You arrive at Applebee's shortly before 6:00 on Wednesday, and sit in your car debating on whether to go in. "I have no freakin' idea if anyone is even here yet or really how to look for them" you think to yourself, frustrated.
Suddenly, a shiny black BMW 3 Series pulls into the parking space next to where your 1997 Acura Integra is parked. A blonde gets out that you quickly recongize as Stacy, and quickly climb out of your car and lock the doors.
"Hi, there." Stacy says with a smile. "Anyone else here yet?"
"Not a clue" you respond.
"Ahhh, I suppose you don't even know who to look for" she says with a bit of bitchy attitude. "Follow me in, I'm sure everyone else is here by now."
You follow her in, taking in her figure from behind. Her long legs allow for long strides, but you can't help but feel she forces her hips to sway as she walks. She leads you in and directly to the table where the rest of the staff are seated. You quickly recognize Charlotte sitting at the head of the table, and Brenda sitting on at the corner next to her, who motions to the open seat beside her.
As you scan the opposite end of the table, you see the two girls you didn't meet on Monday. One is a redhead that you recognize from a couple of your classes, and the other is a brunette. You quickly grab the seat at the end of the table between the two of them, much to Brenda chagrin.
"There he is!" Charlotte exclaims. "For those of you who weren't there on Monday, this is Steven."
You wave and the girls all greet you. Charlotte attempts to make everyone introduce themselves, but the redhead quickly speaks up. "C'mon, Charlotte. This isn't elementary school. Why not just let us enjoy dinner and get to know each other through conversation. You all already met him and know about him anyway."
You smile as she says this as you hate playing those stupid "get-to-know-you" games. You speak up. "I agree, actually. I'm going to have to introduce myself to the children on Saturday, anyway. Anything you didn't learn Monday or don't learn tonight, I'm sure you'll learn then."
"Fair enough" Charlotte says.
Stacy quickly engages Charlotte in some conversation about a project for Saturday and Brenda joins in, leaving you to converse with the two girls seated on either side of you.
"Hi, I'm Lila." The redhead speaks up. "I think I've seen you in some of my classes."
"Yeah," you respond, shooting her a glance. "I think so."
"And this is Emma." Lila informs you.
"Pleased to meet you." You say to the brunette with a huge grin.
"Likewise." She responds in a sweet voice.
"Steven!" Charlotte shouts from across the table. "Have you planned any games for Saturday, yet?"
"I'm working on it." You respond non-nonchalantly.
The expression on Charlotte's face was disapproving, almost as if she expected to engage you in conversation over it.
"You'd better hurry up" Brenda snorts, glaring at you. Obviously still upset that you didn't choose the seat she saved for you.
"It's not like you can just come in Saturday and not be ready to go." Stacy joins.
"I'll have some ready" you say, glaring back at the two girls. "Don't worry about that."
Charlotte, Stacy, and Brenda go back to their conversation.
"Don't mind them," Lila snorts. "Stacy and Brenda are the 'golden children' as we call them."
Shooting you a smile, Emma finally joins the conversation as the waitress begins taking orders at the other end of the table. "They think they run the show just as much as Charlotte, but do half the work Lila and I do."
After the waitress takes everyone's orders, Lila and Emma ask your questions in order to get to know you, but unlike during the interview, they ask questions about you, personally. Your hobbies, interests, where you went to school. And in return, they give you the same answers. The three of you get deeply engrossed in conversation, stopping only for you to answer questions asked by Charlotte and Stacy.
As dinner began to wind down, Lila asks "what are you doing after dinner? I can't speak for Emma, but I've enjoyed this conversation and wouldn't mind continuing it."
Emma beams at you. "Yeah, I agree. Plus, we need to give you the real information about what's happened to your predecessors and about the job and your coworkers."
"I'm totally free, but I do have class tomorrow." You say with a sigh.
"I know." Lila says bluntly. "I'm in there, too, remember?"
"Oh yeah" you say with a silly tone to your voice.
"That's ok, I'm teaching first grade and can't be out super late, either." Emma joins in. "The only thing is we can't make it look like we're all doing something because the others will want to tag along or think something fishy is going on."
"So, what do you want to do then?" You inquire, turning to Emma.
Lila answers for her. "We'll go for a walk somewhere."
"I'm renting a house is a nice little neighborhood. We can go walk around there." You suggest.
"Sounds good to me!" Lila exclaims quietly so the others don't hear.
"Ditto." Emma says, beaming at you.
After the table was cleared and the checks paid, the party begins to head out of the restaurant. You drop back for a second and whisper your address to the girls and then speed up a little so as not to seem like you're conspiring with them.
As you head to your car, you bid everyone good night and tell them that you'll see them on Saturday. You also tell Lila and Emma it was nice meeting them, and they return the salutation. |