Fourteen Days

Chapter 6.

The aircondition in the car did little to cool me down, and combined with my nerves I was close to losing it. My hands were locked on the steering wheel, and Kaylee was babbling on about some new dress she wanted to buy, through my phone. Honestly, she wasn't saying much to calm me down either. 

I was wearing my usual ripped jeans, with a white crop-top and an oversized pink bomber jacket over. I'd gone with my usual wedges, the ones Kaylee hated. She didn't know, and she wouldn't find out either. My makeup was heavier than usual, and I had actually bothered to wear a pair of golden earrings. 

I was parked in front of a diner, about twenty minutes away from home. It was a Sunday evening, so the parking place was filled with cars. I saw families on the inside, eating ice creams or finishing up their meals. This was a popular spot for people in our town, and it was especially popular with the younger crowd. They served everything from pancakes to burgers, and had a wide selection of desserts. 

When we were younger, my father would take me and my sisters here every Friday night. It symbolised our weekend, and we'd eat pancakes and milkshakes while talking about our week. It gave our mom a few hours to herself, and then he got the Saturday off while she took us out to do something fun. It all stopped when he got a promotion, and my mother was in the accident. Neither one of them had the energy for much, especially leaving the house. 

Sitting outside, it reminded me off all the things that had disappeared from my life. I'd always been close with my sisters, but during the last year we'd grown apart. The fact that I spent most of my time at university hadn't helped, but it was only a 40-minute drive, so I was home most days. I'd noticed how much better our mom seemed to be, when I showed up. I'd help her with dinner, spend a few hours talking with her and then drive back to the small room I shared with another girl. 

After the summer, things would change. Kaylee was coming with me to university, and we were looking at apartments together. I only hoped my parents could handle everything, without me dropping by every other day. 

"Hey Kaylee, buy the dress and focus on me. Alright?" 

"Oh, sorry. Still in the car?" 

"Yeah, I'm not really sure I want to go inside." I admitted, as I dropped my hands from the steering wheel, and picked up my phone. I opened up my messages, and looked at the one I had gotten from Mike a few hours ago. 

Mike:         Luke's diner @ seven. 
Taylor:     Should I bring my appetite? 
Mike:         Is there any other way? 
Taylor:     See you there! 
Mike:         ;) 

"Hey, snap out of it! There's a good looking guy inside waiting for you, and have you forgotten how great those milkshakes are?" From the way she was talking, I knew Kaylee was smiling on the other end of the phone. I knew everything about my best friend, and she knew me. 

"True. I'm kind of surprised he spent his win on taking me out to dinner thought. And here, of all places." 

"Luke's diner is the best place within thirty minutes, he probably didn't want you to have to drive too far to meet him. Just go inside, enjoy the chemistry. The two of you definitely have it." 

"Talk about chemistry, what happened between you and Mat last night?" I asked, remembering the way they had acted this morning. 

"Oh, we made out but not much more. His friend just died, I'm trying to show some understanding." 

I smiled a little, and opened the car door. Kaylee was right, of course. Yesterday I had wanted to do anything to take away that broken look on Mike's face, and this was my chance. I could give him a fun night, and it wasn't like it was horrible spending time with him. I actually enjoyed it, a lot more than I had originally thought.