An Endless Serenade

Chapter Nineteen

"Allie... where are you going?"

I paused, my hand curled around the door handle, grimacing. Of course Paul would catch me the one time I tried sneaking out. Dressed completely in black, I didn't doubt I looked awfully suspicious. Still, I tried for the innocent approach. Turning to face him, I batted my eyelashes. "Uh, work?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Really? That's not your uniform."

"Out."

"To play ninja?"

I shrugged. "Maybe."

"You're going to spy on Elliot, aren't you?" he accused. "It's almost the restaurant's closing time and you were going to follow him after he left."

Crossing my arms, I stood a little taller. "You planning on stopping me?"

"I told you—"

"I don't care," I interjected. "He's my friend. I'm not going to let him get the crap beat out of him!"

Paul gave me an exasperated look. "By getting yourself mixed up as well?"

"I'm not—"

"You should be practicing. The contest is in four days, Allie."

Fighting the urge to roll my eyes, I waved him off. The contest could wait. Elliot was more important, anyway. "I'll be careful, okay? Don't worry."

"How can I not?" he grumbled, pulling his overcoat from off the coat hook and shrugging it on.

"What are you doing?"

"Coming with you."

My eyes widened. "What? No!"

"Why not?" he challenged, buttoning the black jacket up. "It's safer if I come with you."

"It'll be more suspicious!"

"Hey, I can play ninja, too."

"Paul—"

His eyes lit up wickedly. "Either you let me accompany you, or I'll call your parents."

I scowled at him. "That's not fair." And although my dad would probably encourage me, my mom would literally drive up here and tie me to a chair to keep me from going anywhere.

"Those are your choices."

After a short glowering match, I finally sighed. "You know what? Fine. But if we run into danger and you get punched, don't come crying to me."

"Sure," he responded, grinning widely. After he pulled on some gloves, he opened the door and gestured for me to go out. "Ladies first."

As soon as we stepped outside I wished I'd grabbed gloves as well. December was an unforgiving month. The frigid night air bit at my exposed skin and I pulled my scarf a little tighter around my neck, wishing that my cardigan had pockets. I'd dressed to be stealthy, not warm. Though I should've dressed for both. Paul seemed perfectly content as we made our way to the diner. He was even whistling under his breath.

Elliot's car wasn't in the parking lot, which, fortunately, meant he'd walked to work. By this point I was shivering and could barely stop myself from entering the diner's warmth, but that would ruin the whole plan.