The Art of Life (13 page)

               
The
cashier looks at him like he is crazy and starts to scan the items.
 
It doesn’t take her long to finish.
 
“You’re total is 85.68.”

               
“Now,
you have to pay for your stuff.
 
I will
no longer be your sugar daddy,” Jeremy says, crossing his arms.

               
“Fine,”
I sigh.
 
“I don’t know what I will do
now.
 
Oh wait, it’s called a debit
card.”
 
I take the card and swipe it
through the machine.
 
It takes me a
second to remember my mom’s pin though.
 
I rarely spend money on anything.

               
As
the cashier hands me my receipt, Jeremy leans in.
 
“Are you sure you don’t want to give me your
name?”

               
I
start to shove him away.
 
Turning to the
cashier, I say, “Sorry, we haven’t eaten yet.”

               
Jeremy
snags the bags and we walk out the door.
 
“You are
WAY too much fun!” He yells.

               
“For
someone who is out to change my life and save me from the evil witches at
school, you sure are out to embarrass me more than they ever could.”

               
“Yeah,
but I can do that because we are friends.
 
It’s in the friend creed,” Jeremy replies.

               
Laughing,
I retort, “There is a friend creed?”

               
“Yes,”
Jeremy says proudly.
 
“We will go over
our friend creed while we eat dinner.
 
So, you want to learn how to drive?”

               
“Not
in this car, NO!
 
I can’t drive stick
either,” I tell him seriously.
 

               
Leaning
against his car, Jeremy exclaims, “What bragging rights though?
 
Not only do you learn to drive in a 1967 GTO,
but you get to learn to drive stick in it.
 
That would be awesome.
 
If only I
had been so privileged.”

               
“You
are crazy,” I laugh.
 
“We can talk later
about how I am going to learn to drive.
 
I have to get my temps.”

               
“We
will do that on Monday after school,” Jeremy says.
 
“We must get you up to speed and get you
driving.”

               
I
shake my head.
 
“You sure have a lot of
plans for me.
 
When are you going to live
your life?
 
Have these dates that you
were bragging about.”

               
“I
never bragged about my dates,” Jeremy says.
 
“They usually end badly.”

               
We
climb into the car.
 
“Why do they end
badly?”

               
“Eh,
I find the girl annoying, vapid or shallow and I get bored.
 
Girls usually go for me because I am good
looking and have the nice car and bike.
 
It’s rarely about me.”

               
“That’s
sad,” I reply.

               
With
a big smile, Jeremy goes, “Yeah, I know, but that is what happens when you have
devilish good looks.”

               
“Oh
geez,” I groan.
 
“Where are we going to
eat?”

               
Backing
out of the parking spot, Jeremy replies, “A little Italian restaurant.
 
I am dying for their lasagna.”

               
“I
make really good lasagna,” I state, looking through my bag.

               
“Well
then, you will have to make it for me sometime,” he says.
 
When Jeremy turns back around, and shifts the
gear, he looks at me.
 
“You do look
really pretty you know.”

               
That
makes me grin really big.
 
“Thank
you.
 
I have never heard that before in
my life.”

               
“That
is so sad,” Jeremy sighs.

               
“You
are telling me,” I mutter.

               
Reaching
over, Jeremy starts to
blare
the radio and sing along
to it.
 
At least we like the same
music.
 
I watch him and laugh.
 
He grins at me.
 
He does have such a pretty smile.
 
Looking out the window, I take a deep
breath.
 
I have never had this much
fun.
 
I just pray it doesn’t blow up in
my face.

               
When
we get to the restaurant, Jeremy opens the door for me.
 
“You are such a gentleman,” I say.

               
“Of
course,” he replies.
 
“Someone was really
strict with my manners upbringing.”

               
“Your parents?”
I ask.

               
It
seems as though he ignores my question.
 
Jeremy walks up the hostess and says, “Table for two, please.”

               
The
hostess grabs two menus and says, “Follow me.”

               
I
shake my head, because he just walks away with the hostess.
 
Did he not hear me?
 
Of course Isabelle, he doesn’t need to answer
all your questions.
 
Debbie did say he
wouldn’t talk about his past, why would he with you?
 
We just met.
 
I am being silly.
 
With a sigh, I
follow them to the table.

               
We
sit down and I look at my menu right away.
 
The silence is rather awkward.
 
Jeremy suddenly sets his menu down.
 
“I don’t even need to look the menu.
 
I know what I am getting.”
 
