got only this start to communicate? Because this 'We need to talk' has always been a sentence which leads me to various paths. So to know what he's trying
to sell with least interest, I said, "Go on."

Now as before, he started to fidget with his fingers and his expressions were clearly
showing that he was tensed and it seemed like it was too hard for him to say whatever
he was going to. I was trying to be reluctant about this conversation with him and I
finished my coffee which already was ice cold due to this pass of time.

Then Clare interrupted, "Express your problem verbally mister, we ain't gonna be here for hours!"

He seemed surprised by that as his eyes widened and quickly started with what he had in store. "It's a long one. I don't know whom to approach so I came here to ask for your help," he took a deep breath, "Forgetting, regretting our past life I've been able to come here and please promise that
you'll help me. I know it's much harder for you to do that but trust me I'm trying to get
out of this and all I need is someone with whom I can share it all. Someone who will
listen and act towards it and if I got someone like that, you are the one."

To be honest, I wasn't expecting that. It was unusual, he never had seemed so helpless
and then again; how did he, out of nowhere thought that I'm the right one to talk with?
Then I tried to console him just by saying, "Yes, you can and I promise that I'll try my
best."

After all he was my friend and I didn't want to see him being so lamentable. It then
clicked at that moment that this is going to be interesting. I'm not going to jump to any conclusions but still it seemed so.

The waiter then appeared at our table and took our plates away leaving away a printed
bill. I was going on take it when Clare snatched it from its place. "I'm going to pay this, no excuses Lu!" She said, leaving to pay.

I glanced at him. He was still the same even after all this time, but I didn't knew what
was on his mind. I couldn't decipher what was his problem, the thing eating him up
inside. Yes, now I might seem the eager one to help but trust me I really wasn't. His russet brown orbs, the softly parted messy hair, the perfect amount of stubble on his jaw; he was beautiful to anyone who'd even glance at him.

Then he turned to face me and said, "I think this isn't the right place. Would you come
to the park down the street with me? You can take Clare as a companion too if you
wish. But I want to make it clear at first that she should be trusted with this matter as I
wish to keep it surreptitious."

He was being so formal but I'm not the one to complain. Maybe it's better this way.
"Uh, okay. Don't worry she's of no harm."

He whispered, "Call her and let's leave. Please."
It didn't send a chill down my spine as it used to do before.

We were walking down the street and he was literally walking too fast. We arrived at the park finally and then took a seat on the first visible benches. He was sitting on the bench in front of us, me and Clare were on the other. Then he finally made an
attempt to start with his tale.

***