Author’s note: You may want to go back to Chapter One of the book and remind yourself where that chapter left off….you’re about to embark on a new story with Jordana, had she made a different decision about going to the movies. Enjoy!
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Part Three
“Hey, Des,” Jordana said into her cell phone.
“Please tell me that you’re on your way to the theater. Because I’m waiting outside in the cold for you to show—so get your skinny butt over here ASAP,” Desi said, all in one breath.
Jordana pulled her jacket closer to her body as she walked along the street. She couldn’t help but feel bad about bailing on her best friend, but she felt like she was backed into a corner.
“Sorry, Desi. No can do,” Jordana said apologetically. “The ’rents said no, just like we thought they would.”
“Man, that sucks,” Desi said disappointed. “I was really rooting for you this time. But I guess I sort of knew I’d be flying solo tonight.”
“Solo? There’s gonna be like, six other people around you at the movie,” Jordana said. “If anyone’s flying solo tonight, it’s me.”
“What are you gonna do tonight anyway?” Desi asked. “You sound like you’re outside right now.”
“I’m walking over to Mike’s Diner. Figure I’ll hang out there for a bit, maybe read a book or something” Jordana said. “I just didn’t feel like spending another Friday night at home with my parents.”
“I hear what you’re saying,” Desi said. “Hey, sorry it didn’t work out tonight. I know how much you were looking forward to rendezvousing with your sweetie.”
“What can you do?” Jordana asked, her voice flat. “Just promise me you’ll keep an eye on him for me? I want details tomorrow, OK?”
“I’ll do my best, but you know how I get into a zone when I’m watching movies,” Desi said. “Especially scary ones.”
“Come on, Desi—for me?” Jordana asked sweetly, as she entered the parking lot of the diner.
“OK, you twisted my arm. I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” Desi said and then hung up.
Jordana snapped her cell phone closed and slipped it back into her purse. She smoothed her hair down and then walked into Mike’s Diner. The place was still relatively empty, since most of her classmates only headed to the diner after seeing a movie or at the date-appropriate time of 8pm.
“How many?” the slightly overweight waitress asked Jordana as she stood inside the front door.
“Just one,” Jordana said quietly, slightly embarrassed to be there by herself.
“You can go ahead and sit anywhere, sweetheart,” the lady answered, looking around at all the empty tables. “I’ll be with you in a minute.”
“Thanks,” Jordana replied and headed straight to the back of the restaurant. Just like when you’re picking a seat on a school bus, Jordana knew that the best seats were in the back. She picked a booth near a window in the back corner, as far away from the door as she could get.
Jordana pulled off her jacket and placed it on the seat beside her. She took the book she was reading out of her bag and set it down on the table next to her silverware. She looked up just as the waitress sidled up to her table and plopped down a thick menu.
“Do you know what you want, dear?” the woman asked, before Jordana had even picked up the menu.
“Um—Could I get a cup of coffee?” Jordana asked, pushing the menu back toward the woman.
“Sure, hon,” she said, as she jotted a few notes on her pad of paper. “Is that all?”
“For now,” Jordana said, with a smile. “Thanks.”
“No problem,” the lady answered as she walked away. “One coffee for the little lady in the corner!”
There goes my chance to be invisible, Jordana thought, as she picked up her book and began to read.
A few minutes later, a cup of steaming coffee appeared in front of her. After pouring a little milk and sugar in it, Jordana picked up the mug and took a sip. She sighed as she felt the warm liquid make its way down her throat and into her belly.
“Oh sweet nectar of the gods, how I’ve needed you all day,” Jordana said to herself.
As she continued to drain her cup, Jordana watched as a group of giggling girls clambered noisily through the front door. She became wary as she watched them move closer and closer to where she was sitting. And much to her chagrin, Jordana stared at them as they commandeered of the table right across from hers.
Jordana recognized the far-too-perky girls from school. They were freshman and they always traveled in packs. Jordana doubted she’d get any reading done with this group sitting next to her.
Jordana turned and looked at the window next to her, and could see clearly the reflection of the girls beside her. They were all various shades of blonde. All of them were wearing ridiculously short skirts and tanks (even though it was so not skirt weather outside) and all of them had on fuzzy boots that Jordana assumed were Ugg knock-offs.
Jordana shook her head, fighting the urge to roll her eyes at the life-size Barbies sitting next to her. Then, she caught her own reflection. Jordana’s hair was jet-black and hung straight down her back. Her own outfit, which consisted of a pair of jeans, white Keds and a tee that said “I do all my own stunts,” though far less flashy, was far more classy.
Jordana turned away from her reflection, as her waitress showed up to refill her mug. As she started on her second cup, she listened in on the conversation the Barbies were having. Ordinarily, Jordana would have felt bad about eavesdropping, but they were talking so loudly that she felt it was more like forced listening.
“Did you hear that Eddie guy’s having a party tonight?” the blondest of the Barbies said to her groupies.
“So is that the plan then?” the slightly orange I-live-in-a-tanning-bed Barbie asked, looking around the table for confirmation.
“Could be cool,” Blond Barbie replied, examining her nails.
“I heard they’re even gonna have beer there,” the shortest of the crew whispered as she leaned in toward the middle of the table.
“Ew!” Tanning Bed Barbie exclaimed. “Beer totally tastes like pee!”
All the Barbies looked at Tanning Bed Barbie, their mouths open in disgust.
“How do you know what pee tastes like?” the least dressed of the Barbies shrieked, laughing at her friend.
Tanning Bed Barbie turned even redder as the rest of the Barbies laughed at her. “I don’t. I’m just saying, beer tastes gross,” she said, quietly.
“Well, I could definitely get a little tipsy tonight,” Trailer Park Barbie said, turning to the rest of the table.
“Me too,” Shorty Barbie chimed in.
They all looked toward Blond Barbie and Jordana instantly knew that she was the head of the Barbie bunch. They waited in silence as she finished checking out her nails.
“Sounds good to me,” Blond Barbie said finally, with a shrug.
That’s when Jordana picked back up her book and tried her hardest to ignore what was going on around her.
Another few minutes listening to that group and my brains might start oozing out of my ears, Jordana thought, concentrating on the words in her book.
She had just managed to tune the Barbies out and had started to get into a reading zone, when she was interrupted by sudden their giggling and whispering. Jordana rolled her eyes and tried to ignore them.
“Um, you’re sitting at my table,” a guy’s voice said from out of nowhere.
Jordana looked up to see a skinny guy, with a guitar slung across his back, standing at her booth. He was wearing all black and his black spiky hair had streaks of blue in it. He was slightly pale-looking and had incredible cheekbones. A small stud pierced one of his ear lobes, and she could see the bottom of a tattoo on his arm peaking out from under his tight black tee. Jordana thought he might have even been wearing a little eyeliner, too.
“Uh, sorry?” Jordana asked, confused. She looked at all the empty tables around them and then back at the guy.
“I said, this is my table,” he repeated, his eyes piercing hers.
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Note from the author:
If you like Fate Reloaded, be sure to fan me, and then support your fellow Wattpadder by buying my other book, Life's a Witch, in paperback, or for the Kindle or Nook. Just go to amazon.com and search Life's a Witch...you could help make me the next New York Times Best Seller!
Thanks for your support!
:)
Britt