Can't We Just Start Over?

Part 5

(Nathan)

I smile and fold the note back up. I soon got out of my bed and went to get dressed. I put on black jeans, a crisp white collared shirt brown suede shoes and my usual red jacket. My sister got this jacket for me. She wasn't around much but she took care of me. I sigh and look in the mirror that hangs in my closet. My hair was a mess, but so am I. I take an orange ti n of pomade for my hair and slick it back. That didn't help the messiness of my life though. But she did. I smile again, thinking about last night. I never thought I would like Max. Do I like her, like that? I puff a shallow laugh and head out to get food.

(Max)

Chloe's rust bucket truck pulls up. I can hear loud music muffled through the metal. I shake my head and climb in.

"Yo Max!" She says loudly, I turn the music down. I'd rather not go deaf.

"Hey Chloe," I answer. She looks to me with a cheeky grin and starts driving. I hardly had time to put my seat belt on. Chloe speeds to the diner, hardly talking. I look at my phone, expecting a text from Nathan to pop up. Which is pointless, he doesn't even have my number. Chloe sings along to her music loudly and I just watch. Once we get to the diner I shove my cell back into my pocket and climb out of the truck. Chloe doesn't bother to lock it, she just grabs my wrist and leads me into the diner. It was busy, filled with truckers and tourists. I saw a few people whom I had seen before though. I was instantly high off of the scent of smoky bacon, bitter black coffee and sweet, sweet pancakes. As I inhaled my eyes slightly rolled back. Chloe and I sit at our usual booth, she grabs my hands now.

"Spill." She demands.

"Um okay, what do you want to know?" She looks at me like I'm not getting something. I know she wants to know what happened, I just don't know how much detail.

"Everything, what did you guys do, talk about. Also why Nathan?"

"I saw him earlier last night and he looked upset so I wanted to make sure he was okay. I apologized for everything between us and so did he. We talked about everything."

"Like what?"

"Well, we talked about photography, Seattle, life." Chloe exhaled and got closer to me.

"Then what?"

"Well we watched a movie, he started smoking and I took it from him and he showed me how. We got high and ordered a pizza."

"Pizza and weed without me? You know those are my favorite things." I laugh but quickly stop when Joyce starts walking to the booth.

"Morning Max," She starts, "how are you?"

"I'm good, how are you Joyce?"

"I'm here right?" She sighs, "Anyway, what can I get for you two today?" I ponder the question for a while. Do I want eggs and bacon, or a fat stack of pancakes?

"May I have the pancakes please? Oh, and your delicious hot cocoa." I answer, my mouth already watering at the thought of this food.

"Same for me. With a big plate of bacon? Pretty please?" Chloe pleads. Joyce nods and heads off. "Okay continue your story."

"Okay um, oh, we watched a movie again. We talked about so much. You know, he's not a bad person. He also sort of kissed me."

"What?" Chloe yelps. "Oh my god Max." I can feel my cheeks heat up. I decide not to tell her the rest, I don't know where I stand with Nathan. I set my phone on the table and stare at it waiting. Chloe tells me about her weird dream but I hardly listened. After a few minutes Joyce brings out our breakfast, bacon, pancakes, and hot coco with extra whipped cream. We start devouring the deliciousness.

(Nathan)

After I get a pack of cigarettes and a new bottle of vodka I stop by the diner to pick up some food. I open the glass door and walk in. I kept my head down but I could feel someone stare at me. I ignore it and order a cheeseburger, to go. It was still before noon but I'm craving it. I sit down at the booth and wait. Still, someone is watching me. I turn to look, Max. She wasn't looking, but her blue pixie punk friend was. Chloe, I think was her name. She rose her eyebrows and said something to Max. She then turned to me with a nervous smile. I could feel myself blush and smile like a dork. She looked rested and happy, cute. I stick my hand in my pocket and walk to their booth.

"Hey." I say while grabbing the back of my neck, casually.

"Hey Nathan." Max said "How are you?"

"Oh I'm good, you?"

"Good."

"I wonder why." Chloe blurted with a grin. Max turned back to her with embarrassment. I feel a tap on my shoulder, a waitress hands me a white paper bag. I hand her a twenty dollar bill in return.

"Um, I'll see you later Max." I say before leaving. She didn't know how to respond so she just said "see you".