What a difference an afternoon makes!
Maybe Granny's Diner had been secretly magical.
It doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. Ian and I had found common ground there. Other unexpected changes followed us both. The "Herd" had done him a huge favor excluding him from their usual social gatherings. The idiots bragged about the number of beers one of them had downed before stumbling into a trash can on the property.
Embarrassing!
"I promise, Lucy, you're missing out on anything. One of these days somebody will be arrested, dead, or expecting a baby." Ian whispered across the table as he took the booth seat opposite me.
His letterman jacket had been strangely absent since our afternoon at Granny's. At first, I had thought that maybe he'd just forgotten it when he came to school. The consecutive days of it being nowhere near him banished that idea.
"Where's your jacket? If you don't mind me asking."
Ian unscrewed the lid of his juice.
"In my closet, at home. It isn't who I am, not anymore. I don't want to be that person ever again."
I studied the mashed potatoes my tray to hide the guilt on my face. His answer hadn't been what I'd expected to get. How could I not feel guilty for expecting something that would be more selfish, self-absorbed rather than selfless, reflective?
"Killian found an old Pea coat on the Jolly Roger. It fit me, and he gave it to me as a gift." Ian's tone brightened. "I like it so much better, now that the weather is getting colder."
The change of subject pulled my eyes back to him.
"Killian and the Jolly Roger are growing on you, admit it?"
Ian chuckled.
"Yes, to both. There's just something about somebody else teaching me the same stuff that dad has tortured me with. I feel bad for how much faster I am learning with Killian than my dad, know what I mean?"
I understood Ian's guilt and appreciation for outside counsel. My main voices of reason hadn't been my mom and dad. Ever since I turned 13, it had become Killian and Emma. Yes, mom and dad always find a way to make time for my problems, but the discussion in my head always sent me to the two people who knew more about me than my own dad.
"I prefer to talk to Killian and Emma about most things. It isn't that I don't love mom and dad. Emma and Killian always help me find clarity when I need it. I wish I could explain why. I understand better than you know."
For a second, our laughter stopped, and the way Ian looked into my eyes paralyzed me in the best way. My heart raced, my mind stumbled to a stop, and the loud lunch room of teenagers vanished.
The intentional nudge of a passing "Herd" member broke the spell. The smirk of satisfaction and the high five of his buddies had left me with that conclusion. Ian closed his eyes, grunted, and then turned his attention back to me.
"I was going to just store it in the attic, but a bonfire for it is sounding better." Ian mumbled under his breath.
I touched his wrist to capture his attention.
His hand rested on mine, rubbing his thumb across my knuckle.
"I can't believe that I ever hung around with them. They don't know what they're missing out on. I don't miss them. I got you and Killian."
The heat travelled from my neck to the crown of my head.
Ian closed the distance between us by leaning in
"Lucy, you are AMAZING. Killian and Emma know it. I know it. Believe it."
Ian moved his hand to pick up his mostly uneaten lunch.
My tight grip on the tray hid the slight tremble of my hands.
I still hadn't found the desired words piling up in my head to respond with while we followed the line of students headed for the tray window.
"I'll see you at the Jolly Roger after school." Ian whispered in my ear as I slammed my tray clean.
Speechless, I smiled back at him.
The invasive bell reminded me that my day had only been half over.
The idea of being at the Jolly Roger had become the highlight of my day long before Ian's presence in my life. The understanding that the added incentive of Ian being there had made me wish that the school day would end, faster than 2 hours.
The most frightening, yet exhilarating thought crawled from the back of my mind.
If Ian and I were only friends, why did time with him create the irrational need to speed up time?
Uh-oh! This couldn't be happening!
To be continued…