Scout parked quickly and hopped out of his Jeep to take a look around. He walked down the sidewalk path which was covered it painted designs from local artists,
he picked out a favorite design which was located in the middle of the sidewalk, it was a girl standing next to a blueish artsy tree, she was reaching up to pick an
apple, the tagline read "Let Your Imagination Reach Higher Limits" I like that one he thought. Continuing around the building he found white lights hanging up on
the outside patio eatery with a silver fountain filling the last piece of space like a perfect puzzle fit.
"Hey kid," a thick accented guy shouted. Scout turned around assuming he was talking to him.
"Me?" he asked innocently pointing to himself.
"Yeah you, I guess you must be legally blind or just didn't bother to read the sign that is hanging up on the side of this buildin' 'bout ten feet back," he motioned with his dirty thumb to where it was located. Scout turned around and walked back a few feet where he noticed a sign that said "Grand Opening Soon" below t hat in green magic marker he read "Private Propety" Scout gulped and turned back around to see the tough New Yorker standing with his arms crossed.
"Sorry Sir, i must've missed that," Scout waved giving off a half scared smile. "It's just that I'm having this special evening with my girl/ well this girl i really am into, and i was looking for the perfect spot...i saw the sign a few blocks back and turned in here..."
"Whoa, whoa" the New Yorker approached him swiftly. "You mean that sign with da big pink letters?" he asked questionably.
"That was the one...look, sorry," Scout started but the guy interrupted him putting his hand out to shake.
"Hey guy listen I'm real sorry i told my boys to take that down until tomorrow so we wouldn't have people coming in, but the jack asses must've forgotten," Scout unsurely shook his hand.
"The name's Fatone, Marcus Fatone" the blonde headed guy said.
"That's a nice grip you got there Mr. Fatone," Scout said shaking his hand a bit after letting go.
"Please call me Marc, what's your name kid," he asked pulling a pack of Salem Lights from his pocket and lighting one up.
"Scout, Scout Calhoun, i go to Rawley Academy it's a little ways from here," Scout said.
"Ahh Rawley yeah i've heard of it, so what was all that stuff you said before about a girl?" Marcus asked blowing a puff of smoke into the air.
"Well, I was looking for the perfect place to take her for a dinner out tonight and this seemed like the one." Scout sighed.
"She hot?" Marcus asked winking. Scout paused for a second, he had to remember that as much as he loved Bella, that now right things were complicated due to the whole brother sister story between them, but then again he barely knew Marcus, in fact he didn't know him at all so he decided this was just one of those "something you'd only tell a perfect stranger" moments.
"Is she ever, she has the most beautiful blonde hair, and these eyes, aww man its like the kind you can stare at for hours and get lost in, just by looking into them I sometimes think i can tell what's she's thinking, there's just one problem."
"Niceee, real deep man...wait problem? How could there be a problem, you're into her she's into you, right?" Marcus asked throwing his cig on the ground and stepping on it. "Hold on one sec Scout," Marcus motioned to his beeper which was vibrating, he checked the number and took out his cell, dialing slowly. "Yeah, Kevin I told you 3 hours ago...no, it was 3 hours ago because it was right before i went on coffee break...ok well then can you do it now please? Thaaaaaaank you," Marcus finished clicking his phone off. "Sorry man, what were you saying?" Marcus asked awaiting Scout's answer. Scout decided in a spilt second that he really didn't feel like discussing the whole big story right then and there.
"Actually man you know what? I have to get going..it was nice talking to you though, and once you guys are open I'll be sure to come back," Scout said walking backwards down the path back to the parking lot and waving.
"Hey Scout, hold up just one sec," Marcus called. Scout stopped in his tracks.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"Since everything here is basically done accept for a few minor adjustments which me and Kevin can have fixed up by tonight...why don't you bring you girl here tonight, it'll be just you two and well me and Kev..."
"What do you mean, like a private dinner?" Scout asked anxiously.
"Exactly, me and Kev do all the handy work around here, but our main job is cooking...you like pasta?" Marcus asked arching an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I'm a big fan of manchottis," Scout said.
"Perfection my friend, look here's my card, call me sometime between five and seven tonight and I'll get it all arrange for you...Manchottis and chicken parm over candlelight...you liking this idea," Marcus finished.
"Wow, yea-yes it sounds great, but why are you doing all this for me, you don't even know me," Scout said laughing as he looked at the card he was handed. It was white with bold black letters that read "Italian Paradise: Where Pasta Lives (310)768-0987".
"Let's just say it's a apology for the little error in judgement from before," he winked.
"Ok then, five to seven got it, thank you so much," Scout finished making his way to his Jeep.
"No problem man, see you later," Marcus finished picking up his ringing cell again. "Yeah..." By the time Scout started up his Jeep he had the goofiest smile on his face he just couldn't get rid of, and it's not like he wanted to, because now he knew for sure that fate was on his side and something was suppose to happen on the evening ahead, he just didn't exactly know what it was yet.