Different

Chapter 9 Home-Town Skillet

Chapter 9

Home-Town Skillet

I followed Mason down the country road and parked next to him in the café parking lot. Home-Town Skillet was the name of the restaurant and they advertised world famous milkshakes. It was a cute little diner. A bell above the door rang as Mason and I walked in. Strings of light rounded wooden beams that held up the ceiling illuminating the restaurant in a country fashion. Along the walls were photos and newspaper clippings. One wall in particular had a piece of sting tied to each side of the wall. Polaroid photos hung from the string with clothes pins. The wall was almost completely covered with very organized strings and pictures. Each picture looked to be of equal distance from each other, and each sting equally divided the wall. You sat yourself in the diner, so I followed Mason and weaved around tables to find the other guys. Since it was edging on midnight the restaurant was completely empty. Mason led me all the way down the wall where the polaroids hung to the last booth. I was expecting the other lads to be there waiting, but the booth was empty. Mason slid in on one side and I cautiously did the same on the opposite side. Mason has not said one word since "Stay close Kitten" and it's putting me on edge. Instead of breaking the ice, I stare at the pictures that line the walls. Unlike the other walls these seem to be pictures of people eating at the restaurant. Some are couples, some are families, some are old women, some are young men. Since I'm at sitting at the back of the wall the oldest pictures are hanging closer to me, but the farther I look down the wall newer the picture. I can see a young boy with bright brown eyes and what I'm assuming is his dad appears a few times in the areas not too far from mine. I know it's not the classiest thing to do but I sit up on my knees to look closer at the photos that are farther down the line. I hear Mason let out one of those laughs where it's just an exhale. "Pretty cool huh?" I nod and look around the place a few more times before sitting back on my butt. "Really freakin' cool," I state. "Yea, thought you'd like it," he says looking around with me. "Plus it has food so that's a plus." I nod once, "What can I say? Food and I just have a special bound. You know, I might even think it's the one." I put my hand over my heart to add effect. He lets out a short chuckle while he plays with the packages of sugar at the end of the table. I smile at his chuckle. He has deep and inviting chuckle that clashes with his personality. We fall into a comfortable silence as we both startle to fiddle with things on the table. "So uh, how'd you meet the guys?" Mason breaks the silence. "I guess technically I saw you and Cole first at that read light. Stupid douche cut me off." Mason laughed, "You were rocking out to Motley Crew. I mean hair flying drum solo on the steering wheel it was hilarious."

"What can I say I'm a funny person," I shrug.

"I could beg to differ." I threw a few packs of sugar at him for that comment.

"Okay let's see then I met Mack in the parking lot of the covenant store. He was trying to make a move on me by using Cameron's Camaro and totally failed. He said that it was his Camaro and has a "28Z engine"," I couldn't help, but start laughing a little when I told Mason this. He only shook his head mumbling "idiot" followed by a smirk. "Then Cameron came out and he did not give me the time of day. Finally after asking him about his '67 he noticed I actually I knew what I was talking about. Then he told me about the track and told me to stop by. So I went and watched for a while and went to the concession stand where I met Zayn."

Mason tensed when I mentioned Zayn, but tried to play it off.

"He was working in the concession stand?" he tried to ask casually.

"He told Tommo the pits wanted him and tried to make my food, but pretty much failed."

