Lost in the Stars

Chapter 3: Tacos, Feelings, and Innuendos.

The warm platter of tacos sizzled quietly on the neon green table as the three band members sat staring solemnly at it. The restaurant was... unimpressive. The whole place was painted red and had brown carpeting. The tables were painted a variety of neon colors while the chairs were just simple black metal chairs and benches with leather cushions that were worn and cracked. The whole placed certainly lacked any kind of hispanic vibe that an authentic restaurant had. It Was like if a taco palace opened in an old italian restaurant. The pause in the action was palpable. TJ was the first to make a move reaching out and taking a taco from the top of the stack.

"I mean he bought them, we should eat em." TJ shrugged as both Vikky and Dan threw somewhat accusing glances from across the table.

"I... I've never seen him like... cry before." Dan said dejectedly staring at the door Jon had walked out of to have a smoke break, moments earlier. "You think he's... ok?"

"Wow, what an amazing question, Sherlock. No shit he's not ok." Vikky said exasperated, staring down at the neon green table.

"I saw him cry once." TJ said in between bites. "These tacos suck."

"Sooooo..." Vikky said looking expectantly at the deer, as he finished the apparently lackluster taco.

"It was when he told us to stop doing the riots. After I lost the antler," TJ nodded his head to indicate his lost antler as if they somehow didn't notice. "He said that he had been so worried that he would end up seeing us in bloody heap. I think the whole antler thing set it off. I mean I understand why he was upset. I mean we are like a family and I'd be a wreck too. I mean there was also the time with Sid, but I mean we all fell apart when that happened. I say I mean too much." TJ sighed as he grabbed another taco from the stack.

"I thought you said those sucked?" Vikky questioned him a single brow raised.

"Oh they do suck. But not as much as it sucks being hungry." TJ replied with mouthfull of taco.

"Yeah screw it. I'm hungry." Dan reached out for the platter joining TJ. Vikky looked over at the plate of tacos feeling the pangs of hunger in her stomach, but she felt that there were more pressing matters to attend to than these tacos.

"Hey I'm gonna go talk to Jon." Vikky said as she pushed herself away from the table. "Try not to eat all the food, he may want some."

"Alright, we won't..." Dan stopped a moment as Vikky headed to the door, before calling out. "HEY! Uh... I'm sorry. You know... about the whole rodent thing."

Vikky looked down at the floor and then back up to Dan. "Its fine... I'm sorry I used that F word. Things are just kinda under tension right now... I'm gonna go now."

Vikky stepped back out into the cool spring breeze that was flowing through Possum Springs, and began looking up and down the quiet street for Jonathan. It didn't take long to find him, he hadn't gone far. She found Jon leaning against the brick wall of the Video Outpost Too, near a dumpster. A lit 45 in one hand and the band's phone in the other, he was idly swiping away at the screen when he looked up at Vikky as she approached. Damn. She looks older. Then again I guess we all do. We weren't exactly taking care of our bodies for quite some time. Vikky sat on a small stone retaining wall, only about a foot tall, across from Jon before addressing him. "Hey, come sit with me." Jon gave a glance before sitting on the retaining wall next to her, as she brushed the hair from her face.

"Jon. We are worried about you. Is everything ok?" Vikky's blue eyes seemed to be a deep pool full of concern. "And please don't just leave it at yeah everythings fine. None of us believe that."

Jon sat and as he tried to think of what to tell her. How do I tell her without her freaking out about things. Jon was lost in thought trying to find the right way to phrase his words.