“Hi.”
“Hi, sorry I have kept you waiting.”
“Believe me, it is worth the wait.” His eyes take me in again with a quick glance.
My flush deepens as I clear my throat, smoothing down my dress to give myself time to calm down.
“Shall we go?”
He outstretched his hand towards me and I nodded. Our hands brush gently as he wraps his fingers around mine and leads us out to the street. The night fog is thicker today, but I have been used to it by now. We walk for thirty minutes as he takes me to a small restaurant. The interior is beautiful and more modern compared to the other restaurants here. Not that Grimridge has many, but most of them are outdated and barely have any customers. The crime rate never subsided for once. When I asked my father why he decided that we live herealongside criminals, he refused to tell me and promised that he will always keep us safe. Maybe someday I will move out of here.
A bell rings as Jackson opens the door for me and I walk ahead, giving him a grateful smile for the gesture. A waiter tips his chin up at Jackson in acknowledgement as he walks away holding a tray of food. A hand on my back startles me as Jackson leads me further into the restaurant. We sat at a table in the far corner. The chairs creak as we pull it and settle down. I look around us, taking in the new scenery.
“You like it?”
I smile at him. “Yes, It’s definitely different from the other restaurants around.”
He crosses his hands on the table, leaning towards me as he sits across from me. “My father bought it when we moved here and turned it into this beauty.” I listen to him, nodding every once in a while. My neck starts to strain as I glance over the clock hanging on the wall. He has been talking for forty six minutes.
Nonstop.
I have not murmured one word since, our conversation is one-sided as he keeps gloating about his family and tells me an indepth story of how the restaurant has been built, how his father sacrificed all the money they have. Which he has mentioned twenty nine times already.
Yes, I counted them to pass the time. I can't handle him saying his family is rich one more time.
My mind drifts to Clayton as my lips tilt up, he would have probably corrected all the technical terms he has been spelling wrong.
He would definitely find this place obnoxious and overcrowded. Then he would take me to an abandoned new place he discovered.
I wish he was here.
Jackson is a sweet guy, I don't want to be rude to him and leave as if i have an emergency. But my coffee mug that he ordered for me has run cold. I stare down at the mug, I hate coffee.
I feel a familiar presence around us as I scan the customers in nearby tables. My eyes stop at the glass window, a shadowy tall figure stands away with a hood over his head, covering his features. But I can recognize that figure anywhere.
My lips turn up to my eyes as I feel my chest lighten. Even in the shadows, I can make the slight smirk he gives me.
“Elsie, everything okay?”
Clayton’s smirk drops in a snarl as my attention turns back to Jackson. “Oh everything is fine, I just remembered that my father wanted me to go back home early.” standing up, leaving the untouched cold coffee as his eyes follow me. “Wait, at least let me walk you home, this town isn't safe at night to–”
“No need.”
My back stiffens as a deep voice echoes behind me. I feel the heat of his body on my back. I turn to face him as I look up into his eyes. But his gaze is striking onto Jackson, his usual green eyes darkening. He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me beside him. Before I can ask him what he is doing.
Jackson stands up. “Who do you think you’re to-” a hand covers his mouth as Jackson's eyes widen. “I have had a long day, no need for a headache.” Clayton says in a dark tone I never heard from him ever. His eyes glance to the coffee mug and his jaw tightens. He pulls me ahead of him as we face the door. I hear porcelain shattering on the floor as I look behind me and find Jackson looking down his stained white shirt with his arms raised. A waiter rushes to him with a rag.
“What the hell man-”
Clayton leads me out of the restaurant as he throws over his shoulder with a smirk. “Didnt see it there, enjoy your coffee.” He looks down at me and winks.
I couldn’t help but smile.
The street light flickers, dining the empty playground. Clayton wanted us to take a walk before he took me back home.
The silence around us is deafening in the dead of the night, just the two of us stepping onto kids' chalk drawings over the concrete ground. I notice a single swing in the middle of the playground as I walk towards it and sit down. The chilly hair makes my body shiver, Claton notices as he always does and holds the hem of his black hoodie, raising it up. My gaze landed on the slightly exposed part of his lower stomach then I turned my eyes away quickly, feeling my cheeks heat up.
“No, it's okay, I like my dress too much to cover it.” I smile up at him as he shrugs and takes the hoodie off, throwing it onto the ground, leaving himself in a gray shirt.
