"The croissants are fresh."
Jane's voice stopped Tom before he could hurry past the kitchen and out the door. She was sitting at the table slathering another croissant with butter facing the door. Tom turned towards her.
"I'm not real good company right now."
Last night was no picnic either.
"Come on sit. Elise said your mother will be gone to a charity board meeting or something at nine. Wait until after then so you can sneak back in and get yourself cleaned up."
Tom glanced back towards the hall.
"Don't worry about them. They've got to talk." Jane offered.
Tom sat across from her and took a croissant.
"Drinking and driving-" Jane raised a brow.
"I know. I've already been told how awful I am for putting the lives of others in danger."
"You could have hurt yourself too."
"No great loss there."
"It's high school Tom. Is it really worth possibly hurting yourself and others for? You've had girlfriends before."
Yeah, I know…you…she's so different though…
"You know," he chewed a piece of the delicate bread before continuing, "before you came into my life, I was pretty content."
"You told me you were bored." Jane smiled and drank some of her now tepid coffee.
"Yeah, well…boring doesn't seem so bad right now."
"So, what now? Lunch at the country club with Mitsy and Chad?"
Not likely… I can't see me going back.
"I'm not sure." Tom thought about the things that he used to do and the people that he used to hang out with and realized that he had distanced himself from all of it since that fateful night at The Zon.
Jane studied him saying nothing.
"Can I – can we…"
"Be friends?" Jane supplied to which he nodded. She thought about it for a moment. "I guess…only…"
"What?"
"Do you want to stay friends with me just to be close to her?" Jane held her breath waiting for an answer.
Tom looked down at the bitten croissant.
"I like talking to you." He stated honestly.
"That's not what I asked you."
They looked at each other.
"Okay, I'd be lying if I said I didn't still have feelings for her, but I need a friend right now."
"Oh, geez and you picked me." Jane snorted.
"If you're not comfortable…"
"I wasn't comfortable with you dumping me for my best friend," she rapidly retorted with a wicked smile, "but friendship- I'll try it."
Tom smiled and shook his head.
You're truly an extraordinary woman Jane…to bad I realized it too late.
"Okay friend. Finish your coffee and croissant and then head home."
They smiled at each other and finished their meal in silence.
