State of Grace - Jack Hughes

003

Allie

I step away with the police officer to give my statement and walk him through the incident. He takes some notes and thanks me. He tells me he is going to collect Lukes's statement and then they will tell us how to access the report with our insurance companies. I thanked him for his time and stepped away to call the towing company my insurance company said I should use.

The towing company is very helpful, and they tell me they will be there in about twenty minutes. That will be the most time efficient thing that has happened today. I thank the man on the phone and turn around and go back to the group and it gets awkwardly quiet, like I interrupted something.

Twenty minutes pass, filled with pointless conversation. When the tow truck comes, I walk over to Ronnie, and grab a few things from the car and give her pat. The same way you pat your dog to say goodbye. As she gets loaded on the bed of the truck, a feel a few tears slip from my eyes. This car has been with me through a lot, and I did not realize my attachment to it until this moment.

Jack interrupts my train of thought, "We can't leave you here on the street while you wait for a ride. Can we take you somewhere?"

"Yes, the closest mediocre diner. We have not eaten since 8am. We could easily kill time there."

"That's doable," He smiles. A smile that could be worth millions. "Mind if we join you. Buying you guys lunch is the least we could do."

"If you insist, I won't ever say no to a free meal," I return the smile.

To the others Jack announces "Come on, we are going to a diner."

We pile into the GMC which has survived with only a dent and a scratch in the paint, only this time, Jack is behind the wheel. While looking out the window my phone buzzes, Lexie is texting me. I look at her, she looks at me with wide eyes and raises her phone, insinuating me to check the text.

T-Lex

dude

yes ma'am

remember when you walked over after calling the tow truck

ya the vibe was weird

well...

im waiting

jack asked about you

HUH

EXPLAIN

"Alright let's go." Luke says getting out of the car interrupting our conversation. Now I can only imagine what he asked.

The diner is exactly what was needed. It hasn't been updated in years, smells like old coffee, and the booths have glittery vinyl on them. The staples of a great diner.

The four of us get seated and have some small talk. I'm totally checked out, just sulking with my cup of coffee. I'm on my third cup and still feel like I have not slept in days.

Our food comes, we order an obscene amount and just stop talking and eat. I told my mom the diner we were at, and she was going to come meet us. After housing our meals in silence, we have some more time to kill, and the small talk begins again.

Lex and Jack and cracking jokes really getting along, and Luke and I are silently mocking them. The vibes were great, and it feels like we've been friends for years, not just having met a few hours ago in a car accident.

My phone buzzes, my mom is here. I ask if she wants to come in and get something to eat or drink, take a break from the car. She says yes. I have not told her who we got into an accident with, and I do not know if she will recognize them not on the ice.

"My mom is here, but she needs some coffee, and she is going to join us for a moment if that's alright," I say to the group.

"Yay! I love Lisa," Lex says. The boys just mumble some variation of yes.

I see my mom open the door and I wave her over.

She walks over, I stand up to give her a hug "Hi sweetie, are you okay" she asks?

"Yeah, but Ronnie isn't" she chuckles.

"Its just a car, it could have been worse."

"I know, I know. Let me introduce you to the criminals who hit us."

"Wait you got lunch with them?"

"Mom, you'll see" and we walk over to the table. "Mom, this is Jack and Luke" I say pointing to the table. She looks confused, like a deer in headlights.

"Wait, you two?" Jack stands up and introduces himself and shakes her hand and Luke follows. We fill her in on the whole story and drink almost a pot of coffee before calling it an afternoon.

We say our goodbyes, Lex and I go with my mom, and Jack and Luke get in their car. Again, with Jack driving.

The second our car doors close the conversation starts.

"Alexandra-," my mom never uses nicknames. I cut her off.

"Mom, I will answer all your questions in like 10 minutes just hang on. Alexis, you tell me right now what he asked you."

She laughed, "Well, he asked if you had a boyfriend. So, I said no. Luke cut in and asked if now a good time was really to hit on you after having just ruined your day, I emphasized his point. Jack said no, he was just asking,"

If my jaw could actually hit the floor, it out have. I think my mom's would have done the same.

She continues "then jack goes, if that was my plan, what's an appropriate amount of time to wait before I do hit on her?"

"WELL? What did you say!?!"

"I said 2 weeks."

Two weeks, I can wait two weeks. I will be back at school finishing my semester and preparing to move out of my college apartment and begin my new job.

A/N: Let me know what you think!