A short time later the Gang arrived at the restaurant Jude and Starr had chosen for lunch. The restaurant was a nice little Mexican place that had recently opened up downtown and was supposed to have really good food. Jude and Starr had eaten there once before and assured the others that the critics were right about how good the food was. But even without Jude and Starr's assurances the others were happy to eat here, especially Jonesy, who had been dying to try this place ever since Jude had told him about it. And so, here they were, about to enjoy what Jude claimed was the best food he had ever eaten.
Once the Gang was seated and had made their orders, Caitlin turned their conversation to the surprise meeting with Coach Halder at Skate City. "So, am I the only one who thought it was weird running into Coach at Skate City?" she asked.
"What makes you say that?" Jen asked, with a curious glance at the blond.
"I don't know." Caitlin admitted. "It just seems kind of strange that he'd show up there just to check in on you."
"Yeah, well, like he said, Ron told him we were gonna be there." Jen said. "And I don't think it's weird he wants to check in on me. I did work for him for a long time, you know?"
"Yeah, but couldn't he have met you somewhere else?" Caitlin asked. "It just seems strange that he'd go to Ron to find out where you'd be."
"Actually, I think Ron went to him." Nikki said. "At least that's the impression I got."
"Okay, whatever." Caitlin said, her tone irritated. "That still doesn't explain why they were talking about Jen at all."
"Jeez Cait, why are you making such a big deal about this?" Jonesy asked. "Why does it matter why they were talking about Jen? Isn't the fact that they showed concern about her wellbeing good enough?"
"I guess it is." Caitlin answered, though she seemed unsure. "I guess I was just thinking it was weird that two old men were talking about Jen behind her back. Sorry I brought it up."
"It's fine Cait." Jen said. "I appreciate your concern, truly I do, but I don't think you need to worry about Ron and Coach doing anything to me. Coach genuinely cares about me and Ron...well, he may be grumpy, but I don't think he's a pervert."
"Yeah, you're probably right about that." Caitlin conceded. "I just get paranoid sometimes that there's someone waiting to attack and rape one of us."
"Fucking hell Caitlin, why would think something like that?" Nikki asked, horrified.
"I don't know." Caitlin answered. "Maybe I've been watching too much TV or something."
"Yeah, maybe you have." Wyatt said, just as horrified as Nikki.
"Yeah, I agree bro." said Jude. "So could we turn this conversation in a less fucked up direction please?"
"Yeah, lets talk about the food that's just arrived." Jonesy said, eying the plates of steaming, sizzling food that had just been placed on the table.
"Good idea bro." Jude said, grinning and slapping Jonesy a high five.
None of them had known what to get when they had arrived at the restaurant so they had chosen to order a variety of dishes and share them amongst themselves. That seemed to have been a good decision, especially now that food had arrived, for sitting there before them were plates stacked high with tacos, burritos, taquitos, carne asada, beans, and a variety of other delicious Mexican food.
For the next twenty minutes or so the Gang ate in silence, all of them too consumed in the magnificence of their food to talk. Jude and Starr had been right, this was the best Mexican food in town and all of them knew they'd be eating here again in the future.
Finally, after a long moment of silent eating, Jude paused and glanced around the table before belching. "Excuse me dudes." he said, while Jonesy fought to keep himself from laughing. "Anyway, there is another reason why Starr and I wanted to bring you guys here besides the food."
"You needed a reason other than the food?" Jonesy asked, confused.
"We didn't need another reason." Starr said. "We just thought it would be nice to treat you all to lunch before we told you."
"Told us what?" Caitlin asked, just as confused as Jonesy.
"That we've decided to have our wedding at Skate City." Starr answered, smiling.
Her statement was greeted by stunned silence, as none of the others had any idea how to react to something like this.
"Well, what do you guys think?" Jude asked, after a moment of silence.
"I...I don't know what to say Jude." Jen said. "Are you sure this is what you want to do? I mean, it's one thing to hold a bachelor party there, but an actual wedding? I don't know how that would even work."
"It'll be fine bra." Jude said. "Think about it. There is no other place on Earth better for me and Starr to get married. It's the greatest skate park on the planet and it'll be the most radical wedding ever, don't you think?"
"Well yeah Jude, of course it would be a radical wedding." Jonesy said. "But do you think it's possible? I mean, do you think the city will let you hold your wedding there?"
"They let you hold your bachelor party there, didn't they?" Starr asked.
