Chapter 2: Left Behind

With a small sigh, Kimi Finster handed a mocha to a customer then glanced up at the wall clock. Three-fifteen. Exactly three minutes later than it had been the last time she'd looked at the clock. Any minute now …

And right on cue Dylan Pickles came through the door of the Java Lava, just like every weekday, waving to her as he wandered up to the counter. "Heya, Kim," he greeted.

"Hi, Dil. What'll it be today?"

He squinted at the menu posted over the counter, pretending to think.

Kim pretended to be annoyed. "Pickles, hurry it up. You're holding up the line here."

Dil glanced over his shoulder. Not a soul was in sight. "Alrighty then." He slapped the counter and gave her a wide, goofy grin. "Gimme the usual."

She grinned back. Then she turned, grabbed a coffee cup, and fixed the monstrosity of sugar and caffeine that Dil always ordered. Turning back, she saw that he was still grinning at her. Her hands started sweating.

"So," he said, pulling out his wallet, "you started missing him yet?"

Kim cocked her head, confused. "Who?"

Dil rolled his eyes. Oh, his eyes. Blue, like Tom's, but a few shades darker, fringed with light red lashes. "Who?" he repeated, shaking his head and handing her his money. "The Chuckster! Y'know, your brother? I mean, he was around all summer, and now he's back at college. You don't miss him?"

"Oh!" Kim took the bills and felt like a complete idiot. "Sure, I miss Chuck a little. I dunno. Maybe this will sound bad, but it's a little less weird than it was this time last year, when he first left. Y'know?"

He nodded and took the drink she handed to him.

Realization hit her. She gave him a sympathetic smile and patted his arm—purely to comfort him, of course. "You're missing Tom, huh?"

Dil looked away, embarrassed. "Yeah," he admitted. "It's just … it's like you said. It's a little weird, not having him around all the time. And he doesn't really call home that much. He's busy, I guess."

"It gets better. I promise. He'll calm down, settle in, or whatever it is college freshmen do. Then he'll start calling more often."

He looked up hopefully. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Hmm." He took a sip from his drink. "Hey, Kim?"

She couldn't help noticing that, from him, her name sounded beautiful. She hated herself for noticing.

"Yeah, Dil?"

"I'm glad you decided to stay here and go to community college." He grinned again. "It'd sure be lonely if everyone had left."

"I do what I can, Pickles, I do what I can." Kim looked away and hoped like hell she wasn't blushing. Softly she added, "I'm glad you're still here too."