Seeking Hope

Seeking Hope: Chapter 9

Chapter 9

“Don’t you want anything?” Claire said, taking a sip from her bottle of water she ordered. “Nah, I’m good, thanks. Not really hungry.” I insisted. She shrugged. “You’re the boss.” She says, taking a bit from her fries.

We were having lunch at this other café not to far from school. It was more of a teen place for coffee’s, food and drinks. It wasn’t bright like I thought it was supposed to be like any other café – ones like Jacklyn’s – or even one with an arcade system. It was just… different. Instead of bright lighting it was dim, using some fairy lights across the walls of the room, even some were wrapped around our small table. I was quite overwhelmed to see a lot of other kids around our age eating here to, especially at this time of the day, during school. It was a full house. “So, I’m guessing you come here often?” I ask, trying to make this silence between us go away. “Yeah, usually.” She replied. Silence grew between us again. I was taping my fingers lightly against the table, making a beat. I sensed that she gave me a weird look for doing this… and I was right. “Sorry” I say. She sighed.

“Its cool, erm. This is sufficiently awkward.” She stated, something she agreed with me on. “And what would make you say that?” I asked. Claire responded with a small laugh and shifting her eyes from the side of the room, watching some people move around this large but yet small and crowded room. “I guess they changed the theme of this restaurant. On Wednesday’s it’s actually ‘Future Force’ theme that runs all day and night.” My eyebrows rose with a hint of curiosity. “’Future Force’? Like futuristic stuff? Such as aliens, hover cars, space ships?” She giggled slightly. “That’s the one…” As Claire leaned back into her chair and crossing my arms, I couldn’t help but be interested in her sense of… well, you know. I shifted in my seats while making singles and signs with my hands. “So, let me get this straight. You come here, every Wednesday, for this ‘Future Force’ thingy?” I asked, she looked puzzled for a second then laughed. It was one of those nice and gentle laughs, not one of those laughs were tears fall from your eyes from the pain of laughter.

“What? No. I come here every Wednesday to see some nerds dress up at their favorite restaurant of the week. It’s classic.” Oh. An awkward laugh came out of me. Claire seemed like one of those ‘keep-to-self- types, not the ‘I’m a huge fan of star wars’ type. “It’s gonna be a shame when some fans come in today and see that their favorite theme isn’t available anymore.” She continued. I shot her a challenging look. “You think?” “Oh, I know.” I smirked. “Okay. 5 bucks says that if a ‘nerd’ comes in here for a regular meal and sees that he or she’s favorite theme of the day isn’t available, he or she will be responsible and order a meal of their choice or leave, handling it like adults.” I challenged, Claire also shot me a challenging look back. Pointing at me. “Bad choice Adams, but your on.” Looking at her one last time, I look down at my phone and saw a text from Chase saying ‘Where are you?’ Not even 30 seconds and I knew for an instant my challenge was defeated when I heard a guy and his crew raising their voice at a waiter. Before they went on more, I heard Claire gasp with excitement. “Awesome,” she starts, “this should be interesting.” She concludes, pressing the record button on her phone.

“What do you mean you don’t do ‘Future Force’ anymore? We pay good money in order to get what we want!” The leader started, with his curly hair and regular glasses, the rest of his crew agreeing with him. The majority of his group was guys, but I could easily spot a few girls in there to. “Look, I’m sorry sir, we don’t make the rules, and we just follow. Besides, I don’t think people were really interested in that theme anyway.” As the waiter sighed and turned halfway to return to his work, the leader forced him to turn around in order to continue with his rant. “Well that’s their problem! You know, there are still people who actually get involved with these things!” And he was right. Just looking at his group, a few were wearing alien masks, some in star treck uniform, highlighted clothes – but got to give credit to the guy who came as Darth Vader from star wars. I couldn’t help but let out a laugh and tell Claire what I thought. “I don’t think he realizes his group is the only people who get involved in these things.” She nodded, still having a small smile on my face. “I’m sorry” was all the waiter could say and with that, the leader was speaking in another language? Something I never heard of before. It must have been bad what he said considering everyone gasped from his group, exiting the place, making Claire giggle. I rolled my eyes and reached into my pockets. “Here…” I say, giving her the money. Without even hesitating she snatched it off me. “Thanks! I love winning money.” I chuckled. “Well maybe you should be a gambler.” She gave me a disapproving look. “Sorry”