Mason smirked but it wasn't in amusement, because it didn't reach his eyes. His eyes seem darker now than in the field. I stare into them as they put me into a trance. I never met a single person whose eyes could just take me over like that, but Mason King is the exception. Mason is staring back at me now. Not with confusion, but something I have yet to see from him. It's unreadable. Our little stare off is interrupted by a clash coming out of the kitchen. Both our heads snap and we see the rest of the boys walk in with trays of food. Behind all the guys are three girls who weren't at the track. The first is the tallest of the three. I can hear her talking to all the other girls from here. She seems to be very animated and the other girls are cracking up at her. Her styles pretty cool too. She's wearing a batman tee that has the sleeves cut out with a bright yellow bandeau, some light denim shorts and studded combat boots. The girl to her left is obviously a natural red head with a pale complexion, pretty much a ginger. She's wearing dark denim jeans and a blue "LOVE" shirt that clashes with her bright wavy hair with some white converse. I'm already starting to dig these girls, it's obvious they don't give a shit about what all the guys think because they're not dressed like hoes. At the same time they're not ratchets either. Finally you see the third girl try to catch up with the other two. She throws out this innocent vibe and I can't help but smile at her. She reminds me a lot of myself, or how I used to be. Her hair is board straight, long, but both the Batman girl and mine are longer, and blonde with almost a red-brown tint to it. Batman girl's is probably longer than mine but her hair color is on the blonder side of dirty blonde. If we were to go from lightest to darkest hair it would be that third girl, Bat man girl, and then me. The red head is in a different category. The third girl makes a joke and laughs really hard at herself and the other two just kinda chuckles along. I smile at the girl she seems so sweet with her floral dress, but the jean vest she has over it adds a little of the gruff that everyone else has here. She is also wearing white converse but hers are the classic high tops. I smiled at the girls as they stood outside my booth and their faces light up. The rest of the guys put all the drinks on the table. "Mas, is this the girl you-" Batman girl is interrupted by a constricting hug from Cole. "Babe! It's been awhile since we had a real hug huh?" "Wait you two are together?" I point in between Cole and Batman girl. They nod. That shocked me; Cole seemed like a player with his smirk. Definitely didn't peg him as the affectionate one. "I'm Cassie and yes, I'm dating Cole, but I'm only in it for the food," batman girl winks as she slides next to me. I like this girl already. I glance at Mason and to see if he noticed her last comment and his facial expression told me he did. One of the guys I met earlier tonight sat next to Mason. I met him, but he didn't really talk to me that much and I had never seen him before so his name slipped my mind. The red head sits next to what's-his-name and he puts his arm around her. "I'm Amber, John's girlfriend," Well that worked out well. I probably won't forget Amber because she's a red head and her name is close to ember. Ha. Get it? No. Just me? That's cool too. That girl that had the floral dress sat next Amber across from Mack. Actually, Mack and that girl have the same colored hair almost exactly. "Hi, I'm Melonie, Mack's sister, and I don't have a boyfriend because...well I'm just that awesome" she said flipping her hair back dramatically. It ended up hit Amber in the face causing me and Melonie to break out laughter. By the time we stopped laughing everyone was just looking at us causing us to laugh even harder. Sometime in our laughter I spilt one of the drinks. It mostly went in between me and Cassie, but I jumped up and yelled, "I'M SO FREAKIN' SORRY!" Us girls started laughing at my way of apologizing while the guys just stared blankly at us. I told the group they could call me Allison, Alli, or Al I had no preference. We calmed down and food was passed around the table. Mason had ordered for me and man he could not have done better. A Texas styled cheeseburger with all the toppings, union rings, French fries, and potato salad. You can start the fat jokes now. I looked up at Mason thanking him with a dimpled smile and gave a slight nod a faint smile spreading across his lips. I guess the girls noticed this small exchange because they all 'awwed'. Zayn rolled his eyes and the other guys leaned closer into their girls. Except for Mack and Cameron, I think they're on team forever alone. And that's when Cassie suddenly became bubbling with excitement and practically yelled, "GUYS we should group date!!" Cassie shared her idea as I was taking a drink. I choked trying not to spit my water all over Mason who is sitting across from me. If I hadn't been caught so off guard I might have spit it on him just to create a diversion. Unfortunately, I just sat there trying to keep my choke as quiet as possible while avoiding looking at Mason. Thankfully Melonie quickly came to my aid, "While y'all work that out I think us single ladies should go get the rest of the food, right Al?" I single tight nod was my only reply. Not wanting to wait for everyone on my side of the booth to get up and allow me to escape I jumped over the back of the booth. I'm a really classy gal, I know. I blindly follow Melonie through some swinging doors on the other side of the restaurant. On the other side of the door I come to find out is the restaurant's kitchen. The kitchen is empty and spotless. Melonie glides through and around the large kitchen to the oven where she pulls out two pies. The oven wasn't on so I'm assuming they placed the pies in there so they didn't get too cold. "Al, will you grab some bowls from that shelf over there?" she asks moving her head in the direction of the shelf as she begins to cut the first pie. I grab the detailed white and blue glass bowls and set them on the same countertop as the pies were. "So, uh, thanks for back there...but how'd you know I was single," I ask Melonie as she starts putting pie pieces into bowls. She just laughed and shook her head. "I'm not as blind as everyone out there seems to be," I give her a confused