Chapter 2: Mystery Man

Just when Pete was getting ready to start looking for Jasper again, he showed up back home. Pete was standing in the middle of the Arnolds' drive way when Jasper pulled in, stopping just short of his leg's. Pete could hear Bob Marley coming from the car stereo before Jasper shut off the car. He had had the music cranked, because Pete could hear it over the engine's roar and even through the car's closed windows. The music was familiar to Pete. It was the same Bob Marley CD Jasper always listened to when something was bothering him. As he stepped his tall frame from his car, Pete stalked over to him, not too happy with his best friend at the moment. Even so, he was still concerned.

"Where the hell have you been, man?" Pete demanded, looking up into Jasper's face. "I was just comin' to look for you – again!"

Shoulders hunched, head down, and unable or unwilling to meet Pete's eyes, Jasper merely shrugged and walked past him. Pete didn't allow Jasper to get too far when he caught up to him and stepped in front of him.

"What's going on man?" Pete questioned Jasper.

"Nothin' okay man", Jasper replied, hoping Pete would let this go. He tried to step around Pete, but again Pete wouldn't let him leave.

Pete pushed his hand into the middle of Jasper's chest and told him straight out, "No way are you getting off that easy. Pausing, "It's been months you know.

"Listen, just let it go Pete, okay!" Jasper said this more sharply than he intended, hoping Pete would finally get the message.

Jasper's hope was rewarded. Pete got the message. Jasper knew he would. He would let this go, at least for now. Pete always had his back no matter what; all while they were growing up and especially last summer. Jasper knew how hard it must have been for Pete to tell him, but they had always been straight with each other….

"Shit!" Jasper yelled from underneath his car. It was still in pieces from the stupid accident that took out Mabel's Table. He'd been lying on his back under the car for the better part of an hour trying to finish what should have only taken ten minutes. "Don't just stand there man", he called out to Pete, whose legs suddenly appeared within his line of sight. "Help me."

"Sorry dude. Not my thing", Pete paused. "Listen Jas, I need to tell you somethin'."

"Yeah? Go ahead", Jasper told him, his own legs still poking out from under his car.

Pete sighed heavily but remained silent.

His silence told Jasper that whatever it was, it must be important. He scooted himself out from beneath his car and climbed to his feet. "Okay – what is it?"

"It's Sam"

"What about her? Is she all right?!"

"She's fine Jas. She's better than fine."

Jasper shrugged his shoulders. "So what's the deal?"

"She was in the store today", Pete said, glancing down at his feet.

"Yeah?"

Lifting his head to look Jasper in the eyes, he finished, "with Richie."

The news hit Jasper as if he'd been sucker-punched; causing him to stumble back and forcing him to lean against his car for balance. He wasn't sure he wanted to know anything more, but he asked the question anyway. "What were they doing in there?"

"Jas", Pete started to protest.

Jasper cut him off. "Tell me the rest Pete."

"Look, I'm sorry man; but, they were going at it hot and heavy". Jasper was silent for several minutes, staring blankly at him. Pete wasn't sure Jasper even heard him.

"Are you sure you saw what you thought you saw?" Jasper asked in a raspy whisper.

"Yeah man I'm sure. You think I'd be here if I wasn't?"

"I don't know. You coulda been wrong." Jasper's anger came through, despite his best effort to control his fears that he might lose her.

Pete ignored it. He knew it wasn't directed at him. "I wasn't." He waited then asked, "What are you going to do?"

It was several long moments before Jasper finally responded. "I don't know", was all he could come up with.

"Look, I gotta get back to the store or my Dad's gonna have my ass." Pete turned and began walking back to his car. Before he got there, he called over his shoulder. "Don't do anything stupid…. At least not without me."

"Thanks Dad", Jasper countered sarcastically. "Been there done that."

"Later Dude"

"Yeah"……….

Breathing a small sign of relief that his brief confrontation with Pete was over, Jasper now entered his house through the back door and into the kitchen. He heard the screeching tires of Pete's car as he took off. Jasper found the house quiet. He moved through the empty kitchen, breakfast having been over for a while, and into the living room. Apparently the rest of his family was off about their daily activities. His little sister Robin was at school. His dad Malcolm and his construction company had a job out of town for the day. He wasn't quite sure where his mom was, but at least she was out of the house. He didn't want to risk running into his mother this morning. He could never resist her gentle probing. She's always able to get him to reveal things he really preferred to keep to himself. But for the time being, at least, he was safe.

Jasper restlessly wandered about the house, before finally heading back into the living room and taking a seat at the piano. It had been a long time since the last time he played seriously, having learned at his mother's side. She was an excellent teacher. Many of the children in Putnam came to her to learn. Jasper knew his mother to be soft-spoken when giving her instructions, but still firm. And if any of her students were serious in their desire to learn to play piano, they would eventually come to appreciate her methods.

