Eddie stands in front of the massive brick house. The columns in front are a bit intimidating as he walks up to the front door. Eddie rings the doorbell and waits. The large door finally opens and Loren is on the other side.
"Hi." Loren says.
"Hey." Eddie says back.
"Come in." Loren moves out of the doorway and Eddie sees an interior that is just as grand as the exterior.
Eddie walks inside and pulls his bag more tightly over his shoulder.
"I'll be right back. Just let me get my laptop." Loren says.
"Ok." Eddie walks over to the table that Loren has set up for them to work at.
Eddie props his bag up on the chair and pulls out the books that Loren checked out. He puts everything on the table. When he turns around he sees a little girl with blue eyes and dark brown hair staring at him. Eddie smiles.
"You must be Loren's little sister." Eddie says as he kneels down to her level. "What's your name?"
"Kylie." She says.
"That's a pretty name." Eddie says.
"Who are you?" Kylie asks.
"I go to school with your sister. We have to work on a project." Eddie says.
At that moment, Loren comes around the corner with her laptop. "I see that you've met Kylie. Did you say hi?" She asks her sister.
Kylie shakes her head. "Yes."
"Good. Now Eddie and I will be working over here and I got you something."
"What?" Kylie says, getting excited.
"Loren walks over to the DVD case and pulls out the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD that she got for Kylie.
"Mickey!" Kylie squeals. Loren smiles at her little sister. She puts the DVD into the Blu-ray player and walks back over to the table. It's like Kylie is memorized by the show.
"She's cute." Eddie says.
"Thanks." Loren says. "Should we start?"
"Yea, so I found a lot of information on Susan B. Anthony and other women in the votig rights movement from this website. I printed it all out and I figured that we could just go through it and see what we find." Eddie says as he pulls a folder from his backpack.
"That sounds good." Loren opens the folder and pulls out the paper. She looks through them and highlights the things that they are going to include in their project.
"So I have an idea about the layout for the project…if that's ok." Loren says.
"You don't have to be self-conscious. I was a douche before; I admit that. Now what's your idea?" Eddie says.
"Well I was thinking that we could make a timeline of the events leading up to the convention and what happened during. Then after the timeline, we could explain how the events led to the empowerment of women."
"I like it." Eddie says. "We can print pictures and the timeline info can be like the captions."
"Sounds good. I bought a tri-fold board. It's in my room if you want to use that."
"That's perfect."
Loren goes to her room and grabs the boards. "You can look up info and type. Then I can organize as we go along."
"Good plan Tate. Maybe your perfection will come in handy on this project." Eddie jokes.
"I told you I'm not…" Loren begins.
"…a perfectionist. I know." Eddie finishes. "I was just messing with you."
"You're a jerk." Loren says.
"So I've heard." Eddie smiles.
"Just get to work." Loren says. Eddie and Loren have been working for about an hour when Kylie comes out of the living room.
"No more Mickey." Kylie says. "Can I pway wif you?"
"We're not playing Ky. We're working on a project for school."
"I wanna color." Kylie says.
"I don't have anything for you to color with." Loren says.
Kylie pokes her lip out. Eddie looks at her. "I have markers in my bag." Eddie says. I thought we might need them for the project but she can use them if she wants."
"Are you sure?" Loren asks.
"Yea. It's no big deal." Eddie says. He pulls the box of markers from his bag and gives them to Kylie.
"Thank you." Kylies says.
"You're welcome." Eddie smiles at Kylie.
"I'll get you some paper." Loren says. She goes to her room and brings back a stack of paper.
"Go nuts." Loren says as she hands the paper to her sister.
Eddie and Loren continue working. They get up every once in a while to refill their water glasses and Loren gets snacks for them to eat while they work. By the time they take their first major break, it's 4:30. They've gotten a lot done, but they still have quite a way to go.
"It looks good so far." Loren says.
"Yea, it does." Eddie agrees. "Should we meet up again next Saturday?"
"I can't. I have a tennis tournament next weekend. We leave on Friday and we come back Sunday." Loren says.
