Chapter 5
After seeing a classic Jim Carrey movie, Dumb and Dumber, Marissa complained on being hungry and wanted that free meal Ryan had promised her. He, of course, agreed and even let her pick the place. It didn't take her long to decide where to go to: The Diner.
"Of all the places you could pick from, you pick the one where you work?" He asked, surprise at her choice of place.
"What? You said I could pick the place," She told him, innocently. "and besides… I really like the food here" She added.
"Okay then" He said as they stepped out of the car and walked into the diner.
"Hey Marissa… isn't it your night off?" A waitress asked her. She was slightly older than Marissa, had blonde hair and was rather thin, not too thin though.
"Yeah, it is. I'm actually a costumer tonight, Claire." She told the waitress, shooting her a smile.
"Oh… so you want me to serve you tonight, huh?" Claire joked.
"Yeah… I guess so" She said with a smile. "I mean, after being promised a free meal," She said, looking towards Ryan, "where else would I go?"
Claire looked at Ryan. "Damn, he's hot" She thought. "Well, you've always been kind of weird so I guess you going to the place you work on a date is not that unbelievable…" She trailed off. When Marissa was about to say something she added: "Hey, can you come with me a bit?"
"Uhm… sure" She said, "I'll be back in a minute… Just sit down somewhere" She told Ryan as she went in the back with Claire.
"He's hot!" Claire exclaimed when they had gotten out of Ryan's earshot "Where did you find him. He doesn't look like he's from around here"
"You remember Anna Atwood?" She asked and Claire just nodded. "Well, she's his grandmother. I actually just met him yesterday, here. And then I ran into him again earlier today… showed him around Newport…" She trailed off as Claire cut her off.
"And he asked you out?" She asked excitedly. She had known Marissa years and that was the first time she saw her with a boy since she broke off with Luke. And that was one year ago.
"No… We're just friends. And besides, he'll not be staying that long anyway"
"Well, I don't know about you, but I would find it hard staying just friends with a hot guy like him" She joked
"Claire!" She said, hitting her playfully on her shoulder. "Well, I should get back there… and yeah, I'll have the usual… and he'll have the same" She said and with that she went back to Ryan. "Sorry… she couldn't find the salt" She said, while sitting down at the table.
"Right," He said. "So, what do you want to eat?" He asked her.
"I already ordered" She said as he gave her a confused look. "And yes, I ordered for you too" He was about to say something when she cut him off. "And you'll see what it is when it gets here" She finished, shooting him a smile.
"Okay…" He said warily.
"So… who are you?" She asked him.
"Whoever you want me to be" He joked.
She laughed and hit him playfully on the shoulder… "No, really"
He laughed slightly. "Okay… What do you mean?" He said, giving her a confused glance.
"I don't know…" She said, "Is your grandmother the mother of your mom or dad?" She asked… "Did that make any sense?"
"Yeah… She was my dad's mother. He was actually from Newport. Lived here up until 20 years ago" He told her.
"Was?" She thought to herself. She decided not to ask him more about his dad. "Too personal" She thought. "And your mom, is she from Newport too?" She asked him
"No. She's from Chino" He told her.
"Okay… Do you have any siblings?" She asked again.
"One brother, Trey. Three years older… what about you?"
"I have one sister, Kaitlin. She's 14. My dad's from Newport and my mom's from Riverside… they got divorced last year and, much to my dismay, I ended up living with my mother" She said, and with that their food came to the table.
"Here you go" Claire said, putting the food down on the table. "Have fun kids" She added and mouthed to Marissa: "Call me" while putting her fingers up to her ear, as if she was holding a phone up to her ear.
About twenty minutes later when they were finished eating they were on their way home.
"I'm gonna make one stop before I drive you home" Marissa told him as she made a stop at the mall.
"What, are we going shopping? 'Cause I don't really shop" Ryan said, not really liking the idea of going shopping.
"No… Just come, I promise you we wont even step foot in a store" She said, taking his hand in his and walking in the mall.
She stopped at a small photo booth and went into it. Ryan remained there outside the booth, confused as to what she was doing. "Come in Ryan" She called out to him. "It has been a great day… and I want a proof that it actually happened so I won't think it was all a dream"
He smiled at her and went in. "Uh… I don't think there's room for us both in there"
"Of course there is. Just come in" She said, moving a bit so he would fit in there with her. "See.. I knew we would fit" She said and with that she clicked the button. Neither of them were even looking in the camera.
All in all they took about 20 photos; in all of them they were either laughing or making funny faces. "Ryan" She laughed. "Let's have at least one photo where we're not laughing or something" She said and laughed slightly…
He smiled at her. "Then stop laughing" He joked.
"Oh sorry… I just haven't had that much fun in a while" He said shooting him a smile. "Okay, ready?" She asked him, with her finger on the button.
"Yep… shoot" He said and with that she pushed the button, both with a huge grin on their faces. Marissa started getting out of the booth when Ryan's voice cut her off. "Wait, one more" He said and she went back in. He went and kissed her cheek, leaving her laughing as he pushed the button.
She looked up at him and smiled at him and started getting out of the booth, paying for the photos and waited for the photos. She looked at Ryan again. "Thanks… for today" She told him.
"Yeah, same here" He told her. "It's been a while since I've actually had fun"
She smiled at him and looked into his eyes. There was something about him, just looking into his eyes she felt like she'd known him for years. She started getting closer to him and took his hand in hers. He looked down at his hand and then up at her. They both got closer and as they started leaning in to a kiss they heard a loud beep from the photo booth. They both sprung apart. "The photos… they're ready" Marissa said, disappointed that the booth had ruined their moment.
"Right" Ryan replied, who was, too, disappointed that their moment was ruined.
"So, I should probably get you home then" She said, awkwardly.
"Yeah" Ryan replied as they left the mall and went home.