Curious

Chapter 2: An Existential Issue

***This chapter is dedicated to dreamybanana, who helped me immensely in regards to my first chapter. I have high hopes that she does the same for this chapter as well. Her critiques have been very informative and her story "Ashes to Embers" is really good too. You should check it out (after you're done reading this chapter, of course :D).

CHAPTER TWO: An Existential Issue

Simon raced down the street, coat flying behind him, boots pounding on the wet pavement. His destination was the Red Ferry Diner, on the corner of Main Street and Washington Square. The restaurant wasn't far—a little less than half a mile. Simon reached the steps of the main entrance within ten minutes. He slowed down, not wanting his lunch partner to see him storm into the diner with sweat dripping down his face. Not that he sweated; Simon would never admit to such an embarrassing habit. Regardless, he wiped the imaginary sweat off his face with his coat sleeve and then pulled the door open to go inside.

Though it was nearing three o'clock, nearly an hour after their original meeting time, Simon wasn't late. He had called his friend in advance to reschedule, explaining the situation with the bookshelf.  

Simon scanned the restaurant, looking for the familiar face. He saw no one he particularly wanted to see: Mr. Wren, a cousin of the dreaded Ms. Finch, was sitting in the bar-like setting, eating an omelet, and Mrs. Litskoy, the daughter of a Russian cold-war immigrant, was flipping through a lady's magazine in a booth while sipping her smoothie. Both of said people were on Simon's list of people to avoid, a list of which consisted of people who attempted to strike up a conversation with him, people who liked to gossip, and people who had bad taste in clothing (in Simon's opinion, if you dressed like a potato sack, you shouldn't be surprised if people treated you like one). He wondered if he could convince Adam to change their meeting place.

Simon frowned. Speaking of whom, where was Adam? His phone vibrated; it was a text:

Now, I'm the one running late. Be there in five.

A waitress noticed him just standing there. She walked over with questioning look on her face. "May I help you?"

"Ah, yes, you may." Simon held up a finger as to signal to the waitress to wait a moment. He texted a quick reply to Adam: Come as quickly as you humanely can. Then he placed his phone back in his pocket and turned his attention to the waitress. "A table for two, please."

The woman's eyes widened. She twisted a strand of her red hair around her fingers. "Are you sure about that?"

"Quite," Simon said with a strained smile. He would rather roll his eyes at the woman's question, but he didn't want any unexpected surprises to appear in Adam's food, or his, for that matter.

"A table for two?" The waitress repeated for clarification.

Simon nodded slowly. "Yes, that's right."

"And you're absolutely sure about that?"

"Confident."

"Okay, then," the waitress said, with just a hint of skepticism still audible in her voice. She grabbed two menus and signaled Simon to follow. "If you're sure. Come this way, please."

She led him to the booth behind Mrs. Litskoy, who looked up curiously as they approached. She made eye contact and Simon coughed.

He smiled at the waitress. "May we have a booth by the windows instead?"

"What's wrong with this booth?" the waitress wanted to know.

"Nothing. It's just the windows have a prettier view."