With a usual response of her shrugging, I managed to here her mumble out “It’s ok” with her stretching her arms. Silence lasted for a few seconds. “Erm, shouldn’t we get back to school?” I asked. Leaning back up from her seat, she made a look using some heavy sarcasm. “Woah, cheer up cowboy, hold your horses! No need to rush. We still got time. Is someone scared of getting in trouble?” I grunted. “No.” A smirk appeared on her face, eyeing me up and down. I gave in. “Okay… Technically yes, and technically no.” “How so?” Taking a breath from my small rant, Claire dipped her fries into her sauce and ate them, waiting for me to continue. “It’s just, my mom wants me to be a “perfect” student, you know? And I don’t really wanna make a bad reputation here considering I’m new and all.” She nods, “I see…” and with that, she looked at the clock on her wrist and a small laugh again came out. “Hm, well today might be the day.” She says as she stands up, putting her bag on her shoulder. A mini heart attack took place in my chest. “Why?” Was all I could say, standing up slowly. “Because… class starts in like 5 minutes-“ “Claire.” “What? We lost track of time. You’ll get use to it.” Without paying attention to the rest of the world, I pulled out a $20 note and chucked it on the table, to pay for Claire’s meal. “Mike?” She asked while I stormed quickly out of the place. “Don’t worry about it!” I shouted loud enough for her to hear, my tone filled with honesty yet frustration and annoyance. I heard her slam open the entrance/exit door as her footsteps ponded quickly behind me.

“Your mad, aren’t you?” She asks. I rolled my eyes, powerwalking as fast I could. “No, I’m not. Look, I can’t really afford getting in trouble right now-“ Before I could go on anymore she interrupted me. “-Well you won’t, and besides it’s free to get in trouble, nothing to expensive and I’m sure you can afford it pretty boy.” I stopped dead in my tracks and looked at her, well, more like glaring as she walked by without noticing I stopped. She sighed. “Were not to far and you won’t be late. Look.” She walked over stood on my right and pointed north. “See where that crappy old building is? That’s where were heading. Only half a km up the road.” Oh. I realized the walk here only took us a minute or two. Claire patted my shoulder quickly then. “I feel sorry for you. Stressing about being late. You seem like the type who doesn’t give a rat’s ass. Oh well.” Now I sighed… and then she pushed me, walking towards the school. “Get out of the way pretty boy or I’ll be late.” She joked. Catching up with her, it didn’t even take that long to get there, in fact we weren’t even late. Well, we could have if Principle Turner didn’t stand in our way.

So there we were, walking up to the stairs from the front of school in silence until Principle Turner was standing in the middle of the entrance with folded arms. Clearing his throat, a small smile appeared on his face and greeted us. “Hello Mike, Claire. Care to explain why your not eating inside like the rest of the school?” My eyes shifted to Claire as soon as she spoken up. “Relax, P-Turner, we were just getting some fresh air. Besides I was showing him around the area.” Smooth. Nice lie there. I clenched my fist together, trying so hard not to show my panic of fear come out of me. He twisted his head to face her, clearing his throat again, taking a step forward. “Miss Daniels, you are aware that Mr. Adams here is a successful, academic student here, right?” He started. She snorted. “Your point?” A chuckle came out of him. “Well, Michael-“ ugh. “-is basically an honor student, and as a excellent, trustworthy honor student, I’m positive he wouldn’t lie to me. So Mr. Adams…” He turned towards me and took another step forward. “Is what Miss Daniels stated before true? Or false?” I licked my lips and sighed at the thought of lying for a first. “True, sir.” I saw a hint of his eyes light up, a face filled with shock. He glanced between us quickly then coughed again, warning Claire. “Just be careful with him Claire.” She rolled her eyes without a smile on her face, following him after we entered inside the school.

“Claire…” I warned myself as well. “Oh what! I got you off the hook!” She complained, walking up the small steps. “That’s not the point, we could of gotten in trouble.” I say as I walked up the stairs, a dramatic fake gasp came from her. “Aww what a shame.” More sarcasm. “Geeze you over react. Don’t stress about it.” She stated, also entering the building. I had a lot more to say, but I left the subject and hold a grudge and annoyance for the rest of the day. It was weird, whenever people started looking at us whenever we walked through the halls talking to each other, people would just look at the person beside each other straight away and whisper, glancing back at us again. Almost as if we felt like we were being watched or something like that, I don’t know. All I do know is is that I needed to talk to Therese again. Just to hear her laugh and see her smile would make my day.