The next day, Lincoln and I awaken, and I take him to a place called Dimple's Diner for breakfast, where my Uncle Brent works. Just as we enter, My Girl by The Temptations starts playing, which is useful for me introducing Lincoln to music dating back to the 1950s-60s, which is the theme of the diner.
Sometime in between placing our drinks and receiving them, the song ends and Duke of Earl by Gene Chandler starts playing.
After getting our beverages and placing our orders, I tell Lincoln that I booked tickets to a movie screening that might be of interest to him, even though what is shown will be intense. I do clarify that the film I plan to take him with me to see in theaters is not classified as horror, nor does it have any themes that deal with horror like all those other movies. I still keep it a surprise. Suddenly, about a minute before receiving the food, Walk Like A Man by The Four Seasons(written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio, and sung by Gaudio, Nick Massi, Tommy DeVito, and Frankie Valli, with him as lead singer) starts playing, and I introduce Lincoln to what it's about, which is about a man who was in love with a girl, only to find her taking advantage of his life, respond against her for it, and go his own path. It's as one of the characters from Jersey Boys put it, "an anthem for every guy who's ever been twisted around a girl's little finger."
Me: Word of advice, if you ever find a woman to date, only for her to take advantage of it her own misdeeds, take this song's advice, and...
Four Seasons: Walk like a man, talk like a man, walk like a man, my son
Me: Ignore those last two words. But I'm just saying. You never know.
Four Seasons: No woman's worth crawlin' on the earth
Valli: So walk like a man, my son
Our food arrives and we eat while hearing the rest of the song play.
Me: I'm thinking before the screening, we could go to Adventure Park for lunch and gaming.
Lincoln: Huh?
Me: Just so you could relive those days of gaming at Gus' Game and Grub. It even has its own Laser Tag place. I expect that to you and others from Royal Woods, it's Gus', Laser Quest, and Hole In One-derland all mashed together.
Lincoln: Woah! That's crazy!
Me: Man has always been ambitious. Keep in mind that Adventure Park gained these changes over time. And at a slow rate. It happens with what is considered everything.
Lincoln: Yeah. Considered.
We finish eating our meals and I pay for it.
Me: Okay. Let's go. *says goodbye to Uncle Brent*
We walk out and take a drive around town while listening to Can You Hear Me Knocking by The Rolling Stones.
Me: Pretty sweet music, huh?
Lincoln: Yeah. Sounds pretty nice.
Me: I just hope Luna is tolerant and accepting of me introducing you to these songs, regardless of their genre(s)/artist(s).
Lincoln: So do I...
Me: Hey. We're gonna reunite with her. Iron things out in a civil manner. We just need to keep a low profile for the time being. Remember, we're still being hunted by gangsters. Or Mafiosi as the modern terms likely call for, at least I think so. Point is, we'll die at their hands, and the sisters might end up unintentionally doing something with us that will get their attention. We need to lay low for now.
Lincoln: Okay. But I hope you know what they're doing.
Me: So do I. I'm thinking of finding a method for clandestine communication, in case of events in which the mob taps into my frequencies and eavesdrops on my conversations to know our every move.
Lincoln: They could do that?
Me: Dunno. They might. I've seen fictional antagonists do it before. Couldn't be too careful. Aside from that, still up for the movie screening?
Lincoln: Maybe. You haven't told me what the movie even is.
Me: It's a surprise. You're going to have to go in blind.
Lincoln: Okay...
Me: Let's just hope Liam's cousin Hattie isn't there to spoil things.
Lincoln: *shivers at that thought, recalling that time he met her*
The two of us make it to the park, play some games for a few hours, try some Laser Tag, and some mini-golf. At noon, the two of us book a table, not realizing four familiar females entering the arcade. They don't realize us either, and one of them decides to look for games to play. So does Lincoln. I'm thinking of recreating a scene from Chapter 2 of Gal Pals by Alex Veres.
Basically, the scene where Lincoln runs into someone. I'll reveal who it is... but just play along.
