Sticks and Stones

Chapter Four

**Authors NOte**

Sorry this chapter is so short, Ill make the next one suuper loong! ENJOY!!! <3

We pulled up to an old, worn down diner, and Malakai turned off the car. I got out and shivered, pulling his jacket tighter around my shoulders.

            “Where are we?” I asked, staring at the old building curiously. It was small and dimly lit, the only bright light shining from the lights inside. I could hear waves, but I wasn’t sure how close we were to the ocean. The parking lot was nearly empty, containing only a few, rust filled cars. Malakai grabbed my hand and pulled us towards it.

            “We are at the best diner in Florida.” I kept my mouth shut and pretended not to notice the outer décor. When we walked in, everything changed.

            The lights were so bright compared to the lamps outside that I had to squint to see. Small, two-seater tables were sitting around a wide, white room. On the walls were old pictures, gone yellow with age. An old couple sat at one of the brown tables, holding hands and laughing quietly, while a record player was going and playing an old piano track. It felt—home-like, comfortable.

            “Kai.” We turned towards the voice, and saw an elderly lady walking towards us, arms out. Malakai quickly embraced her in a gentle hug, holding her still. I awkwardly shifted, averting my eyes to other things while they held each other. Finally, I heard him sigh and turned to see him letting go.

            “Tyler, this is my grandmother, Lia. Grandmother, this is my friend, Tyler.” Malakai said, turning to me and letting me take in his grandmother. She was a short, tan woman, with black hair down in braids over her shoulders. Beads of many colors embraced her neck and matching rings were loose around her dainty fingers. She smiled at me, showing her white teeth and her jolly, wrinkled face. I smiled back, standing uncomfortably as she embraced me without hesitation.

            “Tyler, it is very nice to meet you. Your father has told me much about you.” She said, and I nodded, not sure what to say. She nodded back and took us to a nearby table, her necklaces chiming through the nearly empty restaurant. When we sat down she turned and left towards the kitchen, humming along with the record player. When she was gone, we were along with the elderly couple and the calming music.

            “So, Tyler. I am beyond sorry because of what Rachael did. I hope this makes up for it. She’s . . . Kind of clingy.”

            “It’s fine. But I might hold this against you, for leverage.” I smiled and shrugged at him, as if it were a possibility. He laughed and mumbled something incoherent, casually grabbing the menu and flipping through it. I glanced at the back of his, seeing sea food and getting sick to my stomach. I glanced around once more, before his grandmother came back out with food already prepared.

            “Here you go darlings. It’s Kai’s favorite, and I’m sure you’ll love it too.” She said, setting down two large plates with noodles covered in white sauce.

“Fettuccini Alfredo.” They both said at the same time, and then they shared a laugh. The pasta smelt delicious, so I took a small bite. Surprisingly, I loved it.

            “It’s really good. Thank you.” I said, mouth full. She left then, going behind the counter and picking up a book.

            “So Malakai—”

“Please, call me Kai. Malakai is what my grandfather calls me when he’s angry.” He chuckled and waved his hand in the air, signaling for me to go on with what I was saying.

            “Kai,” I started again, “Does your grandmother own this restaurant?”

            “Yeah, my grandparents built it and raised it like their child. My parents worked here for a while, and now I work here. We get a lot of business, because we are right on the beach. And, my grandmother is the best cook around here.” He said, taking a large bite of his noodles and wiping the sauce off of his chin quickly. I smiled and took a bite of mine, thanking him mentally for taking me from that hospital food.

            “I’ve never been to the beach, you know.” I said casually, trying to spark conversation. But when I looked at him, he was staring at me as if I had said that I drown puppies in my free time.

            “W-What did you say?” Kai spat out, half sounding angry, and half sounding crazy with noodles dripping out of the side of his mouth.

            “I’ve never been to the beach; is that bad?” I said after minutes of his heated glaring. He stood up and grabbed my hand, pulling me out of the restaurant and around the back. Thinking he was going to beat me up, I frantically squirmed around until he released my wrist, but as I turned to run, he grabbed me from around the waist and threw me over his shoulder.

            “Where are we going? Put me down!” I screamed, pounding my fists on his back.

            “Were going to the beach. It’s final.”