Past or Future

Diner Dash

The bell rings, signaling the end of the day. It amazes me at how fast the school year is moving. It's already October 26th. I go to my locker and begin to gather my books. "Hey" I hear Jacob say as he opens his locker. "I guess you're in a hurry to leave" he states. I look at him with question written on my face. "No actually I don't have anything to do today. No clubs, no homework, nothing..." I state simply. "Oh" he states blankly. "So why did you rush out so quickly?" He asks as he puts on his hoodie and jacket. I contemplate my answer. Honestly I didn't even realize I had rushed out until he said it. "I don't know. I guess I was just zoned out" I state, knowing I sounded completely crazy. Jacob leans on his closed locker and stares at me. I look up and immediately become self- conscious. "Why are you looking at me like that?" I question. "Is something wrong?" He continues to stare at me as he ignores my questions. His stare is starting to annoy me so I roll my eyes and put my sweater on. "What is going on with you?" He asks. I look at him with confusion written all over my face "What do you mean?" I put my scarf around my neck and close my locker. " I heard you and Michael talking a couple of times over the last month. Did something happen?" I blankly look at him as of his inquisition was out of line. "Nothing happened. I'm fine." I answer, hoping he will get off my back. "You say that all the time." He states simply. Suddenly, Michael walks up to us. "Hey guys!" He obnoxiously screams. I laugh and silently thank him for his interruption. "Where are y'all headed?" He asks as we all walk down the hallway. "No where in particular." I hear Jacob answer. "Where are you headed?" I ask Michael as I realize he doesn't have any of his stuff. " I have track as always. Mrs.F is not going to let up on these practices." He says as we all slow to stop in front of the track room. I laugh as Michael hides from Mrs.F. "Have fun" I say sarcastically as I push him into Mrs.F's view. Jacob and I laugh as we hear her scream at Michael for being late. He rolls his eyes and sticks his tongue out at me before making his way to practice.

Jacob and I walk out of the school and halfway down the block before we begin to talk to each other again. "So nothing has happened?" He says, continuing the almost forgotten conversation. I sigh loudly, hoping he would realize I don't want to continue the conversation. Of course he doesn't. "Nope. Michael is just an overprotective brother." I state simply. "I know you're lying but I'll let it slide." He says, finally giving up hope on a legitimate answer from me. I shake my head and smile at his reply. "It's really nothing to be honest." I reassure him. "Yeah of course it is."he says sarcastically. "So where do you want to go? " he asks. I look at him, confused and surprised at his question. "Um. I don't know. Where do you want to go?" I counter. He smiles and grabs my hand, pulling me across the street. "Let's go on an adventure." He says as he turns the corner. I follow behind him as he walks into a diner. "This is your idea of an adventure?" I ask sarcastically. He looks at me with his million dollar dead face before answering. "No... but I figured we should eat before we go." He states simply. A waitress approaches us and seats us in the corner of the restaurant. "This is the best table here." He states as he looks at the menu. I just look at him, confused at what is happening but I decide to go along with it. Its not like I have anything else to do. "We are in a corner." I say flatly. "How is this the best table?" I continue as I look at my menu. He smiles at my observation, but remains quiet. The waitress comes and takes our orders. "I'll have the bacon chess burger with fries." I hear Jacob order. "I'll have the garden salad with Italian dressing please" I order. We both say thank you and watch as the waitress walks away. An awkward silence grows between us and makes me uncomfortable. "So..." I begin. "What exactly are we doing after this?" I ask as I take a sip of the complementary water on the table. "You have to wait and see." He says. He takes out his phone and holds it up to eye level. I look up at his phone and the smirk hidden behind it.
"What is so funny?"
"The pic I just took of you"
"Omg delete it! Jacob!"
"Post."
"You didn't. I know you didn't."
"I totally did."
I feel my phone buzz as a notification popped up for Facebook.
"Omg you did."
He smiled and began to laugh. The waitress brought our food out and smiled as she said enjoy. Jacob began eating while I looked at the picture.
'Look at the most beautiful girl in the world drinking her water. Isn't she amazing.' I look up from the Facebook post as he smiles and takes a bite out of his burger. I look back down and finish reading.
'I'm so happy she is in my life. She has been there throughout my whole time in my new school and I know she will be there long after. I truly am blessed.'
I smile and put down my phone.
"You should eat your salad." He says. I look at him and then at my salad. "Um yeah you're probably right." I pour the Italian dressing on my salad and begin to eat. "How is it?" He asks as he drinks his water. "It's good. How was your food?" I ask when I realize he is practically done. "It was amazing." He says matter-of-factually. I smile and continue eating my salad. "So you never told me why this corner table is the best table in here?." He looks around and smiles. "It's the table I use to have breakfast at every Saturday morning with my mom." I smile and think of a younger Jacob eating at the table with his mother. "That's cute." I reply. "Do y'all still come here?" I ask as I take another fork full of salad. He looks down and I can see that I just entered a touchy subject. "I'm sorry. I'm being nosy. Just forget I asked." He looks up and forces a smile as he sees my discomfort. "It's okay..." he pauses for a moment. "My mother died about four years ago, right before I graduated from eighth grade." Sorrow falls over me. Omg. And to think I complained about the table when we first got here. "Wow. I'm sorry to hear that." I sit at a loss of words as he shakes his head, acknowledging my sympathy. "I'm sorry. I didn't know." He looks up, confused as to why I'm apologizing again. "I mean when we first got here and I-" He stops me from talking and just laughs. "Don't be sorry. You didn't know." He says simply. "Are you finished?" He asks I look down at my almost empty salad bowl and nod my head. We pay for the food and gather our belongings. "Well now that we are done with that, how about we go on our adventure now." He says as his excitement from earlier rises again.
We walk out of the diner and begin to walk to Fort Greene Park. "You know, the message you wrote under the picture was truly amazing." I say as we cross the street. He smiles and lets out a chuckle. "It's the truth." Before I know it, we are at Fort Greene and he is pulling me inside the park. I wonder what we are going to do here and how the park I've been to so many times before can hold such an adventure. He grabs my hand, putting his fingers in between mine, and we walk slowly and quietly along the trail. As if reading my mind, he whispers, "The adventure didn't start yet, but it will soon." With that we continue to walk through the park.