look. "As soon as Cassie said date you instantly paled and your eyes; I expected embarrassment but the only thing I read from your eyes was terror." I instantly felt myself close off and my internal walls come up. "I'm not looking for an explanation. Everyone has a story it's their choice if they want it published or not," she shrugs putting the last few pieces in the bowls. She walks over to a large freezer room and walks out with a tub of ice cream. On the side of the tub someone wrote "Anna's Homemade- Vanilla". "So are you normally this good at reading people like that?" I asked breaking the short silence that consumed the room. "Not at all, it took me at least a year to be able to read Amber and Cassie like that." "It's almost like we have a special bond babe," I wink trying to lighten the atmosphere in the room. "Love?" She asks playing along as she scoops the ice cream into the bowl with the apple pie. "Oh, definitely" I continue our little game. I grab another ice cream scooper from the drawer Melonie did and help her with the last few bowls. We make small talk and joke around lightly until we are back to the gang with the food. After setting all the food down, I once again jump over the back of the booth regaining the spot across from Mason. "You know we could of just gotten up for you," Mack states. "Nah, I'm kind of an impatient person anyway and it's way easier this way," I wave him off. "Oh your phone kept going off while you were gone by the way." Amber tells me. I forgot that my phone was sitting on the table when the group date issue arrived. "You would have The Rolling Stones as your ringtone," says Cole as I look at my phone. Although I already knew who was calling because of Cole's comment. My Rolling Stones crazed aunt. Maybe it was the goody two shoes from my youth coming out but, I instantly called her back. She picked up after three rings. "Allison Marie, why in God's name are you not here? It's passed midnight! I know your mom did not let you run around like this!" Man, she used my middle name and my mom this isn't going to be good. I tried to turn away from the group, as they carried on their conversations. "Aunt Jodi you can calm down, I went to the races same as every Friday night since me and dad got the Chevy II running," I stated as calmly as I could. "You're racing?! Allison I know you're having some issu-" "I did not race tonight and I'm fine." I cut her off because if she had finished that sentence I would have snapped. "I will tell you whenever I leave from now on okay? I'm fine." I know the first part is a lie, but I hope the truth of the second statement covers it up. After a silence she finally answered. "Fine. You really need to start talking with us Allison. Even if it is just to tell us where you're going I need to know. I mean, I thought someone had you." I clenched my jaw at her last statement. "That's fair I guess. Trust me I'm safe okay? I'm with like 8 friends; nothing is going to happen without them noticing." Friends may be kind of strong to describe my relationship with the gang, but if it would calm my aunt down then by all means we've been best friends for years. "Now I'll be home later and I'll see you tomorrow," and we both hang up. I turn back to the group putting on a fake smile to cover up the instant anxiety I get when something like that happens. "Was that your mommy? Does she want you come back hwome?" Mack teases in a baby voice. "No actually, it was yours. Apparently your dad is into threesomes," I shrug and casually take about out of my pie. The group erupts into a chorus of "oooohs" and I smirk. "Wait I still had some of my burger when I left?" I ask looking around. "Don't look at us, look at that fat ass over there!" Cameron points to Mason. Mason fakes innocence, but it falls through quickly because of his seemingly trademark smirk. "You owe me another one," I tell him as I take another bite of ice cream pie. "Babe if you wanted to go out again then all you had to do was ask," he crosses his arms and rest them on the table leaning in slightly. I copy his actions. "So I wear the pants and have the balls in this relationship." Although the dig was amusing I couldn't help but struggle on the word relationship. It has been foreign to my tongue for so long, and I am not prepared for it to become a normal thing again. "So now you want me to take off my pants for you and let you hold my balls? I mean if that's what you're into babe I guess I can comply," I'm grateful he didn't comment on our undetermined 'relationship'. Before I can shoot out another dig Amber interrupts, "Seriously I do not need to know what kind of kinky shit Mason's into so can we please change the subject." I full heartedly laugh at her comment and the disgust in her voice. Mason opens his mouth to reply and by the corner of his mouth sliding up I knew it wasn't anything good. I quickly reach across the table and put my hand over his mouth. I smile triumphantly at his confused expression. Then I felt something wet and slide slowly across my palm. I pull back quickly and wipe my hand on his shoulder as I yell, "Did you just lick me?!" He only over dramatically imitated the triumphant smile I wore. "That's what she said," Cassie said badly trying to pass it off as a cough. As have a light conversation while we eat and tell all kind of stories. The guys through in their sexual remarks every now and then but that can only be expected. Eventually my curiosity grows, "So I'm confused about something." That caught everyone's attention. "No one's here, the kitchen is empty, but y'all act like you own the place. What's the story?" Everyone looked to Mason, who after a short pause answered. "I came here a lot as a kid and never really stopped. Anna, the woman who owns the place, used to stay up here every Friday night and experiment with recipes. Cole and I would come up after closing and taste everything for her before we could drive." I look to see Cassie smiling up at Cole. "Then we started racing and we brought more people along. And Anna welcomed everyone in," Cole stepped in when Mason briefly stopped the story. Mason seemed to come out of whatever trance he went into and exchanged a look with Cole. "Actually, not everyone; she never liked Tiffany." Zayn added with amusement. I had kind of forgotten he was here. He sat so far from me at the other end of Mack I never