Chapter 5
El
"Are you sure it is, ok?" Mike asked for what felt like the 100th time. "Yes!" El exclaimed hands, on hips, "and if you ask me one more time, you're going to get a punch." "Ok, sorry" Mike said. They had just spent three blissful days together; going for long walks, playing video games, eating ice cream sundaes, it was heaven.
But El's Tennis itch was starting to need a scratch. She ached to get back on the court, to feel the grip of the racket, the texture of the ball, the whip of air as she ran. Last night, Mike had asked if he and Will could spend a day together.
…
"Yes!" She said, perhaps a little too enthusiastically. "Hey!" Mike responded, "if that's your reaction, I might as well go and get back on the plane to Hawkins." He got up dramatically and walked arms folded towards the door. El smiled slyly and picked up a Tennis magazine lying near her. Mike glanced back, "hello," he said, "you're supposed to say, no Mike don't go, I need you, or something."
"Hmm," El said to herself, covered by the magazine, "no I don't think so." Mike moved back and tilted the magazine down, "so you don't need me?" El put on a puzzled expression, "erm, I'll have to think about that one." "Like hell you will" Mike said and pushed her over.
El laughed manically and grabbed his arm pulling him forward. The magazine lay crumpled as they wrestled on the bed. "Hey you two!" Joyce's voice carried up the stairs, "keep it down!" "Sorry!" They both yelled laughing in unison. El ended up on top of Mike, hair hanging about her head, "truce?" Mike asked, "truce" El said grinning, she leaned down and they both kissed passionately.
"But yeah" Mike said from beneath her, "I feel bad coming all this way and not spending any time with Will." "That's fine" El said "and, to be honest I kind of want to play some Tennis." Mike smiled, one that melted her heart, "I thought you might say that" he said planting a soft kiss on the edge of her nose, "I'd love to come and see you play sometime". "I'd like that" El said happily, she fell into Mike's embrace lying her head against his shoulder.
…
Now it had all been agreed. Will response was, 'oh if I must,' El knowing of course how happy it made him. But now Mike seemed really off, asking every few minutes if it was ok for them to spend a day apart. "At least now he seems a bit more content" she thought, sneaking a look as he sat on the bed gazing into space.
El was ready, her bag packed and about to hoist the Tennis racket over her shoulder. Mike stood up, "so what are you planning on doing today?" He asked a little distractedly swinging his arms. El smiled to herself and put the racket down. "Well," she said, "I've definitely got to hit the gym, all these ice cream sundaes' and sitting around with you has got me really out of shape." "Yeah, I guess" Mike said lighting up a little. "Then I'll practice for a bit," she continued starting to move slowly towards him, "and if I can find anyone, I'll play a match."
"Oh cool" Mike said, "so, do you have a regular partner?" "Yeah," El replied with a touch of awkwardness, "a couple of people". "Great", Mike said, nodding.
He launched into his own day which she had also heard 100 times, "well me and Will." "You're going to the record store" El said now standing in front of Mike, "then you're going to the arcade and finally a game of pool." "Yeah", Mike said sheepishly, "sorry I guess I've told you enough times." "That's ok" El said bringing her arms around his neck, swaying gracefully, "and afterwards?"
"We've booked a restaurant tonight, Pomero's? You said it was quite posh." "It is" El said, she released one hand and walked her fingers up his chest, "so I want you looking your best."
A knock at the door made them both jump, "are you ready yet?" Will said, "I've been out here for hours." "Coming!" Mike shouted back. "So, I guess I'll see you later?" he continued. "You sure will" El said. They both had a long hug followed by a deep kiss. "Mike, I'm going without you," Will said mockingly. They broke apart, enjoy your day, Mike said with a smile and left the room.
El could just about hear their voices as they went downstairs, 'aww, Will said you're not going to do the whole, I miss you, miss you already routine?' 'Shut up!' Mike said as the door slammed.
El turned to the mirror breathing a contented sigh, she hoisted the racket onto her shoulder and with a quick glance at herself left the room, closing the door behind her.
"Ok, come on El, you can do this." She sat with her back to the exercise machine looking out at the rest of the gym. People running, working out, and weightlifting. El had to stand up slightly so she could reach the bar, which was cool under her grip, and with a deep breath brought it down. The sensation in her arms was electric but straining. She let it go with a noisy clatter.
