Waiting on You

Chapter 9

One year ago.

Tucker, Juliette and I sat in our favorite booth at Charlie's Diner, looking through the menu.

The staff at the diner had just started to recognize us when we came in, which was multiple times a week. We had been going a lot since our parents had just started to let us eat at places by ourselves.

"You want the usual?" Cherry, our waitress asked. We all nodded our heads.

"Okay, three cherry cokes, three burgers- one without tomatoes, and one thing of fries. Correct?"

Again, we nodded in unison, our mouths watered in anticipation of our meals already.

Her voice was a low and bored as she spoke. "Okay. It'll be out soon."

All three of us began to peel off our layers of clothing, shivering as the cool air hit our skin.

"Are you guys going to the dance?" Juliette asked, taking a sip of her coke. Her fiery red hair bounced along her shoulders as she talked happily.

Tucker and I both were silent, we looked at each other quickly, his blue eyes burning into mine.

I shrug, breaking our gaze. "Probably not."

Juliette's eyes brighten as she gives me a big silly grin, her cheeks pink from the cold. "Oh ok, sure. What if someone asks you to go?"

Something in her voice challenges me, making my heart beat faster.

Tucker straightens up, leaning forward. "What do you mean?" His voice cracks. Juliette and I had been giving him a hard time about his voice, and he didn't seem to mind anymore.

"You know there's... Jacob." She takes advantage of the fact that Tucker is sitting next to me and she has a whole side of the booth to herself, so she stretches out, resting her feet on the bench.

"She doesn't like him like that," Tucker looks at me. "Right Rory?"

I feel myself blush. "I don't know..."

"Ha!" Jules slams a hand on the table. She then flips it over so her palm faces up and wiggles her fingers. "I told you, Tuckster. That's twenty bucks."

Tucker looks shocked, and for a second, actually hurt. But then he sighs, and starts digging into his pocket.

"Wait, wait," I hold up my hands. "You made a bet?"

"Yup," Jules chirps, grinning mischievously as she watched Tucker pile ones into her hand.

Crossing my arms, I raise an eyebrow. "I never said that I actually liked him. You know-"

Just then, both of my friends froze. I cocked my head to the side. "What is it?"

Juliette giggles nervously. "Um, hi Jacob."

Jacob? My heart stops. Had he been listening to our conversation?

When I look up, Jacob is staring at us, amusement plastered on his face. "Well, what is going on here."

"Tucker and I were... Playing poker," Jules lies, and I have to resist the urge to slap a hand across my forehead. Poker?

"Ah," Jacob gives a half smile. "And you're the cheerleader?" He gestures to me.

I shrug, my cheeks heating up. "Sure."

"So," Juliette looks him up and down. "What are you doing here?"

His hair is windblown and he had a black scarf around his neck. "I'm just picking up some food for me and my brothers. He lifts up a bag that read Charlie's Diner. "Babysitting."

"Why don't you sit down?" Juliette asks, giving me a look.

I don't know whether to punch or hug her.

"Oh, thanks, but I better go."

I guess I don't have to worry about doing either of those things, I think.

"But," he starts. Juliette perks up. "Rory? Can I talk to you for a second?"

My heart skips a beat. "Me?" I ask, pointing to myself.

Jacob laughs, a grin spreading across his face. "Yes, you, Aurora."

I slide out of the booth, slowly enough to see Jules wiggle her eyebrows. Following him to the door, I run through the possibilities of what would happen.

Before I can think of anything, though, he has turned around.

"How are you?" He asks, taking a step closer to me.

I feel the heat radiating off of his body, sending shivers down my spine.

"I'm good."

"So, I was wondering..." His eyes dart around the room, and abruptly land on mine. His eyes are so green that I feel my breath catch in my throat.

"Ya?"

"Are you busy next week? During the dance next week, I mean."

Even if I was, I would blow it all off just to go with him. Why was I acting this way? Why would I do that for a boy? For Jacob.

"No, I don't think so," I smile shyly. "Why?"

He gives me a lopsided smile, running his hands through his hair. "Would you do me a favor and be my date?"

"You want me to be your date? But I'm a freshmen. Wouldn't your friends think that's, I don't know... Lame?"

He laughs. "I think they would be jealous that I was with the most beautiful girl in the school."

I feel butterflies start to flutter around in my stomach. "Well, in that case, I think I have to say yes."

Jacob beams. "Great. I'll pick you up right before the dance."

Suddenly, a little boy is by our side, tapping Jacobs shoulder. "Excuse me?" The little boy looks up at him. "An extra thing came out of the machine when I was getting my pirate sticker."

The little boy looks to be about six, with dark brown hair and Popsicle juice all over his chin. As he talks, he holds up a ring. "My mom wants to know if you want this."

Jacob looks at me then back at the boy. "Sure, thanks kid."

The boy grins and runs towards his mom, who smiles at us before pushing her way through the front door, a baby on her hip.

When we are alone again, Jacob holds the ring out to me with one hand, the other in the pocket of his jeans. "This is for you."

I push it away. "I think the little boy wanted you to have it."

He looked hesitant, but agrees silently, shoving it into his back pocket. "Okay. I'll save it for later."

We are quiet for a few seconds after that, and he takes a step back, leaving me cold.

"I better go," he says, starting towards the door. "I'll see you later."

I wave goodbye and head back to the table where my friends are whispering about something.

Tucker does not look happy, and Jules is talking in a low voice about something I cannot hear.

"Hey!" Jules sits up abruptly. "What's up."

I give a slight smile, sliding back in next to Tucker, who is looking out the window.

"To answer your question from earlier," I say. "Yes."