Memories of his mother's instructions floated around in his head, as his long slender fingers began tickling with the piano keys. He remembered many times, while he was practicing, when she would take him by the wrist and lift his hand in front of her and tell him, "You have wonderful reach, perfect hands for playing piano."

He never quite believed her though. "Oh come on Mom", was always his response.

"Yes okay. I know. I'm just being Mom and I'm only saying what Moms are supposed to say", she jokingly mocked him, while brushing his hair off his forehead. "It's true never the less."

"Alright Mom. Whatever you say." Jasper also remembered, when he was a little kid, how easily he was able to move his fingers across the keyboard; as compared to some of his mother's other students his age, with their smaller hands and chubbier fingers.

Jasper was still at the piano when his mother, Betsy, returned home. She, like Jasper, came into the house through the back door and was half way through the kitchen before she realized she was listening to him play. When was the last time that happened, she wondered. She stopped at the doorway only slightly leaning into the living room so he wouldn't notice her listening. He had been avoiding her she knew, though he was being subtle about it. Until recently they had always been able to talk. Or at least he would listen to her while she talked. It was obvious to everyone what was troubling him. Whether he was unwilling to talk about it, or unable to even face it himself was anyone's guess. What was most important was that he needed some time and some space. For the moment she was willing to give it to him.

She remained standing out of sight, watching and listening to him play. He played so beautifully, she thought to herself. If only she could get him to play more often; to get him to take it more seriously and to keep up with the practice. She was so enjoying his playing. Unfortunately, before she knew it, it was over. Jasper looked up suddenly and abruptly stopped playing. He was still unaware of his mother's presence behind him, listening to him. He took a deep breath, slowly pulled the cover down over the keys, and folded his hands in his lap. He sat this way, quiet and unmoving, for several minutes. While his mom was considering whether or not to approach him, he stood and left, replacing the sounds of the piano with the roar of his car's engine as he drove away.

xxx

Alex couldn't believe it when she returned to Mabel's. In the ten minutes it took her to get back there, the diner actually got busier. Armed with pad and pen in hand, a slightly damp towel tucked into a belt loop at the back of her well-worn jeans, and a few instructions and tips from Jennifer, she went to work. Honoring the promise she made to Jennifer earlier, she got into a groove quickly. By the end of her shift, which didn't end until early evening, her feet were hurting and her hands were cramping, yet she felt strangely wired. It had been a while since she'd felt so pumped – tapping into the constant energy and activity of the diner; everyone socializing with everyone else.

There was one exception though. This lone guy who came in late in the afternoon. Him coming into the diner alone was not what caught her eye. His remaining alone did. Most of the customers who came into the diner waited to be seated, unless they sat at the counter directly. He did neither. He went straight to a booth, the second one from the door, in the front window. Alex had been working almost the entire day and the diner was always busy. She couldn't remember a time during the day when any of the booths were empty long enough for someone to walk in off the street and take a seat right away, let alone be able to do it without being seated or having to wait. Although when she thought about it, that booth in particular had remained empty for about ten minutes before this guy came in. Other customers came and went, sitting at the counter or joining others at their booths or tables. Were they all avoiding that booth for some reason or were they all just leaving it for him? Who was this guy? He attracted attention and was ignored all at the same time.

Alex could understand the attention. He was tall, with shaggy dark brown hair and what she assumed were dark brown eyes. He squinted a bit which made it hard getting a good look at his eyes. He was pretty cute, she couldn't help but notice. He had a troubled look about him though, dark even. Maybe it was just sadness. Alex wasn't sure if he were young or if his apparent sadness made him look young. She tried to wait on him. She stopped at his table briefly to introduce herself as she had everyone she waited on throughout the day. "Hi, I'm Alex. I'll be right with you, okay?"

"It's okay, I don't want anything", he said barely above a whisper, not bothering to look at her.

"Um, we're really busy today. I'm sorry but, I can't let you take up a booth without…." Alex started to explain, when Jennifer walked up to the booth and stood opposite her.

"It's alright Alex, you don't have to worry about him", she said as she laid her hand upon his broad shoulder.

It was only then that he looked up and acknowledged her. And yes, his eyes were dark brown as well. "Whatever you say. You're the boss", Alex said and started to move on to the next booth.

"Well, the boss' daughter anyway", Jennifer joked.

It was just as well that Alex need not worry about this lone mysterious, dark, sad guy. She had more than enough customers who needed her attention. Even so, he still occupied her thoughts throughout the remainder of her day. He was still sitting there in the diner when her shift ended and she headed back to her room across the way, above the bus station. She made a mental note to herself to ask Jennifer about this 'mystery-man' during her next shift.

{END OF CHAPTER 2}