crème glacée [the fate of coincidences 1]

17: Glen

After a week of Jade driving him to work and back, Glen learned two things about her. She was loud, like the migraine-inducing neon green t-shirt she was wearing now. Her voice was loud, her laugh was loud, the way she walked, or did anything, was always way too loud. Even her silences were loud.

She was sticky, like the chewing gum on the cement that you accidentally step into and then can never get out. He doubted the concept of personal space had ever crossed her mind. Constant physical contact was a thing with her.

Even now, as they walked through the parking lot, Jade reached up to ruffle his hair, startling him into tripping on air. Her laugh rang like one of those annoying wind chimes.

“I was just trying to make your hair look less uptight.” She pulled on a strand lightly. “You need to stop putting so much product in it or it’ll turn into plastic Ken hair.”

Glen reached up to smooth the mess she made. “What’s wrong with plastic Ken hair?”

“I don’t know, the fact that it’s plastic?” She reached up again, running her fingers through the strands of his hair and holding back a giggle. “I can’t believe you’re taller than me. I almost have to stand on my tiptoes.”

He took her wrist and guided it away from him. “That does not give you permission to make a bird nest on my head.”

"Table for two?" the hostess asked as they walked inside the generic Italian restaurant.

"No, we're part of a bigger party," Jade answered, already looking around the tables. “It should be under Cameron Harrolds.”

"Ah, follow me, please."

They were led to an occupied table overlooking the bay. Suddenly, Glen was being stared at by six pairs of curious eyes. Jade pulled up a chair from a nearby empty table for him. A petite girl with just-above-shoulder-length black hair stood up and shook his hand with reserved enthusiasm as Jade gave her own greetings to everyone.

"You must be Glen," she said, smiling, "I'm April, Jade's best friend. It's nice to finally meet you." She leaned in closer, and lowered her voice. "I sincerely apologize for anything stupid and embarrassing Jade did in your presence. She was dropped on her head twice as a baby and that is most likely how she lost all social awareness and driving skills."

Glen laughed nervously but April's face was serious, and he cleared his throat, starting to hate himself for agreeing to do this.

"Sit, sit!" Now she smiled, gesturing to the chair Jade pulled out for him. "Here's a menu."

Glen sat and took the menu she offered. April then turned around and with another menu promptly hit Jade on the shoulder, who was laughing at something someone said across the table.

"Ow, what was that for?" Jade rubbed her arm and sat down on the empty chair between Glen and April.

"Stop talking to Sebastian across the table and sit down,” April said, expression turning from pleasant to vicious in 0.1 seconds.

"Okay, sorry." She looked over at Glen and smacked herself on the forehead. "I'm so sorry, I forgot to introduce everyone."

She got up again. "Everyone, this is Glen Oswald, the guy I drive around now because I was stupid enough to crash into his car." She pointed to April. "Glen, this is April, as you already know." Then she pointed to a strangely familiar skinny blonde guy sitting next to April. "This is Daniel. He thinks he can draw or something."

Daniel glared at Jade. "It's Danny. And I'm obviously not the only one with that opinion since many people buy my paintings for prices higher than your trashy car costs."