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xp_logs2008-01-09 10:39 am
x-cypher.livejournal.com) wrote in xp_logs2008-01-09 10:39 am
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Lunchtime in Adenville
Doug has a milkshake at the local soda fountain when Amanda comes by to say hi. Except there's something very wrong, if Doug could just remember what it was...
Doug pushed a dime across the counter to Jerry, the jovial owner of the Soda Shack, receiving a chocolate milkshake in return. In a way, Jerry's constantly beaming expression became sort of creepy after a while, rather than welcoming and reassuring. He shrugged and walked over to an empty booth. Since high school was back in session, and "Joe" had some time left before spring semester started at the University of Michigan, the store was on the empty side, though it would undoubtedly fill back up for lunchtime.
The bell over the door tinkled merrily, followed by a cheerful: "Hi, Jerry!" Mandy breezed in, ponytail bobbing. Then she caught sight of Doug in his booth, and after asking Jerry for the usual, she bounced over to him. "Hey, Joe! How's it going?" There was only the slightest trace of English in her accent to distinguish it from anyone else in the town.
That was...odd. Amanda didn't bounce. Ever. "Doing all right, Amanda, how're things with you?" he asked warily, the use of her proper name in the nature of a test. If she still kept up the act after she got over to the booth where nobody else was really around to observe...
She wrinkled her nose as she slid into the booth opposite him. "Ew, so formal. What's with everyone calling me Amanda lately? It's Mandy, as well you know." She wagged her finger admonishingly at him. "So, how's college life? Finding our little town sleepy and boring after the big city?"
"I dunno that I'd call Ann Arbor 'the big city'," he said with a smile, while internally trying not to scream his head off at the apparent disappearance of his good friend. "It's a college town. I'm not even sure if it's one of the ten biggest cities in Michigan." He pushed his milkshake around slightly, watching the ring of condensation it left behind, trying to get a handle on what 'Joe' would talk about. "Been working out, getting ready for hockey season. Still can't believe I'm on a team that's won college championships, much less a letterman."
"Still, much too big for me - I like it here." Mandy propped her elbows on the table, resting her chin on her hands and swinging her crossed feet slightly. "Letterman, huh? See, I always knew you'd get there. All that practice you did... you deserve it."
Doug shrugged and ducked his head, a bit embarrassed. Then he smiled. "I still get a lot of ribbing from the guys, since not many guys from New Mexico play hockey, especially not at a powerhouse like Michigan. They call me 'Jose', stuff like that. You know, locker room teasing and all that." It was easy to get into the mind of 'Joe Crockett Jr.', like the details were almost supplying themselves.
"Like you could be Mexican!" Mandy said scornfully, nodding to Jerry as he slid a strawberry milkshake in front of her. There was the slightest hint of a blush to her cheeks, however. "You're nothing like them! You're not lazy, for a start."
Doug clamped down tightly on some annoyance on behalf of Angelo. If there was one thing the stretchy Hispanic wasn't, it was lazy. "It's just teasing, 'Mandy'," he told her. "It's not like they're calling me 'wetback' or anything. Just guys being rowdy after practice." He wondered if the rest of the group knew what had happened. Maybe he should talk to Mrs. Simons...Wanda, he corrected himself with a headshake.
Chastened, she lowered her eyes to her milkshake, stirring it with the straw. "So... are you going to the sock hop?" she asked. "Flash is so talented... all the girls think he's totally dreamy, too."
"Wouldn't miss it," Joe replied. "I'm going to pick Anna up around six..." He trailed off, then Doug blinked. "Hm? Sorry, went all fuzzy there for a second."
"Anna's such a... sweet girl." There was a hint of hesitation in Mandy's voice - certainly Anna had been acting strangely, like at the pot luck lunch. "You two are a really cute couple." There was a touch of wistfulness in her smile as she took a sip of her milkshake.
"Isn't she?" Joe replied earnestly. "I wasn't sure if it was a good idea, with me so far away and all, but we're making it work." He reached across and took Mandy's hand to give it a friendly squeeze. "Don't worry, Mandy, you'll find the right guy soon enough."
Mandy banished the thought of the Mexican boy at her father's garage, and the flash of white teeth in his tanned skin as he smiled at her. "One day," she agreed, smiling brightly. "And until then, I'll just have to enjoy myself as much as I can. Save me a dance tonight? For old time's sake?"
