Unplanned

diners & stargazing

I turned off my car and looked at the digital clock on my dashboard. It was 3:30 but Everett's truck was no where to be seen in the bustling diner parking lot. I decided to wait inside for Everett in a booth, a few feet from the door. A short blonde woman approached the table after a few moments with a pen and pad.

"Hi, I'm Lucy. How are you?" Lucy's voice came out faster than I anticipated, leaving my ears buzzing. "Good, can I get you anything to drink?" I hadn't even looked at the menu, so I asked for a water and she quickly scurried away. I looked at the clock on the wall and to the parking lot; no Everett.

I continued waiting in the booth, taking occasional sips from my ice water until I noticed it had been 20 minutes and Everett still hadn't arrived. Everett said he'd meet me at the diner at 3:30, after football practice. I knew he was ditching because other players, including Dean, had taken tables in the diner.

I grabbed my keys and stood up from the booth. Just as I walked up to my car, Everett's truck pulled in the parking lot. I heard his door shut as mine opened but I ignored it. Everett called out my name but I shut my car door, and started the engine. Suddenly, my passenger door opened and I could smell his cologne, once again.

"Everett, what the fuck? Get out of my car!" I reached over him, trying to open the passenger door. Everett kept pulling my wrist away and blocking my hand. "Everett knock it off! You made me sit in there for 20 minutes looking like an idiot! I should've known you just wanted a repeat of Halloween night." I stared at the steering wheel, trying to deflect his piercing eyes.

"Janey, I'm sorry. Truly! Coach asked me to stay after practice and talk to him." I rolled my eyes leaning my head against the headrest. I can't believe I fell for his tricks. "Let me make up to you. Just promise you won't leave, okay?" Everett gently grabbed my arm, causing me to look over at him. His face conveyed he was genuine, but uncertainty yelled at me not to trust him.

"Fine. I won't leave." I hardly was able to get the words out before Everett bolted out of the car into the diner, running straight to the bar top. Why was I falling for it again? Why can't I just say no? Why is it that I've known him for less than a week, but I feel so attached to him? Everett Gaines makes my mind scramble. Everett had finally came out of the diner holding two milkshakes, and beckoning me out of my car. I stepped out of my car, accepting the peace offering he handed to me and followed him to his truck. Everett pulled down the tailgate, hopped up to sit down and patted beside him.

"You're lucky I like strawberry. If you had gotten chocolate, I'd be driving home." I let a small smile rest on my lips as I swung my feet back and forth looking at the ground. "I'm not a whore, Everett. I was irresponsible on Halloween and I don't plan on repeating those acts with anyone." I met Everett's gaze and noticed the neutral look on his face. He set his milkshake on the tailgate, leaning back on his hands.

"I know you aren't a whore, I've never thought that, Janey. I've always admired you because of that," Everett's deep, green eyes became intense and I forced myself to look down at the styrofoam cup in my hands. "And you shouldn't take all the responsibility for that night. We were both drinking and I let the night get away from me." I glanced up to see Everett frowning slightly, flicking at the lid of his chocolate milkshake. I should've just left with Abbie that night, but I didn't. I shouldn't have gotten in bed with Everett, but I did.

"Alright, so we agree that we were both irresponsible that night and we shouldn't blame ourselves?" I sipped from the plastic straw, looking to Everett for his response. Everett nodded and sipped his milkshake. Time passed by quickly as we sat on Everett's truck, talking about school, our childhoods, and our shared fondness of astrology. Before I knew it, the sky had gotten pretty dark and I had finished my milkshake long ago.