After watching some TV together, Jay asked, "Are you hungry?"
"Yeah, a little." Emma answered.
As the sun was setting, they drove over to the Dot, for dinner.
"Wow, we've literally spent all day together." Emma observed.
"Yeah, well, you slept through most of it."
"A girl's gotta have her beauty rest."
"Is that so? Well, it's definitely working for you."
They pulled up to the Dot, walked in, and sat down at a table across from the door. Their waiter, Spinner, came over to take their order.
"Hey, Spin," the couple said in unison.
"What can I get you guys?"
Spinner took their order and then went off to start making it.
"You know," Jay said to Emma, "this is the exact spot where I talked you into giving me a real chance."
"What was I thinking?" Emma asked with a smirk.
"Aww, now how did I end up with someone so sweet?" Jay teased.
They both snickered and then Spinner returned to their table with their food.
"Thanks," they said in unison, again.
Spinner laughed, shook his head, and went back to work. Emma and Jay talked and enjoyed their meal. Jay paid the bill and left a sizable tip for his friend, on the table. They stood up, took each other's hand, and headed toward the door. Just as they were about to walk out, someone from Jay's partying past walked in. Some of Jay's friends had stopped hanging around him when he started dating Emma. They thought he had gone soft and were mad that he did not party much anymore. This…ex-friend…was no exception.
"Now isn't this sweet?" the guy asked, salivating with sarcasm.
Trying to avoid a nasty confrontation, Jay turned to Emma. "Let's just go, okay?"
Despite Emma's confusion with the sudden tension emanating from the two guys, she nodded in agreement with Jay. Their attempt to leave, however, was blocked.
"Don't be like that, man. I was hoping I could catch up with you and your girlfriend, here." The goon boldly grazed Emma's shoulder with his hand.
"Back off!" Jay barked.
"Aww, come on. I was just admiring how hot Greenpeace Nelson has gotten." He turned to Emma. "Give me a call when you get tired of this loser."
Jay felt Emma take a step back, no doubt on edge. "I mean it, man. Just back off!" Jay retorted.
"And, if I don't?"
Jay pulled Emma behind him and then released her hand.
"Jay." Emma preemptively cautioned.
"It's okay. I know what I'm doing." Jay whispered to Emma. Then he turned back to the sleaze ball. "If you don't, then I might just have to make you back off." Jay gave the guy a good, hard, shove.
He shoved Jay right back and then some of his buddies, who were sitting at a table nearby, stood up and walked over to lend a hand against Jay. Spinner saw the beginnings of a fight transpire and rushed over.
However, instead of trying to diffuse the situation, Spinner turned to Jay and yelled, "Not in here, man! I could get fired. Take it outside, okay?"
"Yeah, man," the punk taunted, "let's take it outside."
"Fine." Jay spat.
"Jay, no!" Emma pleaded.
"I'll be fine. Just stay here!"
Spinner yelled to Jay, "Dude, I'd help you, but I can't just leave. I need this job."
"It's cool. Just make sure she stays inside, would ya?"
"Yeah, sure." Spinner loyally agreed.
Emma hated being told to 'stay' like a little kid, or a dog, but Jay's defenses had already kicked into overdrive and it seemed she did not have much of a choice at this point. When the door closed behind the guys, Emma rushed over to the window to try to see what was going on. The boys, though, had already rounded the corner into a dark alley, out of site.
*Outside*
"I don't see what the big deal is. I mean, obviously you're gettin' some, if you're still with her. Just share the wealth already."
"It's not even like that," Jay said through gritted teeth, "and I don't like what you're implying."
"What? We all know she's been to the ravine. You know how it works. Plenty to go around, right?"
Jay's fist connected with the jerk's jaw and he went down, but then his friends went after Jay…
*Back Inside*
"Spinner, come on, I have to do something!" Emma yelled frantically. "There were so many of them!"
"No!" Spinner reprimanded, from behind the counter. "Jay can handle himself. Just stay here!"
Emma huffed in a mix of feeling anger and helplessness, then, acted on impulse. "Spinner, give me your phone!"
"What?"
"You're cell phone! I need to borrow it!"
"Fine. Here, take it." Spinner dug his cell phone out of his back pocket and handed it to Emma.
*Outside*
Two guys had a hold of Jay and a third was mercilessly wailing on him, when Jay's friend, Towerz, showed up with a few others. Jay was able to free himself and went after the cretin who started the whole thing, while Towerz and his allies went after the other guys. The tables turned rather quickly, and Jay and his friends were able to run the other guys off pretty easily.
"Cowards!" Towerz taunted after them.
"Thanks for having my back." Jay commended with genuine relief and gratitude. "Where did you guys even come from?"
"Emma called me." Towerz explained. "I figured it must have been pretty bad, if she was asking for myhelp…and on Spin's phone. That's some girl you got there."
"Believe me, I know." Jay beamed.
...
Jay and his allies headed back to the Dot and as soon as they appeared in Emma's field of vision, she ran to the door.
"Emma, no!" Spinner commanded again. "Stay out of it!"
"Spin, look!" Emma pointed out the window, to their approaching friends.
"Oh, okay." Spinner replied. "Fine, go ahead."
Emma ran outside and threw her arms around Jay. "I'm so glad you're okay!"
Jay winced in pain and pulled Emma off of him, carefully. "Whoa, easy."
"Oh, gosh, I'm sorry." Emma apologized. "Let's go back to your place, so I can fix you up." She gently put Jay's arm around her shoulders and allowed him to lean on her a little.
"Yeah, okay." Jay readily accepted of her idea.
"Alright now!" Towerz crooned sarcastically. "Is that what they're calling it these days?" He leaned toward Emma. "Just be gentle with him. He's a bit tender." he teased.
"Yeah, real funny, man." Jay sneered. "But, seriously, thanks again for helping me out, guys."
Jay's friends nodded in recognition of his sincerity and then went inside the Dot to chat with Spinner. Jay and Emma hopped into Jay's car and headed over to his place.
I hope that was sufficiently longer for you all! Thanks for reading and reviewing! I will update again soon. Big things are a-coming!