Dots and Zeros [Completed]

28. Sam

'Was this Starbucks the last one on the fast food list?' Eugene asks.

I look to my left. He's on the chair next to me.

'I'm not sure it qualifies as fast food,' I say. 'But if it did, then yes. We've gone to a lot of chains these past four days.'

And just like every chain, Starbucks is busy as well. You'd think around two PM on a Tuesday people would have school or work. Apparently not everyone. Every table is occupied. The only places that were left are at the long table lining the wall on the right side of the store. Restaurant? Either way, we're facing the wall, our backs to the rest of the establishment.

There's only one wall of windows. It's on the side of the street and hosts the entrance. After we got our coffee and muffins we sat down at the right wall.

'So you've achieved your goals?' he asks.

'I'd say so. Food-wise, that is. How about you? I'm pretty sure we both ate three meals a day. Perhaps even more than that.'

'Yes, we did. I crossed them off.'

'I'm glad. You said you had that list because you sometimes forgot to eat. Did it help that I wanted to eat so much?'

He laughs.

'It does,' he says. 'Whenever you eat it reminds me that I need to eat as well.'

'You're very welcome. When is it difficult? I know this isn't exactly the place to have this conversation.'

We both chuckle.

'It's fine,' he says. 'It's difficult on days when I'm home alone. There's no one to keep an eye on me then.'

'I see. We should hang out more.'

'Sounds good.'

I finish my coffee. The muffin was long gone before that.

'Do you need to go to the bathroom as well?' Eugene asks.

'No, I went when you ordered, remember?'

'Oh, right. Anyway, I'm going now. I'll be right back.'

'Have fun.'

He just laughs and gets up from his seat. He leaves his jacket and backpack on the table. It leaves me with two empty cups and two wrappers. I'm afraid that if I leave our spot to throw away I'll come back to two new people on our chairs.

I take out my phone to check my messages. Nothing but my mom. I open the chat with Andrea and copy the address into my phone's navigation. It's only a fifteen minute walk. We parked the car near a park, but the address is down the other side of the street.