Number. 7 I Saw Him

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I walk over to the bar on the other side of the restaurant and sit down.

"Scotch, please." The greying waiter nods and gets my drink. I take a dainty sip and turn towards the window, trying to see beyond the darkness and street lights. I suddenly freeze, eyes locking on a all too familiar figure walking by. The glass falls from my hand I stare at Nick. Thee Nick.  The one who made me the way I am. He turned his head ever so slightly and looked my way. I almost choke on my drink and swallow quickly. I whip my head down to stare at the counter, heart going a million miles a second. Had he seen me? I risked a fast glance back to the window, but I didn't see him anymore. I sigh deeply and pick up the spilled glass of scotch. The waiter came back and helped clean it up without question.

"Another one?" He questions gruffly. I nod and he hands me another glass. I gulp it in one swift motion. The memories were starting to rise and I needed to wash them away quickly.

"Leave me the bottle." I command harshly. The waiter silently handed the whole thing over. I took another swig. I wasn't sure if scotch could make you drunk or not, but there was only one way to find out.

"You love me, right?" Nick yelled in my face, pinning me against the wall with a knife in right hand.

"Yes! Yes, I love you!" I say desperately,trying to keep the tears in.

"Keep it that way!" He gave me one last shove into the wall before leaving me to crumble on the cement floor.

"I wouldn't have thought you were a drinker just by looking at you." I jumped and turned to see Tracker standing beside me. I took another gulp before answering.

"I'm not." I lick my lips and glance at the huge windows. Tracker sat down to my left. I watch him from the corners of my eyes warily.

"Who else would leave their date to go grab a drink?" I snorted. 

"I didn't want to go on this date." I admitted, looking straight ahead.

"Then why did you?" He asked softly. I sigh.

"Because I saw it as a new experience." I took a gulp of scotch. That probably sounded like a weird answer. Tracker furrowed his brow.

"You've never gone on a date before?" I shook my head, fingering the bottles rim. "Neither have I." I looked at him in surprise.

"You're kidding, right?" I ask. He shook his head. "Wow." He grinned and stood up.

"Come on, don't want the other two to get a taste of our food now do we?"

"No way." I smile, jumping up along with him. Leaving the scotch with a 20 dollar bill, I follow him back to the booth, the thoughts of Nick forgotten.

"After you." Tracker gestured for me to go in first with him following closely behind. Kyle and Cassie stopped talking as we entered.

"Where have you been?" She demanded, but I noticed the teasing gleam in her eye. I rolled my eyes and sat down beside her as Tracker sat across from me. Kyle remained silent.

"Where did your parents get the name Tracker?" I asked the black haired boy, clearly ignoring Cassie. I saw her scowl out of the corner of my eye. Tracker leaned back with a grin.

"You didn't answer my question!" Cassie pouts.

"My Dad was a tracker." He swiped up his beer bottle and took a sip. "They liked names with meanings."

"But Kyle..." I trail off, confused. "That's not a hunter name."

"Kyle means competent, practical and may neglect their private lives and relationships." Tracker explained with a teasing glance at his brother. He shook his bottle and put it down with a disgusted look. "The name of a businessman." He added.

"Hmm, neat. What did your dad track?" I sipped my iced coffee, savoring the flavor. Tracker's face seemed to darken at my question. It almost seemed like the lights went out. Did I say something wrong? My thoughts flashed to Nick's cold character and I shivered involuntarily.

"Just mammals." Was his icy answer. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Was this guy related to Nick?

"Why don't you tell us about your parents?" Kyle says suddenly, leaning on the table on his elbows and looking at me. I tear my gaze from Tracker's to Kyle's.

"Um. They're very nice." I say, not quite sure what to think of Tracker's sudden coldness. Cassie, oblivious to the sudden change in mood, rolled her eyes at me.

"Come on, Jacey, that's not what he meant."

"I don't know what he meant, then." I reply tartly.

"I mean," Kyle says,"What ancestry do you have?" Why would he want to know that?

"I don't know-Greek, Irish, Mexican-does it matter?" I sigh, suddenly tired. Kyle didn't answer-just asked another one.

"What is your blood type?"

"Why do you care?" I blurt at the table. Just then the Waiter came in with a tray full of our orders.

"Here you guys are." He sang out, sliding the white plates onto the table. Holy moly, my burger was big-and juicy.

"Thank you." I almost whisper as he set it in front of me.

"No problem!" He smiled. "Anything more I can get anybody?"

"Coffee." Tracker said bluntly. He was still staring at me, but instead of the coldness from before, his eyes now held... interest? I avoided eye contact with him, instead, focusing on my burger that was as big as two.

"Of course." Terry grinned and ducked back out.

"You have a very pretty dress, Cassie." Tracker smiled warmly at the girl beside me.

"Finally! Someone noticed!" She exclaimed brightly. The dress was an off the shoulder ruffled light pink that stopped just above the knees.

"On the contrary, we noticed immediately." Kyle said quietly as he sprinkled salt and pepper in his mashed potatoes, not looking at her. "We just thought that you already knew you looked pretty in it." Cassie instantly blushed. What? Is that the closest Kyle can get to a compliment? He definitely didn't look like the kind to give compliments easily.

"What about Jacey?" Cassie demanded, grabbing my arm. "She deserves a compliment too!" I facepalmed and groaned.

"Cassie..." I gritted out. "I don't need a compliment."

"Yes you do!" She hisses back. I glanced at Tracker who seemed back to himself and was grinning foolishly at me. Kyle also smiled as he began cutting up his steak.

"Why don't we just eat?" I exclaim, jerking my arm from hers. "You can't command a boy to give a girl a compliment." She Hmfs but relents reluctantly. I breath a sigh of relief and glance out the doorway to see a certain blond head bobbing through the crowd, making my heart stop.

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Oooohhh. Looks like Jacey's old rival is baaack! Consider hitting that vote if you liked the chapter before heading to the next!

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