Dead End >> c.h au

Chapter Two

        “No, seriously, he did, he fell off the house!” Leo told them. All of them, except Calum, were drowning in laughter, urging Leo to continue his story. He had joined them for their meal, at Ashton’s request. He only invited him to piss off Cal, and it worked.

                “How many people can say they’ve done that?” Ashton added in.

                The laughter was cut short when an old, ghastly looking man approached the table. He shuffled and stared at the friends eerily, like he was trying to tell them something. His skin was a sickly grey and it was hanging off his face is loose wrinkles. He had a thick black moustache on his lip. He looked ancient. He began collecting plates without a word.

                “I got it, Tim,” Leo assured him and reached for a plate.

                Tim slapped Leo’s hand and glared at him accusingly. Leo recoiled in his seat. Tim stacked up all their plates without looking away from Leo for even a second. In one fluid movement, he lifted the dishes and dashed away to the kitchen.

                “That was weird, right?” Luke asked hesitantly.

                Leo ignored him. “So where are you guys staying tonight?”

                “I have no idea,” Michael sighed. “We don’t have a car right now.”

                Leo smiled shyly, like that was the answer he was hoping for. “Well, Tim’s family has a hotel down the road, close enough to walk to. You could stay there and I can fix your car in the morning?” he offered.

        Sally smiled at how hospitable Leo was being. She had always heard that Americans were rude, but Leo was such a sweetheart. “Thanks,” she told him. He winked.

                Sally thought Calum was going to punch him. Instead, he stood up and pointed to the door. “Lead the way, then.”

***

“Are you sure Tim’s okay with this?” Ashton asked for the third time as they walked down the road. The diner was practically in the middle of nowhere. There weren’t any streetlights to illuminate the way through the unknown area, only moonlight. The group just had to trust Leo to get them to the hotel.

                “Yeah, he loves helping people,” Leo assured him. “I know it doesn’t seem like it, but he’s a pretty swell guy once you get to know him.”

                “He scares me a little, not gonna lie,” Michael admitted. His voice echoed down the empty street and Sally heard birds flutter awake at the sound. She smiled and looked up to the stars.

                “He’s a little intimidating,” Leo chuckled. “I was terrified of him when I first started at the diner. He doesn’t talk much either, just kind of stares into your soul.”

                Sally had unintentionally slowed her pace as she watched the stars and before she knew it she was next to Calum at the back of the group. He hadn’t said anything since he left the diner. Sally looked at him worriedly and nudged him with my elbow. He looked troubled.

                “What’s wrong?” she asked.

                He didn’t look at her when he spoke. “Nothing.”

                Sally rolled her eyes. Calum was such a drama queen. He always did this. He expected his friends to just keep poking and prodding until they finally got an answer out of him but Sally wasn’t going to play his game today. She sighed and stayed quiet.