“Visiting?”
“I’m staying with my uncle until the end of the school year.”
“You Ricky’s nephew?”
Good ole Ricky already warned the law around these parts about me.
“I am.”
“I’m Sheriff Andy Livingston. Since Ricky is a good friend of mine, I’ll let you off with a warning, but I still need to see your license and registration.”
He takes the offered documents and heads back to his cruiser. After a few minutes, he’s back at my side.
“Stay out of trouble,” he says in a serious tone.
“Sure thing, Sheriff. Do you know where I can get something to eat around here?”
“Judy’s has the best damn cheeseburgers in town. Breakfast is served all day too, if that’s your fancy. Keep going straight until you hit Division, then turn left at the stop sign. The diner will be on your right.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Remember what I said.”
“Will do,” I say, continuing on my way.
I enter the diner a short time later.
“Have a seat anywhere you like, darlin’,” a curvy redhead tells me from behind the counter. The diner is a little crowded, being it’s a Saturday night and all. I sit at the last booth in the back to be incognito.
“Hello, my name is Mandy. I’ll be your server tonight. What can I get for you?” She’s a cute blonde, around my age. I wonder if she attends the high school I’ll be starting next week.
“I’ll have the famous cheeseburger I’ve heard about.”
“Excellent choice. How would you like that cooked?”
“Medium rare.”
“Fries with that?”
“Yeah, and a Pepsi.”
“You new around here?”
“I am.”
“Guess you’ll be attending Central High.”
“That’s the plan.”
“Maybe I’ll see you around,” she says, flirting.
“That’s a possibility.”
Another girl I’ll need to stay clear of.
She walks off with a come-hither smile on her face. I’m sipping my Pepsi when a group of boys walk in. My senses are instantly on alert. Trouble recognizes trouble. The guy in front must be the ringleader, and his eyes land on me. When they move towards me, I’m ready. Ringleader places his palms flat on the table, leaning towards me. The look of him screams jock, like Josh—tall with an athlete’s physique. His dirty-blond colored hair falls slightly below his ears.
“I’m assuming you’re new around here, so I’ll give you a pass this one time. This is our table. Move,” Ringleader says.
