322
As usual, a strong undercurrent of
noise is buzzing through the bar and grill. The steady hum of pool games
and conversation is engaged in constant battle with the radio, which is
currently playing R.E.M.'s "Imitation of Life."
Against the back wall of the restaurant,
Jason
slides into a booth opposite from Lauren.
"Thanks for meeting me," she says,
taking a sip of her iced tea.
"Not a problem," he says. "Besides,
we don't spend enough time together, just the two of us. It'll be fun."
She shrugs. "Maybe not. There's some
serious stuff I wanna go over, Jason."
He folds his hands in front of him
on the table. "All right."
There is nothing but silence between
them for a moment, until Lauren speaks. "First of all, I want to--I want
to apologize."
"What for?"
"For causing all this trouble between
you and Courtney."
She notices the surprised look on his face, tinged with
a bit of embarrassment, and quickly adds, "She told me that you guys had
a fight the other night because of
Alex and me. I just want you to know
I'm sorry about that ... It's bad enough that I've made this mess for myself,
and it's even worse to let it interfere in my friends' lives."
Jason soaks up the apology quietly
and then says, "It's not your fault, Lauren. Stuff happens."
"For whatever it's worth, I'm sure
things will get better with the two of you. Courtney does love you, and
I know you love her."
"Things are okay," Jason says. "It's
not like we aren't speaking or anything. We've been skating together and
talking and all that ... It's just a little awkward."
She nods, accepting this and looking
a little bit relieved. And then she is quiet again, as if preparing herself
for something.
"The truth is," she says, "that I
wanted to see you tonight for a really specific reason."
Jason just looks at her. He's pretty
sure he knows where this is going.
She confirms his suspicion. "I wanted
to know if you have any idea what's going on with Alex."
Right at that moment, the waitress
arrives at their table. Ordering a Sprite allows Jason a moment to stall
-- but that's all it is, a moment.
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