Second Chance (#1 Chance series)

Chapter 9

Pete's was a charming little joint just past downtown Santa Monica. When we enter, I'm immediately entranced by the 50's themed restaurant. 

 The entire restaurant is bathed in a light pink glow, red booths on either side with a few tables in the middle.

 I even spot a jukebox way over by the corner. The place is covered with all kinds of 50's memorabilia, It's amazing. But what delights me the most is that the waiters are actually wearing roller skates. It's such a perfect atmosphere all in all.

 "Holy Shit, this place is awesome," I whisper under my breath. Brooke chuckles, "Wait till you try their food." 

 We're immediately seated in a large booth by a perky waitress and handed menus. I quickly scan the place again and realize there's hardly anyone here, just a small family over by the further side. Brooke catches my gaze, "Oh, it's usually way more packed than this, people just haven't started making their way over yet." 

 I nod before scanning my menu, the waitress returns minutes later to take our orders. We all order fries, with large cheesy burgers, a small portion of chicken nuggets and coke cola. 

 Mom would strangle me if she could see what I was about to the consume, she was extremely strict on the whole heart transplant nutrition stuff. 

But one meal wouldn't kill me. Thinking of mom, I quickly dig out my phone shooting her a quick text, telling her I'm having lunch with Phoebe and Brooke, before laying it face down on the table. 

 Phoebe begins talking as our food arrives, I actually gape at the plate placed in front of her, she giggles, when she sees my expression. 

 Her food is both mine and Brooke's put together and doubled. "What can I say I love food," she murmurs as she commences digging in. I'm still in semi shock, "Are you actually going to finish that?" "She could eat a whole cow in ten minutes," Brooke says snorting, "That, that's nothing. Phoebe's appetite is on a whole new level. She could hold her own with the boys."

 I had no doubt she could as I watched her devour a substantial amount on her plate in under two minutes. I had to say it was quite admirable. "I could hold my own? Brooke I'm on a whole other league and you know it. Remember the hot dog contest?" Brooke laughs in response, "Oh hell yes, I remember that, because I had to hold your hair back for an hour afterwards. You and Gabe can honestly be beyond stupid." 

 Brooke turns to me, "This one time back when we were like thirteen her and the boys stupidly decided to hold this hot dog contest. Ryder and Colton were out like lights after literally three minutes. She won Gabe by eight." 

 I laugh, "Eight hot dogs!?" Brooke smirks, "Oh you must have misunderstood me. She won Gabe by eight more hot dogs. She ate 19 in total and Gabe ate eleven." 

 I drop my fry mid way, "You're kidding! That's impossible." Phoebe laughs, "For me It's not, though I did not enjoy having my face stuck in a toilet for the next hour." I chuckle loudly, wiping a tear, "Wow, you guys are crazy. How long have you been together?" Her eyes twinkle as she thinks about Gabe, it such an endearing look, I hope someday my eyes will twinkle like that for a boy too. I could no longer deny the fact that I was a secret hopeless romantic at heart.

 "We've been best friends since we were four. We were always on and off as kids, It was quite comical actually. But we didn't officially get together till we were fourteen." I almost visibly swoon, that was so sweet. 

A childhood friends turned lovers kind of romance. Brooke chuckles dryly, "After that it was all history. They've been hooked at the hip ever since." Phoebe rolls her eyes at her, sticking out her tongue childishly before returning to her food. I take a bite of my burger and I actually moan, It tastes like heaven. 

 The girls were right this place is legit, if my sisters thought I was eating like a pig this morning, then I was definitely eating like a horse now. 

 I turn to Brooke, curious about her and Ryder, "So what about you and Ryder?' I notice she visibly tenses before relaxing again, "Me and Ry are just friends." "Oh... I thought you guys were a couple. 

You were really into each other the other night." Phoebe looks up from her half finished plate, "They just fuck and do other stuff when they feel like it," she chirps happily. Brooke returns to toying with her uneaten food, her mood unmistakably deflated. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was a no go area." She looks up and smiles warmly at me, "It's not actually. Me and Ry we're complicated as fuck and our history is a whole other can of worms. 

But today is one of those days where I know we're not together for the best." I nod, smiling and pat her hand.

 I had a feeling that most of this was on Ryder, despite the fact he had an outwardly playful personality. I could tell there was more to him, something extremely complex about him. 

 We begin chattering lightly, again about nothing in general, the earlier conversation forgotten. I'm so lost in conversation with the girls that I don't notice when Pete's fills up, the low murmur rising to loud chatter. 

When I glance around I notice it's mostly people our age that surround us. Lots of people come over to greet Brooke and Phoebe. Where Phoebe offers everyone a warm greeting, Brooke's is more reserved and cold, I almost flinch from her aloofness, but as soon as she turns back to us, she's all laughs and smiles again.

 I'm starting to think the girl has a complex personality too, just like Ryder. Maybe that's why they're so complicated. Phoebe is suddenly cut off mid sentence when a nice long body drops down next to her, grabbing her chin and planting his lips against hers.

 I'm getting a feeling of deja vu. I'm genuinely surprised when Ryder drops down next to me and Colton across from him. The booth is now filled to the brim with the six of us.