Read Online The Lake (The Lake Trilogy, Book 1) by AnnaLisa Grant - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: AnnaLisa Grant
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either.
We leave the theater and walk to the restaurant, which isn’t far. I really like this place. We didn’t have anything like it in Orlando. People went to the mall to get out of the heat. They weren’t going to walk around outside like this, that’s for sure. Now that I think about it, I really don’t know if Orlando had anything like this. We were regulars at three places: Wal Mart, Publix, and Denny’s. Orlando could be booming with places like this, but I never got the chance to see them.
I walk with Gwen and Caroline who are not at a loss for conversation.
“Will told us your grandfather just passed. I’m so sorry. Were you very close with him?” Gwen asks.
“Thanks. Yeah, we were…close. My grandmother passed away three years ago…it was just us since then and I took care of him.” I’m trying to answer honestly. I’ll let them attach their own definition of close . I can tell by their silence and averting eyes that they aren’t sure how to respond to my answer to so I bail them out and change the subject. “So…what do you do for fun?” It’s a lame question, but it takes the focus off me, which I prefer, and gets them talking again.
Gwen responds quickly, grateful for the save. “Well, sometimes we walk the trail at the nature preserve, and there’s this really great park not far from here. Caroline and I go watch these guys play whatever sport they’re in the mood to play. We get some sun and the boys play soccer, football, Frisbee…whatever. Will’s parents won’t let him play organized sports so-”
“Hey! Let’s not bore Layla with the details of my complicated family. Who’s hungry?” Will says, cutting her off.
I can’t imagine Will’s family being complicated . He’s got to have everything he could ever want. They probably just don’t want him to mess up his beautiful face. I don’t blame them.
Dinner’s good at another local place. The only local restaurants I knew of back home were Chinese holes-in-the-wall and mom and pop diners that are dives. The places here are classy and have style and charm. I sit at dinner with my new friends for over two hours and can’t believe I’m actually enjoying myself. I can count on one hand the number of times I just hung out with friends over the last five years.
My nerves are dissipating and I find myself engaged in normal conversation. It’s been so long since I’ve related to people my age that I don’t think I was sure I would know what to do. It makes me nervous and I find myself fidgeting. A few deep breaths and I’m settled. Not that much better, but settled. Will is never short of conversation topics, and the others never mind adding their two cents. They make it easy to feel normal that I almost forget how out of place I am.
We prepare to leave and the girls insist on hugs before Will escorts me to his car. If I’m going to be friends with these girls for any length of time, I’m going to have to get used to that. I’m not really a hugger, but I have to admit it was nice feeling connected to them.
As we approach Will’s car I’m surprised to see that he doesn’t drive something flashy or extravagant, like a BMW or Mercedes. Instead, he unlocks and opens the passenger side door of a simple red Prius. I really don’t care what kind of car he drives. I’m just surprised.
We drive the fifteen minutes back to Luke and Claire’s and talk about the movie and Will’s friends. He asks what I think about them but I’m cautious to give any details beyond that I like them. I’m afraid what I say won’t come out the right way.
It’s still early when we pull up to the house. I reach for the handle to the door and begin to thank Will for inviting me tonight, introducing me to his friends, and for the ride home. Before I can speak a sound he instructs me to wait and he’s out of the car, on his way to my door – again with the gentlemanly behavior.
I step out of the car and say thank you. Will
We leave the theater and walk to the restaurant, which isn’t far. I really like this place. We didn’t have anything like it in Orlando. People went to the mall to get out of the heat. They weren’t going to walk around outside like this, that’s for sure. Now that I think about it, I really don’t know if Orlando had anything like this. We were regulars at three places: Wal Mart, Publix, and Denny’s. Orlando could be booming with places like this, but I never got the chance to see them.
I walk with Gwen and Caroline who are not at a loss for conversation.
“Will told us your grandfather just passed. I’m so sorry. Were you very close with him?” Gwen asks.
“Thanks. Yeah, we were…close. My grandmother passed away three years ago…it was just us since then and I took care of him.” I’m trying to answer honestly. I’ll let them attach their own definition of close . I can tell by their silence and averting eyes that they aren’t sure how to respond to my answer to so I bail them out and change the subject. “So…what do you do for fun?” It’s a lame question, but it takes the focus off me, which I prefer, and gets them talking again.
Gwen responds quickly, grateful for the save. “Well, sometimes we walk the trail at the nature preserve, and there’s this really great park not far from here. Caroline and I go watch these guys play whatever sport they’re in the mood to play. We get some sun and the boys play soccer, football, Frisbee…whatever. Will’s parents won’t let him play organized sports so-”
“Hey! Let’s not bore Layla with the details of my complicated family. Who’s hungry?” Will says, cutting her off.
I can’t imagine Will’s family being complicated . He’s got to have everything he could ever want. They probably just don’t want him to mess up his beautiful face. I don’t blame them.
Dinner’s good at another local place. The only local restaurants I knew of back home were Chinese holes-in-the-wall and mom and pop diners that are dives. The places here are classy and have style and charm. I sit at dinner with my new friends for over two hours and can’t believe I’m actually enjoying myself. I can count on one hand the number of times I just hung out with friends over the last five years.
My nerves are dissipating and I find myself engaged in normal conversation. It’s been so long since I’ve related to people my age that I don’t think I was sure I would know what to do. It makes me nervous and I find myself fidgeting. A few deep breaths and I’m settled. Not that much better, but settled. Will is never short of conversation topics, and the others never mind adding their two cents. They make it easy to feel normal that I almost forget how out of place I am.
We prepare to leave and the girls insist on hugs before Will escorts me to his car. If I’m going to be friends with these girls for any length of time, I’m going to have to get used to that. I’m not really a hugger, but I have to admit it was nice feeling connected to them.
As we approach Will’s car I’m surprised to see that he doesn’t drive something flashy or extravagant, like a BMW or Mercedes. Instead, he unlocks and opens the passenger side door of a simple red Prius. I really don’t care what kind of car he drives. I’m just surprised.
We drive the fifteen minutes back to Luke and Claire’s and talk about the movie and Will’s friends. He asks what I think about them but I’m cautious to give any details beyond that I like them. I’m afraid what I say won’t come out the right way.
It’s still early when we pull up to the house. I reach for the handle to the door and begin to thank Will for inviting me tonight, introducing me to his friends, and for the ride home. Before I can speak a sound he instructs me to wait and he’s out of the car, on his way to my door – again with the gentlemanly behavior.
I step out of the car and say thank you. Will
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