"Yeah, but like Jen said, a bachelor party is one thing. A wedding is something else entirely." Jonesy said.
"What do the rest of you think?" Starr asked, glancing at the rest of the group.
"Honestly I think it's a great idea." Nikki said. "But I have to agree with Jonesy and Jen. I think it'll be hard for you to get permission to hold your wedding there."
"I'm inclined to agree with them." Wyatt said, his tone apologetic as he glanced at Jude.
"I...well, if I'm being honest I think it won't work either." Caitlin said, not meeting Jude's gaze. "Which is sad, because it is a good idea in theory."
Jude and Starr both sat in stunned silence following the admissions of their friends. Neither of them could say they were totally surprised by this reaction, but they had expected at least one of the others to be supportive of their decision to hold their wedding at Skate City. But before either of them could comment on this they were interrupted by someone else whose opinion they had not been expecting.
"Well, I, for one, think it is a wonderful idea and I think it can be done." said a familiar voice, making them all turn to find Darth and Julie smiling at them from the next table.
"Thank you Julie." Starr said, smiling. "It's nice to see that someone thinks Jude and I can pull this off." She cast a dark look at the others as she spoke, making them shrink in their seats.
"You're welcome Starr." Julie said, smiling as well.
"What makes you think they can do it?" Jonesy asked then, drawing Julie's attention.
"It's quite simple actually." Julie answered. "All they need to do is meet with the city council and explain their situation. That should be enough to get them permission to use Skate City as the location for their wedding."
"And what if it's not?" Jude asked, suddenly concerned.
"Well, then you'll have to come up with another plan." Julie said. "But it'll work, trust me."
"Okay, we'll go do that once we're done here." Jude said. "Thanks bra."
"No problem." Julie said, smiling again. "It's always nice to help friends."
"How long have you two been sitting there anyway?" Wyatt asked.
"We came in just after you did." Darth answered. "You guys were so busy deciding what to order that you didn't notice us."
"I guess not." Jonesy said. "Either that or you really are a Jedi."
"No, I am not a Jedi." Darth said, annoyed. "As I have already explained to you, I gave up on that dream years ago."
"Okay, sorry I mentioned it." Jonesy said. "By the way Julie, I'm surprised you're willing to eat here after spending so long working at Wonder Taco."
"Yes, well, I don't let the fact that I worked at that crappy excuse for a restaurant stop me from enjoying good Mexican food." Julie said.
"That's good to know." Jen said. "I'm glad working at Wonder Taco didn't ruin Mexican food for you, especially now that you have this place to eat at."
"Trust me Jen, it'll take a lot more than working at Wonder Taco to ruin Mexican food for me." Julie said, smiling. "As Darth can attest to, since we've eaten lunch here every day since this place opened."
"Really?" Caitlin asked. "Why would do something like that?"
"Well, partially because the food is so good." said Darth. "And partially because our comic shop is just two blocks from here."
"Speaking of which, did Diego and Robbie stop by earlier?" Jonesy asked.
"Yeah, we had some comics waiting for them." Darth answered. "Why do you ask?"
"We ran in to them at Skate City before we came here and I just thought I'd ask." Jonesy answered, grinning.
"Whatever, they're your brothers." Darth said, with a shrug. "Anyway, we've got to go. So, we'll talk to you guys later."
"Yeah, see you later." Nikki said, as Darth and Julie took their leave.
As soon as they were gone Jonesy turned to Jude and Starr and apologized, an action the others quickly followed. To their surprise Jude and Starr were not angry, Julie's helpful information seeming to have calmed whatever anger had been there. With that, Jude paid for their meal and they took their leave. Jonesy wanted to hang out more, but Nikki said she wasn't feeling well so they headed home. A short time later, Jude and Starr left as well, followed by Caitlin, leaving Jen and Wyatt alone once again. They would head back to Wyatt's place, though they ended up just watching TV for awhile before going to bed, Wyatt talking the whole time about how Jude was right about his idea being radical, while Jen just worried about Nikki and Jonesy the whole time.
A/N: Well, there's chapter 4. Sorry it took so long to get this up. I meant to post it last week, but I got really busy with the online class I've been taking. Anyway, we now know the location of Jude and Starr's wedding, or at least where they want it to be. Also, I'll reveal next chapter what's going on with Nikki and Jonesy and it may surprise you. Finally, sorry if reading this chapter made you hungry with all the mentions of Mexican food, but that's something you'll have to deal with on your own.