Tyler

We had successfully avoided the cops, and we got home safe. Aidan was still mad at me for making him lose his easy lay. I slept all afternoon until I was woken up by a call from my little sister, Caroline. I groaned, pulling on a pair of jeans and a slightly dirty t-shirt, and answered the phone.

"Remember me? It's your adorable sister, Caroline."

"Her? Of course I do. She's my favorite sister."

"Not funny, Tyler. You were supposed to meet me and Mom at the diner. You're late. By four hours."

"Shit," I cursed, then caught myself when I remembered who I was talking to. "I had a rough night."

"You sound like it. Dad says the only nutrition you get is from beer."

"That might be the only thing he's right about. Do you want to meet today?"

"I'll get Mom to take me to the diner again. You better be there!" She hung up. The little girl was too smart for her age. I threw the phone down on my bed. I found Aidan dead asleep in his bunk. I wanted to wake him, but I couldn't be that big of an asshole no matter how much one he was. I left the apartment, going to the diner on Wall Street. I walked in and saw Caroline sitting in our usual booth. She was sketching away in her pad. She had an assortment of pencils set out neatly before her. Mom was in the seat across from her. I went to them, catching Mom's attention.

"Tyler! Sweetie," she said, hopping up to give me a hug. She moved out of the booth and I took her seat.

"Have her back before dinner. Caroline, if he offers you any cigarettes just say no, ok?" She winked.

Caroline scrunched her nose. "Gross."

"That's my girl." She patted her daughter's head, then bent down to plant a kiss on top of mine. I didn't have the heart to tell her to not do that in public. She left, telling us that she'd see us soon.

"What are you drawing, little Picasso?"

"I'm not that good. It's a picture of when we went to the beach last year for your birthday. Remember that?"

"When Aidan had too many Jello shots? How could I forget?"

She shook her head. "I ordered a cupcake. Mom said you would pay."

"Don't you have your allowance?" I asked, kidding.

"I'm saving it for art school."

I shook my head at her maturity, standing up to order a coffee at the counter. I leaned against the countertop, waiting for someone to take my order. I was a regular so it shouldn't have taken so long. The bell on the door rang and I instinctively turned my head. The girl who walked through the door was familiar, only this time she had clothes on.

Mallory.

What were the odds of us meeting up in a city so big? It was an over-used romantic comedy cliché and it was happening to me. What else could go wrong in my life—or right? She looked up from her bag where she was pulling a wad of bills out of and saw me staring. Her eyes widened, then her face calmed. She recognized me, too.

"Hey," she said, coming to stand by me, pocketing her money, smirking. I smiled back at her. "Thanks for everything, you know, last night."

"No problem." I looked her over again. She looked rough. Her sneakers had holes in them, and her coat reeked of cigarettes and weed.

"What are you doing here?" she asked suspiciously.

"I could say the same."

"I come here all the time." She threw her chin up, rolling her eyes. Her chest was exposed. It was hard to keep my eyes from her, my hands off of her. She was doing it on purpose. I could tell by her pulling down the hem of her shirt. I averted my eyes.

"I've never seen you here before." The waitress recognized me and poured a coffee. She slid it to me. I nodded in thanks, picking up my drink. "And I come here all the time." I took a sip.

"I think you're stalking me." She smiled playfully.

"Perhaps," I replied, moving around her to take a seat at the booth. Caroline looked up from her drawing, studying Mallory and me. Mallory still stood with her hand on her hips, hovering over the table we sat at. "Caroline, this is Mallory. Mallory, this is Caroline, also known as da Vinci."

"Nice to meet you, da Vinci." She stuttered, but got control of herself again. "I love your work. The Mona Lisa is a masterpiece." Mallory stuck out her hand which Caroline shook. I was surprised Mallory knew who da Vinci was, given her line of work, then I felt bad for judging her. I didn't know her past, and I barely knew her present.

"Tyler, stop saying I'm good. I'm not. Not yet, anyways." She shook her head to herself, and looked down to continue drawing.

I remembered Mallory and moved over to make room for her. I patted the spot next to me, and she sat. "Do you want something? I'll pay."

"I can pay for it myself," she said, offended.

"Sorry," I mumbled. "You can expect me to believe you just happened to show up here. Did you follow me or something?" I tapped my hands on the table, waiting for her response.

Her eyebrows rose. "Fuck you. I told you I'm a regular." She turned her head and called to a waitress, "Yo, May, I need a grinder over here!"

The waitress shot her head up, smiling over at Mallory. "The usual?"

Mallory nodded, giving me a pointed look. "See?"

"I guess you weren't lying." I felt Caroline's eyes on me. I raised my brows, smirking. "You finished? Mom wants you back soon."

"I'll call her. You're busy." She pulled out a tiny silver cellphone.

"Where'd you get that?" I asked curiously.

"Dad said I needed it for 'safety reasons'. I barely know how to use it." She bit her lip, dialing a number, then putting the phone to her ear. Her eyes brightened when someone answered on the other line. I turned my attention towards Mallory.

"Since you're a stalker, I suppose I'll see you again."

"I'm working tonight."

"I'm sure Aidan will drag me out again. He's desperate." I realized what I said, regretting my words. She didn't seem to mind.

"You could come out alone, you know. He shouldn't be the only reason you want to see me."

"Oh?" I slung my arm around her, daring her to say something else like that. "Then I'll see you tonight." I didn't go any further, remembering my little sister across from me.

"ORDER UP!"

Mallory slid out of the booth to grab her sandwich, trailing her hand on my arm as she left me. It was already wrapped, so she picked it up off of the counter, throwing a ten on where it used to sit. She spun to give me a half wave. She called out a goodbye to the waitress, May, and left without a word to me. I laughed as she walked off. It seemed like she was flaunting herself, but it could have just been my imagination.

"Is she your new girlfriend?" Caroline asked, watching Mallory leave.

I laughed. "No," I said shortly, not wanting to explain further.