Speeding down the street, Luis found himself checking his reflection in the rear view mirror, repeatedly. When he caught himself the third time, he shook his dark hair out of his eyes, narrowing them to slits.
"Get it together, man." He muttered to himself in irritation. "I mean, you know what this girl looked like in diapers, for Christ's sake. What's the big deal?"
A horn blasted abruptly, and bringing his attention back to the road, he slammed on the breaks just before fully running a red light. He put the car into reverse, backing up to the designated line of the intersection. He sat there for a moment, breathing hard, watching the traffic speed by, the interior lit with the red hue of the stoplight.
"So busy talking to yourself, you're gonna get yourself killed." He sighed in disgust, waiting for the beating of his heart to slow down. The light switched to green, and he carefully drove the next few blocks to the Diner.
Pulling in, he glanced around the parking lot, his eyes searching for Hannah's car. It didn't appear as though she had arrived yet. Just as well, he thought, Clear your mind so you can actually hold a decent, normal conversation. He shook his head one last time, took a breath, and stepped out of the car, locking it. Donning his usual confident strut, he strode to the door, and walked inside.
Scanning the vinyl booths, double checking to make sure she hadn't arrived, he slid into booth number eleven, their table. The waitress appeared promptly, placing the plastic coated menu before him.
"How's it goin'?" she asked, her gum popping loudly, one hand resting on her slim hip.
"Pretty good, pretty good. How 'bout you, Cat?"
"Ah, same shit, different day, ya know what I mean?" Cat winked, tossing her blonde ponytail over her shoulder.
"Yeah," he laughed. "I do. I'm waiting for someone, could I just get a Coke for now?"
"Sure thing." she leaned forward a bit. She smelled of cheap perfume and french fries. "Say, ya gotta date?" She whispered in a conspiring tone.
"No," he laughed again, this time a bit nervously, and glanced around the diner. She spoke softly, but it didn't diminish the feeling he suddenly had of being in a spotlight. "No," he said again, "I'm meeting Hannah."
"Oh right. Hannah." Leaning back, Cat surveyed his face, her blue eyes searching. "Your friend Hannah." She nodded, smiling slightly. "By the look on your face, hon, I think I better be gettin' you that Coke." She winked again before sauntering off.
Luis gave a sigh of relief. First his mother, and now this. As if he weren't nervous enoug- no! he wasn't nervous! He wiped his sweaty palms down his thighs. Maybe I'm coming down with something.
He propped his elbows up on the table, steepling his fingers under his chin. You've got to figure this out. A voice in his mind insisted. Figure what out? There's nothing to figure out! Hannah is my best friend! No teenage hormones are going to ruin that friendship for me!
Is it really only hormones? The voice persisted. What if this is the love of your life? Why can't you get her out of your head?
Why can't I get this voice out of my head!He shouted back at it. The love of my life? I'm only sixteen! Give me a break! The fact of the matter is this, Hannah is my best friend. I would die if I lost her. I am not going to risk that. For anything. No way.
"We're just friends!" He shouted. Abruptly the room went quiet, silent but for the sound of the Musak playing softly. He looked around, and sunk deeper into the booth. Across the room, Cat caught his eye, and jerked her head to the side, in gesture toward the door right behind him.
In a slow deliberate movement, he turned. Hannah was standing there, having just walked in. He wasn't sure, who could read a womans face, when haven't you been able to read Hannah's face?, the voice in his head asked sardonically; but he thought he caught a hurt expression crossing it, before it smoothed out. She finished the short walk to the table, sliding in across from him.
"You know, talking to yourself is said to be a sign of impending mental collapse." She grinned. Was it his imagination, or did that smile seem a bit tight? He waited for her to ask who he was "just friends with." His hands broke out into another sweat.
"That's what they say." He answered, after a long moment. He almost breathed an audible sound of relief, when Cat approached, placing his soda before him.
"Hey sweetie." She smiled at Hannah. "What can I getcha to drink?" Hannah's eyes rested on his face for a moment, penetrating, before she turned to the waitress.
"I'll just have Coke too. Actually, a vanilla Coke. Thanks."
"Comin' right up." Cat stood for one extended moment, looking between the two of them, before her grin widened, and she walked away, glancing once behind her.
He looked at Hannah. Opened his mouth. Closed it. What the hell is your problem, man? Opened it again.
"So..." he said, and grinned at her, as the same syllable drifted from her mouth simultaneously. Her beautiful mouth. She giggled.
"Jinx! This Cokes' on you!"
"Guess you got me..." he replied.
Silence. Isn't it funny how two seconds can seem like an eternity sometimes? he thought. You've got to get past this attraction, or your going to lose her as friend anyway. She doesn't want to hang out with a bore.
Just then, he saw her glance past him. "What's up?" he asked.
"The gang's just showed up." she responded, looking back to him, her blue eyes deep and mesmerizing. For a moment, he thought he saw the same look on her face as when she walked in, the hurt, combined with a certain questioning....
Turning slightly, he saw a group of their friends from school crowding into a table, laughing.
"Do you think we should join them?" He asked slowly, watching her face carefully.
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