Hola seniors, this is my first story that I am putting on here, so please enjoy! :)
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Chapter One
--Veronica--
The train broke down around noon. No different than any other day, Ralph’s stomach was growling in hunger.
“Ralph, my man,” Max began, handing him a granola bar from his backpack, “I don’t think we’re gonna make it to the dinner. So, savor that bar, because its probably all that you’re going to get tonight.”
I don’t understand how he stays thin - he devours everything like its the last thing he’s going to eat.
“Only Ralphy would know how to savor a granola bar,” I chuckle, leaning back in the train seat that smelled of week-old Coors Lite. Nice. Ignoring the strong scent, I glance across the table to Max. “I’m really disappointed that we won’t be able to go to this dinner.”
“Liar,” he grins.
“What?” I give him a joking, toothy smile. “Well, not the talking-to-relatives part, but more the Maxwell-Bennett-performing-amazingly-on-piano part.”
He blushes. “I was looking forward to that, too. But, looks like that’s not gonna happen.”
“Are we just going to sit on this train until it starts up again?” We look at Ralph who is sucking the chocolate off of the bar. Max laughs at the sight. “I mean, if it’s gonna be a while, I really don’t want to lounge here.”
“What would we do?” Max asks, kicking me lightly in the shin.
“I don’t know! I’ve never been...” I grab the nearest person walking by. “Excuse me, ma’am, but where are we?”
She gives me a sneer. “Mount Vernon, Washington. This place is filthy, and so are your hands.” She pulls me off of her and walks off.
Ralph gives her a disgusted look. “Well, she could have been nicer.”
“Agreed, and much less snooty,” I respond, grabbing my bag. “Well, new town, new adventures!”
“YAY!” Max and Ralph both jump into the air like dorks, Ralph’s blond and Max’s black hair flying above their heads. I’m jealous of Ralph’s hair, so perfectly blond - mine is just wavy, long and brown.
They both grab their bags and head out with me.
My first impression of Mount Vernon is dull, dull, dull. According to Ralph’s map, we were in downtown Mount Vernon. I was hoping that UPtown Mount Vernon was more colorful than this ugly brown place.
“This place is so vintage and cool!” Ralph says, storming ahead of the two of us.
“How much moo-lah do you have with you?” I ask Max, who is one step ahead of me.
He hands me a fifty dollar bill. “Treat yourself. I’m gonna go get Ralphy something to eat. I think he’s going to eat that little Yorkie if I don’t feed him.” He waves at me, and rushes off to Ralphy.
“Are you new here?” I turn around to see a guy about 17 or 18, a few years older than me, with fiery red hair and a perfect smile. He eyes my fifty dollars. “You have some time to spare? I know a few good places. Wanna come with me?”
“Why not?” I reply, linking arms with him.
“I know the absolutely best little theater around here...”
He begins to rant about the theater, but I look ahead to Max and Ralph. I never noticed that Max was wearing the cap I knitted for him at Christmas. I don’t know why he was though - it is the ugliest thing in the world.
I was never really that good at knitting in the first place.
--Ralph--
“Here? Here? How about here? Are you sure? Okay, here? Here! You must want to... no? Alright, here?”
Nothing sounds appetizing. I appreciated that Max is trying, though.
“Okay,” he sighs, taking off his beanie, “what do you want to eat? Just tell me.”
“Pizza. But, you know, not the Domino's or Papa Murphy’s stuff. I want the good, home-baked stuff.” I just want to make this difficult for him. I enjoy doing that.
“How about this place?” He points to the absolutely perfect looking place. “Pacioni’s?”
I will admit, it looks very nice. The white paint is chipped off and the green railing surrounding the outside eating place is wrapped in grape vines. Some Italian music is playing the background. Who can say no to that? “Why not? It smells fucking good enough.”
“Alright, then let’s not waste any time.”
“Why are you in such a rush?” I ask him, pulling up my dress shirt sleeves.
“Oh, nothing.”
“It’s Veronica, isn’t it?” I grin and scuff my feet on the ground. “I know how you feel about her, and you don’t want to waste any time without her, right?”
He doesn’t respond and turns to the restaurant. “Let’s go eat.” He rushes into the building and I follow after.
A smell of tomato sauce and burned cheese fills my nose when we walk in. I breathe it in deeply. “Ahhh... Smell that? That smell is grease.” From the sudden smell of food, I realize how tired I am. I sink into the nearest chair of exhaustion.
“Okay,” Max says, sitting in the chair across from me. “We’ll just sit here, then.”
A very busty lady hands us our menus, and I become enthralled in her good looks. I suddenly wasn’t hungry. Well, not hungry for food, anyways. But, noticing the exasperated look on my pal’s face, I decide to eat anyways. I could always go for a few extra pounds - Veronica says I’m like a stick. What type of girl - or guy, I don’t really care - would go for a
I’m about to call Busty over to our table when Max slams his menu down and says, “Who the heck is Veronica with?!”