really spoke to him. I could see Mason tense at his words, but no one else seemed to notice. "Obviously for good reason," Amber scoffed. "Anna could always tell who was true at heart, but will keep it to herself. Says everyone has something to bring out in us and we need to decipher who will make us who we are or something," Melonie says directed to me. "She sounds pretty cool," I say. Mason still has yet to say anything on the matter. "Where is she now? It's Friday night?" I ask. "She's here sometimes." Cassie states. "She works as a waitress some days, in the kitchen others during business hours. She started leaving a key for us about a year ago in case she isn't here. She's kind of hit or miss on the afterhours stuff since then; not that I can I blame the woman. She's a freakin' boss; if she needs a break she can take it." After that we settle into other conversations until we finish all our food. Me, stealing some of Mason's pie, earning a few small smiles from him. He was pretty quiet after Anna was brought up, but he would interact with me longer than most of the gang; except Cole. Cole and Mason seem to have quiet the bromance going on. "Mack it's your turn!" "Is not it's definitely your turn Melonie!" I gave Mason a confused look mouthing "what?" "Dishes," he mouthed back to me. "Mack if you do not do them tonight I will tell mom the real reason you change your sheets out so much," she raises her eyebrows and smirks in success. Low "oohs" immerges from the group. Mack took all the dishes into the kitchen in defeat muttering about a "goodie goodie" sister. Our conversations continued until Mack had finished the dishes and was coming back toward the booth. Our seating arrangement had shifted quite bit since he left. When all of us girl went to bathroom together the guys all scooted down the booth leaving us to come back to the outside seats. Cassie and Amber sat next to them on the side I had sat on before and Melonie and I sat across from them. I slid into the booth before Melonie midsentence not paying much attention. I was scooting in not playing attention hitting one of the guys. Before I could even apologize Mason said, "Kitten gets a little touchy after the sun goes down huh?" I simply turned back to Melonie to continue my story, "Anyway, I worked hard on him, so he owes me. If you want his number I still have it. And trust me he can make any girl swoon before he can even open his mouth." "Ya hear that Mas, your girl here gave it to him hard," Mack said seeming to accomplish his goal of irking Mason. It takes me a minute to understand what he's implying. I really never have been good at thinking like because of my sheltered childhood. Ultimately it's his wiggling eyebrows that hint at what he's talking about. I try to reach through the people sitting in between Mack and me to back hand him. The force of the hit is depleted because of the awkward angle, but is hard nonetheless. "I worked on his car ya dummy. Normally a five day job for a good mechanic I did in two so he could race in some big rivalry thing. So yea, he owes me." After the interruption I notice Melonie doesn't seem too keen on me setting her up so I let it drop. Even though we all are finished with our food we continue to talk. I feel accepted by them, like I've been in the group the whole time. I would say that I feel like I could tell them any and everything, but that's just not true. Even those people who think they know the whole story don't. I sugar coat it and put on a fake smile, so I am the only one who knows what's really going on. I don't mind though. This way those who actually care don't have to worry about me, and those you don't can't backstab me later. It's just my way of coping. I'm brought back into the conversation when a dreaded topic is brought up. School. "Al, you're going to Legacy High with us right?" Amber asks. My aunt had briefly mentioned something about going to the small high school in our little town instead of driving a town over to the bigger one. "Is that the one we live by?" I ask directed to Mason. I always assumed he lived somewhere in that neighborhood because of the few times we ran into each other. He nods at my question. "Then yes," I tell the girls. "Wait y'all live by each other?" Ember points between us. "Ooh girl, I didn't know you were into that kinda stuff," Cassie says directly after Ember's question. I look from them to Mason with confusion. "Ha. Ha. Very funny girl," Mason says dryly. "She lives next to my mom anyway," he finishes. My head snaps to just Mason. "Like next to as in neighbors or next to as in the general area?" I ask. I hadn't really paid too much attention to those in the neighborhood. In my defense I had only been here about a week and its summer so it's not like I have to leave the house all that much. "You live with Jodi right?" Mason asked and I nod. "Then yea we're neighbors," he said resting his arm in the back of the booth behind me. I think it over trying to remember any time I might have seen him. "I have never seen you, or your car there in my whole week of being here next door to me," I state thinking he's playing me. He shrugs, "I'm with my dad a lot in the summer on the other side of 'community' as you call it." He lightly lifts the corners of his mouth at the end. "How long have you known this?" I ask feeling slightly left out of the information. "I figured it was you when you ran into me, and knew for sure when you left Mama's the other day," he shrugs. I just nod a few times, letting my head bounce like a bobble head. "Anyway, I guess we'll be seeing a lot more of you since Legacy is pretty small of a school!" Melonie states excitedly. I smile at her. A real smile, not a fake one. Around two in the morning we all decide to go our separate ways to get some sleep. After hugging each of the girls, and trying to do the 'bro handshake' with the guys everyone files out. Mason and I trail behind. "So I'm just going to follow you back because I don't really feel like getting lost at two o'clock in the morning," I chuckle running into his side a little. "You think you can keep up with me Kitten?" He looks down at me smiling slightly. "Oh, I know I can Mr. Tree" I retort going back to his first nickname. "Catch me if you can Kitten," he says as he flicks the lights off the restaurant, locks the door and hides the key in a fake brick in the building.