"Oh well…um."
"We could do some more today and then meet up sometime this week. Any day, Monday through Thursday." Loren says.
Eddie thinks for a moment. "I can do that."
"Great, but right now I'm totally starving. Are you hungry Kylie?"
"Yes."
"Where do you want to go?"
"Micksters" Kylie says.
"What's Micksters?" Eddie asks.
"She means McAllister's. She just can't say it." Loren says.
"Oooh." Eddie laughs.
"I'll take you." Loren says. "Do you want to come Eddie? We can come back right after and do some more work…if you don't have plans that is."
After considering the invitation, Eddie finds himself saying yes.
"Ok. I just have to get her dressed and then we can go." Loren says.
"Ok."
When Loren leaves the room, Eddie pulls out his phone and texts Amanda.
Sorry but I can't make it. Something came up. See you tomorrow.
Eddie slides his phone back into his pocket and picks up the markers that Kylie was using. He puts them in the box and puts the box on the table. Once he finishes cleaning, Loren comes around the corner with Kylie on her hip. "You didn't have to clean up." She says. She puts Kylie down and she grabs Loren's keys from the coffee table.
"It was no big deal."
"Well thank you." Loren says.
Eddie smiles and shrugs his shoulders. Loren takes her keys from Kylie. "Thank you."
They walk outside. Eddie gets in on the passenger's side while Loren straps Kylie into her car seat. Once she is strapped in, Loren gets in, starts the car, and drives off. When they get to McAllister's Loren unstraps Kylie and takes her hand as they walk across the parking lot.
"Do you want mac n' cheese today?" Loren asks Kylie
"Yea. Mac n' cheese!" Kylie says.
"I thought so." Loren orders what Kylie wants and then orders a chicken Caesar salad for herself. Eddie orders a chicken club with chips. As they wait for their food, Kylie starts talking to Eddie.
"You like Macawoni and cheese?" It was more of a statement but Eddie can tell it's a question by the way she looks at him to respond.
"I love it." Eddie answers. "But do you know who has the best Mac n' cheese ever?"
Kylie shakes her head.
"Olive Garden. It's the best stuff you'll ever have."
"I want some. Lowen, I want some." Kylie says as she looks at her sister.
"We can go there one day. We can go when mommy and daddy get back." Loren says.
Kylie smiles.
The server brings out their food and they begin to eat.
"So how long have you worked at Olive Garden?" Loren asks before eating a fork full of salad.
"About a year and a half." Eddie answers, quick and to the point.
"Do you like it?" Loren asks.
"Yea. You get to know some families who are regulars and they leave good tips so that's always good." Eddie crunches on a Lay's potato chip.
"Does it ever feel overwhelming, you know with school and everything?" Loren asks.
"Geez, what's with the twenty questions?" Eddie asks in an inquisitive tone.
"Sorry, just trying to make small talk. My friends tell me I talk too much when I'm nervous." Loren says
"Do I seriously make you nervous?" Eddie asks.
"Well no, but… I… um… nevermind. It's really not important." Loren says.
Eddie looks at her. "I'll do my best not to be such a… what were the words you used? Oh yea. A complete jackass was it?" Eddie says.
Loren looks at Kylie quickly, but she doesn't seem to have heard anything. She is eating away at her macaroni.
"Not in front of my sister please." Loren says.
"Oh, sorry. I wasn't thinking." Eddie says. He takes another bite of his sandwich in order to avoid the awkward silence that ensued. The sound of the two chewing and Kylie's clinging fork were the only noises for a good five minutes.
The silence is then broken by none other than Kylie. "Can I have a cookie." Kylie asks.
"Kylie you're not even finished eating yet."
"Pwease." Kylie begs.
"Finish your macaroni. Then we'll see." Loren says.
Kylie shakes her head and goes back to eating. "She really listens to you." Eddie says.
"Yea. It's a gift. My parents say it's a sister thing. Do you have any brothers or sisters?" Loren asks.
