"Cause I'll tell you everything about living free."
-wolfmother
Lennon set the tall paper cups of Diet Pepsi on the table and slid into the booth across from me, looking cute as usual. I had attempted something along the lines of cuteish with sky blue skinny jeans and a beige knitted top.
"I figured that if I got to see where you work, then you should come see my fun little occupation. Of course, if you came while I was on the job, I'd most likely be fired but it works out."
"It certainly does," I said, taking a bite from my D'Angelo's sandwich. It smelled absolutely delicious in here and the seats were comfortable.
She took a small sip from her straw before looking at me with a smile, "So, tell me about yourself."
"Like what?"
"Like every thing. About your family, what you think of school, things like that."
I twisted the long, thick chain of my necklace around my index finger in thought, "Well... I have a sister... You'd like her." Every one does. There wasn't much I wished to say of the judge metal crew. "And parents. Yeah. I have parents."
Lennon chuckled, "Thankfully, my family isn't like that. Since my brother moved out and my step mom came in, they havn't been difficult to be around." I loved how I didn't have to explain for her to understand what I meant. It was like we'd known each other for a long time. "Is yours that bad?"
"No. I mean, they're actually completely fine at points. I just... I don't really want to talk about it."
"Okay, makes sense. How about your friends?"
"What about them?" I asked, stalling for time.
"Um... Who's your best friend?"
It wasn't that I didn't have friends. I wasn't that much of a clichè high school loser. It's just that all of my friends were in-school friends. Borrow-a-pencil, say-hi-in-halls, "oh-they're-really-nice" friends. I didn't have that person who knows me better than myself and who's family is practically my own. That was absolutely fine by me and always had been but at moments like this, it would be nice to have some one to mention. "I don't really have one, do you?"
"Arson. And Jessa. You probably don't know her; she goes to Winsor."
"Do you go to Winsor?"
"Yup. Bit of a downer, don't you think?"
I stayed quiet for a minute. I wouldn't say it was exactly a negative surprise. Just a surprise. A big surprise. So far, Lennon seemed to be anything but a rich, smart, private school snob. I couldn't imagine her living in the suburbs and getting all-girls education. "No, it's a good thing, you must be really smart."
"No."
"No?"
"I'm as dumb as a stump, Bev, and not loaded either. My dad could always pull up tuition money but I won't be going back after this summer. I'm spending senior year at Arson's school."
"What's his last name?"
"Carter. He recently was released from the group home."
"He's in my biology class. That's my school," I smiled and wiped my hands on my napkin.
"Really? That's great! We should all hang out together. Actually, there's this..."
"What? There's this what?"
She looked away, at the brick wall, "Never mind. There's this concert but I don't think it's a good idea for you to go"
I sunk down in my seat, disappointed. She had seemed interested but clearly that wasn't the case, "Oh..."
"No! It's not that I don't want you there. It's just that every one that I know is stupid and I don't want you to get mixed up in all of it."
"I think I can handle a concert." She stared at me like there was something more that I wouldn't be able to deal with. "Look, if there's not enough tickets then I completely understand. And if you don't want me there, then just te-"
"I want you there and I know you can handle it. I just... Never mind. I'll give you the details on it later. I really do hope you can make it."
And she actually sounded truly sincere. She looked at me for a minute longer and then stood, gathering our emptied baskets. I swept up the trash and met her back in line where she had mysteriously planted herself. "What are we getting?"
I was answered when she reached the counter and asked the casheir for two chocolate chip cookies. They were passed to us along with a reading of the price. "I'll pay for them," I said, taking out my wallet. I had paid for the sandwiches too.
Lennon turned to me and put her hand on her hip, "Well, shit."
"What?" I asked, taking my cookie and starting away from the counter.
"Is this a date?"
"Do you want it to be a date?"
She started pulling the plastic wrap off, "Hell yes."
I laughed, "Then yeah, it's a date."
"And an improper one at that. I didn't even get to order a salad and pretend like I've never sat down and eaten an entire bag of Doritos by myself."
"Well, I'm glad you didn't."
We walked out into the heat of the sun on pavement. "I'll give you a proper first date at some point," she said, "I promise."
.............
sorry that it took so long to update but guyssssssss, your support has been absolutely amazing. thank you so, so much. i love you! xo
[unedited oops]
