Chapter 4
Elle
Ipractically sprint through the halls of the school immediately after my bus duty. “SADIE ELIZA THOMPSON! CODE RED”
Sadie’s head snaps immediately from her grade book. “Like a real code red? Cause Henry didn’t come over the PA.”
“NO!” I grimace, we have an actual code red in our school… it’s not good. “Wrong choice of words, no, a code red with my life. Archer asked me out for dinner tonight and my dumb ass said yes, he didn’t tell me where we are going, only that he is picking me up so I can drink after the day I had.”
“Happy Thirsty Thursday to you.” Sadie grins. “I see why it’s a Code Red now. We don’t have time to go shopping. What’s wrong with what you’re wearing?”
“Well last time we said my teaching clothes wouldn’t do.”
“That was before he asked you at 3 pm for a day-of dinner. Plus, you look cute today, not that you don’t look cute every day, but this is more daily cute versus teacher cute.” Sadie explains. “What time is he picking you up?”
“5:00, he promised I would be back in time for bed.” I smile.
“Then you need to get home! Feed Fish and then wait for him to pick you up!” Her voice dips to a whisper. “You call me the minute you get home. I do not care what time it is. I want to hear every detail.”
I rush home, giving myself enough time to feed Fish and take my hair out of my claw clip and run the curling iron through my hair to give it volume. My phone buzzes and I check the message.
Sadie: I mean it. I want to hear everything. I’m living vicariously through you right now.
I respond to Sadie’s message with a gif of Bugs Bunny saluting, then manage to get my lunch packed for the following day and made my breakfast for the morning.
As I’m drying my final dish there’s a knock on my door.
I take a quick survey of my apartment, it’s clean enough to show him.
I open the door to see Archer standing at my door fidgeting with his keys.
We both speak at the same time.
My ‘Hi!’ and his ‘You look nice.’ colliding with each other in my complex’s hallway.
After our initial awkward encounter, we make our way to his truck, and he holds open the door for me. I ungracefully hoist myself into his truck. Sometimes it sucks being short, this is one of those times. I’m buckling my seatbelt as Archer gets in on his side.
“You like Mexican food right?” He asks as he fastens his seatbelt.
“Yes! I love Mexican, Sadie and I get it almost weekly.” I reply as he pulls out of my apartment complex.
I see the physical relief in Archer’s demeanor. “Good, we’re going to mine and Ty’s favorite Taqueria.” He begins to head downtown.
“Where are we headed?”
“Cantina Al Rio”
“Oh! I’ve never been. I’ve always wanted to go there; I’ve heard the view is phenomenal.
” I resist the urge to mess with all the buttons on his touch screen.
“This has to be the fanciest car, sorry truck, that I have ever seen.” The tips of Archer’s ears turn pink.
Well shit, I didn’t mean to embarrass him.
“Sorry, probably like money, commenting on your vehicle is probably a faux pas.”
“No, it’s fine.” Archer replies. “I guess I forget what all this must look like.” He pauses, “well that just made me sound like a douche.”
“Just a smidge” I joke, we make small talk until we pull into the parking lot of Cantina Al Rio.
Afterwards we are seated on the second-floor balcony. A server immediately takes our order, I order a variation of my usual along with a margarita, because Archer made a very good point earlier that I deserved a margarita after the day I had.
I look around the restaurant. The balcony houses hanging plants that spill from macramé holders, strands of Edison bulbs zigzag overhead, a long-tiled bar stretches the length of the balcony hosting a variety of colors including saffron, cerulean and emerald.
A glass railing keeps the view unobstructed, so patrons can view the river and the city skyline.
It’s the perfect balance of trendy and comfortable.
“So… I realized I was kind of an ass when we went out for coffee.” Archer says, unwrapping his napkin and putting it on his lap.
“And before you try to lie and say I wasn’t, you can’t change my mind on it.
I spent the whole time talking about myself and for that I want to apologize.
