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Chapter 12
The guys had brought two cars and it was decided that we would split up,
four and four. AJ had immediately asked, "Deb, do you want to come with me?"
When Deb agreed to ride with AJ, Kevin, and Howie, Brian looked disappointed.
Brian and Nick asked Stacie and I to come with them (not like we had a choice
now). Stacie sat in the passenger’s seat beside Nick, and Brian climbed
into the back seat with me. I could tell Brian and I could be good friends,
given the chance. I can always tell by a person’s eyes. Brian’s
blue eyes were laughing, but had a quality that could make them serious.
I decided to strike up a conversation. Stacie and Nick, of course, talked
to each other about their two favorite subjects the entire time, singing
and video games. Brian and I talked about anything that came to mind, music,
theater, sports, school, etc.
We arrived at the Broadway CafE9 in what seemed to be no time at all. We
met the others on the sidewalk in front of the building. My jaw almost hit
the pavement when I saw AJ’s arm around Deb’s waist. "Whoa!" I
thought to myself. "What happened in the car between those two?" Deb had
always liked Brian. I hoped she wouldn’t regret this. I saw Brian glare
at AJ for a second, and then his face took on a hurt, crushed look.
"Oh G-d!" I thought. "Brian actually likes Deb! I hope she and AJ really
do like each other, or they’re just hurting people for no reason right
now. Then again, Brian and I could be over reacting. It’s just an arm
after all," I finished my interior monologue.
I looked up and saw that the hurt look hadn’t left Brian’s face.
I would have put my arm around his shoulders, but he was too tall (or I’m
too short, however you want to say it), so I squeezed his hand. He looked
down at me and I looked him straight in the eye, speaking to him silently,
telling him that I understood. He squeezed my hand back and we both smiled.
He understood me! We could read each other’s minds, just as Deb and
I do!
All eight of us entered the restaurant together, and were seated. After looking
at the menu for a few minutes we all decided what we were having. Kevin,
taking charge once again, signaled the waiter. We went around the table ordering.
Kevin went last. "Roast fresh ham," he ordered.
I caught Deb’s eye across the table. We both turned to Stacie. She had
caught on. "Slotted pig!" Stacie burst out with. At that the three of us
went into fits of laughter, while the guys just sat there and looked confused.
I saw Nick motion to Brian and twirl his finger around on the side of his
head to signal that he thought we were all crazy. I rose from my seat and
walked around the table to stand beside him with a menacing look in my eyes.
Stacie, giggling, said, "Uh oh! You’ve done it now, Nick!"
Before Nick could turn around I had him in a headlock and gave him a giant
nuggie that totally messed up his hair. The look on his face was priceless!
I quickly hurried back to my seat on the other side of the table, before
he could get in a payback. All of the guys were hysterical (except Nick of
course). Nick sat there with his arms crossed glaring at me. Normally, this
would have been intimidating, but since his hair was sticking up every which
way, he just looked comical.
"I’ll get you for that! You’ll pay!" he said. I knew messing up
his hair would work because he and Stacie seemed like two peas in a pod,
and she hates getting her hair messed up! Before he could get up to make
me "pay," the food came. That kept him occupied, well, that and Stacie. I
think he liked her.
Over dinner we all got to know each other. By the end of the meal it seemed
as if we were old friends who had known each other for years. It was one
of the best times I’d had in a long time.
After dinner, we all exited the restaurant and stood in a huddle on the sidewalk.
"Well, what should we do now? It’s only 9:45," AJ said. "The night’s
still young!"
"I know! I know!" said Nick jumping up and down like a three-year-old, making
us all laugh at his antics. "We should go clubbing!" My smile faded and I
looked down at the ground uncomfortably.
Brian reached up and smacked Nick upside the head. "You dumbass!" he hissed.
Nick turned red. Now it was his turn to be uncomfortable.
"It’s OK," I said quickly. "I’d like to go clubbing again. I know
you guys all want to go, and it will be fun," I tried to sound convincing.
"You sure Meliss?" Deb asked.
"Yup! I’m sure!" I said brightly.
They all studied me for a minute. Then Deb said, "OK! Let’s get going!"
I hoped my second clubbing experience would be better than my first.
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