Serena got front seat in Justin's car and Carmel was squished in the back with Lance, Joey, Chris and JC.
"Can I get a little more room over here?" Lance called from his window seat. "I can't breathe."
"Well, if JC would move over and quit taking up so much space, I'd gladly give you breathing room," Carmel said from her place between JC and Lance.
"Hey, I'm not the one afraid of getting cooties here," JC replied, moving over an inch.
"The only person here whose cooties I'm afraid of getting is you," Carmel said, sliding over.
"Aaah. Finally." Lance stretched his arms out and took a deep breath.
Serena turned around in her seat and smiled at the uncomfortable people in back. "Wow! You guys look incredibly happy back there."
"And you look so uncomfortable up there, Serena," Chris said. "Let me take your crowded seat."
"No, but thanks for offering, Chris." Serena smiled sweetly and turned back around as Justin pulled into the parking lot of a restaurant. They all tumbled out of the car, marveling sarcastically about how spacious the back seat was.
"Ow! JC, that's my *foot!*" Carmel yelled.
JC leapt back, startled. "Sorry."
"I'm sure you are," Carmel said.
"No, really-I am, Carmel," JC replied. "I didn't know your foot was there."
"Right," Carmel muttered and they entered the restaurant. A waitress sat them at a round table and Carmel and JC sat on opposite sides.
Talking and joking around with everyone-except JC- put Carmel into a better mood. She and JC carefully avoided each other in conversation, but found it rather difficult to avoid each other physically.
"When's the food gonna come?" Lance asked.
"Be patient, you guys-it looks like they're kinda busy tonight," Carmel said as someone's foot ran into her leg. She dismissed it, thinking it was a simple mistake.
"This fork looks mighty tasty." Joey eyed the silver fork sitting in front of him on the table.
"I don't think the waiter would enjoy you eating the silverware, Joey," Serena replied as Carmel felt a leg come to rest against hers.
Carmel looked under the tablecloth.
"Uh, Carmel-does ABC gum sound better than a napkin to you?" Chris asked as Carmel emerged from under the table, her face a light shade of red.
"JC, do you mind?" Carmel asked,
"Mind what?"
"Your legs are taking up *my* leg room," Carmel said.
"Is that *your* leg I'm touching?" JC asked.
"Yeah," Carmel replied.
He pulled his leg away. "Oh, sorry. I thought it was a table leg."
"Is my leg really that cold and steely?" Carmel asked.
"Well, I *did* think your leg was unusually warm for a table..."
"So if my leg wasn't cold and steely-"
"Your leg isn't cold and steely, but your personality is," JC retorted.
Carmel stared at JC for a minute then stood up and headed for the bathroom.
Chapter Three |
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