Determined she reached and pulled it down again, this time more rhythmically and managed 15 reps, before releasing it, more carefully, back up. El felt the blood rising to her face and had to hold in a scream with all her might, contenting herself with a grunt and a fist pump to the air.
She stood up, preparing to finish her work out with a stretching session. As she stood on the mat and began with her arms, El spotted a couple of guys in the corner, whispering and casting looks in her direction. El smiled as she started on her legs. She had seen guys looking before and it used to make her feel uncomfortable, but she had gradually taken it in her stride, besides, she had cast a few looks too.
With a towel round her neck El exited, buoyed with a new surge of power. Walking past the window to the training area she spied her Simon having a knock against the wall. She stopped and watched him for a moment. "Alright" El said to herself.
Grabbing her Tennis gear from the locker El walked onto the court waving, "hey Simon" she said. "Jane." He said in mid serve looking really happy to see her, "how have you been? I've not seen you round here much." "Oh, just had a bit of a break" she said, "my boyfriend has been up to visit."
Simon's next words were all prepared, but this information stopped him dead, she never said she. "Oh" he stuttered, "that's great, you, should bring him down sometime." "I think I will" El said "but he's going back across the country soon."
El began to feel Simon's awkwardness rub off on her but the energy pulses from the gym kept her talking. "So, where's Kieron?" "Oh, he couldn't make it he's working today," Simon responded, "so", he gestured to himself regaining a bit of composure, "it's just me today." "Cool" El said, "so you ready for a game?" Simon beamed "I'd like nothing better."
…
"So, you got anything to say?" El asked gazing in Simon's direction. "You", he began, "you played well." "Well!" El said laughing, "I beat your ass and you know it." It's true, they had agreed on two sets and El had won both, 6-4, 6-3. Now they were sitting on a bench outside the leisure centre catching a breath of air. "How come" Simon said exasperated, "you can spend a load of days off, come back, and play like that, it's not fair." "Oh, boo hoo," El said giving him a punch on the arm, "I'm just super talented I guess." She looked into the distance, "and, to be honest, I'm happy than I've ever been."
"Because your boyfriends visiting?" Simon enquired. "Yes," El said, "moving away from Mike was really hard, and it was, this," she stroked her racket with affection, "that made me feel better, gave me a new strength." "Now that I have both things in my life I just feel." El did not have the words. She let out a happy noise.
Looking across she saw Simon a little forlorn, El put a hand on his shoulder, "and you helped teach me."
"I just gave you a few pointers," Simon said looking at the ground. "Jane if I'd ever," he started. El held up a hand to silence him, "there's no need Simon" she said, "I think we're both to blame." "No, it's me!" He bellowed suddenly, "I took advantage of you, and I've felt so guilty. When you stopped coming to coaching, I never forgave myself."
He got up and walked around in silence, El sat watching his movements. "When you came back the other day," Simon continued. "I had to hold in my joy like a reign, just the thought that you'd forgiven me, that we could go back to the way things were."
"We can" El said with feeling. "But Jane," Simon said, emotion rising, "you've got a boyfriend, how can things be the way they were. Erm, you knowing, how I feel about you?"
He sat on the bench head in his hands. El instinctively shuffled over though not knowing where to begin. After a silence she said, "It's El by the way." "Hmm?" Simon said looking up. "My real name is El" she said, "Jane is kind of my official name but, it's a long story."
"El," Simon said sounding the two letters, "that's nice, it suits you." "Thanks" she said, "and you've nothing to be ashamed of Simon, you've given me a special gift, for that, I'll be eternally grateful." "My biggest mistake," she continued, "was trying to separate my life; to Mike I'm El and to you I'm Jane," El said in a professorial tone. "It's time, I brought all of these things together."
She gave Simon's shoulder a squeeze, "and I want you to be my Tennis partner, and my friend." "Really?" Simon said, "thank." He began but could not finish. "No problem, mate," El said with a smile.
The two sat in silence enjoying the evening sunset. El suddenly looked up as if the sight had set something off in her, "what time is it?" "It's nearly 5" Simon said checking his watch, "5!" El shouted springing up, "I can't believe it."
"Woah, Ja, El, what's the matter?" "I've got a date planned with Mike tonight" she said fretting "and I'm miles from home, I've got to get ready and." "Where do you live?" Simon asked calmly, "I can take you home, you can get changed, and I'll drop you where you need to go." "You, you'll do that for me?" El said looking at him earnestly. "Sure", he said, "anything for a friend," El pulled him into a tight hug, "thank you Simon, thank you so much."
