I was wondering if I should go ahead and change the rating to T for teen? There are future references coming up that I'm sure most parents wouldn't want their kids reading…
As a punishment for the mess Patricia and Eddie made, they had to stay after work hours and clean out the oven and the deep fryers for the tater tots and fries. Patricia didn't mind; she was beginning to trust Eddie a little more.
"I cannot believe we did that!" Patricia laughed.
"Me either!" Eddie agreed, happy Patricia was finally becoming friendlier toward him. He couldn't believe she was letting her usual guard down as much as she was. He smartly decided to take full advantage of the moment. "So, who are your friends here?"
"The little group you hang out with—you know, Drew and them?—used to be my close friends. Now it's mainly Drew, Jack, and Cody that I sometimes hang out with. Not as much, though. My best friend is Joy, you don't know her yet. You'll probably see her around town."
"What about Ava?" Eddie asked.
"No. Not friends with her." Patricia said, not bothering to explain why.
"Oh." Eddie shortly said. He tore another napkin off to finish scrubbing the grease off of the deep fryer he was cleaning. "Do you know her well?"
Patricia's head was in the oven. At the sound of this question, she raised her head, hitting it on the stove. "What?" she screeched as she crossed her arms. Patricia was obviously back to her old self.
Eddie sighed, frustrated that she kept changing her mood so quickly. "Never mind."
"Whatever." Patricia rolled her eyes.
"How come you do that?" Eddie asked without thinking.
"Do what?" Patricia dared him to go continue.
"That. Exactly that." Eddie motioned at Patricia. "You're all happy and willing to talk one minute, then you put the wall back up the next. Why?"
"Maybe I have my reasons, okay?"
"Whatever it is, try to let it go. You're keeping so many secrets from everyone. I've heard you and your sister talking. Why do you bottle up the past?" He went to grab her arm, but she yanked it away.
"You don't know anything about me, past, present, or future, so just leave me alone!" she slammed the oven door closed, clearly done with her chores and the conversation. "I'm out of here." She opened and slammed the heavy backdoor behind her.
Eddie, on the other hand, was so frustrated he kicked the counter he was standing by. When he did, he stubbed his toe. Now, not only did his head hurt, but his toe did, too. Eddie also felt his heart sink, truly sorry that he had acted that way toward Patricia. Eddie had made a huge mistake and he knew it.
