"Where in the world are they?" Scout asked
impatiently. "I thought we were clear
that were meeting at seven." Scout
looked at his watch, "It's almost seven thirty."
"Scout, hush. You're whining, and it's really not attractive," Bella pointed out to
her boyfriend, who was sitting behind the counter across from her. "Besides,
why are you in such a rush? Tonight is
supposed to be a fun night. Even
if we miss the movie, we can still find something to do, like going to Milford
instead. So, be patient." Bella got up from her chair, walked towards
Scout, and kissed him on the lips.
Scout grabbed Bella, and continued kissing her passionately. "I'm sorry." Scout wrapped his arms around Bella. "You know, we can call this whole night off," Scout said smiling, and looking at Bella mischievously. "We can just stay here, and continue this," then kissed Bella again.
"No Scout," Bella said retuning Scout's kiss, and
then looking him straight in the face. "As much as I love to continue kissing you, and be with you, I also want
to hang out with our friends tonight. School's starting next week, and we're all going to be busy. I just want to spend sometime with
them." Bella gave Scout another kiss
then said, "I hope you understand."
Scout smiled, "Yeah, I understand." Scout looked at his watch again. "You know, not to sound impatient…again, but
they should be here by now."
Suddenly, they saw a car stopping in front of the
gas station. "Well, I think that's
Jake…and Will." Bella grinned at Scout.
"We're here," Jake greeted as she and Will enter the
gas station.
"Yes, and you're both late," Scout bellowed while
tapping at his watch.
"Oh Scout, stop whining. It doesn't suit you," replied Jake while smiling at Scout
condescendingly. "Hey Bella, sorry we
got in here late." Jake walked toward
Bella and gave her friend a quick hug.
"Agh," Scout said sarcastically, and placed his
hands on his chest. "Can you say I'm
hurt? Apologizing to the girl friend but not the guy friend?"
"Scout, can you say over-dramatic?" Will said
while shaking his head and laughing at his friend.
"Yeah Scout, what did I say about you being so
whinny?" Bella asked sarcastically.
"Okay," Jake interrupted, and turned to Scout. "Scout, my friend, I'm sorry that we got
here late." Jake raised her right
hand. "I promise not to be late again
so you will never have a hissy-fit ever again." Jake burst into laughter, and Bella and Will joined in.
Scout interrupted the laughter, "Okay, okay,
okay. I guess I got a bit—" Jake, Will,
and Bella looked at each other, then all of them gave Scout a mocking
look. "Okay. I was over dramatic, so sue
me," Scout admitted.
"Anyway," Jake said as she tried to compose
herself. "Enough with all these
nonsense." Jake looked at Scout, "No
hard feelings, right Scout?"
"No hard feelings." Scout walked towards Jake, and gave her a bear hug. "You're irritating but I can't get mad at
you."
"I know," Jake replied and returned Scout's hug.
"So guys, what are we doing tonight?" Will asked.
"Well I think movie's out," Bella answered then
looked at Scout, as if asking for an agreement.
"Yeah," Scout replied. "It takes about 30 minutes to drive to Madison, and by the time
we get there, the movie has probably started already. Then the next showing will be at 10, and our night's wasted,"
Scout explained.
"So, what's plan B?" Jake asked.
"Plan B is going to Milford," Scout answered.
"But Milford is like an hour away from here," Jake pointed
out.
"Yeah, what's in Milford?" Will inquired.
"There's a club in Milford that Grace told me about,
and she said it's really great. We can
dance, catch up, and have a wonderful time tonight. I mean it's not like the greatest club compare to the one we went
to in New York but it should be fun," Bella informed Will and Jake. "So, is that okay with you guys?"
"Jake and Will looked at each other expressing an
agreement, and Will answered, "That's fine."
"Yeah, sounds fun," Jake replied.
"Awesome," Bella said excitedly. "You know what, why don't we all go in
Scout's SUV. It's big enough to fit all
of us. And besides, it's kinda stupid
to drive there separate when the plan for tonight is for all of us to be
together. So, what do you guys think?
"No problem here," Scout answered Bella as he walked
towards her, and then placing his arms over her shoulders. "I think that will be more convenient."
"Yes, I think so too," Jake agreed. "So shall we go?"
"Yeah, oh wait," Scout halted. "We're still waiting for two people."
"Two people?" a confused Jake asked.
The door of the gas station opened. "Hey guys, sorry we're late," Hamilton said
as he and Elise walked into the gas station.
Jake was taken a back when she saw them come in, and
looked at Bella wide-eyed in disbelief silently asking, "Why wasn't I informed
that they will be joining them tonight." Bella could only answer Jake with an apologetic and a guilty look.
Hamilton, in the other hand, stopped for a moment
when he realized that Jake was in the room. He should have known that Jake would be there.
"Hey Ham, you're back," Will interrupted to break
the silence.
"Will," Hamilton replied. Hamilton and Will gave each other a high five, and a quick
embrace. "How's it going Will?"
"Fine, how about you? When did you return?"
