Disclaimer: see previous chapters
Despite the fact that my SATs are driving me insane, and also I get to be on tv b/c of a *cough* spelling bee, I have decided to get this next chapter up and posted. You may be asking, a spelling bee? Yes, I did say spelling bee, unfortunately, for me anyway. It's a big thing that the newspaper, The San Diego Union Tribune will be covering. Over 100 schools will be involved and it will be aired on some cable channel later in the day. *sighs* it wouldn't be so bad if the stupid thing wasn't just another geek fest in which students end up making fools of themselves, and principals and teachers get to gloat and/or bicker about whose school is better. Being from a private school certainly does not make things any better, but instead makes everything suck even more. Hmmmm, I do believe I have rambled enough, so I guess I'll get on with the rest of the story….
Why???? Part 4
Caitie and Jamie walked out onto the sidewalk of the busy city. Jamie hailed a cab, and they were soon on there way to day of shopping and site seeing. "I can't wait to go shopping" exclaimed Caitie, "its gonna be so much fun" she looked at Jamie with a mischievous grin.
"Uh huh, for you perhaps" he replied
"Oh Jamie," she complained lightly punching him in the shoulder.
"Hey, ow, ok, sorry" he cried overly whining, "I'm kidding, I don't care where you wanna go, as long as I'm with you"
"Aww, Ja-mie" Caitie scooted closer to him and let him put his arm around her shoulder. He gently kissed her on the top of her head.
"Bloomingdale's" called the cab driver when they arrived next to the sidewalk in front of the huge store. Caitie quickly hopped out of the cab and took in the sites. So many people going every which way. She was amazed. Meanwhile, Jamie handed the driver a ten dollar bill and let him keep the change. The driver sped off back into the street.
"Shall we go?" Jamie asked holding his arm out for Caitie.
"Why yes of course" she replied slipping her arm around his. The two walked through the double doors into the rather large department store.
They had spent two hours when they finally left. Caitie carrying her purse and two Medium Brown Bags, and Jamie carrying three Big Brown Bags and two Small brown bags. The only thing that Jamie got was a pair of Ralph Lauren socks that he would probably never wear, but Caitie had picked them out for him. They were red with blue diamonds on them. Caitie had an evil smile as the saleswoman scanned the bar code. Jamie however had a look of fear and worry.
"So now where to?" Caitie asked.
"Um, do you want to go have lunch?"Jamie asked switching his hold on a few of the bags.
"Yeah, sure" she agreed.
"Ok, well, where do you wanna go?" Jamie asked. "There's a really good Thai place closer to the apartment."
"Oh, that sounds great"
"Ok, we just need a cab 'cause I am not walking all the way there…especially when I'm carrying half you closet" Jamie added putting the bags he was holding in his right hand and signaling for a cab. They were soon on their way again. Caitie was busy looking out the window watching the sites of the city go by. She was in awe at everything around her. Skyscrapers, people everywhere. In about fifteen minutes the cab stopped in front of the elaborately decorated restaurant. Jamie paid the fare, but got his change back and him and Caitie walked in.
"Sawasdee kah, and welcome to Thai Orchid" greeted the obviously Thai hostess. "Two?" she asked.
"Yes" Caitie replied.
"Right this way please" the hostess grabbed two menus from the box and walked off into the large dining area. She placed the menus on the table and pulled out the chairs. "Your server will be right with you"
Caitie and Jamie sat down in their chairs. Both looked at the menu trying to decipher it. "Geez, I can't even read this when they put it in English" Jamie complained. "How sad is that?"
Caitie giggled, "Jamie, you just need to get out more, that's all"
"Oh, and I suppose you can read this?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
"Why yes I can" she declared.
Just then their waitress approached the table, her notepad in hand. "Hello, may I get you something to drink?" she asked.
"Coke for me please" Jamie replied still staring at the menu
"I'll have ice coffee" Caitie answered politely.
After the waitress left Jamie looked up from his menu and asked "Isn't coffee supposed to be hot, not iced?"
"Jamie its Thai iced coffee, its really good, and really sweet" she replied shaking her head.
"Um, right, whatever" he said as he looked back down at the menu. "So since you know everything about everything what do you suggest we have?" he asked mockingly.
"Well, do you like roasted duck?" she asked him
"Duck? As in quack quack duck?" he asked her, eyes wide.