The drive home was filled with us messing with each other through our driving. It slowed our arrival time down dramatically, but I really didn't mind. It was close to two forty five in the morning when I slowed to stop outside of Jodi's house. Mason pulled into what I assumed is his mom's drive way and made his way toward me. I expected him to make conversation because he walked over here, but he remained silent. "Well, congrats on that win earlier. And thanks for inviting me to Anna's; it was fun." I broke the ice. "Well that's unfortunate because I don't think the group really wants you to come back," he replies. Even in the starlight I can tell he's just messing with me. "Really? Because all three girls have texted me since we left saying same time next week," I smiled up at him. "Okay you caught me I don't want you to come," he says in the same tone as his last joke. "Oh now I have to come just to piss you off," I push his shoulder back and yawn. "I'll see ya later Mason," I wave as start walking backwards toward the house. "Goodnight Kitten," he says so quietly I almost didn't hear him. Once I'm inside I put on the last set of clothes in my overnight bag and crawl into bed. I'm too tired to dream, or remember them at least.

A/N Well it took y'all long enough! I mean I only asked for five votes! But the goal was accomplished so here is the reward(: Normally it would be longer, but I already updated once today so yea. They're not done at the restaurant and the night is still young btw! How about we try for 7 comments this time? But there's no way I'll update again tonight I have school but if I get seven I can update tomorrow! Don't forget the girls outfits(or outfits close to what I described) will be on the pinterest

www.pintrest.com/differentlou

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Thanks Lovelies

~Lou