Chapter 2

If Salem High was the number one place that teenagers hung out in this town, then Club TBD is number two. Before school, all the kids got coffee so they could be awake in class. And after school, it served as a general hangout.

Parker, Claire, Ciara and Theo were hanging with the twins.

"You guys want some coffee?" Johnny asked the table.

"Theo doesn't drink coffee," Ciara stated laying down a playing card and then re-examining her hand.

"Yeah, I don't drink coffee," Theo confirmed. He reorganized the cards in his hands.

Johnny raised his eyebrows and nodded. "Okay," he said "Anyone else?" His friends shook their heads.

"Aren't you the little barista?" Parker teased.

Johnny stood to het a drink of his own. "Well, this club is like family. Co-founded by my uncle and my brother-in-law."

As she watched her brother walk over to the bar, Allie pushed her elbow up on the table and leaned against her hand. "And this is why I can't find a boyfriend in Salem."

"What about that Tyler guy," Parker suggested. "He's new in town so you clearly aren't related to him."

"As far as you know," Claire said wiggling her eyebrows playfully.

"Very funny," Allie responded. "But you know how…shy I can get. And if he won't talk to you, there's not a good chance he'd be all that friendly to me."

"Well, we have been pretty set in our little circle," Ciara said not looking up, still invested in her card game.

"That has been established," Parker stated.

"I'm saying," Ciara continued. "Maybe he doesn't want to leave his circle."

"Why would you wanna leave your circle if you're comfy there?" Theo thought out loud.

"The problem is," Parker countered, "it seems like he doesn't have many friends. You know, being new and all. So, if he has a circle it's probably a circle of one."

"You can't have a circle of one," Theo affirmed picking up a card from the deck.

"My point exactly, Theo," Parker said pointing at his friend.

Johnny cradled his mug and sat down next to his sister. "What are we talking about?"

"New kid Tyler," Ciara answered simply.

"We're still on this guy?" Johnny sighed and took a sip of his coffee.

"It's just odd," Claire explained. "Usually people are open to making friends and chatting if you're new and don't know anybody. But I was as friendly as ever and he clamped up and walked away."

"Well, Claire," Allie said. "People can attempt to have private lives."

"Not in Salem, Allie," Johnny shook his head. "Not in Salem."

"Privacy is an illusion," Claire declared.

"I agree," Ciara said. "In this digital age, everything is public."

"No, I was saying in Salem," Claire explained. "Cause people are nosy and too close for privacy."

"That pretty much sums it up," Johnny agreed.

Parker sighed and looked over. He sees Ciara and Theo buried in their game. "Luckily, I am not a Brady," he said looking at Claire. "or a Horton, " looking at Allie, "or a DiMera," looking at Johnny. "So, I don't have as much 'cred' in this town as you guys."

"Are you kidding?" Claire stared at her boyfriend.

"Oh no," Allie said sarcastically. "You're just the son of a very popular and well-respected doctor."

Johnny nodded. "Yeah," he said. "And not to mention that you're practically a Kiriakis 'cause your grandmother married the head of the clan."

"Hey, whoa, slow down," Parker stopped with a gesture of his hand. "Victor Kiriakis is my dad's godfather and technically step-father. But I am not by blood, a Kiriakis."

Claire playfully shoved his shoulder. "Oh, come on, Parker. You're close enough to be called family."

"Yeah, man," Johnny added. "family is family. And family is everything. Trust me, I'm a DiMera."

"Don't start, Johnny," Claire warned. He just shrugged. Perhaps it was the bluntness of the conversation, but the whole table started laughing. Even Ciara and Theo had caught on to the exchange and chuckled along.

"Oh God!" Parker exclaimed suddenly.

"What is it?" asked Claire concerned.

He widened his eyes in disbelief. "Well, speak of the devil." Parker jerked his head in the direction of the bar and the front door of the club. The gang peered over and understood Parker's reaction.

"Hey, Tyler's here," Ciara said slowly as if introducing gossip.

"I wonder what he's doing here," Allie thought aloud.

"Well, this is a coffee house slash club, sis," Johnny reminded her sarcastically. "Just gonna throw this out there, but it is possible that he gets thirsty and wants to buy some coffee."

"Ha. Ha." Allie turned and crossed her arms.

"Allie, maybe you should go talk to him," Claire suggested.

