Don't Call me That -SEQUEL TO SCMT

15- Finally Getting Answers

((Damn this was a long cliffhanger. You guys let me leave this shit for o'er a month??))

((I mean thanks, but call me out on that shit!! /lh))

((Wil))

Wilbur took a shaky breath in. Every person that walked into the cafe shot adrenaline through his veins. Each time the door's bell rang it was as if someone'd set off a fire alarm. He hadn't thought about how he would react when people recognized him, but now that they did, he wanted to run away screaming from the embarrassment.

Knowing what he'd come here to do, knowing what he'd said online, knowing how easily any of this could come out, everything he'd built could be turned upside down in a second.

He looked around again. One teen who seemed to be with a parent had dragged them over earlier, the employee who'd spoken to him. Those were the only two who'd recognized him over the past hour. As long as he spoke quietly, as long as he was careful, it should be fine.

He took a sip of his coffee, realizing it was empty, and stood to order another. The bell on the door jingled as the next customer entered. Wilbur took a deep breath, heart pounding in his chest.

If that was him, he could fucking wait as well.

He got to the counter, leaning on it and swallowing, calming himself back down. He looked up across, waiting until he caught someone's eye. The other employee currently working came up, getting it done much faster than the last time. He walked back to the table, sitting in the same place he'd been and warming his hands on the cup. The older one still sat on the table, not that he was worried about that.

Another ring. He didn't look. He could hear someone else up at the front.

It didn't help that he was in, well, California. He'd heard a few voices which could've passed for Jared's just while getting there, and while inside.

The chair across from him scraped on the floor and he looked up with a start.

"I'm sorry I wasn't able to get to you sooner," Jared said as he dropped into the seat, turning towards him and leaning with his elbows on the table. Wilbur couldn't help from thinking how casual it looked.

Before Jared had a chance to say anything else, he spoke. "Why did you want to meet me?"

"What?"

Just that word was enough to strike up an odd satisfaction in Wilbur, getting to be the one to confuse him this time. Getting to be the one to cause him even the most minor of pause. He continued.

"I know why I came. Why did you ask? What do you have to gain from this?"

"I... I don't suppose anything? I wanted to explain myself, to apologize. I didn't leave you because of your..." he looked around, and Wilbur was still unsure if he was embarrassed to be saying it aloud or simply looking out for his secret, knowing of his presence online. "You know," he settled on, lowering his voice.

"I know that now, I figured that much," he replied, starting to grow a bit more comfortable with the idea of this conversation.

"I didn't want to," Jared said, turning his gaze to the table. "I really didn't have a choice."

Wilbur sighed, though he was already rethinking everything he'd thought about what happened in the last eight years. "And that's all you're going to tell me?"