I didn’t ask a single thing about you, aside from if you’re still running.
Which in hindsight is a really shitty question to ask someone after essentially twelve years. ”
“Okay, well I accept your apology and what do you want to know?” I’m genuinely curious, I lead a pretty normal life albeit my students tend to keep me on my toes, but my personal life is pretty boring.
“Well let’s start with the basics, what grade do you teach?”
“Kindergarten, next.”
“What’s your snaggle toothed cat’s name?”
“Fish, my turn.” I grin. “Why did you transfer sophomore year?”
“I wanted more playing time; I was the second-string QB at State. I took a gamble and transferred, and it paid off.” I nod satisfied with his answer.
“It’s my turn again.” I see him trying to think of a good question.
“Well, I guess it’s a little late to ask if you’re seeing anyone considering most people would see this as a date, but given what happened with me, I need to double check.
You are single right? You’re not seeing anyone. I’m not the other man?”
I’m tempted to crack a joke about him being the other man to Fish, but I realize that he’s genuinely concerned about this. “No, I am not seeing anyone.” It’s his turn to nod this time.
“What do you like to do during the off season?” I ask. I’m curious. I know he has mandatory stuff like training, team camps and other required team activities but I want to know what Archer Bell likes to do in his free time.
“Well, I like to play video games. Fantasy RPGs mostly. I also like going to other sporting events such as hockey and baseball. I have gone with Ty to a few MMA fights, but those aren’t really my thing.
I also like going to my niece and nephew’s various events.
My nephew, Jaxon, is an amazing violinist, I’ve gone to a couple of his concerts.
My niece Lexi is playing softball so I go to those games when I can.
Unfortunately, they live out of state so my trips to see them are few and far between.
” He takes a sip of his water and then asks “What about you? What do you like to do in the summer?”
“Oh! I read by the pool. I mainly slug around most of the summer as a recovery from the school year. I don’t live near my family, so I like to try to visit them during that time as well.
” I dip a chip in queso and eat it before continuing; “Usually Sadie and I will take some girls’ trip near the end of the summer as a last hoorah before school starts. ”
It’s my turn to ask another question according to our little game.
“Was the coffee date a test?” I ask and I notice that he stiffens up.
Vi once said I was never good at Clue because I wasn’t observant, well joke’s on her.
I’ve definitely become more observant because I caught that nonverbal response.
“Never mind, I got my answer, I’ll give you an easier one.
” I think for a second. “You still like pirates?”
“Yes,” He sighs as he responds “but I would like to explain the coffee date. I’ve been obviously working through some things, and I didn’t know if you were a jersey chaser or just wanting to find out the scoop about Cassie and I for a quick buck.
Which was unfair to you. I’m sorry about that.
” Archer takes a drink of his water. “I’m apologizing a lot tonight. ”
“It’s okay, I accept your apology and I feel like you are allowed to be skeptical. Now, let’s turn this conversation away from this Debbie downer. What is the coolest pirate fact you’ve learned recently.”
The question earns a chuckle out of Archer. “Really? Pirates, that’s how we’re diverting this conversation?”
“You just said you still liked pirates!” I exclaim throwing my hands up, “pirates are cool, learning is cool, I figured you could share something you learned!”
“You are such a teacher.” He teases. “Okay, give me a minute. I need to think of a fact that will really shiver your timbers.”
“Oh my god. That was awful.” I laugh.
“Okay,” he says all business now. “Did you know that pirates captured Julius Caesar? But when they asked for the ransom Caesar laughed in their faces and told them he was worth at least double than what they were asking for.”
I try and fail to contain my glee at the new pirate fact.
“That’s amazing. I love that you’re still a huge fucking nerd.
” That was one of my favorite things from our history class, he was so into it.
He didn’t try to act like he was above it like so many of our peers.
He truly enjoyed the class and learning the information.
Archer grins. “Pot, meet kettle.”