Allie stayed silent and bit her lip nervously. "Uh, I don't know…If you can't…I mean there's no way he'll…"

Claire reached over put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Listen, girl. You were just talking about wanting to be in a relationship. A new year, with new chances, and new people. Well, one is right in front of you."

Parker smiled at Claire and gave her shoulders a squeeze. "I like when you talk like that."

Johnny made a barfing noise and stuck out his tongue.

"Man, get outa here!" Parker threw Johnny a look.

"Maybe we should go, man," he told Parker. "We don't wanna be late for practice."

Parker nodded. He and Johnny stood up. "We'll see you girls later." He and Johnny raised their hands in goodbye and turned to continue out the door.

"Good luck, Allie," Parker called.

"See. Parker thinks you should talk to the new kid," Ciara told Allie.

"But I'm not like you Ciara," explained Allie as she nervously pulled on her clothing. She turned away to avoid eye contact with Claire who was giving her a look. "I'm not really good at talking to people that I don't know that well, and I'm not that- you know- comfortable with."

"Well how are you ever gonna learn?" Ciara asked.

Claire grabbed Allie's shoulder again and turned her around so she could take face to face. "Allie, you can do this. All you have to do is get to know him. Introduce yourself. And help him out with his first week in Salem."

"You think I can talk to him without making a fool of myself?" Allie asked.

"You're hot, girl. Go make a new friend." Claire put a spin on that last word, implying an impending 'more than friends.'

Allie gave Claire a look. She replied with a look as well, hers saying, you know I'm right.

"I hate it when you're right," Allie said sighing. Claire smiled at her success.

Allie took a deep breath and stood up. "Wish me luck," she said hesitantly.

"Good luck," Theo obliged.

Tyler was still sitting at the bar nursing his cup. Allie thought that if she ordered a drink, that would be a natural excuse for her to approach him. She adjusted her blouse and marched over there. Her arms rested on top of the counter in order to get the barista's attention.

"Hey, little Allie-cat!" Tad greeted.

"T!" Allie moaned annoyed.

"I'm just teasing, kid," T said trying to brush it off. But Allie was trying to se if Tyler was looking in her direction or if he had heard any of that. After Allie ordered her drink, T asked, "Want me to put that on your brother's tab?"

Allie was confused. "Johnny has a tab from before?"

"Oh, no. I meant Will," he explained. "Your twin wanted to use his …special discount… too."

"Doesn't Will have free drinks for life?"

"Yup. Not really a tab in the conventional sense," T joked.

Allie smiled. T was a character but he was a great friend to her brother. "No, that's okay. I'll pay," she said. T nodded and went to work behind the counter. Allie sat down and peered to her right. Sure enough, Tyler had been watching the entire exchange. For a moment neither said anything.

Suddenly, Tyler spoke up. "Nice of you to pay."

Allie was glad that he had opened up a conversation. She tried to seem casual. "Ya, well, I don't wanna get my brother in trouble." She smiled and shrugged.

"So what? Does he own the place?"

"No. Actually his husband does." Allie realized that she didn't know Tyler's views and she prayed that that last sentence didn't throw him.

"Cool," he said. Allie breathed a sigh. So far, she liked him.

"I'm Tyler Wilkons," he said.

"Allie Horton."

"Nice to meet you, Allie," he said politely.

"So, you're new to Salem?" she half stated, half asked. "I mean…I've, you know, seen you around school, but you- uh, obviously haven't been there before now." Allie mentally kicked herself. Why was talking to this guy so hard? Sure, he was handsome and mysterious. Well, that's why, she thought.

Luckily, Tyler didn't seem to be frightened off. "Do I really stick out that much?" he asked. "Man, people really know each other in this town."

"It's true," she nodded. "I was born here and haven't left so, I pretty much know Salem and all its people backwards and forwards."

"You do seem to have connections," Tyler said nodding over to T.

"Are you kidding? My brother-in-law owning this place is nothing," Allie explained. "My mom's a Brady and my dad's a Horton. I don't know if you've eaten at the Brady Pub…or shopped at the Horton Town Square."

He chuckled. "Wow, you really do have connections."

Allie shrugged. "It's not that impressive. Almost everyone is connected or at least know each other."

"No, I think it's great," he insisted. "I'm gonna be honest, Allie."

She hesitated a moment. "Ok," she nodded.

"I came to Salem for a reason. And you seem really nice."

She shrugged. "Thank you." Allie put on a small smile, although she was still a little unsure.

"See…I came here looking for something. And I think that you might be able to help."