…
Before she knew it, El was in the passenger seat of Simon's car, speeding down the road to her house. These stressful situations always got the better of her, and El found herself gazing out the window, as she had done days before. Simon glanced out the corner of his eye, asking occasional directions, and receiving mumbled answers from this girl, he now knew as El. He was worried about her.
…
Eventually they pulled up and El quickly got out of the car. "I'll be right back" she said. Though she quickly returned and grabbed her Tennis gear before jogging off again. "She must really love that sport" Simon thought to himself drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, "far more than I do."
El charged through the front door, grateful not to meet anyone on the way up to her room. She pulled off her Tennis gear and cast it aside, jumping in the shower. After a quick dance through the water, El returned breathing heavily. She glanced at the clock, it was 5:45, the table was booked for 7:30. El allowed herself a moment to catch her breath and sat on the bed, "thank you Simon," she said to herself, "I'll make it up to you."
Her triumph returning, El even smiled. For the crack, that had held her life in two for so long, had taken another step towards healing.
Steadier this time she got ready. El dried her hair and brushed it, allowing it to fall long over her shoulders, "just the way Mike likes," she thought to herself happily. Taking an elegant black dress from the wardrobe she had pre-selected El put it on with a swish. Soft red lipstick, gold earrings, blusher and black eyeliner completed the look. She even had a spare moment to spray on some perfume.
Putting on some black heels El surveyed herself in the mirror. "Not bad," she thought. "You'll do," she said pointing to her reflection.
It was 18:45, still time to arrive in style. El walked down the stairs, hoisting her dress up, a little awkward in the heels. Joyce suddenly arrived round the corner.
"El you," she surveyed her up and down. "It's not that bad, is it?" El asked a little shyly. "No" Joyce said, her expression breaking into a smile, almost a sad smile. "You look beautiful" she said, "Jim, your dad, would be so proud of you." "I know," El said smiling herself, "I don't think he could imagine seeing me like this." They hugged, before Joyce suddenly pulled away, "do you need a lift? The boys have already." "No, it's ok," El said, "I've got a lift", "someone from Tennis." "Oh" Joyce said, "that's good, well, have a wonderful time. "Don't do anything I wouldn't" she added with a wink. El replied with a wink of her own and walked out.
…
As she got into the car Simon gasped, "El you." He looked her up and down, but then fixed his gaze ahead. "Where to, madam?" "Pomero's please driver," El laughed, lightly slapping Simon's arm. He drove at a stately pace and by 19:20 they had arrived. "Do you want me to drop you down the road a bit?" Simon asked thoughtfully. "No, here is fine" El said, she turned to him, "thank you so much." "Don't mention it" he said casually happy to help.
El leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek, the scent of her perfume making him draw breath. "You're a true friend" she said, "I'll see you soon?" "Sure, see you" Simon said, in a tone of bewilderment.
El got out and feeling a new person made her way towards the restaurant. Catching a glimpse of her reflection in the glass, she wondered how the girl she used to be, could look so elegant, and feel so different.
Mike
Earlier that day
"Don't you," Mike hummed to himself as he flicked through the records, "forget about." Will looked across to his friend, seeing the transfixed look in his eyes. He shook his head and continued browsing. "I've been waiting," Mike said a little louder picking a record up, "for a girl like you." "Hmm, I want to know." "I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS!" Will sang at the top of his lungs.
Mike broke out of his trance, "wha, what was that?" "It's you man," Will said in a pained voice, "if you're going to sing every record you pick up, at least go and do it in the booth." "Sorry," Mike sighed I'm just a little distracted. "Darn right" Will said more playfully, "sounds like you've got Foreigner on the brain."
Mike looked at the record in his hands, 'Foreigner the greatest hits', almost surprised by his selection. "What ever happened to Metallica?" Will asked looking over his shoulder, "Aerosmith, Bowie?" Giving Mike a dig in the ribs. "I don't know Mike said, El likes them." For Pete's sake" Will said throwing his arms up, "I finally get a day with my best friend after a year and all you can think about is El."
"Hey, she is my girlfriend," Mike said snapping a little. "I know" Will sighed, "she said you would be like this." Mike spun around, "what do you mean she said," "oh it's nothing," Will said slyly, walking towards a different section. Mike followed turning red, "what did you," "relax" Will said almost laughing, "chill out man."
