Chapter 4

Pass the Pepper

Next month-Sunday dinner

It was raining as Josh paced in the kitchen. Drake said he would half-heartedly last

week over the pizza and root beer at two morning on a Saturday. Josh knew he wasn't

in it. But he did promise.

"Dad!" Josh called out when he saw his father walk in the living room to get the TV

Guide

"What is it, Josh?"

"Where's Drake? Is he still sleeping! He promised!"

"Keep your pants on. I'm here." Drake yawned as Josh broke the speed of light to get to

him in the living room.

"You're NOT dressed yet!"

"Josh, relax, let Drake have his breakfast."

"Thanks, Dad." Drake gently pushed Josh out of his way.

"You are going to dress up right?" Josh asked nervously as Drake poured himself a

bowl of corn flakes.

"I guess you don't understand the meaning of the word 'relax'. Can you be any more

annoying this morning?"

"It's not morning anymore. It's five after twelve."

"Josh, don't worry. I will be there and do you doubt that I won't look good?"

"But—"

"You need to really chill out, man. I know your relationship with Mindy is important to you.

I don't bail on my promises. After all who took you to her house to get you two back

together? Me. This needs more sugar." Drake put another three tablespoonfuls in his

cereal bowl.

"But you don't like Mindy."

"I'm not the one that has to."

Josh took a relaxing deep breath it was his first one of the day.

"I more than like her Drake."

"I know this."

Josh smiled and decided to let Drake eat his breakfast in peace. Today was going to

be a wonderful day.

Mindy scored reservations at The Venetian. She was wearing her a sky blue dress

because she read in those teenage magazines that she despised that men liked

women in light colors.

"This was very nice of you Mindy." said Audrey

"Thank you, Mrs. Nichols."

She made sure to sit herself right between Drake and Josh. Megan watched Mindy who

thought no one else was paying attention moved the pepper shaker closer to Drake.

It was a pretty quiet dinner you couldn't really be yourself with your parents and little

sister at the table otherwise Josh really would have been flirting up a storm with his

girlfriend.

"Drake, would you please pass the pepper?" Mindy asked, she knew exactly what she

was doing.

She wasn't going to let him slide the shaker over she made sure to hold out her hand so

she could ever so briefly touch his fingers.

"Here." He hoped that was polite enough.

Drake wanted to leave to use the restroom to wash the Mindy germs off his hands but

figured the best thing he could do to get through this afternoon was to eat his lasagna in

peace.

He was certain he could get through this. It was only one afternoon.

Mindy liked the feel of the hot water on her hands as she washed her hand with the

generic orange antibacterial soap. She almost jumped to the light on the ceiling when

Megan walked in.

"Hey, Megan."

Megan checked to see if there were any feet in the two stalls next to the sink before she

continued.

"I know you're up to something."

"What are you talking about?" she laughed as she rubbed her hands under the air dryer.

"You want to play it that way. Fine. But know this. I'm the smartest one at that table."

"Oh—kay. I think you are watching too many episodes of Law & Order. I'm not up to

anything."

"Right. I think you should know that Dakota Wells is on my soccer team."

"So?"

"She somehow had a key to our house. She felt bad and told me some uptight high

school girl who always wears a pearl necklace gave her fifty bucks to steal and then

return Drake's Zero Gravity photo album. You are the only high school girl I've seen from

Belleview who wears a pearl necklace everyday. Shall I go on?"

Mindy brought her hand up to her neck to touch her necklace.

"Please do."

"I think you like Drake. I wasn't sure until I saw your little actions regarding the pepper

shaker."

"I'm going steady with Josh."

"Yeah, whatever. We can talk about this all day. Know this, Mindy. I will be watching your

back. If you do anything to hurt either of my brothers there will be Hell to pay." Megan left

the restroom before Mindy could respond.

"No, Megan," Mindy pulled at her necklace and almost broke the strand, "If you get in

my way there will be Hell to pay."