Time After Time

Chapter 8: Gimme Some Truth

The restaurant was full. John glanced at the busy tables as Lauren was distracted by the large laminated menu. The lighting was dim and the air was thick with the scents of many different foods. The hostess seated them at a table right next to the window, his eyes curiously watching the many people scurry past the restaurant, almost in a trance. His attention was drawn to the noises coming from the bar, full of people sitting on high bar stools, with tall glasses of beer and a plate full of food in front of them, holding that same rectangular object in their hands. A few large flat televisions hung on the wall, showing a different sports game on each. John saw anything like it. The color was so vivid. The sound was so loud. The display was so clear. This was so unreal - unlike anything he could have imagined.

Lauren glanced up at John, noticing his mouth gaping open as he stared at the flat screens across the room. She giggled internally, realizing this was probably a complete shock for him. Television was completely different more than fifty years ago, and she could only imagine what thoughts were passing through his mind.

She cleared her throat, "Have you decided what to get?"

He slowly turned in her direction, eyes still wide, "Ah, apologies. I've been a bit.. all over the place."

"It's a lot to take in," she said as she placed her lips around the straw that nestled against the glass of water in front of her and took a quick sip. "It's hard to find a restaurant these days that doesn't have the grand gestures of technology."

"Heh," he huffed, starting at the Smith's Bar & Restaurant menu. "So, anythin' you'd recommend? I'm dead lost here."

Lauren leaned up on her arms, her eyes meeting his menu. "Well, I'm going to get their Loaded Chili Burger. The BBQ sauce is the best!"

"'Ang on a mo'," his eyes furrowed, trying to find it on the menu, "Chili on a Butty? Are ya mad?"

She couldn't help the giggle that escaped her mouth as she listened to him. Everything about him at this moment was what she imagined it to be, even better, just listening to that scouse accent and the slang. From watching their movies, documentaries, or YouTube videos of interviews, she knew most of the slang and understood exactly what he meant by a 'Butty'.

She flashed a smile at him once more. "It's good! But if you want to play it safe, then go for the Smith's Signature Burger. Simple but satisfying."

"I take it you've been 'round here a fair bit, eh?"

"When I'm craving something good, this spot always satisfies my cravings. All of the locals know exactly where to go." Her eyes focused on the wide grin he returned to her, a smile she was beginning to get used to.

Listening to Lauren boast about burgers and different foods was unlike Lacey. This was the first time that he indicated a real difference between the two of them. Lacey was always about preparing all the bland foods - she never loved exotic foods or different seasonings. A bowl of salad with some wine was her comfort food. But Lauren, now she was someone that appeared to have a great taste in food, something that he knew they would have in common.

After the waiter took both of their orders, they sat awkwardly and stared at one another, almost as if they were waiting for the other to start a conversation. Small smiles appeared at the corners of their lips as they casually glanced down at their nails or out the window, meeting their gaze with the golden horizon as the city lights slowly flickered on, brightening up the dimly lit sky.

The longer John stared at her, the better he saw her beauty. Even though there were so many similarities to Lacey, he was now witnessing a different type of charm - one that Lacey never had. Lauren delivered a kind of understated beauty, perhaps it was because she was so protective and unaware of her prettiness. When she smiled and laughed, he couldn't help but smile along too, even if it was just on the inside. To be in her company was feeling as if he were someone too, that he felt warmed by her allure in a summer ray.