An hour later and I've made progress on this essay. Looks like I'm on track to submit it before the November deadline, which makes me happy because I prefer to be early rather than on time. Like I said, Virgo in me.
I've been so focused typing away that I miss The Royals pass by the window that I'm sitting at and enter Ground Central. It's not until I hear Rafe's loud voice that I realize they're in here.
I try to act subtle as I slowly pick my eyes up from my laptop and toward the register, where the boys are. They're huddled in a circle as they stand behind a girl in line. I'm not sure where Henry went because he's not behind the counter.
Rafe's wearing black jeans and a white Chrome Hearts long-sleeve shirt while Jack's in khakis and a white cardigan that's buttoned. Johnny looks the most dressed-up, wearing white pants, a white polo and a beige sweater tied around his shoulders.
Jack's eyes are covered by a pair of metal rectangular sunglasses that he soon takes off. He's laughing at something they're talking about, and must sense that I'm staring because he soon glances my way. I swear he can bait you with his eyes alone.
I nervously look back down at my computer and start typing random keys on the keyboard to make it seem like I wasn't just checking him out.
The Royals opt for a table on the opposite side of the room. I'm not looking at Jack, but I can sense him through my peripheral vision. There's something about him that I don't trust.
Johnny goes to pick up their orders from the counter after the girl announces his name and I see Jack pull out a box of cigarettes from his side pocket. Just when I think that there's no way that he's actually going to smoke one in this coffee shop, he proves me wrong when he starts igniting it with the lighter that's in his other hand.
He takes a puff, and I watch the smoke consume the air when he breathes out. Then, he leans back on his chair like he has no regard for this world.
It takes Henry no more than a minute to approach their table, and I can't help but watch the entire encounter.
"No smoking, man. I told you this before."
"Man?" Jack chuckles condescendingly as he looks at his friends. "You hear that, boys? Homie thinks we're friends."
Rafe starts laughing obnoxiously, but Johnny looks uncomfortable.
"C'mon, Jack, you know you gotta put that thing out," Henry says.
"And waste a perfectly good cigarette? I don't think so."
"We have a no-smoking policy. If you want to smoke, you can take it outside."
"Nah. I'm good right here."
"C'mon, Jack. Don't make me call my manager. I really wouldn't want to have to escort you out."
"Who are you kidding, dude? We both know that you're too much of a scared piece of shit to pull something like that off."
"Not when it comes to my job, I'm not."
"Ah, so you're a scared piece of shit when it comes to everything else then? Got it. Thanks for clarifying."
I hear Rafe muffle, "Loser set himself up for that one."
"Jack, I'm serious. This is my job."
"Which I can guarantee you you won't have if you continue to hover."
"Yeah, I wouldn't test that theory."
Jack chuckles again, but there's something behind it that says he's not messing around.
He stands up and, for a split second, I actually think he's going to do what he was asked. But what I'm starting to learn about Jack Carrington is that you're not allowed to have expectations for him. Asking him to do something will result in the opposite of what you're looking for.
Instead, Jack brings the cigarette to his mouth and takes another puff, exhaling the smoke straight into Henry's face. It's obvious that Henry's on the brink of losing his cool but knows that he can't because his job is on the line. Jack knows it, too.
"C'mon boys, let's get out of here," Jack says to his friends as he looks Henry straight in the eyes. "Remember your place, dumbass. Otherwise, it'll be a matter of days until you're collecting unemployment."
***
I couldn't look at my computer screen any longer, so I decided to leave Ground Central a few minutes after Jack and his friends did. I'm punching in the code to my bike lock when I hear:
"Hey."
It's Henry. His hair is a little bit more unkempt than it was hours ago, and he's wearing a backpack across his shoulder, which tells me that he's done with work for the day.
"Hey," I say, stopping what I'm doing.
He walks over to me and then says, "Sorry about what happened inside. With Jack."
"Don't be. The guy's a prick. You were just doing your job."
"Yeah, which he apparently likes to make very difficult. I don't even know why I'm surprised. This wasn't the first time it's happened."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be," he smiles. He scratches the side of his cheek and I can tell that he's nervous. "Hey, listen, I uh...I wasn't going to go to Rafe's party this weekend. But if you were going, I'd consider it."
"You'd go to his party? After he treated you the way that he did?"
"It wasn't Rafe. It was Jack. I mean, I know that they're best friends, but if I choose to avoid Jack, then he wins. Plus, Shawn was right. It's an open-house. Anyone's invited."
"Molly keeps asking me if I want to go, but I don't know. It doesn't sound like it's my scene."
"Wait a minute. Hanging out with drunk, self-entitled rich kids isn't your scene? What's wrong with you, Stassie?" Henry teases, and his sarcastic question gets me to laugh. "Look, I get it. I'm the same way, but it could be fun. A good way to meet people and...a step outside your comfort zone, maybe?"
I hesitate, not wanting to agree but also knowing that he's right. "Maybe," I nod subtly.
"If you change your mind, just let me know. I can give you my number and you can text me."
"Okay," I say, handing him my phone.
He hands it back to me once he's done punching his number in and then says, "I'll see ya." He turns away but then whips his head around. "Oh, and Stassie? You don't have to change your mind just to text me. The offer stands for anything."