Chapter 12 A Slow Leak
We pull into the Townies dinner as Cindy calls it. But it’s really called McCarls. The black car followed us poorly. There is no way they could be pros. So, I don’t believe my parents could have hired them. If not them, who? And are they after my new friends? Personally, the likelihood of them following me is higher than that of them following me. I am not going to risk their safety or mine on what-ifs. We walked into the diner. I put the “random” stuff that Bartise paid for in the hidden part of my leather jacket. As he went to open our door, Cindy was too busy watching him and laughing and teasing to notice what I did. I don’t need them asking questions.
We walk into the diner and Dave the cook spots me.
“Hey? You’re not working today?” He shouts at me.
“Nahh, I’ll be here tomorrow, so you get a slight break from me. Unless you want to give me food poisoning,” I tease. He laughs. I led us to a booth kind of in the middle. I sit in a spot where I can easily watch my surroundings. We order drinks while deciding what to eat. When the door opens, in comes the red-headed girl. She’s out of her black hoodie, hat and glasses, but the way her hair is braided is still the same, along with a burn-looking mark on her face. She’s very tall and slender, if she knows how to fight, she would probably use agility and defensive moves. Cindy noticed I was staring and asked what I was looking at, panicked.
“Oh nothing! I was spaced out.” I explained.
She looked towards where I was looking and went “Ugh, I am starting to feel like he is stalking you,” she says flatly. “I saw him leaving bookshelves after you went where that lady told you to go.”
“Why is he here now?” Bartise grumbled. I almost did not hear him as my eyes went from the redhead to Ezra. Who was pretending to be a perfect gentleman by holding the door open for her. He noticed my gaze and gave me a wink. I do not think I could roll my eyes harder at him.
We order food when our drinks arrive. We are all laughing, and I pretend to close my eyes while I laugh. When I am really looking through squinted eyes at the redhead who is laughing, smiling, and flirting with the table of jocks next to her. Ezra is sitting at the bar, eating alone, but looking around as if he is waiting for someone or something to happen. Strange, Bartise made a joke, and I did my laugh, squint again and noticed the redhead just got her food and the driver was standing outside two cars from the black one, smoking a cigarette. He seemed to be trying to act as if that was his car, not the black one.
Now was my chance. The whole time here, I was coming up with ways to figure out how to get them not to follow us when we leave.
“Oh my god, that milkshake went right through me. I am going to run to the bathroom real quick. Excuse me,” I tell them.
“Want me to come with you?” Cindy asks. Damn it. She is so sweet. I place my hands by my face so Bartise won’t see my facial expression. I make a face at her, hopeing she will get it that I want to go alone for whatever reasons she decides. As long as she doesn't follow. I will go with it.
“Ooooo I get it. I will leave you to it.” She gives me a wink. I thank her mentally for being so amazing. She really is the best.
I head towards the bathrooms, but make a sharp left instead of a right. Slipping into the kitchen. Where the redhead is sitting, she can’t see what I am doing. I will have to be sneaky and quick, so I don’t raise suspicions. I grab my black oversized hoodie I keep here for when I have to work in the cooler. I hide my hair and sneak out. back. I get outside and go around to where the cars are parked. It’s getting dark out so I should be able to do what I need.
The bearded man has about half a cigarette left. I need to move fast. The ground is gravely and I pick up some rocks, just in case. I get behind the car and quickly memorize the plate. RX5 89Z. I take a couple of thumb tacks and glue some rocks to them with hand sanitizer. So they should pull the thumb tacks out fast, giving a flat. I place them on the back tire inside so they won’t be noticeable. I go to the other back tire and put some tacks and hand sanitizer on it so they will come out, but not as fast as the other one. I decided to be bold and quickly move to the driver's side tire and the cap off the tire so it will lose air slowly. I start backing away. As footsets approach. I just made it.
Ring ring ring.
I pause, just one car over; if he just looks this way, he will notice me. Shit.
“Hey, boss,” the guy answers. “She is out to eat with a boy and a trans girl,” he replied to whoever he was on the phone with. “Are you sure she’s connected to Sarah?” I am confused; they are for sure following me. I breathe a little easier knowing it’s me, not my friends, they are after. I can handle them if needed. I am cut off from hearing anything else as the man climbs back into the car. I quickly make my way back to diner. Feeling confident no one noticed me. I hang my hoodie back on its hook. So nothing is out of place. I leave the kitchen and turn the corner and slam into someone. Shit.
“Little mouse, we need to stop meeting like this,” Ezra said as he leaned into me. Pinning me up on the wall. If he did not always annoy me. I would be flustered. He was looking down at me, trying to figure something out.
“Do you mind?” I ask him.
He doesn’t say right away, just looking down at me. I want to fidget, but I do not want to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he’s making me uncomfortable. Before I can say anything again, he leans in closer, whispering just so I can hear him.
“I think you are up to no good. I want to know more of what you are doing, but I think we are out of time for now.” he backs up, smirking.
“Uh. What’s going on here?” Bartise stood behind us, concern and something else filling his features. I could only imagine how it looked from his angle.
Before Ezra can say anything. I pushed him off me. I telling Bartise. “Just some loser trying to corner a girl coming out of the bathroom.”
I say this as the redhead approaches us, heading towards the bathroom herself. She was probably suspicious of what I was doing, so this interaction should clear me.
I hear Ezra snicker to himself. “Right, I am the loser cornering girls.” I grab Bartise, sensing him about to turn around and have words.
“Not worth it, let’s go,” I urged him forward back to the table. Cindy is watching our approach, questions filling her face. I can only imagine the look Bartise gives her as we approach.
“What the hell happened?” She asked.
“Fucking Ezra and his cocky attitude and smart mouth, saying shit he should not.” Bartise spat. I have never heard him mad. It was a little scary compared to the sweet and flirty voice I normally get from him.
“How about we go back to my apartment to finish the food without people being rude and trying to start things” I tell them. The tire should have deflated enough not to be noticed or to do anything about. So, they won’t be able to follow. “I will get up and get the containers and checks, “ I say before anyone can object. “I want to tease Dave about the stomach ache the milkshake gave me”
I gave a fake laugh as I headed over the counter. I am giving Dave the shit I told them I wanted to give him. As the redhead is leaving the bathroom. This will also buy us some time. She will think I am just teasing someone, and not about to leave. It will take her a few minutes to follow us after we walk out the door. When I asked about our checks.
“Already paid,” the cashier said.
“By who?” I asked.
“He already left, but he left a note for a mouse?” The waiter said, confused.