Anyway, he looks at the prize booth and sees a lot of decent toys, as well as expensive game consoles for tens of thousands of tickets. Earlier, upon entering, he has learned that Adventure Park used to do regular tickets, and, from me, that there was a ticket counter that tickets could be inserted in to get receipts for tickets. Now, there are cards and a card-swipe system that decrease the number of tokens and increases the amount of earned tickets depending on the game.
The last time I was at the place, there was a basketball hoop game and a beer pong arcade game. Maybe Lincoln could play the latter since was playing a basketball game in Gal Pals chapter 2 when that someone tried to get his attention. That someone's voice calls Lincoln's name, only for Lincoln to hear it, but not fully notice. He walks to the Beer Pong game and grabs a ball, only for a tap on his shoulder to make him jump and toss the ball in one of the cups.
Lincoln: Looks like you can get scores from games like this as well. Let's see how many I can get for now.
He does it a few more times, before getting a good amount of points.
? (speaking in a mock-offended tone): *as Lincoln is looking at the increasing amount of tickets on the small screen with a smile on his face* I take it that you're not listening to me at all, Lincoln. *His smile gets turned upside down as the voice says the first sentence. His eyes slowly become a worried expression as the person behind him says the second one.* Have you forgotten how rude it is to ignore people trying to talk to you?
He gulps nervously, causing his buckteeth to be unseen and behind his lips. Then slowly, he turns his head around to see who was speaking in that voice, the speaker actually being the same person he ran into in that chapter. The same person that he and we all know as Girl Jordan. I imagine her looking at him with lidded eyes and a smirk. Something like a smug look.
Lincoln: ... Um. Hi? I haven't seen you in a while.
Girl Jordan: *hugs Lincoln, catching him off-guard* I missed you, Lincoln. |-)
(Sorry. There are no text forms for closed-eye smile emojis.)
Lincoln: So have I. *hugs back* Say, Girl Jordan, now that I think about it, neither of us have seen that other Jordan in a while.
They let go of each other.
Girl Jordan: Yeah. I haven't really noticed that.
Lincoln: It's making me think... I might be free to-
Girl Jordan: Just call me Jordan?
Lincoln: Yeah.
Jordan: I like that idea. Aside from that, how have things been with you? Besides the obvious?
Lincoln: I've been having fun doing brilliant activities with Kaden, who introduced me to several things that I never really thought about doing. Like raves, gymnastics, or even percussion.
Jordan: Cristina and Paige told me about the rave. I didn't have time to attend gymnastics since I was doing things with my friends old and new. Mollie did send footage of the percussion event though.
Lincoln: I understand.
Jordan: Say, where is Kaden anyway?
Lincoln points to a table where I'm sitting, looking at things on my iPhone.
Jordan: That's him? Doesn't look bad for someone different from us. And from a world that we're walking in.
Lincoln: Yeah. He actually showed me a lot of stuff this town has to offer. Come to think of it, there are some personal issues that I know of. I'd rather respect his privacy and be there for him than gossip about it. (Those final two sentences are a lie. Lincoln is concealing the truth.)
Jordan: I might consider respecting that as well, as long as he isn't lying.
Lincoln: You're starting to sound like my sisters now.
Jordan: *giggles* That's what happens when I find a sister figure in Lori.
Lincoln: Lori?!
Lincoln's phone vibrates. He pulls it out showing a text message telling him the food is here.
Lincoln: That's Kaden. Our food is ready. Maybe I could ask about you and Lori another time?
Jordan: Nothing to worry about, Lincoln. My booth is next to yours. You can talk to us about things there.
Lincoln walks to his booth but stops midway when he realized that Jordan said "us" and gets curious.
Jordan: You'll find out yourself. *walks to her booth*
Lincoln resumes walking to where I am, where a side of french fries with a small bowl of ketchup is on my side, and his side has an 8-inch pizza with cheese, pepperoni, sausage, ham, mushrooms, olives, and pineapples. Our two beverages are medium-sized fountain drinks, which we got before Lincoln and Jordan left their tables to play games.
