Perfect Strangers |Complete|

Chapter Three

Another chapterrr🥳🥳 like usual comment with ideas and vote if you like it!

  "Lyla?" Marcus's voice startles me out of my thoughts, yanking me back to the present from my troubling past.

I glance at him, confused. "What?"

He grins, patience rolling off him in waves. "I asked why you were there that night."

I smile. "Saige asked me to go."

    He shoves his hands in his pockets. "I figured."

    I smile. "Yeah. How about you? Did you go because of the rest of the team did?"

"Yeah. I'm glad I did."

I blush and we stop, the familiar sight of Oven Pizzas standing before us. The white brick walls and pale white doors, with the light beige windows and the matching window boxes, flowers shooting up from them, and the logo of a pizza on a wooden pizza paddle is a familiar sight. Laughing customers are visible through the windows as they enjoy their meal with friends and family.

    I walk forward, and the scent of burning wood reaches my nose and I stop in my tracks. Bright orange flames flash through my head and I blink rapidly, stepping back. I can't. I look around, my breath coming fast and hard.

     Marcus turns around, scanning my frantic face.  "We'll go somewhere else."

    I smile, shoving my shaking hands inside my pockets, struggling to control my breathing.

   "In and out," he mumbles softly.

    I frown. "What?"

         He speaks louder, searching my face. "It helps. Just focus on breathing in and out."

       "Oh. Thanks." I smile gratefully at him.

       He smiles, attempting to mask his concern. "No problem."

        We wander around, and Marcus stops in front of a small dinner not far away.

Clark's Eats is written above the door in big letters.  We walk in, the bell mounted above the door announcing our entrance.  Pale green wall contrast nicely with light gray laminate flooring, and a tan counter. Gray bar stools are positioned nicely around the counter. The menu is hanging above the display of cakes, cookies, and various bread and bagels lined below, written in cursive like font.

         My eyes wander to the various customers sitting at the tan tables with light gray chairs, hoping none of them go to our school. I don't want another confrontation.

        A light brown hired waitress smiles at us from behind the counter. She walks out to greet us.

         "Hi, I'm Payton and I'll be helping you today. Follow me. " I smile as she leads us to a table in the back, placing our menus in front of us.  "When you're ready to order, let me know. I'll be back in two minutes to check in on you."

        I smile. "Thank you." We slide into the chairs, dropping our backpacks on the ground and pick up the menus she placed in front of us, refusing to acknowledge what happened less than ten minutes ago. I glance up at Marcus and he smiles, glancing back at his menu.

      "Ready to order?" I nod, handing her my menu. Marcus does the same. She pulls out her notepad, ready to write down our order. "I'll have a hamburger with fries."

          She turns to Marcus. "And for you, sir?"

            "I'll have a small order of chicken tenders."