“Come on, let’s get Tina before she thinks we’ve ditched her.” We ran across the street and started heading to the restaurant. When we got to the front, Alice pulled out her cell and texted Tina, letting her know we were out front whenever she was done. We waited a minute or so before we got a response that it was taking a little longer than she expected and she would try to hurry. Alice wrote back to take her time and we’d meet her out front or at the bar inside. I pulled out a cigarette and had it hanging in my mouth unlit as we entered the restaurant to head to the bar. The host at the front stopped us, saying the bar was no smoking. I put the cigarette behind my ear, and he let us in, giving me a once over and a look of disgust. I rolled my eyes and walked into the bar area.

We sat down and had a drink, waited a good twenty minutes, then went back outside to continue waiting while I had a cigarette. Al sat on the edge of a flower pot.

“You know, you should really stop smoking, those things will kill you.”

“Yeah that’s what they say… but then, so will a lot of things.”

She chuckled, “True. When did you start smoking?”

“First one ever? I was eight. But I didn’t really start smoking till I was about 14.”

Al laughed uneasily. “You’re parents must have flipped.”

I shrugged, “I didn’t really have anyone to tell me not to… so…”

We waited a bit longer, and Al was pulling out her phone to text Tina again for an update when a guy started heading towards us.

“Why if it isn’t Shane. Where have you been lately? I’ve missed you boy.”

I put out my cigarette and told Alice to head inside. Just then, Tina came out of the restaurant and came up to us.

“Hey guys, sorry I took so long…” She quickly took in the situation, Alice looking nervous, and my standing in front of Alice, looking at this guy.