Cherry stem

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We approached a restaurant with a name I couldn't even pronounce.

Once Greyson parked unbuckled and opened my door, softly closing it behind me.
Both Dexter and Edison are watching me.

"After you," I say quickly.

Nodding in agreement, they start to walk. I follow behind Dexter as Edison walks behind me.

I see the group of men yet again making me feel uncomfortable.
I sit down, followed by Dexter and Edison.
The waitress passes out the menu I cannot read.
"What can I get you guys to drink?" she asks everyone softly, rubbing against Dexter's arm. He just softly pulls his arm from her touch.
Once it was my turn, everyone else had ordered alcohol.
"Water," I reply.
Edison looks at me, "You just want water to drink?"
I just nod.
Looking at the writing foreign before my eyes.
I look around the large, lavish restaurant.

"Hello. Earth to Meredith." Jeremy says from beside me.

I see everyone looking at me.

"Uh, yes?" I ask, clearing my throat.

"Did you hear what I was asking you?" he asks me, arching his brow at me.

"No, sorry, what was the question?" I ask.

"Do you want a translation?" Jeremy asks me, looking at the menu.

"Honestly, I was just going to ask what she recommends to save myself the embarrassment," I tell him in a whisper.

"Well, that's not smart, Mer. It could be something you hate. She doesn't know you." Alex teased.

I scoff, "I'm not picky." I say, rolling my eyes.

"Hum, I think you'd like the number 6," Edison says suddenly.

"Im not even going to bother flipping to it as I can't read it. If you honestly think I'll like it, sure, why not try everything at least once."I say shrugging.

"Fai attenzione alle tue parole o un giorno te le Strattera," Edison says.
{Be careful with your words, or I will hold them to you one day.}

"I agree with him if that makes you feel better," Dexter says.

"Sure, why the heck not?" I say.

"Do you ever curse?" Brooks asks me, smirking at me.

"Do I curse? I don't have a reason to." I say as my water is placed in front of me, drinking it.

All the men drink their alcohol.

I see something that makes me chuckle to myself.

"Something funny?" Derek asks from across the table.

Making my cheeks heat up.

"Well to me, yes," I say, trying to conceal my laughs.

Tanner replies, "Well, I'm curious now; do tell," he smirks.

"Wanna see a party trick I learned in high school?" I say drinking my water again, avoiding any of their pricing gazes.

Amusement on all of their faces and curiosity.

"Party trick?" Conner asks, making sure he heard me correctly.

I nod.

"Well, go on," Walker says immediately.

"Well, if I could please have the steam for your cherry, Liam," I ask him, holding out my hand for him to place the cheery stem he had set to the side.

He looks at me confused before setting it in my open hand.

"I bet you I can double knot this stem without touching it with my hands in under 10 seconds," I say.

"How?" Mason asks me.

"Anyone want to count?" I ask, still holding it with my printer finger and thumb.

"I can," Edison says beside me.

"Start," I say, dropping the stem in my mouth.
He immediately counts, seemingly confused by my actions.
"1"
"2"
"3"
"4"
"5"
"6"
"7"
"8-"
I pull the stem out of my mouth with two knots.

Seemingly impressed faces.

"It's about the only cool trick I know," I say, setting the stem on the napkin.

"No fucking way redo. I do believe you didn't know it before putting it in your mouth." Liam says

"She didn't," Alex says, looking at me bewildered.

"Are you lesbian or something?" Conner asks me.

The look clearly must've been heavily present on my face because laughter immersed over the table.

"That's the biggest no I've ever seen," Walker says, laughing at my reaction.

"It's not for me. I have no problem with anyone and who they like; I just personally don't find women attractive." I reply awkwardly.

"Sono l'unico a pensare che fosse fottutamente caldo," Jeremy asks, looking at everyone.
{Am I the only one who thought that that was hot as fuck?}

A few nods in response

I toss my paper straw wrapper at him.

"Knock it off," I tell him.

"Questo ti dà fastidio?" Dexter asks with a smirk.
{Does this bother you?}
I grab his paper straw wrapper and throw it at him.

"Sei così carino quando sei arrabbiato come un gattino" Edison replied with a smirk.

{You look so cute when you're mad like a little kitten}.

I roll my eyes and look around for more wrappers to throw.

"What's wrong with looking for more ammunition?" he teased me.

"Well, if you would just stop doing that, I wouldn't have to throw straw wrappers at you guys," I say, looking at him confidently.

Just then the waitress came back and took our order. I just told Edison to pick something out.

I do wonder what he had to do today before dinner.

The chitchat continues, and they try engaging me in their conversation.

My thoughts were interrupted when the waitress had taps on my shoulder.
"Ma'am, that man over there wanted me to give you his extra drink." She says, pointing in some random direction, the young guy waved at me.

Immediately noticing his wedding band.

Before anyone had a chance to say anything.

"Give it back to him. I dont take drinks for strangers, let alone married ones."I say handing it back to her.

When she walked back, I could see the agitation on his face as he walked to me, making intimidating strides.

"Is that Donnie?" Dexter asks Edison to see that man approach us.

"Hello, beautiful lady. Donnie "He says, gripping my hand tightly. "Pleasure to meet you."
He says cocky, looking at all the men around me.

The tension increases in the air tremendously.

"I wish I could say the same," I say, ripping my hand from his.

"Ragazzi, fareste meglio a tenerla d'occhio, è davvero carina, odierei che qualcuno come me mettesse le mani su di lei." Donnie says

{You boys better keep a close eye on her. She is really pretty. I would hate for someone like me to get their hands on her.

"Donnie, giuro che se tu o qualcuno dei tuoi scagnozzi le mettete un dito dentro, vi ucciderò fino all'ultimo. "Dexter says.

{Donnie, I swear if you or any of your goons lay a finger on her, I will kill every last one of you.}

"Recorda che qualsiasi cosa pensi di fare ti succederà 10 vote," Jeremy says everyone nods in agreement while I'm left even more confused.

{Remember anything you think about doing to her?
Will happen to you 10 fold.}

"Li hai sentiti, penso che sia meglio che te ne vada," Edison says through clenched teeth, his fist clenched and angry too.
{You heard them, I think you better leave}
Whatever they were talking about made them all angry; one would even say furious.

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