Scars Left By Memories - Book II

The Hurtful Truth

Francisco parks the car, the diner was very well lit up. The signs were made mostly out of LED lights. Francisco got out of the car first.

I followed behind him. He opens the door for me. I thank him. Francisco enters the dinner behind me. Obviously someone knew who Francisco was.

"Francisco!" A middle aged man calls.

He had grey hair, he was wearing a hat similar to what 'In-N-Out' workers would wear. He set the rag down under the counter, walking over to Francisco.

"Como has estado? Ya no vuelves." He ask with a strong accent, I could tell it was Spanish. From the first thing 'Como'

"He estado ocupado con Martínez y trabajando." Francisco replies. His accent was fairly strong too.

"Y quién es esta hermosa joven?" He ask. I knew 'hermosa' meant beautiful. Point one for Sage who actually paid a bit of attention in Spanish.

"This is Sage. She's a friend of mine." Francisco said. I smiled at the man.

"Well Miss Sage, I am uncle Joseph. I have been watching after this handsome young man Francisco since he was a baby." He introduces himself.

"Mr. Jospeh, I am Sage and I enjoy being friends with Francisco." I reply reaching for his hand as he had it waiting for me to shake it.

"Well, I bet you're both starving. So let me seat you two and get your drinks." Joseph says grabbing the menus from the metallic desk.

Francisco grabbed them from him. He handed me one. I smile at him. I took a seat opening the menu. It had lots of familiar foods.

"I'll get a cheeseburger with fries and a soda, since I haven't had one in a while." I acknowledged Francisco. 

"Wow, that was quick." Francisco replies still searching through the menu.

"Well I'm familiar to these things since Halle and I would order so many times from In-N-Out burger." I say closing my menu.

"What's In-N-Out?" Francisco ask.

"Excuse me? You don't know what In-N-Out burger? It's legit the most amazing fast food restaurant ever." I answer.

"Well, we have five guy burgers here." Francisco replies.

"It's not the same." I said.

"Are we ready yet?" Joseph comes by with a small notepad in his hands.

"Yes, Sage wants a cheeseburger with fries and the drink to be-" Francisco lets me continue, since I never told him the drink I wanted.

"Diet Pepsi." I continue.

"What about you Francisco?" He ask pointing the pen in Francisco direction.

"I'll get the same thing, with water instead of soda." Francisco answers.

"The food should be out shortly." Joseph advises us. Francisco thanked him polity.

"What college did you go to?" I ask.

"Why so sudden?" Francisco questions.

"Well, because I am deciding on a college to go to." I reply, it was an honest answer.

"Well, I don't mean to brag, but Harvard." Francisco says. His answer shocked me.

"What? How? The school acceptance rate is about six percent." I reply.

"I guess they wanted me to attend their school." Francisco says.

***

"Thank you Joseph." Francisco calls as he walks out the door.

"Goodbye Francisco and Sage!" Joseph calls back. I follow Francisco out the door. I walked down the steps which Francisco was already down.

"Thank you Francisco." I say.

"What? Why?" Francisco ask.

"Because you took me out to eat, twice. Took me out to see my mother which I didn't expect. But it was nice." I answer.

"Yeah." Francisco drags on that 'yeah'. Something wasn't right.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Well, Martinez and I planned this. Just so by the end of the day. You accept my apology." Francisco answers.

That made so much sense. My feelings that I thought I had for Francisco jumped out of the window. This wasn't for me. It was him. If I didn't accept his apology by the end of tonight. He would be mad at me.

"Thanks Francisco. I was hoping this would just be out of kindness and from your heart. I was clearly wrong. I don't accept your apology. Sorry I crushed your hopes and dreams." I reply in all sarcasm till the end.

I started to walk away. I didn't know where I was going, but I hopefully would find the estate soon. I didn't care what. Wanted to go home and cry. This was so I could accept his apology.

***

"Hey do you need a pickup? Sage! Stop walking!" I recognized Jo's voice. I turn around I see Jo sitting in the white Lexus.

"Did Francisco sent you after me?" I ask in a monotone, stopping.

"Yes, but you need to come home." Jo answers in his sad and sweet tone.

"Fine." I let those words slip from my lips. I walk in getting into the car.

"It's so dangerous out here. Especially for how old you are and how many old men could've just kidnapped you." Jo says making a u-turn.

"I know. But I wanted to walk home and just get my mind off of things, especially what happened tonight." I reply.

"Well, be honest with me. Were you going to accept Francisco's apology, if you didn't know about the plan?" Jo ask.

"Yes." I answer honestly.

"So what makes it different that they had a plan this whole time. I know it seems like forcing you to forgive him, but let's be honest. Francisco still did this all for you." Jo replies.

"I guess your right. I mean he probably wouldn't be able to do this on his own." I say. Jo smiles.

"When you get home. I want you to go upstairs and apologize to Francisco about raging at him. Then hug it out or something like that." Jo replies.

"Fine, I'll go with your idea. But to add on to your idea. Could you stop at some ice cream place. I think it would make the idea just a tiny bit better." I ask.

"Okay, I'll believe you." Jo answers.