Pancakes
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| photo credit to thecherryblogcout.blogspot.com
The
cold air stung my cheeks as I sat next to Miley in our frozen lawn chairs by
the side of the track. Our breath left little trails of steam above our heads
as we chatted in the dark, the night sky spread above us like a diamond studded
quilt. It was a beautiful night. Freezing but beautiful. Miley carried on about
her date with Travis and I nodded, pretending to follow along as my mind
wandered. Michael should have been here 2 hours ago, and though I kept a smile
on my face and shrugged it off as nothing, inside I was disappointed. I mean,
the plans had been last minute, but after the smile on his face when I told him
I would be able to hang out with him all night because of the fundraiser, I
couldn’t believe he had stood me up. I had called his house so many times I was
sure he thought I was crazy by now. So
much for that fantasy, I mused, Michael’s dimpled grin drifting through my
mind. I couldn’t put my finger on what exactly it was about him, I just knew I
loved him. Of course I hadn’t shared that detail with him yet. How could I tell
my best friend I was in love with him? After his no-show tonight, I felt
relieved I hadn’t spilled my guts about my feelings yet. Maybe it was better
off this way. I looked up just in time to notice Miley staring at me. “Right?”
she asked, an inquisitive look on her face. Shit. Right what? I thought, regretting the fact that I hadn’t been
paying attention for the last 10 minutes. I shook my head, my cheeks flushing
slightly with embarrassment, “I’m sorry Miles. I spaced out. What did you say?”
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“Seriously Kay? You’ve gotta let it go. He’ll be
here. Or he won’t. What does it matter?” she asked, looking hurt. My shoulders
fell as I looked at her in the darkness. “I’m sorry. I’m a total ditz and I
should’ve been listening. So tell me…again…because I suck. How’d it go with Trav?”
I plastered a huge smile on my face and leaned in to Miley, focusing on her
words and pushing Michael from my mind.
***
This cannot be happening, Michael
thought as he hid behind the giant bush, waiting for the cop car to pass by. Damn town curfew he thought as he
glanced at his watch, gritting his teeth as he noticed the time. It was past
2am. She was probably asleep. Either that
or she went home because you didn’t show up asshole, he thought, feeling
his heart sink. When Kaydie had approached him about the fundraiser tonight, he
couldn’t believe his good luck. Ever since the prom he had wanted to pull her
aside, or send her a note, or scream from the rooftops how head-over-heels he
was for her. Tonight was the perfect opportunity. She was spending the night in
a tiny tent with Miley for the overnight fundraiser, and he had promised he’d
be there by midnight. Two hours later he was finally able to tiptoe his way out
the door past his snoring father and into the night.
He
ran, ignoring his burning lungs and his wobbling legs. He had to get there. He
had promised her, and he would not break his promise, no matter how late he
was. Besides, if he didn’t show up at all tonight she would kick his ass at
school on Monday, and she had a lot of spunk for such a skinny girl. He
chuckled then as he sprinted, thinking about her slender frame with her
“chicken legs” as she always called them. She was “too skinny” she always said
with that indubitable look on her face. He thought she was crazy. And perfect.
He didn’t know what it was about her, but he knew he loved her. She was the
first girl he ever loved, and he had known it from the first moment he saw her
walk into class. Before even saying hello, he knew she would be his wife
someday. Now he just had to make sure he made it to that track sometime this
century, and that she didn’t kill him when he finally got there. Ducking
quickly behind a sign, Michael jogged in placed until the cop car slid past him
and turned down a side street. Taking a deep breath, Michael darted back out
onto the sidewalk and ran. He could see the faint lights surrounding the track
in the distance and his determination pumped energy into his weary muscles,
urging him on. Kaydie’s face danced through his thoughts and he smiled. Soon enough you’ll be mine, he thought
zipping his hoodie up against the chill in the air, a smile on his lips as he
ran towards his future.
***
“Ummm…scrambled
eggs and white toast with a side of homefries. Oooo and a coffee.” Miley
recited, handing the menu back to the grumpy waitress and beaming a huge grin
at her. “And you?” the waitress asked, glaring at me impatiently. Geez. Lighten up, I thought as I scanned the
menu, indecisive as usual. “Hmmm…uuuuhhhh…pancakes please. With extra syrup.
And a chocolate milk.” I said, satisfied with my choice, and handed my menu
over. The waitress rolled her eyes and managed an annoyed, obviously forced
smile before sauntering off with our order.
“Rough night I guess.” I said, raising my eyebrow in
the direction of the waitress. Miley stifled a giggle as the waitress returned
with our drinks, dropping them on the table without straws and spilling half of
my milk. Denny’s had been me and Miley’s hangout since freshman year, and we
had snuck out of our tent and past the student supervisor, Darren, a half hour
ago to walk up the hill to Denny’s to unthaw after sitting outside all night
for the relay. My disappointment over Michael’s no show still hung in my mind,
but I looked around, enjoying the freedom of being 17 and in Denny’s at 3am. My
parents never let me do stuff like this, especially with my 10pm curfew. They
treated me like a child with their never-ending rules and judgments, so tonight
was like a treat for me, a night where I actually felt like a senior in high
school should. The dingy restaurant was filled with drunken strangers loudly
discussing their night and annoyed waitresses fighting to get through the
throngs of people in the restaurant, and a group of people stood irritated at
the front, waiting for a table to open up somewhere. Miley and I scanned the
room, pointing out this hot guy and that and laughing about the drunken morons
falling all over themselves. Our waitress returned, slinging our steaming
plates onto the table and placing a thimble-sized bowl of syrup next to me.
“Ummm extra……..syrup” I attempted as she whirled around and took off across the
restaurant with a huff. “Or not.” I muttered, pouring the trickle of syrup onto
my pancakes over the melted butter. Mushing the syrup around and spearing a
chunk of pancakes with my fork, I looked up as Miley began to giggle about
something Travis had told her the night before when a familiar, dimpled grin
caught my attention. At the front door, squeezing his way through the people
crammed in, was Michael. Miley stopped mid-story, a confused look on her face,
and spun around in her seat. Her eyes grew wide as Michael drew closer and
plopped down in the booth beside her, his eyes locked with mine.
“I told you I’d be here.” He said simply, a
mischievous twinkle in his eyes. The look on his face spoke volumes, and I
suddenly felt as if I was exactly where I need to be. Everything happens for a reason, I thought, as the butterflies in
my stomach multiplied and I stared at him, speechless. Michael’s actions spoke
louder than words ever could, and I knew in that moment that he felt the same
as I did. Nervousness gave way to a feeling of complete and utter contentment,
and I giggled like a schoolgirl as Michael fed me pancakes and transformed from
best friend to love of my life right before my eyes.
Peace & Love
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