Things Are Different

Chapter 3: Secrets

FP came over to me after he put in his last tables order and smiled "alright Ali, what can I get you?" I smiled back and told him the same order I've had since high school "cheeseburger no pickle, fries, and a vanilla shake." He wrote down my order and his before putting them in and clocking out for his break. "Let's get a booth," he said, taking my hand. I got up and he led me to a booth at the front of the store by the window. We sat across from each other and I smiled, before sighing.

"We should talk about last night FP. I loved it, but our children are dating." I paused for a second "They have something special. The same thing we had when we were their age. They are in love, we can't split them up for us, we have to be careful." FP nodded and grabbed my hand across the table. "I know Ali. The way he talks about her, he really loves her." Although I knew that, it was nice to know my daughter had someone so good for her.

"So, what do we do?" FP asked. I looked at him for a minute and gave a slight smile "why don't we keep this a secret for a bit and make sure it's what we want" I paused for a second. I knew it was what I wanted. "Then, if it all goes well, we can figure out how to tell the kids." He smiled at me and nodded "sounds like a plan."

At that moment Pop brought over our orders and gave us a slight smile. "Are you two finally together?" He had always wanted us together. FP smiled and was about to give a response before I cut in. "We're giving it another shot," I said with a smile and FP let out a little laugh. Pop nodded with a smile and then walked back to work on other orders. "I thought we were keeping this a secret?" He said jokingly. I looked back and gave a smirk. "From the kids, but there is no hiding this from Pop."

We sat for a while, me eating my food at a normal pace, FP eating fast as always. Man those Jones boys love their food. We kind of ignored the people around us. We didn't know anyone and we assumed they didn't know us. FP held my hand across the table and played with my fingers occasionally. Secretly I thought he would do that to distract me so he could steal a fry or two from my plate. I didn't mind, I just enjoyed getting to be with him.

Sitting in a booth at Pops reminded me of the old times. The good times. I was so worry-free back then and so happy just to be with the man I loved, sometimes joined by our small but close group of friends. I knew I still loved FP. I never stopped, but it's too early to tell him that. So, I just let myself be happy with him.

We sat quietly for a few minutes before FP smiled "what are you thinking about, Ali?" I smiled at the name. It always makes me smile. "Umm, us actually." I told him and he smiled "ooh my favorite topic, what about us?" He asked and I laughed slightly, scared to tell him about what exactly I was thinking. I was thinking about how I wish we had never broken up. But we had our reasons. They were good reasons back then, but now they seem dumb.

FLASHBACK

I was sitting at the kitchen table in FP's trailer, nursing a glass of beer. Now I prefer wine, or tequila even, but back then I loved to end my day with a glass of beer. I was waiting for FP to get home. We did this most nights. He would have football practice until 8 and I would just wait for him. But, it was now almost half an hour past. He should be home by now. I sighed and decided I would walk to the Whyte Wyrm to see if he was there. Often he would spend some time there, after practice to wind down. I hated it when he did that.

So, I grabbed my Serpent jacket, my purse, and started the 5-minute walk to the bar. FP had the car. When I reached the bar I saw the truck there and sighed, going inside, hoping he would be trying to leave and get home to me.

When I walked inside my heart sank. There he was, drinking with a few of our fellow Serpents. I walked up to the group and put a hand on his back. "Hey, baby, let's get you home." He looked at me and I knew he was drunk. "Alice! You're here!" He leaned in to kiss me but I pushed him off. "You smell disgusting," I said honestly, the stench of sweat and beer mixing. "Come on, we're going home." FP looked back to his group, ignoring me, and getting himself back into the conversation.

I didn't know why, but I wanted to cry. I normally would just be angry, but I was upset. He did this too often. So, I did all I could think to and took off my jacket, handing it to FP. "I can't do this anymore, FP." I could see a devastated look on his face, but walked away, doing my best to ignore it. Deep down, I knew he didn't mean to hurt me, but he did, and now, it was over. So, I grabbed the keys to the truck from FP's jacket that was hanging by the entrance, and got in the truck, driving away. I didn't know where I was going, but I knew it wasn't back to FP's trailer.

PRESENT DAY

"I'm regretting my life choices..." I admitted quietly. "What do you mean, Ali?" He asked me and I looked down "I'm regretting not ending up with you. I don't regret Betty and Polly or anything,..but I wish I had always been with you." When I said that he slowly leaned across the table, holding my hand the entire time. He kissed me lightly and I smiled at him, kissing him a little harder. At that moment I realized that we were meant to be together. This is how it should have ended up. Us, sitting in a booth at Pops with however many children we ended up having together. But things are different now.

I was kind of worried because people were starting to notice FP and me kissing. No one looked shocked though. The few people that were in there were adults and a few random teenagers I had never seen before. We were a good couple. And we weren't all about the Southside. We had a lot of Northside friends and took care of some of the Northsiders. But then we both made dumb mistakes that lead to us being with the wrong people. The wrong damn people.

I slowly pulled away from the kiss and smiled, noticing it was almost 6. "You should get back to work." I tried to keep a smile but he knew I was disappointed. He got up slowly and let go of my hand. I got up as well and grabbed my purse, ready to head home. Just as I was about to turn away from FP I saw his face drop into a look of horror. The bell to Pops rang as FP yelled "get down, Alice!" I was confused but ducked under the table, right in time to hear a shot go off. I knew it was the sound of a gun but didn't know who it hit. I just hoped and prayed it wasn't FP.