"Yesterday," Hamilton said as he subtly glanced at
Jake who was standing beside Scout and Bella. He noticed that Jake seemed apprehensive. Suddenly, Hamilton felt a nudge on his side, and turned to see
Elise. "Oh, guys, this is Elise, my
girlfriend," Hamilton said as he tried to hide his uneasiness.
"Hi!" Elise said shyly.
"Elise, these are Will, Scout, Bella…" then Hamilton
turned to Jake, who was also trying not to look uncomfortable. "And you know Jak…er…Jacqueline." Jake looked at Hamilton wryly.
Jake smiled at Elise. "Hello again."
Elise, nice to meet you," Bella said, and gave her
friendly smile.
"Nice to finally meet you," Scout replied, and shook
Elise's hands.
Will followed Scout, and finally said, "Same here."
"It's really nice to finally meet all of you," Elise
replied.
"Okay, now that everyone's here, shall we," Scout
said ushering everyone out of the gas station. "Oh by the way Hamilton, we've decided to all ride in my SUV, unless you
want to drive there."
Hamilton and Elise looked at each other, and seemed
to found an agreement. "That's fine,"
Hamilton replied. "Both of us will ride
with all of you. It'll be great."
********************
Everyone got into the SUV. Bella sat in the passenger seat next to Scout. Will and Jake sat next to each other, as
well as Hamilton and Elise, in the back seat. Hamilton and Will sitting by the window, and Jake and Elise in the
middle.
Everyone had been relatively quiet. Scout and Bella held each other's hands, and
occasionally would give each other a loving smile. All that time, Jake had been watching them, and could not help
but smile. Bella and Scout had been
through so many obstacles. Now that
they are together, they deserve all the happiness in the world. However, Jake could also not help feeling a
little jealous. Now, glancing at
Hamilton and Elise, they seemed to be happy with one another. "Did she really make the right decision –
giving up the love of her life and her future?" Jake questioned herself
silently.
Will noticed the solemn look in Jake's silhouette,
and with affection grabbed her hands and laced his finger with hers. Jake glanced at Will, and gave him a
thankful smile. In return, Will gave Jake
a look that let her know that He will always be there for her.
Hamilton saw the gestures that transpired between
Jake and Will, and tensed a little. Hamilton realized that seeing the affection between Jake and Will made
him jealous. Nevertheless, he tried to
put the feeling behind him. "Elise is
his girlfriend now, and what he's feeling towards Jake at the moment is just
reflex reaction and a side effect of seeing her once again," Hamilton replied
to himself.
"So guys, where we going?" Elise asked sensing the
awkward silence in the car, especially in the back seat.
Bella turned and peeked her head from her seat
towards the back seat then answered, "We're going to a club in Milford."
"So have you all been there before?" Elise inquired.
"No, this will be our first time. My sister told me
about it, and I thought it would be fun to check it out," Bella replied.
"Adventurous," Elise remarked. "So guys, tell me something about
yourselves."
Scout glanced at Bella, and gave her an
uncomfortable look. Will and Jake, in
the other hand, subtly gave each other an awkward expression.
"Well," Bella started not wanting to have Elise
feeling uncomfortable. "Will and I grew
up together in New Rawley. You could
say we're townies. Although Hamilton
also grew up in New Rawley, we didn't know him because he spent his childhood
in the confines of Rawley Academy."
"I got a scholarship at Rawley Boys my freshman
year," Will continued. "That's when I
met Scout, Ham, and Jacqueline."
"Then, one thing led to another, and I met and
became friends with Scout, Ham, and Jacqueline. Basically, we all became friends in the summer of our freshman
year." Bella finished.
"I'm from Greenwich by the way," Scout
interjected. " And I love it at New
Rawley especially having all my friends. We all been through a lot. Even
when Jacqueline left and when Ham moved away two years ago, we kept in touch,"
Scout finished not knowing that Bella, Will, Jake, and especially Hamilton were
all hoping that Scout does not spill too much information.
"Jacqueline or is it J.C.? Elise asked.
"Jacqueline's fine," Jake answered.
"So Jacqueline, you left Rawley too," Elise said it
in curiosity.
"Yeah. After
the summer session of freshman year, I left due to some personal reasons that
I'd rather keep to my self if you don't mind." Jake was feeling a little uneasy. She did not want to sound standoff-ish to Elise but it was obvious that
Hamilton never told Elise about her, and why he left New Rawley. "I came back the second semester of
sophomore year."
Elise turned to Hamilton. "Isn't that about the same time you transferred to Elton
Academy?"
"Yeah," was the only word that Hamilton could reply.
"Jacqueline, where you from?"
"I'm from New York," Jake answered Elsie.
"Wow, that's cool. City girl, huh. Do you miss New
York when you're at New Rawley?"
"I don't really miss the city itself. I'm hardly ever there anyways. See, my mom spend most of her time now in
London, where she keeps an apartment, and I usually spend my vacation with
her. The only one I miss in New York is
Consuela, the housekeeper in our house in New York," Jake explained.
"You still have a house in new York?" Elise asked.
"My mom doesn't really want to give it up, and I will
not let her," Jake answered.
"Hey guys," Scout interrupted. "We're almost there. Get ready to for a wonderful time."
"Wonderful, yeah sure," Jake thought. All she knew that it will be a very long and awkward night.