Leaning forward he says, “You should get the chicken
alfredo
,
or pesto tortellini, or the chicken parmesan.
 
Those are my favorites.
 
Or, you
could go with the lasagna, too.
 
It’s
awesome!”

               
“What
if I don’t want any of that?” I ask, grinning.

               
Dramatically
crossing his arms, Jeremy sits back.
 
“Well fine, don’t listen to me.”

               
That
makes me laugh.
 
“Fine, I will get the
pesto tortellini.”

               
“Good
choice,” he retorts.

               
Suddenly,
the waitress walks up to us, and my, oh my, she is beautiful.
 
My eyes dart to Jeremy and he has the biggest
smile on his face.
 
The waitress smirks
back.
 
“Hi, my name is Vicky.
 
Can I get you something to drink?”

               
“Well,”
Jeremy says, “I would like a glass of merlot, please.”

               
“Can
I see your ID?” She asks.

               
Pulling
out his wallet, Jeremy replies, “Most definitely.”
 
He plucks out his license and hands it to
her.

               
She
looks at it and then him.
 
“Well Jeremy,
it seems as though you are of age.”

               
“Yes,”
he emphasizes, “Vicky.
 
I am 21.
 
You look to be what 19?”

               
“Oh,
aren’t you sweet,” Vicky giggles.
 
“I am
23.”
 
I roll my eyes, but thankfully,
neither of them notices.
 
Of course, I
could disappear and it wouldn’t register to either of them.
 
I lean back and watch the show.

               
Jeremy
says, “I haven’t seen you here before.”

               
“I
just started actually,” Vicky replies, putting her hair behind her ear.
 
“Do you come here often?”

               
Oh
geez.

               
“Actually,
I do.
 
Maybe I will have to request you
as my waitress from now on.”

               
“Only
if you tip nicely,” Vicky giggles back.

               
Leaning
forward, Jeremy says, “I tip very nicely.”

               
That
seems to tickle Vicky’s fancy, because she gets a big grin, “Sounds good to
me.”
 
I raise my eyebrows and stare at
them.
 
“Let me get you your drink.”
 
Now, I frown.
 
Really?

               
“Oh,”
Jeremy says, “My friend probably wants something.”

               
Vicky
turns and looks at me.
 
Faltering a
little, she asks, “What can I get you?”

               
“Iced
tea,” I respond, quietly.

               
“I
will get that right away,” Vicky says, turning to walk away.
 
Of course, she has to look at Jeremy as she
does this.

               
He
watches her go and then turns to look at me.
 
My face must be priceless.
 
“What?” He asks.

               
“Nothing,”
I snort.
 
“I need to use the
bathroom.
 
I will be right back.
 
You can order for me.”

               
“Okay,”
Jeremy draws out.

               
I
shake my head, trying to hide my smile.
 
This is the first time I have ever seen flirting that direct
before.
 
I do not have a lot of
experience in this area.
 
As I make my way
to the bathroom, I suddenly hear, “Hey!”

               
I
turn to the voice.
 
“Oh,
hi!”
I squeak.

               
“Twice
in one day and out to eat again,” Eric says, walking over to me.
 
“This is a surprise.”

               
“Yeah,”
I reply, since you have never talked to me before.

               
Eric
looks across the room at Jeremy.
 
“You here with your boyfriend?”

               
“He’s
not my boyfriend,” I say, “Not technically.”

               
Looking
somewhat surprised, Eric retorts, “Really?”

               
Oh
wait!
 
I am supposed to make this difficult…I
think.
 
“Well, we are discussing it.”

               
“I
see.”
 
Eric smiles, “You know, we have
never really talked.”

               
“Yup,
I know.”

               
He
looks down at the ground.
 
“That is
probably my fault.”

               
It’s
like a wave of confidence comes over me.
 
“Yeah, it kind of is.
 
We have had
lockers next to each other for four years, but until now, I have tried to stay
out of your way.”

               
“Why?”
Eric asks.

               
“I
don’t know,” I quietly say, looking away.

               
Shifting
his weight, Eric tilts his head.
 
“I do
like the hair.
 
It looks great on you.”

               
“Thanks.
 
So, who are you here with?” I ask.

               
“My
sister and brother-in-law,” he answers, gesturing behind him.
 
“I was just heading to the bathroom.”

               
With
a nervous laugh, I say, “Me too.”

               
“Well
then, let me escort you there.”
 
Eric
waves his hand forward.