Finding Sage (Young Adult)

Three: Helen or Kellan

The hostess must have announced my arrival to Greg because he comes flittering out of the kitchen wearing his chef apron and holding a small plate of food. "Hey Kellan." The smile on his face is contagious. "The early bird gets the worm!" He places a small plate with something delicious looking in front of me, and kisses me on the cheek.

"Greg, you know," I say looking at him with a grimace on my face, "I really don't like it when you kiss me. You already had Gillian believing Adam was gay... I don't need to be another near casualty."

"Oh Kellen, shut up!" he says, and he kisses me again.

Good lord, he does not listen.

"Every time you tell me not to, I am just going to do it again," he giggles.

It's helpless. Maybe its fortunate that he's not hugging me, those can be uncomfortably long and awkward. I've never been homophobic, but fuck, he so damn annoying with the hugs and kisses. He's worse than a girl.

Whatever. He's one of the nicest people I have known and even allowed me to stay at his gigantic penthouse apartment when I was looking for a place to live. It was brutally hard to move out of that place. Especially with he and Francis cooking outstanding meals all the time and Patsy, their housekeeper, cleaning every day. Also, I enjoyed spending time with Francis. He is manlier and doesn't walk around the house in ballet wear and towels all the time.

Francis is a great conversationalist. We spent a lot of nights talking about Paris where I lived for my last year of University. Once he found out I can speak French, it's the only way he speaks to me. I am not as diverse as he. I understand him, but must reply in English. For a few days he made me reply only in French, making me improve.

The hostess comes over and says to Greg, "We had a cancellation, can I open the reservation?" She speaks to Greg but looks at me.

"Are you asking me?" I say, "Because...it's not my restaurant."

The young hostess turns her gaze downward as red fills her cheeks. Greg huffs and says, "Oh, Michelle, this is my dear friend, Kellan. Have you met?"

"Oh, I see," I say, knowing what Greg is up to.

"Hi, its nice to meet you." She holds out her hand. I stand and take her hand, and say, "Oh yes, we did meet, remember? It was about five minutes ago when you sat me at this table? However, it's nice to meet you, again." Then, I turn to Greg and say, "Can you answer her reservation question so she can get back to work? Or is this where you were planning for us to run off into the sunset together?"

A shocked look appears on Michelle's face and her posture stiffens. I sense I just made a complete ass out of myself. It's not a planned set up, after all. Her face turns to stone as she pivots toward Greg.

"Oh, Kellan, stop being such a grouchy." He says and I contemplate, 'a grouchy.' He turns to the hostess and says, "Yes, please call the waiting list and see if anyone is available. Thank you dear."

Without looking at me she turns, flips her long black hair and stomps back to the hostess stand.

Greg turns to me and says, "It wasn't a setup, this time, but I bet you wish it was." He raises his eyebrows at me and watches her walk away.

"Whatever. I'm on to you people, all of you." I say knowing that the next set up is right around the corner. My friends have all tried to set me up with various girls over the last few months and its getting old. I'd rather be single than with a pretty idiot, which is what they think I want.

"Hi guys." Gillian is standing at our table, looking as beautiful as ever, causing me to stand and hug her lightly. "Early as usual, Kellan?"

"Yeah, well..."