Joe grinned. "You bet."
Doug pushed a dime across the counter to Jerry, the jovial owner of the Soda Shack, receiving a chocolate milkshake in return. In a way, Jerry's constantly beaming expression became sort of creepy after a while, rather than welcoming and reassuring. He shrugged and walked over to an empty booth. Since high school was back in session, and "Joe" had some time left before spring semester started at the University of Michigan, the store was on the empty side, though it would undoubtedly fill back up for lunchtime.
The bell over the door tinkled merrily, followed by a cheerful: "Hi, Jerry!" Mandy breezed in, ponytail bobbing. Then she caught sight of Doug in his booth, and after asking Jerry for the usual, she bounced over to him. "Hey, Joe! How's it going?" There was only the slightest trace of English in her accent to distinguish it from anyone else in the town.
That was...odd. Amanda didn't bounce. Ever. "Doing all right, Amanda, how're things with you?" he asked warily, the use of her proper name in the nature of a test. If she still kept up the act after she got over to the booth where nobody else was really around to observe...
She wrinkled her nose as she slid into the booth opposite him. "Ew, so formal. What's with everyone calling me Amanda lately? It's Mandy, as well you know." She wagged her finger admonishingly at him. "So, how's college life? Finding our little town sleepy and boring after the big city?"
"I dunno that I'd call Ann Arbor 'the big city'," he said with a smile, while internally trying not to scream his head off at the apparent disappearance of his good friend. "It's a college town. I'm not even sure if it's one of the ten biggest cities in Michigan." He pushed his milkshake around slightly, watching the ring of condensation it left behind, trying to get a handle on what 'Joe' would talk about. "Been working out, getting ready for hockey season. Still can't believe I'm on a team that's won college championships, much less a letterman."
"Still, much too big for me - I like it here." Mandy propped her elbows on the table, resting her chin on her hands and swinging her crossed feet slightly. "Letterman, huh? See, I always knew you'd get there. All that practice you did... you deserve it."
Doug shrugged and ducked his head, a bit embarrassed. Then he smiled. "I still get a lot of ribbing from the guys, since not many guys from New Mexico play hockey, especially not at a powerhouse like Michigan. They call me 'Jose', stuff like that. You know, locker room teasing and all that." It was easy to get into the mind of 'Joe Crockett Jr.', like the details were almost supplying themselves.
"Like you could be Mexican!" Mandy said scornfully, nodding to Jerry as he slid a strawberry milkshake in front of her. There was the slightest hint of a blush to her cheeks, however. "You're nothing like them! You're not lazy, for a start."
Doug clamped down tightly on some annoyance on behalf of Angelo. If there was one thing the stretchy Hispanic wasn't, it was lazy. "It's just teasing, 'Mandy'," he told her. "It's not like they're calling me 'wetback' or anything. Just guys being rowdy after practice." He wondered if the rest of the group knew what had happened. Maybe he should talk to Mrs. Simons...Wanda, he corrected himself with a headshake.
Chastened, she lowered her eyes to her milkshake, stirring it with the straw. "So... are you going to the sock hop?" she asked. "Flash is so talented... all the girls think he's totally dreamy, too."
"Wouldn't miss it," Joe replied. "I'm going to pick Anna up around six..." He trailed off, then Doug blinked. "Hm? Sorry, went all fuzzy there for a second."
"Anna's such a... sweet girl." There was a hint of hesitation in Mandy's voice - certainly Anna had been acting strangely, like at the pot luck lunch. "You two are a really cute couple." There was a touch of wistfulness in her smile as she took a sip of her milkshake.
"Isn't she?" Joe replied earnestly. "I wasn't sure if it was a good idea, with me so far away and all, but we're making it work." He reached across and took Mandy's hand to give it a friendly squeeze. "Don't worry, Mandy, you'll find the right guy soon enough."
Mandy banished the thought of the Mexican boy at her father's garage, and the flash of white teeth in his tanned skin as he smiled at her. "One day," she agreed, smiling brightly. "And until then, I'll just have to enjoy myself as much as I can. Save me a dance tonight? For old time's sake?"
Joe grinned. "You bet."