He looked Mike in the eye, "have a throw down with me and I might tell you," "fine" Mike said. "Ok" Will said clicking his tongue," favourite Bowie album?" "Ziggy Stardust" Mike answered confidently. "That's so generic" Will said rolling his eyes. "To some," Mike retorted "but it's the most complete expression of his work; the gaiety of Starman and the deep emotion of Rock and Roll suicide."
"Gaiety?" Will laughed, "is that a technical term?" "Well, what's yours?" Mike asked. "Station to station of course" Will replied. "But it's so moody and, depressing" Mike said putting on a low tone. "One man's depression is another man's beautiful" Will said coolly. They continued to get louder in their disputes until the store owner came over; "hey! Either buy something or take your argument outside". "Sorry," they both said, laughing.
"So", Will said, "you got what you want?" "Yeah," Mike said still clutching the Foreigner album. "Yeah, I'll get this and," he picked up a copy of Bowie's Station To Station, admittedly he did not own that one, "I'll get this too, you know just to shut you up." "I'll convert you yet" Will said in an evil voice. "By the way," the attendant said as he put Mike's purchases through the till, "Ziggy Stardust every time". "I know" Mike said giving Will a Cheshire cat grin, causing him to scowl.
…
They left the shop and began to walk down the block towards the arcade. "So, El said" Will began. "No, it's ok" Mike said looking ahead. "But I thought," Will enquired looking up at him? It's fine, Mike said starting to feel a bit more like his usual self, "you two can talk about what you like." "Ok" said Will casually but hiding a smile.
"Besides," Mike continued, "I don't want thoughts clouding up my head." He massaged his temples, "I've got to beat you beat you at Street Fighter." "Hey, you know that's my game!" Will shot across, "oooh now whose getting defensive," Mike said, hands in a stopping motion. "I reckon I can get four Shoryukens off on you." "Oh no you didn't" Will said definitely and quickened his pace. Mike laughed and went into a jog to keep up with him.
…
"Shoryuken, more like Shoryucan't!"
Mike spat as he put his drink on the table with a bang. "Temper, temper" Will said with a smirk "just because I won." "No, the controls locked up" Mike said exasperatedly, "it was a dodgy machine, didn't you see, I did the move." "Hey." Will said, "I've been a regular attender at Riley's for a year and it has never given me any trouble." Will sat back, "beside it's," "If you say it's only a game, this bottle is going somewhere the sun don't shine" Mike stated. "Ok, ok" Will said holding his hands up. The two stopped and starred at each other before slowly erupting into laughter.
"Anyway," Will said wiping his eyes, "do you want a game of pool? Get yourself a bit of honour back?" "Yeah, sure" Mike said, "do you want another drink?" Will nodded and made his way to the table while Mike went to the bar. After ordering he glanced over his shoulder, Will was placing the balls in the triangle, in his typical meticulous fashion. "I wonder what El said to, no", Mike patted the side of his head to wipe the thought away, "it doesn't matter, it's all good."
Bringing back the drinks he handed one to Will and they clanged them together, "do you want to break?" Will asked? "Sure," Mike said, he chalked the cue trying his best to focus. But the thought of what El and Will had been talking about crept back in his head. His shot was weak, and the balls barely split up. "Oh dear" Will laughed "looks like your heads not in game Mike!"
Will began another quip but seeing his friend looking lost he gave a sympathetic smile. As he took his own shot he said, "it was nothing you know." "What was?" Mike asked. "What El said to me," "oh it's ok" Mike said attempting to brush it off, "I told you." "No, I'm not having that," Will said with an oomph as he slammed a spot ball into the pocket. "You've looked lost all-day mate," he moved into his next shot, "and I want to help."
"Ok sure," Mike said feeling relieved, "so what did she say?" "Well, we met in the hall" Will said sinking another ball as he spoke, "and she said," doing his best to imitate El, "oh Will, Mike asked me if you could spend a day together." "He asked you, I said, why didn't he ask me himself?" Will stood, leaning on the cue looking at Mike. "She rolled her eyes and said, you know what Mike's like and I said, yeah I do."
