Chapter 3
Shoney's
You soon find yourself in what Rick called an 'intergalactic' version of his favorite restaurant back home; Shoney's. It was a quaint place with booths along the walls and tables in the center. The paint scheme for this one was dark wood and forest green trim. The walls and seats were a creamy brown with pictures of various scenery scattered along vast spaces between booths. Rick had strolled straight into the place and sprawled along the back booth along the corner. He took up the curve of the booth, laying both arms along the back of the seats and patted the empty space right next to him.
"Come on babe… put that cute ass of yours to work… warm the space…" He gave you the sultry look that sent his groupies screaming in the crowd. For you, however, it just made you automatically roll your eyes.
"Please… don't flatter yourself." Noticing Squanchy taking up a seat to his left, you squeeze in next to him. "Mind if I sit with you?"
"Not at all…" Squanchy practically purred while looking at Rick. Rick rolled his eyes and waved off the event as if to say 'whatever'.
"Your loss babe. I don't shed…"
"Squanch you, prick." Squanchy snapped back with a bit of a grin which caused Rick to stick his tongue out at him. You sat there smiling at the exchange, amused at the sudden change in behavior. Rick almost seemed like the twenty year old he claimed to be.
"You two…" You bump into Squanchy as he laughs. "What's good here?"
"Don't worry babe. I'll order for you." Rick wasn't even looking at the menu. When the waiter came, Rick ordered for everyone at the table. Squanchy smiled and elbowed you in the ribs.
"This place has some squanching food. The squanch Rick calls 'bacon' is the best." You smile, remembering what bacon was and feeling your mouth already starting to water.
"So babe…" Rick looked at you when the waiter left. "What is the first thing you remember?" Squanchy looks to you as well.
"I remember being on the floor of that bar. A guy came up to me and said it looked as if I fell from the ceiling. I thought that maybe I fell from a hole or a balcony and had a concussion, but there was just a ceiling above me. So that's out of the question; guy was probably too doped up." You pause for a minute watching the exchange of looks from Rick to Squanchy. They obviously knew something you didn't. "What?"
"Well… there is a way… but let's hear the rest of your story first please." Rick sat straighter along the seat. He was no longer slouched along the back of the cushion and his eyes were serious and intelligent. Your heart started to pound in your chest while looking into those eyes.
"Uhm… I remember listening to the music and watching you guys on stage. Then something… I thought something sounded familiar… I can't remember what it was… but that green haze started in my peripheral and then I passed out. Next I knew, I was with you back stage."
"Do you remember what you squanched?" He was regarding you with keen interest and worry. You close your eyes and try to recall the events. There was a slight haze when you saw the name of the band but you didn't really notice it until you heard… and then you look up at Rick.
"You. It was hearing your name. As soon as I said it in my mind… I…" A shiver passes through your body and Squanchy moves a hand to your back, rubbing the area to provide some comfort and warmth. You smile at the gesture and look at Rick. His face is deep in concentration; his lips twisted together and his brow furrowed deep along his eyes. Another bump bump from that damned heart.
"Here is your food." The waiter started to place the same plates in front of each of you. All plates contained eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes and toast. A growl from your stomach told you just how hungry you really were. Squanchy laughs, complimenting you on having such a strong growl. The two of you dig into the food, taking large bites. Half way through, you notice that Rick had not even touched his.
"You alright Rick?" You ask while soaking up some egg yolk with the toast.
"Tess, do you recognize the food? Seems like you've eaten it before?"
"Of course! Eggs, toast, bacon, sausage, pancakes… had it all."
"You know this only comes from Earth?"
"Earth?" You start to reflect; the name sounds familiar. Well, yeah, it means dirt. "Doesn't it mean dirt?"
"It's a planet too." He is still regarding you with curiosity. The voice inside chimes up again; Oh yeah, the dirt planet that only Rick has traveled from. Your eyes go large.
"You are the only one to leave Earth so far, right?"
"Yeah. I helped establish this version of Shoney's so I could get good Earth food again. So… either you have been to a Shoney's or…"
"I've been to Earth?" You finish, trying to remember.
"And you passed out after remembering my name. And you passed out when I started to question you about dimensions." Rick's voice grew quiet at the last bit.
"Yeah. Why?"
"We'll dive into this back at the hotel babe. Let's eat." Rick then chooses to start eating, making quick work of his food. The banter changes rapidly to careless teasing. Squanchy teases Rick on how many girls he laid last night while Rick recounts the vivid detail of each body part. You roll your eyes and Rick takes notice.
"What's wrong babe? Jealous? I have room to add you onto the list." He winks.
"Fuck no. I'm not on a list, babe, I AM the list!" Squanchy yells out and gives you a high five. Rick stares at you with a wicked grin.
"Nice… nice…" Rick chuckles and leaves the teasing aside for a moment to pay the cashier and return. Squanchy was talking to you about his experience in the band and when he first met Rick. Upon Rick's return, he goes quiet and winks at you. Rick glares at him and looks back in your direction.
"You're totally right, Squanchy… totally." You elbow him in the ribs and chuckle, walking out of the booth and past Rick. Behind, you could hear Rick demand to know what Squanchy said about him. Squanchy was rapidly trying to explain that you were to blame and he said nothing of the sort. You laugh as you exit the building and make your way back to the hotel.