"No Jamie," she said sarcastically, "as in oink oink duck, what duck did you think I was talking about?"
"Sorry, um, I've never had duck before" he admitted
"Well, you have to try it" she said. "Wait, you suggested this place and you have no idea what's what, or what to have?"
"Um yeah pretty much" he replied nodding his head.
Caitie sighed and let out a bit of a laugh. When the waitress came back with their drinks Caitie ordered for them. "How about the pbet yan(roasted duck), pad thai(noodles in a spicy peanut sauce), and papya salad."
"Will that be all?" the waitress asked after quickly writing everything down on her notepad.
"Um, yes, that's it" Caitie replied. And with that the waitress took the menus and made her way back to the kitchen.
"Hey, uh, Cait, what are we having?" Jamie asked looking a bit concerned.
"Just wait till it comes" she replied smiling.
"Gee, can't wait" he said rolling his eyes.
"Don't worry" she assured him
"Yeah right"
About 15 minutes later the waitress came back with their food. She placed each dish on the table and followed with two empty plates. "Enjoy your meal" she said to them.
"Thanks" Caitie replied.
"What the heck?" Jamie asked as soon as the waitress was out of ear shot.
"Here," she said as she picked up the dish of papaya salad. "Try this, it's papaya salad"
Jamie made a face and as he picked up his fork and reluctantly shoved a fork full of salad in his mouth. "Ugh, it tastes weird" he complained.
"Geez, you really need to get out more." She told him.
"If it means eating this stuff…no thanks" he replied. Jamie looked back and forth between the plate of noodles and the plate of duck sitting in front of him. "Donald never was my favorite" he said picking up the plate of duck and eyeing it.
Caitie laughed and pushed back her chair. "I'll be right back" she told him getting up and heading for the women's bathroom.
Caitie pushed open the door and stepped inside. She stood in front of the mirror and placed her black purse on the counter. She pulled out a tube of Plum Shine lipstick, a purplish brownish hue, and applied it to her lips. She then pulled out her cell phone, she wanted to call her voice mail to see if Val noticed anything yet. "You have 17 new messages" the voice said to her. "Caitie?? Caitie?? Are you really in New York?? You have got to be kidding me, I cant believe you! Please call me back ASAP!! Please!!" the message was from Val. Caitie shook her head, god Val, she thought, you're worse than my mom. Caitie listened to the next three messages, each one was from Val. Each time she seemed to be even more anxious than before.
Jamie sat at the table attacking his food with his fork. "thank god Thai people don't usually use chopsticks" he mumbled to himself wondering just what was really in the food, and how was he supposed to eat it anyway.
Caitie came out of the bathroom and made her way back to the table where Jamie still sat examining his food. "Have you completely forgotten what you're supposed to do when you have food on your plate?" she asked him.
"I just don't know what I'm supposed to eat…I'm used to burgers, fries, tacos, -"
"Junk food" Caitie finished for him. "You eat junk food, not real food, try and expand your horizons once in a while, try something new"
Jamie looked at her with an amused look on his face. "You could end up one of those councelors at school that tries to convince kids that there's more to life than sitting around, or shopping, or sleeping through school"
"Hmmm, I could start with you" she said sarcastically.
"Funny, I don't shop though." He told her knowing that wasn't much of an excuse.
"Yeah, but you still need to get out and learn stuff about different cultures, you never know what you might find"
"Like what?" Jamie challenged.
"Well, like…" Caitie wasn't able to finish her response to Jamie's challenged, for before she could continue shots rang out through the entire restaurant. Immediately, Jamie grabbed her and pulled her to the ground, he wrapped his arms around her. "are you ok?" Jamie asked, his voice sounding worried.
"Yeah, just scared, you?"
"I'm fine" he replied. Just then six more shots echoed through the building. Jamie wrapped his arms around Caitie even more. They crouched beneath the table, Caitie tightening her grip on Jamie's leather jacket.
"Jamie" Caitie cried worried
"Its ok" he calmed her "I'm here, don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you"
The next sounds they heard were glass shattering, people
screaming, and plates crashing to the floor. Omigod! Whats happening Caitie thought to herself.
Well that's it for now…I shall return! Don't forget to review!! Gracias
My new homepage is http://angelfire.com/weird/riospage