by Molly Snow
Chapter 13
The three sat at a booth next to a window. They were lucky to have such nice seating, since Rita’s Grill was a popular diner. There was always conversation and laughter twenty-four hours a day. Surla ordered a chicken sandwich, Chrissy ordered a soup and salad, and Todd sat across the table, chomping down a burger with fries. After a half hour passed, the food was eaten off their plates, with much help from Todd, and conversation was dying down.
“Well, Cathy, are you feeling better?” Todd asked.
“Yes, I am.” Surla stretched her arms over her head and leaned back. In doing that, she caught a glimpse of someone outside resembling Craig. She looked again and sure enough it was Craig—entering his red sports car with Tiffany! “He’s here!” Surla blurted out.
“Who is? Craig?” Todd and Chrissy said in unison. They looked out the window into the rainy parking lot.
“Yes! He just got in his car with Tiffany.”
“That’s him all right.” Chrissy knew from all the rides home.
“I’m gonna have a talk with him,” Todd said threateningly.
They instantly rushed toward the door.
“Wait!” a woman’s voice called from behind. They turned to see the heavy-set waitress who served them. “You aren’t leaving without paying.”
Craig’s headlights were seen leaving down the highway. “Man!” Todd said loud enough for some people to stop eating to see what the problem was. Disappointed, he walked to the register with Chrissy and Surla. “What’s the bill?”
The waitress ripped the receipt loose. “It comes out to nineteen dollars and sixty four cents.”
Todd pulled his wallet from his back pocket, paid, and took three chocolate mints before leaving.
The rain slowed to a soft pitter-patter when they drove away from Rita’s Grill. Surla fell asleep easily; her head, at first leaning back, found its way to Todd’s shoulder. Chrissy was wide awake, staring ahead. There was a car stopped at the side of the road, down the way a bit. Chrissy turned around in her seat to look at it. “Hey, Todd, that was Craig’s car back there.”
“What?” He slowed down. “I think you’re right.” He did a U-turn on the slippery road. His truck stopped in front of the red sports car. They let Surla sleep, so she could rejuvenate, while Todd went to settle the situation.
Todd ran his hands through his dark, wet hair before approaching the driver’s side window. He knocked on it, then Craig rolled it down.
“Hey, Todd. I’m having some car trouble. I was coming home with Tiffany and it just stalled.”
The blonde leaned forward and smiled. Her lipstick was smeared across her cheek. “Do you think you can call someone for help?”
“Call for help? Yeah right. Why don’t I just leave the two of you stranded like you did to Cathy?” His eyebrows furrowed.
Craig turned to Tiffany. “Um, Craig, I think Chrissy might’ve told him.”
“What?! I thought Chrissy wasn’t gonna know about it.” He then turned to Todd again. “Listen, man, it’s not like it sounds. You should’ve seen the way Cathy was acting.”
Todd gripped the collar to Craig’s polo shirt. “I think we better take this outside.” His muscles dragged Craig through the open window and onto the wet concrete.
“What the heck is your problem?!” Craig stood, looking down at his ripped shirt.
“You’re my problem and I think it needs solving quickly.” He punched him in the face, causing his nose to bleed. “That’s for Cathy.”
Craig shook his head and felt the blood. Then, like a dry twig, his anger snapped. He punched at Todd, but most throws were dodged.
Todd punched him back in the stomach. “Say you’re scum. Say it!”
Craig was getting weaker. His body hunched over, but still no words came out of his mouth. Todd pinned him against the hood. “Say it!”
“No,” came the choked response.
Todd punched him once more. Craig’s blood stained his white T-shirt.
“Stop!” Tiffany yelled. “You’re really hurting him!”
“Okay, I’m stopping.” Todd clenched his fists in retreat.
Craig moaned in pain.
Cathy was still sleeping deeply when Chrissy exited the truck. She walked to the passenger side of the car and opened the door. Tiffany’s eyes were wide with surprise as she scooted over to the driver’s seat. “I’m just taking Cathy’s clothes back,” Chrissy said and reached to the back seat where she saw the silk shirt and khaki pants.
Chrissy protected the shirt from the rain by sticking it under her own as she ran back to the truck and tossed it inside.
Todd was still busy arguing with Craig when she returned to Tiffany. The car door was still open. Chrissy smiled and reached to the ground. With a light laugh, she then showed Tiffany a handful of mud.
“What are you doing? I’m wearing a velvet shirt. Do you know how much this costs?” she asked, pressing her fingers against the fabric.
“A million bucks?” Chrissy said like she didn’t care. Then the slimy, brown stuff slammed across Tiffany’s face, dripping onto her shirt.
“I hate you!” Tiffany shrieked and charged at her, landing on top of Chrissy in the mud.
They sloshed and rolled in it, ripping and tearing anything they could get a hold of. Their hair soon looked like clay and their bodies like they were dipped in dark chocolate.
Craig watched in amusement. To him, it was like a pay-per-view mud wrestling show and he had front row tickets. Still, he kept an eye on Todd, just in case!
It all seemed to end too soon. Chrissy and Todd had their sweet revenge, while Surla witnessed nothing. They decided to let her rest, and even during the sleep-over, Chrissy did not mention the occurrence. So, you can understand Surla’s surprise when she came back to school Monday, seeing Craig with a black eye.
