Miles Away

Peachy

I felt someone lightly tapping on my shoulder, then it increased to someone pinching my shoulder, “Fuc- Tara! Oh hey sweetie, are you waking me up?”

She nodded and climbed into my large bed to watch cartoons all morning. After a few minutes, Theo walks in and decides he wants to be a part of the party.

“I see this is where everyone is at.” My aunt is standing in the doorway smiling to herself as she looks at us. Tara had fallen asleep sideways with her feet on me, and Theo was watching cartoons upside down.

Me: “How can you do this 24/7? I’m tired already and it’s only been an hour!”

Aunt Iris: “You learn to just go with the flow, you’ll know what I mean when you have kids someday.”

Me: “Never having kids, Aunt Iris.” With that she left.

When all the kids left, I went upstairs to try and take a nap. I reached my room and phone buzzed in my pocket.

Hey wanna hang out today?

Ehhh? I replied to Bentley’s text and press the send button

Be there in 10, be ready. J

I set my phone down and began getting ready for wherever we were going. I put on a black tee with some logo on it with jeans and red converse.

I saw Bentley’s silver SUV pull up in the driveway, and he gets out of the car. He is wearing casual clothes that fit him well. He enters my house as I come downstairs. Jane is talking to him when I get down there, they talk about mostly school and sports.

Bentley: “Ready to go?” He said sharply, I think he still has a grudge from yesterday when I kicked him out. Maybe today is him making up for being rude.

Me: “Yeah, let’s go.”

I got into his silver Toyota, surprisingly it’s quite roomy for such a small car. It smells like cinnamon with a hint of his cologne. It’s a short drive into town, we stop at Quinn’s to have lunch.

Quinn’s is a small family-owned diner that has been around for as long as the town has. The current Quinn family member in charge is Robert, he runs it with his wife Becky. When they both are long gone, their daughter Amelia will inherit it.  The diner shows its age but it also has had a few modifications over the years.

We walk in a sit at a booth in the middle of the room, it just so happens the Amelia is working today.

Me: “Hey, its been a long time, what when we were ten?”

Amelia: “Yeah, just around that! The city life treating you good?”

Me: “Actually, I’m moving back here, to stay with my Dad.” I look over to Bentley who gives me a surprised look, I had told no one about me moving back here yet.

Amelia: “That’s great! We should hang out some time! Oh, Bentley how are you doing?”

Bentley: “Fine, Lia, thanks for asking.”

Amelia: “So what would you two like?”

Bentley: “I’ll have the Quinn burger and Finny will have the Peach milkshake.” I scowl at him for calling me that. Lia takes up our menus and goes to put the order in.

Me: “How did you know to order me the Peach milkshake?”

Bentley: “Because, its always been your favorite.” That is true, ever since I was a kid that was the only thing I would get here. It tastes like golden heaven.

Me: “True.”

Bentley: “So why didn’t you tell me you were moving back?”

Me: “I haven’t told anybody, anyway heard anything from colleges?”

Bentley: “Yeah, a couple, it was really weird, Dartmouth just called out of the blue and really wants me to come to their school. I think I’m going to choose them, after all it is Ivy League but its still nothing compared to Harvard.” A sigh of relief escaped my lips, my Father kept his word, maybe not all of it but at least the Ivy League college, full ride, part.

Me: “That’s great! I’m so happy for you!”

After our food arrived we ate every last bit and where walking to the car when someone walked into me.

Me: “Hey dude! Watch were your going!”

“Please, don’t make me laugh, I barely touched you.”

Me: “Hunter?”

“Yeah sis, happy to see me?”