only hope*
chapter 12
Fishing for an easy conversation starter I questioned, �So, do you go here often?� And sat down next to him a small booth.
Already flipping through his menu he replied, �This is only my 3rd time but I really dunno very many other places out here yet, I just moved to LA about month ago.�
�Me too.� I replied, also leafing through mine.
�Where from?�
�Near Chicago.� I answered feeling a little too honest.
�No way! Me too!� He smiled.
�That�s crazy! So why did YOU come here?�
Setting his menu down he began to explain. �First it was for a better job offer, but that didn�t go over like planned, so I decided that I liked it here better, and well- here I am. Anyway, why are you here?�
�Boyfriend,� I answered quickly. Before I could extend my answer the waitress came for our orders. By the time we were done ordering he picked right back up where we left off.
�Boyfriend? Did you come here to be with him?� He questioned taking a sip of his pop that the waitress just set down.
�Yeah, pretty much. He�s out of town, so that�s why he left his car here.�
�Ya�ll are really serious, huh?�
Playing with my straw I replied, �yes, but what made you think that?�
�I can tell by the way you smile when you talk about him, it�s cute.�
�Haha! I didn�t know it was that obvious.� I laughed.
Changing the subject he asked, �So how old are you?�
�20.� I lied, I had always looked older so I wasn�t worried about whether our not he�d buy it. �You?�
�Oh, I�m 22.�
�Not that much difference then.� I stated happily. On the inside I was really cracking up.
�Nope.� Suddenly he got quiet and just starred at me.
After baring a few more moments of his brown eyes floating in mine I finally asked, �What�s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?�
�I dunno� you kind look familiar, and I�m still guessing as to why you�re wearing those sunglasses.�
�Who do I remind you of? And, if I wanna wear my sunglasses inside I will.�
�Not sure, you just look like someone, it�s like I�ve seen you from somewhere before, I just can�t put my finger on it.�
Crap, he probably saw me on the news. I thought.
�I guess I just have one of those faces.� I mumbled into my drink.
The conversation over lunch really didn�t consist of anything all that exciting but the food was great. He insisted that he paid but I made sure I got to the bill before he did. Both of us agreed to meet there again the next night for dinner at 6. He was a real sweetheart, but I still had to be cautious.
*******
That night
�So what did my girl do today?� Justin questioned over the phone.
I had decided not to fill him in on the whole tire thing and about Evan, just because I knew he�d lecture me about not covering up before I left. So I simply replied, �Not much, cruised around in my new car!!! It was a beautiful so other than that I just laid out in the sun. Ummm� yeah.�
I didn�t like lying to him but I knew it was probably for the better. As a matter of fact I didn�t like lying to Evan either, I just hated to lie period.