Some Things You Can't Control

08: Upside Down

<<< Cassidy Miller

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Chapter 8

Upside Down

- EDEN GARCIA -

A gentle wind blows my hair off of the back of my neck, fallen leaves rolling across the street as we pass. Lewis walks beside me, hands casually shoved into his pockets and his eyes fixed on the scenery ahead.

We make one more turn and arrive at one of Nelson City's numerous strip malls, lined with people both young and old. The choice of food is literally almost unlimited, so naturally it takes us a while to decide where to eat after having strolled up and down the street a few times checking our options out.

Eventually, we settle on a small, relatively quiet diner. We choose the only vacant booth along a window, and almost immediately a waitress arrives to offer us a menu. We take it.

"This is nice," I say conversationally, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between us since entering. "Have you been here before?"

"Yeah, a few times. Good food," he assures me. "You?"

"I don't think so. Wait..." My eyes scan the walls, something about their off-white colour and framed pictures of natural landscapes seeming familiar. "Yes. Didn't the football team come here after you won one of your games one time?"

Lewis thinks for a moment, before recognition dawns on his face. "That we did. And you, Mickie and Em were there- as always."

I laugh. The three of us are some of the only people that the football team lets come with them after a game. "We've been friends with most of the team since forever," I reason, "makes sense."

"Our biggest supporters, I reckon," he teases.

"Don't get too ahead of yourself- Brody's on the team."

Lewis rolls his eyes, used to Brody and I's constantly feigned dislike of one another. "I didn't know you guys were so close to the Boyds. I saw Aiden's sister at yours as well when I walked in."

"We're not. Not really, anyway. It's a new thing- our mum's have started working on a business project together so they've been coming over for dinner sometimes."

"What do you think of that?"

I shrug. "It doesn't really bother me. Its not like they're bad people."

The waitress comes to take our orders. I haven't even looked at the menu. I decide to just order one of the first things I see that sounds good, after Lewis tells her what he wants. Then we request drinks. And then she's gone again.

"Are you and Aiden close?"

I raise an eyebrow, a small smirk growing on my face. My heart feels lighter at his question, a warm feeling flowing through me. "Are you jealous?"

"I prefer to call it curious."

"Of course, of course, what was I thinking?" I joke. "We're friends, but not exactly that close. I don't think. Sorta."

Lewis chuckles. "You've always made so much sense."

"I'll take that as an intended compliment."

He teases, "Is it a complement though? What about in fourth grade when that kid... B... Brian? Bruce?"

"Bryce?"

"Bryce asked you out and you gave him this really confusing answer that he took as a 'no'."