"No. It's just me."
Loren nods.
Eddie is really glad that Loren stops the conversation there because he doesn't want her to ask any questions that could open up any more parts of his life. His business is his own and that's the way he wants to keep it.
Kylie scrapes her bowl as she finishes her macaroni and cheese.
"Lowen, can I have a cookie pwease." Kylie pleads.
"Fine." Loren says. "But no more sugar after this, okay."
"K" Kylie is smiling from ear to ear as Loren stands up and takes her to the register. Eddie takes his cell phone out of his pocket and sees that he got a message from Amanda. It read:
Hope everything is ok. I guess we'll just take another rain check. Maybe we can talk about it tomorrow.
Eddie shifts in his seat. He didn't want to hurt Amanda's feelings but he had to finish more of the project with Loren. He had to.
Loren comes back to the table holding Kylie's hand. Kylie's other hand is holding a large chocolate chip cookie. "Are you ready to go?" Loren asks Eddie.
"Yea." Eddie answers.
They walk outside to Loren's car and get inside. When they get back to Loren's house, they work for another two hours. The heading, along with pictures for the timeline are on the board.
"We got a lot done. Good job Duran." Loren says.
Eddie laughs. "Thanks… Tate."
"So we'll figure out a day to finish this before Friday?" Loren says.
"Hopefully." Eddie says.
"Well text me. We can set a date." Loren says. "Can I put my number in your phone?"
"Yea, I'll put mine in yours too."
They put their numbers in each other's phones then give them back. "I better get going." Eddie says.
"It's getting dark. Why don't you let me give you a ride?" Loren offers.
"Thanks but I don't need one."
"It really would be fine. I don't have a problem with it."
"Yea, but I don't need you to. It's good exercise anyway."
"Are you sure?" Loren asks.
"Positive." Eddie says.
"Ok. I guess I'll see you on Monday then."
"See you Monday." Eddie says.
Eddie grabs his bag and heads toward the door.
"Bye Eddie." Kylie says.
Eddie smiles. "Bye Kylie. It was nice meeting you."
Kylie smiles.
"Bye Loren." Eddie says before walking out the door.
"Bye."
When Eddie is gone, Loren takes the poster and her laptop back to her room. "You ready to go to bed kiddo?" Loren asks Kylie.
Kylie shakes her head. "Well if you don't get ready for bed, then you won't be able to have a bubble bath."
"I'm weady." Kylie says.
"That's what I thought."
Loren picks Kylie up and takes her to the bathroom. Loren bathes her sister and puts her in her pajamas. Afterwards, she tucks Kylie in. She kisses her good night and then goes across the hall to her own room.
Eddie's House
Eddie walks through the door and walks toward the stairs.
"Where the hell have you been?" His uncle asks him.
"None of your business."
"I'm the one who has to take care of you so it is my business."
"Since when do you care about the places I go anyway? Why don't you just go back to being drunk all day? That's what you're good at." Eddie says.
"You think you can disrespect me in my own house?" Eddie's uncle stands up and drunkenly stumbles toward Eddie. You are an ungrateful little basturd. The only reason I took you in after Katy died was because of the money, but that's not even worth it since you're such a pain in my ass."
"Well you won't have to worry about me for that much longer because I'll be gone as soon as I graduate. The sooner I get away from you, the better." Eddie says coldly.
"That'll be the day." Ben slurs. He stumble back over to his chair and picks up the beer bottle beside his chair.
Eddie walks up to his room and he is fuming. He runs his hands through his hair and sits on his bed. He takes a quick shower to calm himself down. When he walks back into his room, his phone buzzes. When he looks, the message is from Loren.
Hope you got home ok. Have a good night.
The side of Eddie's mouth curves up and he texts her back.
I did, thanks. You have a good night too.
Eddie puts his phone down and puts on a t-shirt and boxers. He lies in bed thinking until he finally falls asleep.
Hope you guys liked this chapter. Tell me what you like and what you'd like to see. Can't wait to hear from you guys.