Will took a drink, "and I said, well if you need me to take him off your hands for a while then I will if I must and she was like, yeah he's been such a pain." "Ok", Mike said with a laugh, though not a convincing one. "Then," Will said his tone changing a little, "she hugged me, and said thank you and I said no problem." "That was it?" Mike probed. "Yeah," Will said starting to pay attention to the table again "and before we left today, she said that you had seemed a bit off and asked if I could check up on you."
"When, what, where?" Mike began, wondering in what fleeting moment El must have had to speak to Will.
"Nothing bad," Will said quickly preparing his shot, "I've seen the two of you together and how happy you've been, El especially, she's been head over heels." He played his shot but narrowly missed the pocket sending the white spiralling back.
"So, are you feeling a bit off?" Will asked earnestly.
"Yeah, I guess," Mike said walking round the table, "it's true we've had a wonderful time, it's been, the best," he said in a moment of far-away happiness. He returned to the table, "it's just," he said lining up his shot, "it just feels strange." Mike struck the ball as he said this, with surprising accuracy and sunk a stripe.
"What do you mean?" Will asked, startled by Mike's shot.
"Well, it's her Tennis, I mean we talked it all out when I arrived and got all our feelings in the open which was really good." "But I've got this nagging feeling that she's still holding back." "It's like, we'd talk about everything, but if Tennis ever came up, she'd give a quick reply and then we'd move onto something else."
"Ok," said Will perplexed. Not at what Mike had said necessarily but that he had potted two stripes while talking.
"And I don't know," Mike said taking his third shot, "I want to be part of her whole life", he made a grunt of aggression as he sunk the ball.
Mike stood up taking a breath and looked at Will, "I heard about her Tennis from you, remember that letter you sent me?" Will nodded, "you said, she had given it up, did she ever tell you why?"
"No" Will admitted, "why don't you ask her?"
"I don't know" said Mike distractedly, he then seemed to remember they were playing pool and that brought him back into rhythm. "It just feels really hard." Mike's words drifted off as he sunk another ball. He looked down at the cloth.
"Ok" Will said patiently, "I can see you're in some kind of golden pool zone Mike, so you just play, and I'll talk, ok?" Mike nodded and continued his rhythm.
"Look, I didn't know El hadn't told you about her playing Tennis, that's something between the two of you." "What I can say is how unhappy she was after we moved, all the joy seemed to drain out of her. The only time she ever looked happy was when a letter came from you in the mail." Mike felt a small smile flicker on his lips as Will said this.
"Then one day, she got back from college and announced that she had taken up Tennis." "Mom was supportive, I think she was relieved El had found something." "But we did not know how much she would get into it, every day she seemed to get home, eat dinner, and then head out and she wouldn't get back till late."
Will paused for a moment. "She did not seem sad anymore, almost the opposite." "That's my point" Mike interrupted "I". "Hey, I'm talking" Will silenced him, "sorry" Mike said, who resumed clearing up the table.
"Anyway, mom as I said was supportive, she was a little worried though because El seemed obsessed with Tennis buying more and more things and spending loads of time out the house." "The only," Will almost laughed, "the only time she seemed to come back to earth was when one of your letters arrived." "Not in that way" Will added sensing panic in Mike, "I mean, she seemed to break out of her 'Tennis trance'. She chatted with us more, we even played some video games, she's quite good." Will admitted. "And her fantasy stories, well they are second to none." "Oh, she told you about those?" Mike said. "Yeah, I didn't know she had such a fascinating world inside her head." Will said admiringly.
"Anyway," he continued noticing that Mike was nearly on the black, "that was why I was concerned when she gave it up, she told me on the way to college, out of the blue." "For the next couple of weeks, she went from being out the house all day to staying in. Me and mom tried to console her, but she kept brushing us off." "That's why I wrote to you man, I thought you should know." Will said silently as Mike potted the black.
"Yeah," Mike said. Despite all this revelation he actually felt a bit better than when they came in.
"So, when did she start playing again?" Mike asked. "A couple of weeks ago" Will said, "and it was just as sudden, she just grabbed her racket and went out the door, we rarely saw her again." "We were relieved at first but were worried that she might have hit a rebound or something, because a couple of days before you came, she isolated herself again." "Yeah, El told me about that" Mike said, "she said she'd forgotten to write to me and that it had sent her on a proper downward spiral."
Mike's response seemed to make Will smile.
"What?" Mike said. "That's it, man," Will said "you're already there, do I have to spell it out to you?" Mike felt as if he was being lectured by Lucas.
