From one proxy to another proxy [Ticcimask]

Chap. 20: Are You There God? It's Me, Jesus

Toby narrates 

It was midday, we were at a cafe having luch. We had come to the city to get some stuff, and by get i mean steal. 

Once we finished the job we decided to have luch here, the boys had some money. 

—This is a terrible idea.

—We're just gonna eat and then leave, it'll be quick. 

Hoodie insisted for a while in stop and eat something, Masky wasn't convinced at all but we were at our tables already. 

The waitress came with the menus.

—God, i'm starving! I feel my guts eating each other up...

—Stop overacting. 

Hoodie quickly scanned the menu, Masky didn't even look at his and handed it to me. 

—A steak and orange juice.

—Alright—she wrote it down and then looked at Masky.

—Coffee.

She kept writting and finally her eyes were on me. I got nervous, i didn't even have the chance to look at the menu. I ordered the first thing i saw.

—Waffles... and juice too...

I answered a bit embarrassed, not looking up. I was sure Hoodie and Masky were judging me with the eyes for chosing something so childish.  

—I'll be right back with your orders—she said with a charming smile and took the menus.

—You ordered a steak without even look at the whole menu—he said, resting his chin on his hand.

—I was sure it was there.

—Just admit you are sick of your shitty food and that's why you wanted to eat here.

—Hey, my food is delicious! Right, Toby? 

When he realized he wasn't receiving a response from me, he looked at me in surprise. 

—Unbelievable! It's unbelievable how ungrateful you two are.

Masky laughed in his face.

—Get over it.

They kept talking, Hoodie offended and Masky making fun of him. I stopped paying attention.

I looked at my right, a group of forty-something bikers were sitting in the bar, drinking, watching TV, speaking loudly and laughing. 

One of them was looking right at me.

He didn't seem to look away...

—I'm going to the bathroom.

The sound of the chair moving and Hoodie getting up brought me back.

The waitress came with our orders.

—A steak, two orange juices, a coffee and a plate of waffles for you—she squeezed my right cheek—. You are such an adorable young man.

Her face and voice expressed tenderness, i smiled uncomfortable.

—Let me know if you need anything else—she said and left.

I looked at my plate, i wasn't even hungry.

—You better eat, don't make me waste my money—said and took a sip of coffee.

Without saying anything, i reluctantly took the utensils and began cutting the waffles. 

—Why are you so quiet? —he asked without even look interested. 

—It's nothing...

—Rogers you don't keep your mouth shut for one damn minute, what is it huh? —he looked at me.

—I told you, it's nothing—i looked down at my plate to keep cutting. 

He grabbed me by my face with his left hand, forcing me to watch him. His look was angry, as always. 

—Rogers.

—It's nothing! —i answered with difficulty, he was still grabbing my cheeks.

I saw out of the corner of my eye Hoodie walking over and sitting down. 

—You look like a fish—he let me go and kept drinking, didn't speak to me or look at me again.

—Finally! What a delight! —Hoodie filled his mouth and chewed with a huge smile.

After a while we finished our lunch, Masky and Hoodie talked nonsense, the old radio played a nice song at a low volume so as not to disturb those watching television. 

The loud voices of the bikers brought me out of my thoughts.

—Sweetie, move those beautiful legs God gave you and get me another beer. 

—Richard, you got a wife!

—And two lovers! 

The four of them laughed, the fifth was serious, almost angry, looking at me again. 

—What you're looking at? —Masky asked. I looked at him quickly, my God he almost killed me, why is he so attentive? 

—That guy keeps looking at me...

Masky looked over his shoulder.

—Don't look! —i whispered.

—The one with the "Queensrÿche" t-shirt? 

—Yeah...

—What are you two talking about? —Hoodie asked.

—That old creep is looking at Toby.

He answered without looking away. Hoodie did exactly the same thing as Masky, look right at him with no discretion.

Now the guy is killing the three of us with his eyes...

—What the hell is he looking at, i'm gonna kick his ass.

—Enough, we're not getting into trouble. Let's pay and leave—Hoodie got up and went to the bar.

—Whatever—he also got up and threw me the keys—. Start the bump. 

He left before i could even say something.

I got up and walked toward the door, when i passed the bar that biker blocked my way.

He stood in front of me, in silence. His friends stopped laughing. The only sound i could hear was the radio and the TV. 

—Where are you from, kid? —he asked with a dry voice.

—I'm just passing through... —i didn't want to look intimidated but the truth is i was praying for the conversation to end and him to leave, the guy was twice my size.

—Is there a problem?