The Comet Cafe

Chapter~9

"Luce!" Katie yells after our friend, who is currently storming off to the car. "Lucy!"

We all rush towards her, where she is waiting in front of April's car.

"I don't like him," Lucy tells us when we get to the car. April unlocks it and we all pile in. Same spots.

"Well, that's obvious," I say, trying to lighten the mood. It doesn't work. Lucy stills has a scowl on her face and Kate glares at me for my failed attempt.

"What's wrong with him though?" April asks, driving the car away from the small café.

Luce shakes her head before responding. "He kept on calling me hot, like, the whole time. What about my damn personality? ¡Que es un culo!"

"He thought you were nice." Katie says. "No need to get mad about it."

"I know." Lucy huffs. "I wish he wasn't such a douche about it. Pete's never a douche about it."

"Then forget about Zeke, who you've only just met tonight, and focus on Petey, who you've known forever." April says. Lucy nods in agreement. A moment passes and then April speaks again. "Unless...you have feelings for Zekey Boo Bear..."

Lucy isn't exactly open with her feelings. For example, she never even told us she had a cute neighbor that she talked to all the time until the middle of freshman year. She hasn't even admitted that she likes the boy, for God's sake. We all know she does. Other than the new music she's listening to, he's all she talks about. I still don't get why they aren't an item yet.

"He's cute, I'll give that to him," Lucy says, "but...I don't know. You know, Petey and I-I mean, Pete-"

She's interrupted by Katie and me laughing our heads off. She always gives us crap for calling him "Petey" and she just called him that.

"Guys, shut up!" Lucy silences us. "I was saying that Pete and I are so close and I'm not sure how he'd feel if I have a sudden interest in Zeke, who doesn't even go to our school."

"Maybe you should talk about where you two stand," I suggest. This is a touchy subject with Lucy and I must tread lightly. "If neither of you want something more than you have, than give Zeke a call."

"I know. I've thought about it." She says quietly, as if it's the biggest secret she's ever told. "Us being together together. I think I'd kinda like it."

April squeals and I find myself doing it as well.

Petey and Lucy sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G

"Girls!" Katie screams over our shouts. "Let Luce speak."

We shut up because we want Lucy to explain herself.

"Even though I'd like Peter and me to be together, I don't think we'd work." I frown and April lets out a groan. Lucy continues. "The amount of stuff we know about each other is weird. It's better when we're friends, you know?"

I didn't know. I've never had a good guy friend. I've always had these three girls and I was fine with that. Guys aren't ever really interested in me. It may be because I hide in the shadows a lot and only come out of my shell when my best friends are around.

April nods at Lucy's question. "Maybe that's how it should be with me and Logan..."

"No!" I immediately say. April shoots me a look in the rearview mirror. "I mean, you two are so great together and... it's something I can look forward to."

"I'm still not sure why he wanted to take a break! It really makes no sense at all. We were doing fine and then...he said he was leaving and that we shouldn't see each other for a while." April sighs. "What the hell does that even mean?"

"Guys are so weird that way," Katie says. "Sure, girls are guilty of this, too, but I feel like guys have stupider reasons."

"I could visit him," April says quietly, turning onto the highway. You can almost see the light bulb going off in her head as she says this. Her eyes get wide and her smile gets even wider. "OMG, guys! I could totally do that. It'd be super awkward and I'd probably jump him, but I could do it! Confront him once and for all why he's being strange!" She lets another one of her famous, high-pitched squeals. I almost cover my ears.

"That actually is not a terrible idea," Katie remarks. Usually April doesn't have good plans. There was a time when I liked Nick and had a crush on him from afar. April would always come to me after Lit., which she had with him, and tell me how she's talking me up. Supposedly Nick really liked me, even if we hadn't had a full conversation in real life yet.

April actually set up my first date with 'ol Nick. It was more like a group hangout to be honest. We talked for a really long time at this bowling place April found. My feelings grew stronger for him after that.

We went on a couple dates, with strictly handholding and hugging-no kissing-, and then I find out he's hooking-up with some slut at a party. I was so devastated and I was April's plan all along that I start liking him.

And, that's not even the worst part.

After I swore to never talk to him again, Nick and I parted ways. I was pretty devastated for the first week or two, thinking this guy is so great, when really he's a douchebag, and is one to this day. April thought differently. She knew Nick and I were destined to be together and proceeded to play Cupid. She had us crash in the hallways, invite both of us to her house, and she evened tripped me once to get Nick to help me up.

The girl was relentless.

Eventually, I sat her down, told her I had no feelings for him anymore, and she stopped. Thank God.

"He'll be forced to talk to you and explain why he's being an ass." Katie's still saying why it's a fantastic idea while I had my flashback.

"What if he's not home or something?" Lucy asks. "When is he going on vacation?"

"I still have a week and a half!" April exclaims happily. "Oooooh, I'm gonna do it tomorrow and it's gon-"

"UGHH!" Luce says like she in so much pain. I jump and I see that both Katie and April have very worried looks on their faces.

"God, what's the matter with you?" Katie asks, clearly pissed over the fact Luce almost gave us heart attacks.

"This dick just texted me!"

"What'd he say? What did he say?" I say frantically. A boy likes Lucy! I'm excited.

"He said, 'hey, lucy' with a smiley face," The tone in her voice can only be described us disgusted. "A smiley face! Who does he think he is?!"

"You future husband." April says and I can see her wink from the rearview mirror. Lucy responds with a smack to April's arm.

April says, "What was that for?" at the same time I say, "But, I thought you didn't like Peter!"

Lucy turns in her seat to my comment. "I don't know if I like this Zeke guy!" She sounds really distressed, which makes sense since Lucy doesn't have guys at her feet all the time.

I silently pray to myself that this never happens to me. It's flattering, I guess, but way too much to handle at one time.

"Well, I think you should get to know him." Kate speaks up. "We should make plans to see their upcoming show!"

I nod along with Kate and April. It'd be nice to see Alex again and maybe discuss his relationship status...

Oh, who am I kidding? I do not have the confidence to ask that.

As if knowing who I'm thinking about, April goes, "And, little Julie here would see her man." I blush and turn my head towards the window. Even at the thought of Alex being mine makes the blood rush to my cheeks. "I'm in. Call Zeke."

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A/N: Okay, I really liked this chapter, even if it wasn't the best writing wise. This chapter shows TCC won't be super focused on Julia and Alex, although, yes, that is the main story, but it will also have parts with Lucy's, April's and Katie's problems. You can follow Jalex and everything but I'll always bring up Luce's love triangle and April's and Katie's boy trouble.

So, next chapter may or may not have some drama in it..(;