Another Piece

Chapter 24

The rain had stopped in the time I'd been knocked out. The mud was still there and as Fredric and I traveled along the sidewalk, we noticed the puddles were like lakes. I grumbled and sighed each time I took a step, the cold water soaking into my shoes. Fredric didn't look like he minded, though, more like he thought it was a small disturbance or annoyance. 

What a showoff. 

I stopped when I saw the library, grabbing Fredrics' arm quickly. I pulled him into the nearest shop and sighed. I'd pulled him into a restaurant... I groaned as we were greeted by a waiter. She was tall, but had sunglasses on... Weird. 

As soon as she guided us to a table in a corner, I asked her to switch us to a window booth, and she looked around pointedly, about to say there were no seats. Fredric grabbed her by her shoulder, a gentle touch... A flirtatious touch... I wanted to throw up. The waitress smiled at him before walking us to another booth, and I noticed that she kept a hand on her butt in a way that may have looked innocent any other day, but from my point of view, wasn't. 

She turned towards us, popping out her chest, and I coughed to cover a disgusted noise that had been rising. She glanced at me before scowling and returning her gaze to Fredric. 

She sat us down and let us order drinks. Me? I ordered a water... Fredric ordered Pepsi, and winked at her. The wink, no matter how pointless it had seemed to me, actually made her giggle before saying that she'd pay for whatever we ordered. I scoffed. 

She soon brought us our drinks, and I expected her to walk away but she failed to do so. Instead, she sat down right next to Fredric, rubbing her body all over him. Disgusted once more, I turned away to watch the library and the strange men that surrounded it. 

I managed to make out a few details in what they looked like. One man was covered in black clothing, arms crossed over his chest in a way that made him look both menacing and threatening. He was obviously guarding the library, and somehow not attracting the obviously unwelcome attention of authorities.  

Two men next to the library were sitting at a picnic table playing cards, one smoking a cigarette. The other had a fedora... Classic gangsters. I noticed another man leaning against a truck, smoking a cigar. He was gazing at the restaurant that Fredric and I were seated in, and I gulped. I felt like the mans' eyes were focused on me in that window, and I ducked down rather quickly. I looked up and saw Fredric and the woman looking at me. Fredric had a clear look of curiosity posted on his face, but the woman had a look of impertinence on her own. I scowled at her in return before picking up my water and sipping from the straw. 

Finally, after receiving a long look from Fredric, I asked, "Waitress... Food anytime soon? Or are you going to continue flirting with my partner." Her scowl deepened before she stood up in full out business mode. 

"Sir? You may order." She said to Fredric, and he nodded before ordering chicken wings and union fries. How deep-fried and unhealthy this man was. I ordered a salad that included spinach, radish, cabbage, basil, onion, tomato, olives, carrots, and ranch dressing. Fredric looked at me with astonishment clear in his eyes... He hadn't expected me to be so ... Salady. 

I shrugged and waited for the waitress to walk away, but she didn't. Instead, she leaned down and kissed Fredric full on the lips. Shocked, I was in a state of paralysis and forced to watch Fredric grab her arms and pull her down on his lap, and I saw her jaw twitch as he deepened the already disgusting kiss. I coughed but they simply ignored me.

Oh well, drastic times call for drastic measures. 

I stood up and grabbed my ice water, lifting her white shirt and dumping the water down her back. She screeched and flew backwards, taking me down as she stepped on me as she staggered further backwards. I groaned from my place on the floor, and I moved my hand quickly to make sure nothing was broken. 

Nothing was. I got myself off the floor and looked over at a table which had collapsed when she'd fallen backwards off of Fredrics' lap. She was on the wreckage, screaming as she tried to get up. 

I felt a hand on my shoulder, pulling me out of the restaurant, and I turned to see Fredric glaring at me.

"That wasn't exactly necessary." He said.

"Well, it was to me. I didn't want to be blinded by your kissing her... Let me just say it was getting serious quite quickly." I said, turning towards the library. I faintly heard him scoff behind me, but I was too focused on the man that had been looking at me before.

He pointed at me, and my eyes widened in shock. The man grinned wickedly before turning away, and I looked back at Fredric who was assessing the situation.

"We've been spotted. That's definitely Montgomerys' gang... We go in tonight." He said, and I nodded slowly as we walked off. I tensed when I felt his arm wrap around my waist.

"Don't tense up... Act like this is normal." I nodded and forced myself to relax. 

The walk was too long for my liking.