Halfway-finished, Lincoln looks at the other booth, surprised to see Stella Zhau and Sid Chang there. Alongside Jordan and Ronnie Anne Santiago.
Lincoln turns back around and I finish my meal while having a private conversation with him via whispering.
Lincoln: Jordan's here, and so are Stella, Sid, and Ronnie Anne.
Me: What booth are they in?
Lincoln: The one that's behind me.
Me: You can talk to them, but I shouldn't let them notice me. And if you talk with them, you should be careful too. Remember, low profile.
Lincoln: Right.
I get up, my fries and drink having been finished, and look around, walking back to my Jeep without being noticed. I'm looking around to make sure no Mafiosi are around ready to strike at me and Lincoln... and kill us. Meanwhile, Lincoln is thinking about things regarding him and his friends having to deal with the local Mafia, only for Jordan to interrupt him.
Jordan: Lincoln, your pizza's gonna get cold if you don't keep eating.
Lincoln: *snaps back into reality* Oh, right. *gets back to eating*
Out of curiosity, Stella looks over to the other booth and sees Lincoln there. She tells Sid and Ronnie Anne that Lincoln is in the booth. Jordan confirms what Stella said by saying that they talked with each other in front of the Beer Pong game. They look over and see Lincoln sitting by himself. Jordan joins in as well. After a quarter of the way through the pizza, Lincoln stops eating and looks to see the other girls looking at him, kind of putting him in a still look making the girls think they broke him. Jordan touches Lincoln, snapping him back into reality.
Lincoln: Oh. Uh... hi, girls?
Girls: Lincoln! :D *they all hug him*
Lincoln: Woah hey! Careful.
They let go.
Stella: Sorry. Just so good to see you again. Especially after so long.
Lincoln: Aside from when you tried to barge in on our fun in the L.A. desert?
The girls look shocked as a result of Lincoln bringing it up.
Jordan: You know we were trying to get you back.
Lincoln: Kat you guys about that bus convo as well. Right.
Ronnie Anne: She did.
Stella: So, what else have you been doing with that person Jordan said was named Kaden?
Sid: We're dying to know.
Lincoln: I've been taking a look around town with him, seeing what the city has to offer. You already know about that mountain climbing trip, that fishing trip, and that horseback ride at William Shatner's ranch.
Ronnie Anne: We do. I'm not saying I don't trust Kaden, but after you and he evaded us in the desert, it left us four to put together pieces regarding what we were informed about those trips and how he helped you get away. As if he has some kind of skill.
Sid: Or maybe he's just fast.
Lincoln: Not as fast as Lynn though. But yeah. He has his ways. I might consider asking him about it when I get the chance. You already know from my bus conversation with Kat about his reasons for keeping me from you.
Jordan: Yeah. That as well.
Lincoln: So... Jordan... about you and Lori...
Jordan: Oh, right.
She and Ronnie Anne tell him about the meeting in which Lori actually recalled the times she has been brutal to him, her regrets for it, and her collapsing into a sobbing mess, only to be comforted by her loved ones. Lori still clarified that she owes Lincoln an apology, maybe dozens. Jordan also tells him that she and Lori have been bonding during the latter's free time away from Fairway University and that Jordan still has the other three girls around her, and her old friends like Kat and Mollie, when Lori isn't around.
Jordan: She's doing fine these days, though she still misses you.
Lincoln: Tell her that I miss her as well. And my other sisters too.
Stella: We will.
Lincoln receives two texts from me.
1. Lincoln!
2. The movies!
Lincoln: Oh, sorry, guys. That's Kaden. He's taking me to the movies.
Ronnie: Wait. He never told you which movie?
Lincoln: He told me he wants to surprise me, and that I'll have to go in blind. *runs towards the car*
He gets in the vehicle while I'm playing Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds on the Jeep's speaker system through my apps.
Jordan: Wait, Lincoln!
Lincoln: *looks out his rolled-down window*
Jordan: Without a proper farewell?
Lincoln: Right. Seeya girls.
Sid: Bye, Lincoln.
I drive off to the cinema. I'll get to that in the next chapter.