"El has opened her heart to you Mike. I don't know what she was going through but it was clearly something major and very personal," he said this with great emphasis. "She did not want me or mom to get anywhere near it."
Will was usually the abstract calculating type but felt himself brimming with emotion.
"In the car on the way to the airport, El looked more distant than I've seen her, scared even." "Scared?" Mike asked with concern. "Yeah," Will continued, "now we know why, she had not told you about her Tennis," he began to pace, "and she had not written to you. She must have asked herself; how would you react? Would you be mad? Would you not want to be with her anymore?"
"The fact," Will said putting his hands together, "that you were not only ok with that but supportive." "Well, you know what that meant to her," Will said. Mike's mood began to lift with Will's words.
"Look" Will said, "El's been through an awful lot as you know, you just need to give her time." "This is just me, but I'd wait before asking her much more about Tennis." "You would?" Mike enquired. "Yeah, just," Will said patting Mike on the arm, "just be together, be there for her, when she's ready she will talk to you, just like she always has, it will all be fine."
Will sighed deeply as he nearly ran out of breath. He looked around to see nearly the whole bar starting at them. He went red causing Mike to laugh.
"Nice speech man!" Mike said clapping him on the shoulder, "no, really" he said with the sincerity, "thank you." He pulled Will into a hug. "No problem," Will said downing his drink, "we better get you home, ready for your hot date."
"Yeah, definitely" Mike said happily.
…
Back at home Mike stood in El's room checking himself in the mirror, he hoped he would meet her expectations. He had selected, dark blue jeans, a grey tweed style jacket and crisp white shirt. He sat on her bed feeling strange her not being there. He gazed at all the posters and caught Martina's eye.
He looked at her intently, "thank you," he said under his breath, "thank you for making El so happy, I, hope I can do the same."
A knock at the door brought Mike to his senses. Will walked in, "well don't you look dapper" he said. "It's a bit early" Mike said glancing at the clock, it was only 17:00. "Yeah," Will suddenly thought, "El will be back soon wont she?" "Yeah probably" Mike said. "We've got to go then" Will said.
"Go, where?" Mike asked. "Don't you know anything?" Will said sighing. "You're the guy, you've got to get there first to welcome your date." "Besides" he continued, "it would be a bit awkward you, standing out here while El gets ready." "Yeah, yeah" Mike said suddenly catching on.
"So why don't I take you on the scenic route, drive us out to Hancock, county?" "We can look at the stars and I'll drive you back to Pomero's in plenty of time?" Will being the oldest had just learnt to drive. "Yeah sure," Mike said with a smile, "that sounds nice."
…
"Mike," you look as he presented himself to Joyce. "Good I hope?" He said with embarrassment. "Amazing," she said, "so handsome,". Cheers Joyce, Mike said, "me and Will are going to take the 'scenic' route" he said, "are you ok to maybe". "Yes," she said with a nudge, "I'll take El to Pomero's, I hope you enjoy your date."
…
The two boys departed and took the highway up to the next county town of Hancock. They parked in a dark car park and made their way through to a wooded clearing. Mike careful not to stand in anything unfortunate. They emerged onto a canvas of stars, beautiful and majestic. The two sat on a log and gazed at the vastness for what felt like an eternity.
"Mike?" Will asked. "Yes?" Mike mumbled thinking he was going to say something profound. "Are you ever going to give El that Mindflayer?" "What?" Mike asked looking at him. "Don't think I don't know what it is," Will continued. "No, I don't want to know," he said as Mike launched into an explanation, "it's got Dustin's finger-prints all over it." Mike laughed, "yeah it was kind of a joint effort."
"But while you and El have been having a wonderful time," Will said. "It's been sitting on my shelf gathering dust." He looked at Mike, "to be frank it's a little creepy." "Yeah" Mike said patting his shoulder apologetically, "sorry man, I'll give it to El tomorrow." Will nodded, "ok, that's fine."
After looking a while longer, the two departed and drove back into town pulling up outside the bright lights of Pomero's. "19:00" Will said checking the clock, "I suggest you get your table now El may be fashionably early rather than late." "You never cease to amaze me" Mike said laughing. As he opened the car door he turned back, "Will". "I know" Will said smiling, "I'm awesome, and so are you, go and knock em dead." "Thanks," Mike said and got out. He felt a few butterflies as he walked up to the heavy glass door of Pomero's. With a deep breath, he opened it.
